<p>To make a very long story short(or shorter), after a horrible childhood followed by even worse teenage years, I dropped out of high school because I was homeless and honestly after always being told I was "stupid, worthless and would never amount to anything" by my father I didn't think I needed it. Hell, I spent most my childhood just praying that I would die. I really enjoyed school and always did well though. I was in the "Gifted and Talented" program in elementary school and took some AP courses freshman year(my last full year), I was one of four "Students of the Year" one year but it was the same year my brother died and my dad told me it was only because they felt sorry for me. I guess I always believed him because, well, why would your dad like about something like that? Okay, boo hoo, get over it! Well I did. I managed to provide for myself in honest ways. I always managed to do good at my jobs, I never called in sick, I have never been fired or even written up in any job and always promote quickly. I always put that I had a GED on my applications and no one ever knew the difference.
After managing a dry cleaners for 5 years, I finally decided I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't spend the rest of my life in some dead end job, so I quit. I finally decided to go get my GED and start at a culinary school. I didn't think I could find a way to pay but I knew I had to do everything I could so at least I would know I gave it my all. I signed up for GED classes at my local community college and after the initial tests in class I was told I did not need the classes and that i could take the test, they also told me that as long as I passed my GED, they would give me a one semester scholarship. Well, I scored much high than the passing score, which put me in the top 2% of GED scores. For the first time in my life I am proud of myself. I am going to get my A.A.S. in Culinary Arts, then I hope to go to NAU or ASU to get my BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
I am so nervous because I haven't been in school in over 12 years, but mainly because I don't want to fail. This is the most amazing thing to ever happen to me, a chance I never thought I would receive but always wished for. I am more determined to succeed than I have ever been, I know I will study enough and I know I am serious enough, but what if I am just not smart enough? My excitement definitely overpowers the fear and anxiety though. I guess I am just looking for some helpful advice, maybe somebody with a similar experience that found they did better than anticipated? I've known very few people to go to college, and none had dropped out 12 years before going. I am starting in a month(Jan 18) for spring semester! Thanks in advance for any advice, and taking the time to read through all this!</p>
<p>There are so many people who have gone to college late and succeeded quite well in life. Sam Harris, a neuroscientist, graduated when he was 33 and eventually earned a PhD in neuroscience (he’s also a pretty hardcore atheist, but that’s beside the point). I’ve often heard my father say that he wished he went to school later in life because then he would have appreciated it more and worked harder to achieve his goals. I think that’s exactly the position you’re in–good luck.</p>
<p>thats a very inspiring story! YAY U! like srsly…</p>
<p>anyhoo, there are some really nice hotel management and culinary arts schools in Europe, and are considered to be the best in the world, look into them, mayb you will like it! i had a phase when i wanted to go into culinary arts so i researched a bit…
either way, GOOD LUCK!!</p>
<p>(I didn’t realize that about Harris. Finished his undergrad at 33? That’s cool to know.)</p>
<p>Hey OP, a little less drama in my story, and a couple years younger (26), but certainly I was no better off educationally, and I’m thriving. I never went to school. My parents pulled my brothers and I from school after I had completed the first grad, for reasons I won’t get into, and then proceed to never teach us anything. My brothers both put up enough of a fight when they were 15 that they were able to go to HS, but I knew how far behind I was (I could kind of read, but not enough that I could even really sit down and read a book or something), and just wanted to bury my head in the sand.</p>
<p>And buried it was, from 1999 until 2012. Over this time, I passively learned to read at a functional level, but was still terrified of math, which I had never done. I decided I would teach myself enough math to take the GED so I could go get a job that didn’t involve a shovel or something, bought a GED prep book that literally started at adding and subtracting, and worked my way through. </p>
<p>The process was so rewarding for me that I decided to go to community college. I started over the summer, which is less than half as long and covers the same amount of material, which no one explained to me, so I had to drop a class, and struggled with math (like, doing problems with all the time I wasn’t sleeping or in class), but ended up with a 4.0. Then Fall 2012 semester, I had a pretty easy time, and still have a 4.0.</p>
<p>I’m now starting Calculus, Chem 1, and some engineering classes in January, and hope to transfer to a 4-year university in a couple years, then to get a PhD. </p>
<p>I am not smart, and was underprepared, but I think I’ve mostly caught up by working hard and learning how to manage time better. I’ve got a 4.0 still, am on the Dean’s List, have some different awards and honors that professors give out, and things are getting less time-consuming. If I can do it, you shouldn’t have an issue, if you can stay motivated.</p>
