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Older (Returning) Student Support Thread - 8/28/2007 10:59:29 PM
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rgod
Posts: 1536
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Just starting grad school? Going back to undergrad (or starting for the first time)? Been out of school for a while? Suffering from Syllabus Shock (you want me to read how many pages by when)? If so, this the place to post. Share your thoughts with other returning (older) students! Younger students are welcome too - we can all use encouragement!
So ... what are your struggles and successes as a returning student? In what ways has God shown Himself to you through this experience? Please - lets pray for, share experiences, and support one another!!!!
rgod
< Message edited by rgod -- 8/30/2007 9:35:40 PM >
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/29/2007 8:38:29 PM
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Johnny_
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I went to the University of California for 5 years and that was enough for me. Studying was no fun but God was gracious enough to give me the strength to finish and earn my bachelors degree. I will not and cannot handle Graduate School. But I totally respect your decision, fully support it, and I wish you all the best!
< Message edited by Bibleman7 -- 8/29/2007 9:35:29 PM >
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/29/2007 8:41:34 PM
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Grace-N-Mercy
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Hey, bibleman. We totally respect your decision to not return to school. Grad school is a LOT of work. I knew this going in. But in my field, the jobs are few without the degree. Plus, it's something I feel called to do. An education is good for some people, but you know what? I know people with associates degrees who will make more than those with master's or doctorate degrees. It all depends on the field, and on the person.
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/29/2007 8:50:57 PM
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Johnny_
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Yes, it is a LOT of work. My sister went to Medical School for 4 years. Drexel University in Pennsylvania. Now she is a doctor at UC San Diego Medical Center. She summarized her Medical School experience in 3 words "Reading, Reading, Reading".
< Message edited by Bibleman7 -- 8/30/2007 3:32:37 AM >
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/29/2007 11:47:21 PM
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rgod
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Grace-N-Mercy,
I can totally relate. I got my bachelor degree 12 years ago and although I've regularly taken classes (some artistic, some work related, and some at the undergraduate level), none of it has been quite like this. There is so much to do (projects, reading, meeting/talking with people, narrowing my field of research ...). I've just started and I really love what I'm learning, but to be honest, I feel overwhelmed and don't quite know what to do first (I already feel like I've fallen behind).
Just wanted to know if anyone else out there is feeling the same way! Being out of school for a while, I'm out of practice articulating the answers in class using the most "up to date" terminology. I also feel like I'm out of practice "learning" if that makes sense. I understand a lot more experientially because I'm older, but synthesizing large amounts of information is difficult where it used to be a breeze. Are you having any struggles with anything like this (or different struggles)? Anyone else?
rgod
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 1:27:02 AM
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JamesL5
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quote:
Being out of school for a while, I'm out of practice articulating the answers in class using the most "up to date" terminology. I also feel like I'm out of practice "learning" if that makes sense.
Well, I never went to Grad School. But I did take 8 years off at college to open up my own business. Then I went back to college to get my degree. I graduated from college when I was 32 years old. It doesn't really matter how old you are. College or Grad School. Its never too late to learn.
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 1:42:44 AM
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JamesL5
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quote:
Yes, it is a LOT of work. My sister went to Medical School for 4 years. Drexel University in Pennsylvania. Now she is a doctor at UC San Diego Medical Center. She summerized up her Medical School experience in 3 words "Reading, Reading, Reading".
Just out of curiousity, what kind of doctor is she? I used to live in San Diego until I moved to Houston, Texas. UC San Diego Medical Center has the most beautiful facility. I visited their a couple of times.
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 3:34:49 AM
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Johnny_
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Bless America,
She is Internal Medicine.
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 2:57:36 PM
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Johnny_
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quote:
Grad school is different than undergrad... and you do have to stay on top of things to make sure you are doing everything you are supposed to...
How is it different? Yes, a Graduate student already has a B.A. But in terms of the curriculum, syllabus, environment, and your peers, its all pretty much the same. (ie: reading, outside research, projects, discussion groups, meetings with people, term papers, mid-terms, final exams). Been there, done that.
At all U.C. Schools, the undergraduates and graduates even attend the same campus. More work load, possibly. Overwhelming, yes it can be. But the system is the same. Trust me, I've been around too many grad students in my 5 years at UCSB. I know all the details...........
You have to stay on top of things as both a undergraduate and graduate. I have a personal experience with this..........
