Going to college this October, Help

[theLords]

I graduated in 2005 and hated school. Refused to take my SATs because I said "I will NEVER go to college," turns out it's God's will for my life and I've enrolled at my local community college. I have been out of school for 5 years and needless to say I am nervous.

I'm nervous about the school work, and about the student body. From my visits to the campus I've run into many immature, loud kind of guys and I'm not looking forward to the "hey, baby"s that are going to come my way. I've been in the working world with adults for the past 5 years, I've grown unaccustomed to teenage shenanigans.

What was your freshman year of college like? What can I expect both socially and academically?

 

[PouringRain]

You will probably do fine in school. Returning adults usually do, in part because they are more serious about it than those fresh out of H.S. If you are concerned about being around all the young folk, I'd suggest taking night classes (if this is possible for you in your schedule). Night classes at community colleges tend to have more older adults who are returning to school for the education.

 

[jasoncran]

i went to college at night and i was one of the oldest usually in class as i was in my late 20's when i started and early 30s when i finished.

 

[Michae1]

These kids in college are just that. Kids. They are still immature, use foul language and do not care who hears it, and have the social grace of a lemon.

If you cannot take the night classes, you may still not have to worry. Most of the students will consider you too old to hang out with anyways. ;)

I had a similar situation when I joined the Navy. I was tired of the adolescent behavior of High School kids, and I thought I would be with more mature people when I signed up. Oh boy was I wrong. Most of them were just as immature after four years, as the first day of Boot Camp.

 

[jasoncran]

These kids in college are just that. Kids. They are still immature, use foul language and do not care who hears it, and have the social grace of a lemon.

If you cannot take the night classes, you may still not have to worry. Most of the students will consider you too old to hang out with anyways. ;)

I had a similar situation when I joined the Navy. I was tired of the adolescent behavior of High School kids, and I thought I would be with more mature people when I signed up. Oh boy was I wrong. Most of them were just as immature after four years, as the first day of Boot Camp.

try leading those types in combat!

 

[Caroline H]

I had a similar situation, in that I graduated in 2000 and swore I'd never go to college. But after running from God's will and being miserable, I realized that He did want me to go. I began going to college in the fall of 2007, 7 years after highschool, and had to live on campus! But, I did get my own room, and after 1 semester they made me an RA, and 1 semester later I was an RD, so my age did make a difference. The classes with mostly freshmen were grueling, because they were all so disrespectful and stupid, but those didn't last long. I go to a Christian college and am going for a Christian Studies degree, so now all my classes are in the Christianity building and there aren't many freshmen at all. It's much better there. Also, after 2 years I got married and moved off campus, so now I don't have to deal with hardly any of the student body if I don't want to God will help you get through it if you let him, and who knows... maybe he has some plans for you there BECAUSE of your age? You never know

 

[theLords]

Thank you for all your advice everyone!

Unfortunately, I'd rather not take night classes because I don't feel safe walking around campus alone as a woman. But I have heard that you can always ask a security guard to escort you, so I suppose it all depends on my schedule.

It's too bad that men mature at a slower pace then women (although I personally believe this changes for a Christian man) Growing up in the Church I feel I have been spoiled a bit. I'm used to guys holding the door open for me or asking if I need help carrying my books because I went to a Christian H.S.

I figure I could always listen to my iPod walking to and fro and ignore nasty comments that way right? LOL.

And Caroline, it seems we are in the same boat! I'm going to CC for my first 2 years and then plan to transfer to a Christian school in VA. I'm going to get an AA in Psychology and then a BA in English with a minors in Biblical Studies. I also have a strong desire to go to Seminary but I figure I'll eat one cookie at a time! lol. I'm much more excited to go to the Christian school (I'll also be living on campus) then I am about CC.

Because this is God's will for my life I am putting my faith in Him, but I'll still be feeling butterflies in my stomach my first day of class lol.

Thanks guyssss

 

[Caroline H]

Let us know how it goes, when is your first day?

 

[theLords]

I will make sure to do that. My first day is October 20th. I have College Skills, a PE lecture class (only in college is PE a lecture class lol) and Intro to Communications (public speaking) that day. I'll be in school all day that day.

What was your first day like Caroline? This is a very big deal for me, it's such a major life changing event

 

[Caroline H]

You know, I don't remember my first day It seems that the whole semester is just one distant memory. I do know that I had to take College 101 (probably like your college skills class), Freshmen seminar, a remedial algebra class, and a couple of other core classes. So I was mostly surrounded by freshmen babies ... I made a couple of friends, and chose to keep to myself the rest of the time It was in my second semester that I met my now husband, so things picked up pretty quickly from there for me. I'm sure you will do just fine. Just make sure that if you get the opportunity you tell the students how old you are, and then they'll pretty much leave you alone for the most part

 

[jasoncran]

i do remember first day, i was somewhat nervous as i was unsure what to expect, but it got easier as went each week. that was in 2000.

i miss college as that was a money making event and learning expercience for me.

