Calling all students

[stephfromMIT]

2late-All my classes will be on MIT's campus.

[BoDy*ShOt]

"it is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot

a favorite quote that inspires me to work at the person I am meant to be.

I'll be returning to school to finish an undergrad degree, finally. because it is never too late.

[DamonK]

Originally Posted by always2late

After reading the posts, I thought I would throw a question out there....how many are taking online classes as opposed to the actual classroom? When I got my nursing degree, many of my classes couldn't be taken online (for obvious reasons...a lot of them were clinical in nature). Luckily, I was able to transfer many of my credits, and CLEP even more...so now, I have the option to take a good number of classes online. I've always been a bit leery of online classes, because I felt that I needed the discipline of an actual classroom setting. However, this summer I took two online classes and, to my surprise, really enjoyed it! I'm thinking of perhaps splitting the rest of my remaining classes 50-50 between online and classroom. If you are taking online classes...what have been your experiences with them? Do you find them easier or harder? Are you online by choice, or is that all that is available?

My Fall classes:
Speech Science I
Sign Language
Aging and the Law
Intro to Physical Science

My classes are all online. It has its drawbacks. I don't go to class therefore accountability falls on me and me alone. Likely, my dom will end up making rules to help me do the work.

For me, being deaf, it makes sense. Otherwise, I get to go to student services, turn in lots of paperwork, and drag an interpreter to class. In many ways, that makes the class much harder. I pay attention to my terp and forget to take notes. Or I take notes and forget my terp. I've gone the route of someone else taking notes for me, but couldn't hold the new I.information in my brain because they weren't MY notes. So...unless you're one of the professors that utilizes online and offline, I'm much less likely to succeed.

[Novelafemme]

Today I start my Masters/PhD program in Mexican American Studies with an emphasis on Chicana/o History and Pedagogy. I was so excited and nervous last night a barely slept a wink. I picked up my books last week and have been perusing them and looking forward to an enlightening and enriching first semester of grad school. There are actually four more books than what I have posted below, but fortunately I already have them in my home library. And I still have one class missing its booklist!! Let's just say I will be knee deep in books for the next 2-8 years. I LOVE IT!

I am also working full time and raising two girls. Medusa, I'm right there with you in the thick of crazyville!!

[Novelafemme]

Originally Posted by always2late

After reading the posts, I thought I would throw a question out there....how many are taking online classes as opposed to the actual classroom? When I got my nursing degree, many of my classes couldn't be taken online (for obvious reasons...a lot of them were clinical in nature). Luckily, I was able to transfer many of my credits, and CLEP even more...so now, I have the option to take a good number of classes online. I've always been a bit leery of online classes, because I felt that I needed the discipline of an actual classroom setting. However, this summer I took two online classes and, to my surprise, really enjoyed it! I'm thinking of perhaps splitting the rest of my remaining classes 50-50 between online and classroom. If you are taking online classes...what have been your experiences with them? Do you find them easier or harder? Are you online by choice, or is that all that is available?

My Fall classes:
Speech Science I
Sign Language
Aging and the Law
Intro to Physical Science

Hi Always,

I'm curious to hear how your sign language class goes; assuming it is one you are taking online.

I have taken a ton of online courses and each one has been fairly unique in its own right. Most of them were in my minor area which was Sociology. One of the toughest ones by far was a Sociology of Gender course I took in the spring. I thought it would be a piece of cake since my major was Gender & Women's Studies, but the prof weighted our entire grade on three exams. I got a C on my midterm and brought my A down to a B. I have found that the more work there is, the harder I work in turn. My online linguistics class this summer required a lot of interaction via a discussion forum where the class met three times a week. That was in interesting class and provided more of a interactive platform which is a nice change from the solitary realm of online academics.

I definitely do better in face-to-face classes, but that's probably due largely to me being so easily distracted when I'm online (oh, lookie...Facebook!) But, if it weren't for online courses I would not have been able to graduate as quickly as I did given my work/family schedules.

