Starting College or Going Back

[PWS]

Started the paperwork today to try to get back in school this fall. I had to quit at the end of March 2010 due to personal reasons. As it looks like museum work is a pipe dream, am switching to education. High school history.

Terrific, mrd! I was just thinking about you when I saw this thread was active again, and wondered if you'd be able to get back to school now that you are back home. Can you double major in history and education? Or at least minor in history? That might increase your options, and if a museum thing ever opened up you'd have that option. Not to downplay teaching, I love it, but you seemed to like the museum work so much. Have to say though, that once you get through the first few years teaching does usually offer a lot of job security, something your family would probably appreciate these days.
Where I live for a teacher to get tenure s/he needs a Master's degree...you could also consider doing that in history, again keeping options open, or in museum work.

[MRD]

Pws, thanks, have thought about all those options and would likely major in history and then I have 3 years to take the classes for a teaching cert. Can teach while I take those and will continue on for a masters.
But it's probably going to be next may now before I can start back. Can't afford online or out of state tuition as we may be traveling for work out of state for a few months.

[Passepartout]

Wished that I could go back and probably get a degree either in writing, history, or finance. And do something with the NFL or game shows. But it is trying to save money. Wished college came for free. Unless you are staying in a dorm. You shouldn't have to pay for your classes IMHO!

[PWS]

Well, take a look at financial aid before you give up. It may not be quite as expensive as you think. You can talk to a college's financial aid office for free, and they can tell you what you need to do to figure out how much it would actually cost you. State or city schools and community colleges can be a lot cheaper, depending on where you live. I know it's gone up a lot over the last few years, but at one point the NY state 4 year schools were so cheap my teen could have paid for college from his paper route, even without aid, if he lived at home. And he didn't cover THAT many houses! I also had a returning student who paid his tuition from the cans he collected on campus....

[MRD]

I did talk to financial aid. That's how I found out I can't afford it. I will have $3300 for books and tuition.
The local community college where we are going is going to cost $3200 for tuition and fees. That leaves &100 for books which will pay for one. I have to carry 12 hours to get financial aid. I have to pay out of state tuition as I won't be a resident of that state. Otherwise the 12 hours is $1500.

Online is about $5200.

Sucks, but not much I can do about it because I'm not staying here while my husband goes out of state for 6 months.

[Lil Bit]

Books are outrageously high. My financial accounting book cost over $200. For one book. But at least it was a hard cover book. I've paid over $100 for a soft cover book with a spiral binding.

[Clydewide]

MRD -check out Western Governors University. I pay $2,935 for every six months with a minimum of 12 credits, and a maximum of whatever I can take. Also, most of the time my books are included in the cost and I have only paid about $200 for books in the past year and half (Amazon has used for pretty cheap). This is totally online and they are competency based, so if you have knowledge/experience with your subject area, you can simply test out of the class. Last semester I did a bunch of gen ed and business classes, and completed 27 credits, athough I normally average 15 to 18 per semester. I know they offer education majors. PM me if you want more info.

[MRD]

I did check out Western Governors last week, even talked on the phone to one of their admission specialists. There really isn't any classes I can take there that will apply to my eventual degree or that will transfer. Their education classes are non-highschool (elementary education or middle school education) or are math or science specific for high school. I only need online classes for a few months and then I'm going back to the University I have been attending as I actually prefer the classroom setting. I know the professors and I intend to graduate from this school. I'm just needing something temp. online and the admission specialist there said that he really couldn't help me. I may have a line on something in Tenn. where I can take online classes and because I know one of the profs, she's going to talk to them and see if because it's only for 1 or 2 semesters if they can help and help with fin. aid. Keeping fingers crossed.

[Clydewide]

Hope the school in TN works for you then. Good luck!

[MRD]

Thanks Clydewide and wishing you success with your studies.