< Message edited by Bibleman7 -- 8/30/2007 3:04:30 PM >
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 3:30:27 PM
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Grace-N-Mercy
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quote:
How is it different?
Undergrad was very interesting for me and it was a lot of work. But when I got to the university several years ago to work on the graduate degree, it was very different. It was more personalized and more specific to my field. The quality of the papers was very different. Things we could get away with at the BA level they would not tolerate at the graduate level.
It was also very experiential, whereas the undergrad had been more lecture-based. There were interviews we had to conduct, and lots of group-work. Classes were more like seminars than "classes." There was a lot more reading, but the books were less like textbooks; there were more journals, workbooks, etc. We participated in research and designed conferences. It was more like a job than school, in other words.
Unfortunately, I had to drop out because of family issues, but that's probably a good thing since I have changed my major, and feel that this is where the Lord has been leading me all along.
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 3:44:33 PM
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Johnny_
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Grace-N-Mercy,
Lets agree that while differences does exist.......there are lots of similarities as well. But thats beside the point.
In the end, we are all here to support the grad students and college students. So lets give rgod our unyielding support!
I also want to say, congratulations to BlessAmerica for going back to college after 8 years to get the B.A. Degree. That was very encouraging to hear! Praise God for that!
< Message edited by Bibleman7 -- 8/31/2007 12:43:25 AM >
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 9:29:27 PM
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rgod
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Thanks everyone for all of your advice and support! It is helpful to share a bit about this. rainbowtvp - congrats on finishing your last year (with family and working too)!!! I love your advice to answer questions in my own words. I was sitting in a class today listening some of the other students spout off theories and feeling like "what can I possibly contribute" - when the instructor asked a couple of us "first year" students a question. Everyone sounded like me; we gave our ideas in our own words (since we didn't know all of the theory). And to my surprise, the instructor was so interested in what we had to say and encouraging. There are a few others in my classes that are like me - returning to school after being out in the world for a while. So, I felt much better - not so alone.
Bless America - kudos to you for going back after 8 years and for starting a business to boot. How cool is that??? I truly admire that. I'm hoping to start a business one day (well - it might be sooner rather than later because I've got tuition to pay -- might need to freelance ...). And yes - I agree, it is never to late to learn.
Bibleman7 - thanks a lot for the encouragement. There are lots of similarities between the two schools (grad and undergrad) - and your comments made me think that older students who go back to school, whether grad or undergrad probably face some of the same issues. So, if it is possible to rename this thread (don't know if I can, but I'm going to try), I'll change the title to reflect that.
Grace-n-mercy - thanks for summarizing the difference between grad and undergrad. While there are similarities - there are significant differences. I do feel like this is a job plus job interview all-in-one. I am aware that even as my professors are helping me, they are also evaluating me to see if I'll be a good fit for a research assistant - to see if they like my work - to see what skills I have - to see if I'd make a good teacher - to see if I'm a team player - to see if I'll take the initiative - to see if I'll follow through - etc. So in addition to the increased workload, there is a lot of networking, personal research, projects, and synthesizing/digesting information to master it and also evaluate it. This isn't a bad thing - but it does take some getting used to.
Well I'd love to hear from other returning students - grad or undergrad (or postdoc). Please - let's support one another!
rgod
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RE: Older (Returning) Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 9:35:58 PM
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rgod
Posts: 1536
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Joy - I was able to rename this topic!!!!! Nice when things work the way you want them to :)
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RE: Older (Returning) Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 10:07:46 PM
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Grace-N-Mercy
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Bibleman7
Grace-N-Mercy,
Lets agree that while differences does exist.......there are quite of lot of similarities as well. But thats beside the point.
In the end, we are all here to support the grad students and college students. So lets give rgod our unyielding support!
I also want to say, congratulations to BlessAmerica for going back to college after 8 years to get the B.A. Degree. That was very encouraging to hear! Praise God for that!
Thanks, Bibleman. I was just trying to point out that it's different - not better, not worse, not easier, not harder, just different.
quote:
Just wanted to know if anyone else out there is feeling the same way!
YES!
quote:
Being out of school for a while, I'm out of practice articulating the answers in class using the most "up to date" terminology. I also feel like I'm out of practice "learning" if that makes sense.