 

[Blazin Bones]

As the younger guy who ended up dating/engaged to/married to the older returning student, all I can say is let God open and shut the doors. I'm glad God opened the door when this younger guy started flirting with my Caroline thinking she was your typical freshmen. I can't speak for how she felt when we first met, but things worked out great!

 

[Caroline H]

i do remember first day, i was somewhat nervous as i was unsure what to expect, but it got easier as went each week. that was in 2000.

i miss college as that was a money making event and learning expercience for me.

College was a money making event for you?? How did you manage that?! :help

 

[jasoncran]

College was a money making event for you?? How did you manage that?! :help

the gi bill isnt taxable ( the old one pays more vs the mcain revamp) as for three classes it cost me with books 300 usd(florida paid for half the classes) and the va paid me 925.00 a month.

and i'm free to use it as i see fit. and i did.

along as i got a c i was good to go, and i made higher grades then that.

 

[Pard]

I graduated high school last year and I am a freshman in college right now, so maybe you do not want my input, but here it goes anyway!

Perhaps because I am attending a community college for my first two years it is different, but for the most part people are calm and not very vulgar. I have visited colleges that are two or three or four times the cost of the school I am going to (I pay 2000$ a semester) and they ARE pretty vulgar there. I think people are more mature because chances are they are paying for their own way and are not riding on mom and dad's dollar (though I should not be talking about that!). I would say that it is totally opposite to what I would expect and I was very impressed.

What school in VA do you want to attend? I was looking at schools there also and my sister attends an online academy from a college out of VA.

 

[Caroline H]

I graduated high school last year and I am a freshman in college right now, so maybe you do not want my input, but here it goes anyway!

Perhaps because I am attending a community college for my first two years it is different, but for the most part people are calm and not very vulgar. I have visited colleges that are two or three or four times the cost of the school I am going to (I pay 2000$ a semester) and they ARE pretty vulgar there. I think people are more mature because chances are they are paying for their own way and are not riding on mom and dad's dollar (though I should not be talking about that!). I would say that it is totally opposite to what I would expect and I was very impressed.

I attended technical college in 2001, and people seemed so much more mature than most of the students on my campus now. It may be that in college, a lot of people are still trying to figure out what they want to do, or some are just wasting time jumping through the hoops that mom and dad expect them to. But at tech school people know what they are there for, have a goal in mind, and set about achieving that goal. And many of them are older adults.

 

[theLords]

I graduated high school last year and I am a freshman in college right now, so maybe you do not want my input, but here it goes anyway!

Perhaps because I am attending a community college for my first two years it is different, but for the most part people are calm and not very vulgar. I have visited colleges that are two or three or four times the cost of the school I am going to (I pay 2000$ a semester) and they ARE pretty vulgar there. I think people are more mature because chances are they are paying for their own way and are not riding on mom and dad's dollar (though I should not be talking about that!). I would say that it is totally opposite to what I would expect and I was very impressed.

What school in VA do you want to attend? I was looking at schools there also and my sister attends an online academy from a college out of VA.

Pard, unfortunately, the bad experiences are first hand accounts. I've visited the campus 3/4 times and 3 times ran into immature students. But I am going to take you're word for it and give them the benefit of the doubt. It's just more so a nuisance, because I've been out of the "school" loop for about 5/6 years. I've forgotten all the drama associated with school lol. Thanks for your advice.

And God willing I want to attend..... (........, is a good school too with more of a social experience, but ........ is very academically based)

What schools are you looking at?

Thanks Caroline and Caroline's Hubby for your input, I feel more at ease about all of this now.

And Jasoncran, you are one lucky man! I wish someone gave me money to go to school. Where are the days of elementary school were our parents gave us 50c for every A we got? lol

 

[jasoncran]

join the army then or your state national guard and then go to school. i could have used pell grants and made more. trust me i earned that when i made 450.00 month as a private in the army.

no man give me money for college , i earned it by my service.

 

[Caroline H]

The only problem with that suggestion, Jason, is that if you join the army or reserves right now you'll probably get deployed before you can go to school

 

[Pard]

I almost went to Regent this year, but then decided it would be better (financially) with I got gen. ed out of the way. I'm happy that I didn't because the more I wait the more I think I ought to go to a school in Mass that is exclusively for people who will be going into seminary.

Liberty has an academy for middle and high school (and maybe elementary?) students. My sister attends the online version (so basically she is homeschooled). I think she plans on going there since she automatically gets a year free and a bunch of credits.

Carol, I got some friends in the military. Some of them signed up for contracts that let them go to school first and then they had to be in the army for X years.