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Post by Kaimontfendo on Sept 20, 2010 1:32:49 GMT -5
I typed up the rest of this, and pretty much ended up ranting, there are details in there for those of you who care, but here's the short version the other 94.8% of you.
1. I have had many disappointments in my life, among them, getting kicked out of college... twice.
2. However, I think I should try college again. I am confident I can succeed this time.
3. That means I'll have to move. Thus, I have to find another place to stay, and a different job.
4. Lack of money is keeping me out of college, and lack of college is keeping me from making as much money as I'd like.
4. I'm terrible at math, and a couple other subjects.
Basically, This is something I really want to do, but I feel like I can't afford to waste more time and money on something that might not work out. (As proven by the two previous attempts. Suggestions, anyone?)
So, I know it's a few months early for the rant I post on my much-hated annual day of aging. (It's more commonly known as a birthday.) But today, I've got a few questions about shadows of the past, destiny, and moving on with my life.
So, in 3 months, I'll be turning 25. Yes, I'm ninety days away from having been on this earth for a quarter of a century. (I know, I'm getting old. That's kinda the point.)
I figured that by this point in my life, I'd so much more than what I've actually become. I figured I'd have a college degree or two, instead of letters from two schools that kicked me out. I figured I'd be making several grand per year as a software engineer instead of working at a grocery store.
I learned long ago that life's not fair. (My psychology final proves that better than anything else.) However, I've often been told that people who work hard get what they want. I'm pretty much convinced that's the biggest, nastiest lie I've ever heard. (And probably the most persistent, too.) Maybe your best is good enough, but my best has an overwhelming tendency not to be. It wasn't good enough for me to stay in college, it wasn't good enough for the redhead I loved in high school, and it wasn't good enough for me to get a job that pays twice what I spend on gaming and snacks most months.
Actually, I just did some number crunching and determined that I currently make about $78,000 a month. That phenomenal failure of math should indicate to you why I did so badly in college. (Although if I actually were getting that much, that'd be about fair. I could become a millionaire in about a year. And in my defense, it is rather late.)
But enough with the complaints. That's not why I decided to post this early. Recently, I've gotten that feeling that perhaps my luck has changed. (Or, more accurately, that it has finally arrived.) It's not just that I've gotten some good fortune cookies lately. Ones that say "Yes, go ahead with confidence." and "Do that which your heart tells you." No, this started before I got those.
I guess it's not really based on anything I can explain, (Although it likely has something to do with some video games I've been playing lately.) but I think I should give college another shot. In my experience, Success on a first (or even second) attempt is uncommon. And of course, the struggle makes the reward that much better. That's the a major reason why Doctor Doom doesn't kill most of the superheroes by nuking New York; the challenge of having the fight them makes ruling the world that much more satisfying. (Also, he doesn't want to piss off a lot of countries by using a nuke, and the good guys have to win instead of die... but that's still part of it.)
Of course, I'm not too concerned with the intellectual challenge of education. Outside of uselessly complex mathematics, presentations, group projects, and painfully long writing assignments, there isn't challenge. However, there are still other problems. The nearest colleges probably won't take me, so I'll have to move. I'm not opposed to the idea of that; I can keep up with my friends online, and I could still visit since I wouldn't have to move terribly far. The hard part is that is means finding another place to live and another place to work.
Also, I'm not making anywhere near that $78k per month mentioned above. (If I were, I probably wouldn't think about going back to college.) I figure I'll need almost double my income in order to pay for college, and I'll have a make an ill-advised mix of classes and work. I can barely have time to keep up with everything and still get any sleep. Working extra hours isn't practical, and from what I can tell, neither is getting a better-paying job. (Well, not enough better.)
So, suggestions?
