Back to school

[Octopod]

It'll probably look close to that since Im 33. I'll probably be sitting in class with people 15 years younger for the most part lol. Ohwell.

[Dakinggamer87]

Good luck and have fun in college..

[otaku]

well my problem is I'm not very good at technical stuff and suck at math/science I've tried many vocations with actual hands on apprenticeships only to fail however the one field in which I have done well has been english I know its likely with these skills I will often be unemployed and poor but I enjoy reading/writing and it is the only real skill that I have.

[PharmaceuticalCowboy]

I'm registered for school next year as well (year 2 but new school) still an english major. Nice laid back work just read and write some BS about what you read

Meh, this is the thinking I had throughout college, and guess what, no job for me! In this downturned market I believe Octopod's idea to get a skilled associates degree is worth far more than going to 4 year school. You can always transfer your credits later if you decide you want to do more with your degree (or the economy bounces back).

To be fair, there are some 4 year degrees that will serve you well, like engineering degrees. But you are right that compared to an English degree an good associates degree will do you far better in this market.

Oh, don't get me wrong, an engineering degree would be awesome. Unfortunately, there are too many high school guidance counselors telling kids that any 4 year degree will do, and I had to set my cousin that just graduated straight on that matter. For many, many people a technical degree will greatly serve their purposes without racking up a great amount of debt. However, if you have someone paying for you to go to school, I would do it for as long as they paid. As much as it ultimately didn't serve me well, college was a great fun time.

[SpaceBooger]

I'm registered for school next year as well (year 2 but new school) still an english major. Nice laid back work just read and write some BS about what you read

Meh, this is the thinking I had throughout college, and guess what, no job for me! In this downturned market I believe Octopod's idea to get a skilled associates degree is worth far more than going to 4 year school. You can always transfer your credits later if you decide you want to do more with your degree (or the economy bounces back).

To be fair, there are some 4 year degrees that will serve you well, like engineering degrees. But you are right that compared to an English degree an good associates degree will do you far better in this market.

I have a 4 year teaching degree, and in Ohio getting a teaching job is like winning the lottery. Schools are funded by property tax that residents can vote yay or nay to... so you can imagine how much schools have to spend in this current economy.

Anyway, many of those I graduated with (from college 1999) never found a job in teaching and don't use their degree anyway. Heck some of them went out and found jobs that paid more than what they would with a teaching degree.

I think going back for an IT degree is cool, just look at how much it will cost you and how much you will make. If the extra cost can be covered by the pay rate then you are golden. I recently got my masters, and the monthly raise I got for it barley covers the monthly student loan payment...

[Octopod]

For anyone who cares ( me, lol ) I'm all enrolled and classes start Sept. 9th. I got Pell grants and state scholarships that more than cover my cost. Pretty sweet deal. I'm thinking about getting a student loan to buy a new computer but part of me thinks that might be a mistake. My classes this semester seems pretty boring. English comp 1, applied technical mathmatics, intro to IT and computer applications. Man, I hope this pans out.

[fast]

If you want to specialize in a field that will never go away - Data Recovery.

Heck I just did some for a coworker whos harddrive got corrupted. Threw the drive in an external bay, fired up knoppix, some magic in terminal, and hey hey hey, 4 burned dvds and I am $50 richer - usually I would charge close to the going rate for that service ($300-500) but he has saved my ass at work in the past. Next time however...

[Haoie]

Too cool for school? Not quite.

[Budsmoka]

I plan on just going to a 4 year school for the partys and the women. Its also a good way to make connections and network.

[RadarScope1]

Good for you for going back. The hard part probably won't be the math or the computer skills, it'll just be simple fact that you're in school and adjusting to the mindset/schedule, etc. Do whatever you can to keep your focus, if that means staying in more or making some lifestyle adjustments.

Here's the main piece of advice I would give anyone going to college, no matter their age or field: DO NOT treat this simply as a means to some sweet job with higher pay. That may seem counter-intuitive, but it's truly all about learning some worthwhile stuff that's going to broaden your horizons. What excites you about what you're studying? What do you think you can add or bring to the field? If you don't have these kinds of things running through the back of your mind as you're going through school, you're probably headed down the wrong path, studying the wrong things. If you're studying something that dovetails with who you are, your personal strengths and your goals, then you'll have no problem turning it into a great opportunity.

Sorry to get kind of touchy-feely, but I just have seen WAY too many people assume this scenario:

1) Go to college
2) Pick up piece of paper after a few years
3) Profit with sweet job and high salary!!!1!!!

That's not how it works, 95 percent of the time. That's not realistic.

One other huge piece of advice: INTERNSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS. Experience > classwork. Even if you have to work for free for a while, do it. EVEN IF IT ISN'T REQUIRED for your degree. Do it. Do several if you can.