Definitely! I think that's one of the things that scared me most about going back to school.
quote:
I understand a lot more experientially because I'm older, but synthesizing large amounts of information is difficult where it used to be a breeze. Are you having any struggles with anything like this (or different struggles)?
I think for me, I have a harder time reading than I used to. My mind wanders easily.  Actually, when I read, it brings to mind this experience, or that training - there's so much more that comes to mind than there use to be.
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RE: Older (Returning) Student Support Thread - 8/30/2007 10:53:13 PM
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alpad
Posts: 9
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I am considering working on my Master's just so I can move up the ladder some -- and provide better for my family.
Granted, it will be a hardship to return, BUT to stay at the status quo is hardship too!
I can only HOPE whatever I have to read holds my interest. If it doesn't I will be in TROUBLE!
God be with us!
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RE: Older (Returning) Student Support Thread - 9/3/2007 8:08:32 PM
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Johnny_
Posts: 343
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From: California
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I saw this today on Yahoo.com. A 15 year old girl is attending the University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League) as a freshman for 2007. Her major is Engineering.
Her name is Brittney Exline from Colorado. Apparently, she is a very intelligent and gifted young girl who graduated high school at age 14. Her favorite subjects are math & science.
< Message edited by Bibleman7 -- 9/3/2007 8:51:49 PM >
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RE: Older (Returning) Student Support Thread - 9/7/2007 5:45:29 PM
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Grace-N-Mercy
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So how is everyone doing? Are you feeling buried by all the reading yet?
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RE: Older (Returning) Student Support Thread - 9/7/2007 6:47:51 PM
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karlie
Posts: 16971
Joined: 4/10/2005
From: Central California
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It was a huge adjustment at first...especially being my age and back in college. It had been about 20 years since I was in school.  I felt very conspicuous at first, but there were more students my age than I thought there would be, so I felt okay after just a couple of weeks. But, I am loving school now. I'm finally into only my major coursework, and while it's a ton of work, I'm loving what I'm learning now. It's way better than the first couple of years having to do all general ed that I could care less about. The big adjustment this semester is that I've transfered to a state university college from my jr college, and it's massive compared to where I had been.
I'm definitely going onto grad school...I'll graduate in spring of 08, maybe the fall before if I move it!
Funny side note...my 19 year old daughter and I are both juniors this year and at the same college, only she lives on campus. We're kind of seeing who will graduate first, or if we'll manage to graduate the same semester! We both have different majors though.
_____________________________
1 day of coal...364 days of fun. I'll take my chances!
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RE: Older (Returning) Student Support Thread - 9/10/2007 10:47:04 AM
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karlie
Posts: 16971
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From: Central California
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quote:
karlie - a big high-five on going back to school . That is so cool. Yes, it is nice that there are more older students. And it is much more fun when you are doing coursework in the areas in which you are interested. What area are you thinking about pursuing for grad school?
I'm still toying with a couple of ideas. I meet with my adviser next month and will talk to him about it. I'm a psych major and planning on going into family counseling(concentrating on children), and also want to get my school counseling license. I haven't decided if I want my masters in psych or in a counseling program. I know people who have done it different ways, so I'm not 100% sure what to do just yet.
_____________________________
1 day of coal...364 days of fun. I'll take my chances!
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RE: Grad Student Support Thread - 9/11/2007 9:06:25 PM
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belovedandblessed
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hi i am doing my first degree full time at 28 where all the students are 16, 17 and 18.It made it difficult at times because you feel out of practice learning but the advantage is that you are much more motivated than the typical college age student. It has been difficult finding really close friends because I am now transitioning into the permanent relationship/ settling down stage.Thank God my bf is also doing his degree at 30. So there is someone I can relate to. Also it is weird because I am now doing my internships and encountering people who I went to high school with who are now in the jobs that I am looking to be in. At my internship this summer I worked with someone who went to high school with and many times, I was treated more like a glorified temp by her.It was someone younger than her who taught me the higher level skills that I wanted to learn. So for all of you who are suffering from feeling like u all are playing catch-up, stay strong! I am still blessed to be a university student though! I am finally achieving my lifetime dream!
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<-- there, that about sums it up. 
), but now I have a master's degree and two more years of field experience! And some better known professors who might write nice letters of recommendation... 
. That is so cool. Yes, it is nice that there are more older students. And it is much more fun when you are doing coursework in the areas in which you are interested. What area are you thinking about pursuing for grad school? 
I'm feeling so frazzled lately.