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Post by Dhark on Sept 20, 2010 5:28:43 GMT -5
[quot]3. That means I'll have to move. Thus, I have to find another place to stay, and a different job. [/quote] Have you considered distance learning? Many top name schools offer that now... it's a pretty sweet gig, and you wouldn't have to move to your school as a result... the school comes to you. Some schools of this nature are VERY flexible about when you'd need to log on, and what sort of participation they look for (I had the misfortune of classes that had designated chatroom events which was almost as PITA as live classes... I'd advise avoiding schools that require those). The degrees are just as solid, and just as real. I used to turn my nose up, but I know LOTS of people now that have left the Military (I'm enlisted) with online earned degrees and walked into some amazingly sweet jobs. The stigma that used to be associated with an online degree vice a physically earned one is outdated. Technology has lent to SELF PACED learning being a perfectly valid and effective approach. The end of the day~ You'd have that 30k-90k piece of paper that says you're a college grad in one field or another. Given the career goal you suggested, I'd even reccomend a school I've just started looking at from a friends suggestion... I think it was Seattle City University or some such (I'm away from home for the next two months, and don't have my bookmarked favorites Grrr)... They had some pretty sweet selection of Computer based majors (I myself was looking at the Programming classes). I'll see if I can't contact the friend that reccomended it and have him toss me the link again if you're interested. You've got a computer, you've got a solid job (if not a satisfying one), and a stable environment... sounds like a firm basis for persuing your educational goals AS IS. Moving, well... that's going to shake up everything. Maybe better, maybe worse. <shrug> Obviously discipline and self-motivation are the key factors that remain, and will be the most difficult to maintain. Just my 2cents  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2010 6:56:04 GMT -5
Advice at math…Normally I wouldn’t be the guy to talk too, but I’m totally the guy to talk too in this situation. I myself sufferer from mild dyslexia, but it doesn’t show up in reading or writing. Mostly it does show up in math. Basically leaving out negative signs, copying questions wrong from the book to the paper, and sometimes when I try to do too much with a problem at one time.
I only recently found out about my problem, because I had a summer pre calculus class. My instructor had the same problem, and worked with me on it. After finding out he had the exact same problem as me, and he had a masters in math, I knew I could work through my problem. Grant it, I only had exactly one month to do it because it was a summer course, and it was the first math class I’d done since like 2004.
Basically most math text books have steps. If it’s one big equation you have to break it up into smaller steps before you can get the answers. Be sure and write all of the steps done just like they are in the text book because when you screw up you can figure out exactly what you did wrong. Math isn’t done all at the same time, it’s done in several small steps. You just have to take your time, and carefully record your work.
Video Games…do yourself a favor and unhook your console, put it in your closet, and sell it if you have too. Video games are wasted time, and that time would be better spent on mathematics. I went so far as to loan my X-Box 360 to one of my friends. I like Dragon Age and all, but I knew that would just hurt me in the long run. I love the MURPG proboard, and I do enjoy it, but I gave up all my games and campaigns to have more time to study. I do plan on returning to action some day when things settle down though.
If you had an iPod touch download math apps. I downloaded allot of pre calculus applications. They really helped me out because I was able to go back and watch people work examples. Youtube is good for this too. The internet is great for researching math problems.
Invest time into your math. I spent no less than six hours a day studying. Most of the time I spent even more. Aside from class I also went to tutoring every chance I got. Math majors will tell you how you learn the subjects to pass is REPITITION! I put emphasis on repetition because it is the very key to passing.
PS
We're all getting older, but remember that getting old beats the alteranatives. More than a couple of my highschool classmates are dead now. Compared to death age isn't a bad thing.
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Post by Ricochet on Sept 20, 2010 10:14:02 GMT -5
1. Stop spending money on snacks. They are bad for your health, and they cost way too much money.
2. Stop spending time and money on games. You can spend it better.
3. I've known people living from wellfare benefits, who would do nothing but complain about their lack of money while (chain) smoking. Yeah, I know it's stupid. Don't smoke!
4.You can turn the thermostat down a few degrees to save money. Wear a sweater!
Warning, here come the silly suggestions.
