Back to College

[bigbaldbulldog]

Well at age 38 i am back in college and halfway through my junior year...I am studying adolescence education in science...A high school science teacher

Any advice or words for me? it has been 18 years since school....well i did 1 semester in the spring 05 but never felt like i got into the groove or rythem of things and living 60 miles away i feel like a visitor more then a student at times...

 

[DOGMA]

Sorry.

I can't give you any advise. But I think its great your going back to school. Your never too old to learn something new.

 

[PHIL HERNON]

BBB

Well at age 38 i am back in college and halfway through my junior year...I am studying adolescence education in science...A high school science teacher

Any advice or words for me? it has been 18 years since school....well i did 1 semester in the spring 05 but never felt like i got into the groove or rythem of things and living 60 miles away i feel like a visitor more then a student at times...

Are you sure there is a "Adolescence education of science" degree? Dont you need a teaching credential?

 

[johnnyboy]

I'm 32 an a senior now, I screwed around a lot in my early 20s, but now I am getting eveything straight. My main advice is to not take any breaks and do not take too many classes at once. I don't take summers off or anything like that, I take 2 or 3 classes a semester. I am going to start my MBA right after I get my BS degree so that I remain in the habit of going to school, because I know me and once I take a break for a month or two I probably would not want to go back. My plan is to go to school until I am about 40 and then make lots of money between 40 and 60. Then chill from 60 on, my point to all this rambling is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even though it may seem far away it will be here before you know it.

 

[JoeMuscle]

Never too old.. I'm in school about to finish my second dgree, then going to grad for my MBA.. I'm in my 30's.. Never too late to better yourself...

 

[MDT]

My experience is that the "non-traditional" students are always the best ones in the class. I think it is because they tend to treat school like a job. They show up, put the hours in and go home. No immature crap like hangovers or skipping class to play x-box. I am sure you will do very well. Dream big! Why not a PhD or MD?

 

[SZona]

Well at age 38 i am back in college and halfway through my junior year...I am studying adolescence education in science...A high school science teacher

Any advice or words for me? it has been 18 years since school....well i did 1 semester in the spring 05 but never felt like i got into the groove or rythem of things and living 60 miles away i feel like a visitor more then a student at times...

I have been teaching near 8 years now and have come across many in your situation. The one thing I always tell people is to do something that differentiates yourself from every other would be canidate. Additional certifications (special ed, elementary ed, reading specialist) always make a person much more marketable. Any applicable experiences....coaching, camp counselor, volunteer work. Being that you are 38, you bring alot more "life experience" to the table which will ultimately make you a better teacher and a much better interview. Also, start banging away at your masters ASAP. Being that it is required in NYS (I think the requirement is now 3 years post grad) its better to get it out of the way first rather than while you are teaching full time (been there done that not fun) also you are much more marketable to a school if they know coming in that they dont have to pay for your masters.

Good Luck!
Z

 

[bigbaldbulldog]

My goal si to teach at a college level after abit but i want to see what it is liek to work with high school level kids...

The program i am in Phil is Adolescence Education: Biology....this major leads to teaching in the 7-12 grades...

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice...i look forward to going to school and learning...i loved it last semester and can not wait to get it rolling again...i am going to look for things to do as far as extra fun goes this tiem and try to find a nitch and enjoy things while i am there..i felt like i was too serious last time and it was like work...i want to enjoy my job and relax a bit ..if i feel pressured i do not do well whenit comes to school work..

I am gonna pull a 3.30 this time

 

[ncsports]

good for you.

i have my national teaching cert for health education K - 12. i was an older student when i got my degree. not 30s but early mid 20s upon graduation.

i was glad i did it and have no regrets although i do not teach now and never held a health teaching job.

you wont know if you really like teaching until you do your student teaching.

get into some local high schools and talk candidly with some teachers (science or otherwise) to get a feel for the "other things" that go on in the academic world.

the other things is what really drained me. i felt so many of my kids needed me to be more than just a teacher and that was tough because i could not do it all. it was all consuming. i had a kid who was in 11th grade and on his 2nd or 3rd stint in rehab.

there is other stuff too but i dont want to get too long winded.

i must say that the education courses that i took help me in every aspect of my life.

 

[Coopie]

BBB

Advice: Mingle with the College Girls!

 

[bigbaldbulldog]

Advice: Mingle with the College Girls!

What a great Idea Coopie....

 

[callgolf]

Talk With People About the Subject

Hey BBB, I am just getting done with an undergrad in chem/biology. Something that helped me greatly was not just reading or writing about the subject in question, but rather having several partners in the same classes that you can have discussions with concerning the info. Talk, express and recite the important points of the material, that will help solidify the process of recall for when you need to have instant access for a test or paper.