[lusciouskiwi]

My Master's in entirely online. My uni uses Blackboard. We're supposed to post work related to each week's readings. There's no opportunity to mix with classmates off BB and folks tend to only post what's necessary so no interaction - we don't have any online discussions.

I'm behind in my readings and have a terrible mental block and like others I'm easily distracted.

I don't do very well when I feel isolated so I don't like not having an opportunity to interact with classmates off BB.

[lusciouskiwi]

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

Today I start my Masters/PhD program in Mexican American Studies with an emphasis on Chicana/o History and Pedagogy.

How do you do a combined Master's/PhD? What's the pedagogy aspect of it? Looking forward to hearing more about it and love your pile of books, they look so interesting! I only have one textbook but heaps of articles.

[sylvie]

Oh, how excited am i to find *this* thread , seriously!
i am a newly registered college girl, starting on Sept 7th.
i am very ready and very nervous, of course.
Working on a nursing degree. i have been wanting to do this for a long time, and am so ready for it now..I love to learn - and ready to give this my all!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay for a student thread!
Interacting with others as students here will be a huge positive for me..
Having that support as a mature student, this is great!

[always2late]

Originally Posted by lusciouskiwi

What do you do to focus? Whether it's something you need to read or write...

Originally Posted by Semantics

Unfortunately, I usually need a crushing amount of pressure. Ha!
I do my best work if I procrastinate until the very last minute. Something about the intensity of scrambling, the empty library at midnight, and the fear of imminent consequences all seem to do it.

It's a terrible strategy and I wouldn't recommend it. I'm sure it's just pure dumb luck that I've never had something come up, or that there was a book or a research article that I desperately needed for my work that I couldn't get my hands on at the last minute.

This semester I'm taking two grad courses, and I'm determined to be better. For my two undergrad degrees I stayed in an area that I knew well, but now I've veered off my planned path and into a field where I'm not so surefooted and things may not come as easily.

I feel so much better knowing I'm not the only person who does this! I, too, seem to function much better under extreme pressure...I write better papers, find I retain more of what I study, etc... And I also beat myself up for it every semester, always telling myself that I MUST get into better study habits, that I am setting myself up for failure should something unexpected come up. This year, I think I might finally have to break the bad habit of waiting until almost the last minute. One of my classes is Sign Language...and since I'll be learning an entirely new language, and a physical one at that, I don't think I'll be able to fall back on my "last minute" methods.

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

Hi Always,

I'm curious to hear how your sign language class goes; assuming it is one you are taking online.

Hi Novela! The sign language class is one that I will be taking on campus. They aren't offering it online, and I don't think they will. I haven't seen it offered as an online class in past semesters. Given the nature of the course..I'm not sure that it could be effective online. It's funny...when some family members and friends heard that I was taking the course, they all hit me up for lessons...so it looks like I will have ample practice! LOL

On a totally different note...your books look REALLY interesting!

[Novelafemme]

Originally Posted by lusciouskiwi

How do you do a combined Master's/PhD? What's the pedagogy aspect of it? Looking forward to hearing more about it and love your pile of books, they look so interesting! I only have one textbook but heaps of articles.

Hi Lusciouskiwi!

Many graduate programs will offer combined degrees! I am studying at the University of Arizona and our graduate college offers several in the areas of hard sciences and linguistics.

As of the fall of 2013, the Mexican American Studies Department here will offer a PhD in MAS and all current graduate students with a 3.5 GPA will automatically be allocated a slot in the program.

Pedagogy means the science of education. So in terms of my graduate focus it means I will be studying the history and educational practices of both Old World and New World Mexico. Although, I am already leaning toward a new focus. I don't have to decided until the end of the Spring semester, tho. PHEW!

[lusciouskiwi]

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

Hi Lusciouskiwi!

Many graduate programs will offer combined degrees! I am studying at the University of Arizona and our graduate college offers several in the areas of hard sciences and linguistics.

As of the fall of 2013, the Mexican American Studies Department here will offer a PhD in MAS and all current graduate students with a 3.5 GPA will automatically be allocated a slot in the program.