<p>Some advice: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Check out Cal Newport. He runs a blog about study skills and doing well at college, and he wrote some books on similar stuff (I like <em>How to Become a Straight A Student</em> if you even want to buy one), and helped me gain some idea as to how a successful student approaches things. Here is my favorite of his posts: [Study</a> Hacks Blog Archive Getting Things Done for College Students: The Full System](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/07/20/getting-things-done-for-college-students-the-full-system/]Study”>http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/07/20/getting-things-done-for-college-students-the-full-system/)</p></li>
<li><p>There is money EVERYwhere. Clubs have their own scholarships, organizations have stuff that isn’t advertised at the school, etc. Apply for everything you can. A couple $500 grants can make a huge difference.</p></li>
<li><p>Work hard and be nice to people. That seems obvious, but I can’t tell you how much mileage I’ve gotten out of that. I think I remember Conan O’Brien giving that as his life advice during a 60 Minutes interview after he was fired from NBC. At the time I was disappointed, because I wanted him to be bitter and talk smack about NBC, but as I get older, the cliche becomes obviously accurate. When people know that you are there to work, that you take what they do seriously, and that you appreciate what they do for you, it makes them happy and they like you more. I believe I get more help and more opportunities than smarter students do as a result of this. Like, I have five professors, maybe 8, who would drop what they were doing to write me a letter of recommendation, as an example, or in any of my classes, it’s very easy to find quality people to study with, because everyone knows I will do everything I can to pull my own weight. It will never hurt to do this, and it’s less common than you’d suspect.</p></li>
<li><p>If you have trouble with something, talk to the professor about it right away. Going to office hours is responsible for 3 of my A’s not being B’s, and that’s over only a couple semesters.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>What an amazing life story! I am thrilled that you have a goal in mind as many in college don’t know what they want to do with their life.</p>
<p>If you are thinking NAU or ASU I would encourage you to check out credit-by-examinations as a way to earn some fairly quick credit. I believe both of these universities grant credit for CLEP exams which will allow you the opportunity to test out of general ed classes (and much cheaper than paying the tuition/fees at either of those universities). There are many adult learners who are either just starting out earning a college degree or trying to finish the degree they started many years ago, so you are not alone. If you do a search on CLEP exams, you will eventually find them posting their stories on various websites/forums.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Great move!</p>
<p>The best advice I can give you is to stay ahead of all the reading. Don’t fall behind and you’ll be fine. I actually think it is easier to go to college when you are older. Being driven is one of the most important aspects of getting through school and you seem to have both ambition and drive. </p>
<p>I have a similar story… was out of school for 15 years and started up again at the age of 35. I am 46 now and it was the best decision I ever made. I remember being scared at the time of not being able to do it. I had 2 kids in elementary, a full time job as a mail carrier for the USPS, and a $2600 mortgage. What I soon realized was that I was much more mature than the average student and had life experiences that helped out quite a bit. My background included being a restaurant manager for Taco Bell for 5 years and a grocery store manager for Food Lion for 2 years. Management and accounting classes were easy because I had experience in both areas. I breezed through my finance major with straight A’s except for a B in my first semester of stats. The only thing I can attribute this to is being older and wiser. I think you’ll be fine and hope you find school just as fulfilling as I did. Good luck.</p>
<p>“I actually think it is easier to go to college when you are older. Being driven is one of the most important aspects of getting through school and you seem to have both ambition and drive.”</p>
<p>I totally agree with this. I was really worried going back, but I think the 8-year gestation period made me a way better student than I would have been at 18, and wanting to succeed more than I want to play video games or w/e is a huge part of what it takes, I think.</p>
<p>You already have the tools you need: perseverance and determination. The same skills and drive that kept you alive through your rough teenage years will help you thrive in college. Just keep up with your work. </p>
<p>Buy a daily planner and write down every assignment. For long projects, like term papers or presentations, write down steps you need to accomplish every week so you don’t get overwhelmed. </p>
<p>Find a positive mentor at school. This could be your faculty advisor, but it doesn’t have to be. Just find someone who believes in you and doesn’t spew any negative crap like your father did. If you start thinking negative thoughts about yourself, talk to a counselor. It takes years to undo the damage done by a negative parent but it is never too late to start.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the kind words and advice. I guess I didn’t mention that my GED scores earned me the “Outstanding GED Scholarship” from my CC, which earned me a FOUR semester scholarship! I must maintain a 3.0 GPA to keep the scholarship so that has me nervous but I believe in myself and I’m going to give it my all. My CC has programs and scholarships to help me easily get into and help pay for ASU or NAU when the time comes.