5. Sell your body to science.
6. Do some nude modeling.
7. Don't become a gay-pornstar. You can get kicked out of college for that! (At least in America)
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Post by Kaimontfendo on Sept 20, 2010 10:30:04 GMT -5
Online classes? Not a bad idea. Of course, part of moving would eliminate the distractions that I have here. However, giving up video games or studying math for 6 hours a day is out of the question. I don't have an extra six hours most days. If I don't get enough gaming, I become unable to focus. Of course, I would intend to leave some of my consoles here.
Sorry for the short post, but I typed it on my PSP.
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Post by raynorn on Sept 20, 2010 10:58:54 GMT -5
Before you spend a dime on classess that are likely to cost $1000 or more per class consider brushing up on your math & study skills with a tutor or a local adult education program.
These highly under rated programs operate without profit and at least locally it is only $40 for 4-6 weeks worth of classes.
Tutors charge about $20 an hour for in person service but if you search on line you may find someone willing to work closer to the $10 an hour range. (Heck a friend who is good at math may be willing to be a study partner for some pizza . . .)
Review your study habits as well and pay attention to what helps you remember. Are you an audio learner, a visual learner, or do you learn best by doing? Once you know this you can focus in on what will help you the most.
FYI
I don't know if this is your situation. My wife has a learn by doing style and was terrible at mathmatics for years, but she took up knitting and she has gotten very good at math as she needs to use it to follow patterns, and altering or creating new patterns requires lots of it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2010 11:02:47 GMT -5
If I don't get enough gaming, I become unable to focus. And that is why you will fail |
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Post by raynorn on Sept 20, 2010 11:36:16 GMT -5
If I don't get enough gaming, I become unable to focus. And that is why you will fail Harsh, but not inaccurate. You may need to evaluate the time you need for entertainment. If it is more than an hour a day, you may need to work on lowering that expectation. |
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Post by dorkknight23 on Sept 20, 2010 11:57:56 GMT -5
Save up for a while (even if it's just 10% of what you earn a month,) research into some grants and scholarships, make one hell of an admissions package. Pray, meditate, get therapy if necessary, focus on what you want and how you want to get it. I'm sure you can do it! |
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Post by Kaimontfendo on Sept 21, 2010 14:47:29 GMT -5
1. Stop spending money on snacks. They are bad for your health, and they cost way too much money. 2. Stop spending time and money on games. You can spend it better. 3. I've known people living from wellfare benefits, who would do nothing but complain about their lack of money while (chain) smoking. Yeah, I know it's stupid. Don't smoke! 4.You can turn the thermostat down a few degrees to save money. Wear a sweater! Warning, here come the silly suggestions. 5. Sell your body to science. 6. Do some nude modeling. 7. Don't become a gay-pornstar. You can get kicked out of college for that! (At least in America) I can understand why you might the the idea I'm some 350-pound lazy-ass, but that's simply not true. I haven't been weighed for quite a while, but I'm probably still around 180lbs. And while other people may worry about high blood pressure, I suspect mine is more likely to be low. (Granted, I suppose that's not better, but considering the relatively amazing health I seem to have, I'm not worried.) 1. Last month, I spent $25 on snacks, including snacks shared with my gaming group. And the snack I had on hand playing through Metroid: Other M was grapes. 2. I've already decided that the only new game I'm going to buy for myself in the remaining portion of the year is Force Unleashed II. (Although the main reason I did that was to make sure I'd have some money for a 3DS when those come out...  ) But spend less time gaming... Really?! 3. Don't Smoke? Check. 4. I don't pay for my untilities here, so turning down the thermostat won't help me any. 5. No, although I like the suggestion of selling my body to science better than the idea of selling my video games like someone suggested. 6. I'm not attractive enough to do any modeling, but perhaps if I bulked up a bit... 7. Seriously?! You can get kicked out of college for doing gay porn?! What about straight porn? (Not that it's important to know or anything.  