Pedagogy means the science of education. So in terms of my graduate focus it means I will be studying the history and educational practices of both Old World and New World Mexico. Although, I am already leaning toward a new focus. I don't have to decided until the end of the Spring semester, tho. PHEW!

Wow, sounds like a lot! I know what pedagogy is just wasn't sure what it meant in terms of your studies What's your new focus (or is it a secret)?

[lusciouskiwi]

Hi Novela! The sign language class is one that I will be taking on campus. They aren't offering it online, and I don't think they will. I haven't seen it offered as an online class in past semesters. Given the nature of the course..I'm not sure that it could be effective online. It's funny...when some family members and friends heard that I was taking the course, they all hit me up for lessons...so it looks like I will have ample practice! LOL
[/QUOTE]

Don't know if you've already seen this Always ...

[Medusa]

WOOTIFER!

I took my first quiz this morning at the butt crack of dawn and scored the max 110 points!

Needless to say, I was very stoked by this. It was only 22 questions long but 12 of them were s/a.

I have a full load this semester and my type 'A' personality says that I have to have a 4.0 at the end of this semester. We'll see. One of my Profs is not only ex-military but a double PHD. She is TOUGH.

I broke out my trusty old leather satchel and will march my ass back on campus tomorrow night for a live class. Something weird about being 35 and surrounded by young 20-somethings but it's also a nice social plugin.

LOVING being back in school so far!

[lusciouskiwi]

Originally Posted by Medusa

WOOTIFER!

I took my first quiz this morning at the butt crack of dawn and scored the max 110 points!

Needless to say, I was very stoked by this. It was only 22 questions long but 12 of them were s/a.

I have a full load this semester and my type 'A' personality says that I have to have a 4.0 at the end of this semester. We'll see. One of my Profs is not only ex-military but a double PHD. She is TOUGH.

I broke out my trusty old leather satchel and will march my ass back on campus tomorrow night for a live class. Something weird about being 35 and surrounded by young 20-somethings but it's also a nice social plugin.

LOVING being back in school so far!

I know you may have told us, but I'ma feeling lazeeee ... what are you studying?

[Novelafemme]

Originally Posted by lusciouskiwi

Wow, sounds like a lot! I know what pedagogy is just wasn't sure what it meant in terms of your studies What's your new focus (or is it a secret)?

It's not a secret, just something I have been gnawing on for a while.

If I do pursue a PhD, then I will need to enroll in the thesis portion of my masters program, and what I'd like to focus on is trauma and affect studies as byproducts of neocolonial, neoliberal, and immigrant policies. I think it could make a fabulous thesis project as well as material for a dissertation.

If I don't do a thesis then I will opt for the exam option and possibly punctuate my academic career with my M.A.

We shall see!

Congratulations Medusa!!!!!

[thedivahrrrself]

Originally Posted by lusciouskiwi

How do you do a combined Master's/PhD? What's the pedagogy aspect of it? Looking forward to hearing more about it and love your pile of books, they look so interesting! I only have one textbook but heaps of articles.

I hate the profs that assign nothing but articles! Research is a great supplement, but there are only so many methods sections I can take in one sitting!!

[lusciouskiwi]

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

what I'd like to focus on is trauma and affect studies as byproducts of neocolonial, neoliberal, and immigrant policies.

Wow, sounds really interesting. Keep us all posted eh?

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by lusciouskiwi

I know you may have told us, but I'ma feeling lazeeee ... what are you studying?

I'm going back for my MBA! The university that I attend doesn't currently offer a Masters in MIS so I had to settle for this for now. There are rumors that they are working up a program (which makes sense since that city is the Silicon Valley of Arkansas *snort*)

So far, classes are interesting and heavy with marketing (which I love!).

[atomiczombie]

I am attending John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, CA working on my MA in Marriage and Family Therapy.

[Medusa]

Prof Pet Peeve: I really dislike it when Profs are disorganized and wait until the last minute to give us a working syllabus. Also, if it's an online class and you still haven't posted assignments in the 4 days since class started, you are an asshole.