I actually enjoy learning new things, I am always reading and watching documentaries and I can absorb and retain a lot of info, especially if it interests me. Math worries me the most(followed by Spanish), I do have to take a remedial math class(unless I do better on my retest) but my compass scores on reading and writing were 99 and 97. My cc offers free tutoring in any subject and I plan to take full advantage of it, although I imagine I’ll only need it for math, and maybe Spanish. It’s nice to know I’m not alone and others have had late starts as well, hearing similar stories really eases my fears.</p>
<p>Congrats! The real hard part is behind you. I was in similar shoes when I was 25 and just starting. One word of advice: along the way you will likely encounter other students who act like the smartest kids in the room; don’t be intimidated by them - the vast majority are frauds. Stay focused on your own work and you’ll be fine; your success prior to now is proof of that.</p>
<p>And one more thing: enjoy every minute! If you’re anything like me, you are going to have so. much. fun.</p>
<p>Yeah, it’s really comforting to go on the internet and find so many people in the same situations. I made a post on another forum before I even took the GED, looking for advice about school, and there were like five people with the same major, all GED students with weird stories. It helped that my older brother and my father both went back to school for tough degrees when they were my age…it’s such a doable scenario, and there are so many resources available to get us through. </p>
<p>Math anxiety is a self-fulfilling prophecy, imo. I let it scare me out of taking the GED for a long time, and it’s the class that I’ve had to work the hardest at, both semesters, but as long as you have the foundation needed for the class you are in (i.e. know how to do fraction math or algebra or whatever skills are assumed of you), and you don’t just freak out and think you can’t do it, you will be able to do well. </p>
<p>Spanish, I couldn’t say.</p>
<p>OP: Given the hardships you’ve had to endure, you probably have a better chance than most of attaining your goals. With your major, I’m assuming the highest math you’ll need to take is either college algebra or statistics - which, with enough study and patience, you’ll likely easily pass. </p>
<p>Like you, I returned to school after a very long hiatus, after realizing how vulnerable I was to economic conditions. I decided to pursue computer science after a previous stint goofing around as an art major, and faced an immense wall of required math/science courses. Having dropped out of geometry in high school, this was certainly cause for concern. Instead of wasting my time worrying about how ■■■■■■■■ I might be or how foreboding calculus 2 sounded or being embarrassed at having to take remedial math classes at 30+ years of age, I just buckled down and took it one step at a time. I’m now left with one course in linear algebra to go, and will never have to think about calculus again :)</p>
<p>Life is short, and we all get one shot… so map out your goals, put on your big boy pants and get to work. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Congratulations! My bf started college at 29 and has made mostly A’s since he started. The secret? Lots and lots of hard work. </p>
<p>I second the advice to check out Cal Newport- he’s AMAZING. I never thought I had a huge issue with time management until I read his blog (although I will admit to spending several hours glued to computer screen reading all his articles- probably not the best way to spend my time!).</p>
<p>First post!</p>
<p>I just finished my first semester in a long time at the age of 30! I attended college right after high school but plenty of circumstances happened to cause me to drop out. Anyway, my first semester back was hard when you combine that with a full time job. Nevertheless, I’ve managed to get a 3.4 GPA (I know that’s low to most people on this board) but at least I have something to work on.</p>
<p>I finished my BS at age 41 and just finished my first semester of graduate school at age 43! Two things help me get through and do well:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Work ahead. Leave nothing to the last minute. Do as much as far ahead as possible. Don’t get crazy with it but get ahead and stay ahead.</p></li>
<li><p>Ask for help. Ask your professor, see if they have tutoring centers on your campus. It may seem like no one else needs extra help but that is just not true. Those resources are their for your use so use them.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>I can’t really add any advice, everything said here had been excellent. I just wanted to say congrats on making it this far and that you should be so proud of yourself, you really have accomplished a lot. I won’t even wish you good luck, as you’ve proven that one does not need luck to succeed.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the positive words and advice, I am feeling a lot better. Congrats to those of you going to school later in life. I have a lot of respect for anyone willing to take a risk and try something new because I know how scary it can be. I also want thank you guys that sent me your stories in PMs, for whatever reason I can’t respond until I have more posts but I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.</p>
<p>ChefJosh - I took a 7 year break between undergraduate and graduate school. Thought I was getting a late start but it turned out there were lots of others doing the same thing. So you won’t be alone. Your maturity will help you tremendously. Just stay focussed on your goals, be disciplined in your study schedule, be on time and yes, be nice! You may want to join a study group if you can find one that is made up of other mature, like minded students. Best wishes to you in all of your endeavors.</p>
<p>Great job, ChefJosh! I’m not an older student, but I know a lot of them. All of them say the same thing: they wouldn’t be as successful in school if it weren’t for their year of experience outside the classroom. You’re going to do great because you care!</p>
<p>I just turned 30 and I’m heading back for my 2nd Bachelor’s because I realized I went to college the first time around without knowing what I really wanted. I definitely think it makes a person more appreciative of the experience and I can’t wait =) Good luck, dude!</p>