And that is why you will fail Thanks for the confidence boost, Yoda. Save up for a while (even if it's just 10% of what you earn a month,) research into some grants and scholarships, make one hell of an admissions package. Pray, meditate, get therapy if necessary, focus on what you want and how you want to get it. I'm sure you can do it! That's more like it. Of course, even saving 25% of my income still doesn't amount to much stacked up against moving, paying rent, and a year of classes. It's still, better than nothing. Tutors charge about $20 an hour for in person service but if you search on line you may find someone willing to work closer to the $10 an hour range. (Heck a friend who is good at math may be willing to be a study partner for some pizza . . .) Actually, I tried that once before. In college, one of my friends was studying to become a math teacher. He gave up on trying to help me understand because I was unable to "get it." And paying a tutor twice what I earn isn't going to benefit me, especially considering how little it could actually help. I've tried a few times to determine how I learn best. I really don't have a clue. I have an uncanny ability to recall quotes and voices. I also have difficulty sorting out chunks of speeches I hear. I generally find reading to be very boring, but I do seem to absorb information from it well. But as a gamer, I know I learn many things by doing as well. Basically, I figure I learn best... always. Also, I feel I should mention my math skill seems to show up an odd little ways I can't explain sometimes. For example, I think when I was in high school, my sister asked this algebra problem, and after thinking about it for a few minutes, I answered 66 and one-third. She checked it, and I was right, but I had no idea how I managed that answer. Similarly, I don't know the proper formula for the area of a trapezoid, but I figured it on a quiz once years ago. I've enjoyed doing trigonometry, but I couldn't pass Algebra I in high school. (I was only failing by a fraction of a percent, so the teacher just passed me anyway so she wouldn't have the deal with me again next year.) I'm strange. I know. |
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Post by raynorn on Sept 21, 2010 15:17:31 GMT -5
The fact that a friend and teacher would "give up" speaks volumes. I have to assume
A) He has no attention span for teaching
or
B) There is some barrier that he was not trained in that you are hitting.
Has anyone explored the idea that you may have ADD or something else going on? It almost sounds like a concentration or a connection issue, a friend of mine had horrible grades for most of her life. One year when she had terrible headaches doctors noticed that her brain scan showed some really unusual stuff.
She actually has a data recall issue, she had to learn how to better use mnemonics to remember things. She gets oddly hung up mid thought from time to time but she is way better than she was before, where analytical things like mathematics were completely out of the question.
Just for the record . . . she is rocking college now.
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Post by OurLadyWar on Oct 3, 2010 13:21:51 GMT -5
Kind of a long post, but stick with me, dude!  I'm with raynorn. It sounds like ADD. I'm only saying this as someone with ADHD. Eventually, we can smell our own  But hey, feel free to get a check up. Whenever I'm worried about something like that, and I know it's been a while since my last check-up, I totally like to schedule an appointment with my doctor (when I have health insurance, hee hee). Sometimes it's just good to know what's going on with your body. Also, why not look up a psychologist? I started seeing one a year ago and she was *amazing*. It doesn't mean you're nuts or anything, it just means you're ready to face some of the sh*t or issues that could be holding you back. A lot of people rag on psychology, but if you find the right analyst, it rocks. Sometimes they can be pricey w/out insurance, so if that's the case, maybe look up a life coach. They're similar-ish, and a little cheaper, but again it all depends on how you feel about the person. At about 23 I flunked out of college. Now, I'm going back in spring, but the only reason I'm going back is because I know I'm ready to do this. I could have gone back sooner, but I wasn't ready, so it would have been a waste of time and money, just like you said. If you're ready, and you know you're ready, let that be your first step. It's empowering! And follow what DK said up there, too. The dude knows what he's talking about, but it sounds like you've already taken that advice. And there are tons of ways to find jobs to better fit your school schedule (or gaming schedule), and they will pay you enough to make it rain. Check out Spherion Staffing. They may have a location in your area, and they've never failed me. In NC I was temping at a company in no time at a job paying me $14/hr. They offered me a chance to go full-time after I had been there for only three months. I still had lots of time to game, and if I was going to school, I would have had time for that too. And! When you are in school, don't stop looking for jobs. Consider this. When they ask about your education, think about which would be the better answer: 1) I'm not enrolled or attending now, I have no degree, but I'd like to go back. 2) I'm enrolled, and attending soon, I am working toward achieving my degree! So, even if you don't have your degree, you can still look for jobs. Sure, the degree helps, but the fact that you are enrolled in school can help too! But yeah, I don't want to rant, because sometimes the massive paragraph posts can make me go cross-eyed. The fact that you're facing stuff that is bugging you, and wanting to fix it is a HUGE step. Especially at 25. I went through such a similar phase. I call it the QUARTER LIFE CRISIS Just take the steps you need to, even the small ones make a difference. Lastly! Keep us posted!! I'm not trying to speak for everyone when I say this, but since so many of us have responded to you, I think it's pretty clear we do want to see you grow and better yourself. |
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Post by Kaimontfendo on Oct 7, 2010 6:29:28 GMT -5
Kind of a long post, but stick with me, dude! Hey, You read all of mine, right? It's only fair that I read yours.Considering how many teachers I've had, I like to think that at least one of them would have mentioned ADD if they suspected I had such a thing. From what I can tell, I don't have any learning disorder or anything, I'm just terrible at some subjects. Especially math. It wasn't always that way. I used to be really good at math. I taught my self multiplication by looking at my brother's homework one night. (REALLY!) But around the time I started high school, I reached a point where it stopped making sense. (I have concluded that one must be part of a hive mind to understand more complex mathematical concepts. And of course, those who are part of such a hive mind are forbidden from mentioning it.) Having seen psychologists a few times, I've noticed that they haven't been life-changing for me. I recall an entire session in which we just played checkers. That's what I call a massive waste of money. (Although I didn't think much about it then, because I was only 13 or so at the time, so of course, I wasn't the one paying for it.)Right now, don't have enough time to look for another job. I only have time to reply now because I don't have to work today. Besides, I suspect I'll be getting a raise soon, and that's good enough for me.Clearly 1 is the better answer, because it means they won't have to schedule me around any classes. Right? |
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Post by OurLadyWar on Oct 7, 2010 11:18:46 GMT -5
Eh, a girl can try to help. Good luck, dude! |
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Post by malice on Oct 8, 2010 9:32:30 GMT -5
Do you live in the U.S.? What am I saying? You must live in the U.S. to have this list of problems...
Ok, here's my advice.
First off, you're around my age (I'm 25). If you're fending for yourself that opens up a LOT of options for paying for college.
You obviously have internet access, so go fill out a Financial Aid form (Google FAFSA). You MUST have your tax information.
My buddy who I just spent two weeks visiting got 16k for college from Student Loans and Grants (Grants are awesome because you don't have to pay them back, but I believe you have to file as an independent on your taxes to become eligible).
Also look around for scholarships, but be warned most of the searching for scholarships I did filled my inbox with spam without giving me actual useful info.
I wouldn't bother with distance learning, because online classes may or may not be especially good. There aren't substitutes for a RL professor who is actually interested in your success. However if you really must, then maybe it's your best option.
I've always felt like there was something fishy about online education though, and recently I've seen some evidence that backs it up. A community college gives as good an education and has actual classes, all while costing a fraction as much.
Finally, a good game is actually an excellent purchase, but not always a wise one. You get hours of entertainment out of them, but they distract you. Consider something equivalently priced and how much time and pleasure it gives you compared to a good game, and the game will win that comparison most of the time.
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) But spend less time gaming... Really?!
But hey, feel free to get a check up. Whenever I'm worried about something like that, and I know it's been a while since my last check-up, I totally like to schedule an appointment with my doctor (when I have health insurance, hee hee). Sometimes it's just good to know what's going on with your body. 