Going back to school and could really use some guidance

State Forums
1

<p>Hey everyone,
I am looking to start going back to school again and am faced with taking one of two directions and could really use some help/clarification/advise. To give you some background I am 23 and have not been in school due to a drug problem that took over my life freshman year. It all but killed me but I somehow made it through and now have 2 years of sobriety and life is finally good. Now it is time to do something with my life and I am getting the itch to go back to school because I finally appreciate the value of an education that I wrote off the first 22 years of my life. I help keep the books with our accountant at work and she has been telling me to go into this field for the last 6 months and that is what I want to pursue. The options I am faced with are these:
Option 1- Go to community college in Arizona for a year and get all my prerequisite courses taken care of and then go to ASU and complete their accounting major. I'd like to try and get in to the honors college as well.
Option 2- I have a job offer in Silverlake right near LACC, about a 5 minute walk from where I would be living for both the job abd school. Ideally I would go there and would like to transfer to UCLA for the Business Econ major with the accounting minor. I would also like to try and do the Scholars program that LACC offers, but I am not sure if I would have time for that AND work.</p>

<p>I know these both seem like lofty goals, and some of you may think I am a fool but I would really like to know what you guys think. ASU seems like a safer bet but is it a pipe dream to try and go for it in LA? And which would I be better off doing? Would it even be possible for me to get into UCLA and get both the major and the minor, with OR without the scholar's program? I understand how competitive those both are but I'm not afraid of grinding and putting in the hours to do it. Sorry for the long post.</p>

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<p>Why community college in Arizona rather than LA?</p>

<p>I would suggest you start with community college somewhere, see how you do, then think about where you want to finish your education. You may find that another school will be a better fit in the long run</p>

<p>Good for you for wanting to start over.</p>

3

<p>First - congrats on your sobriety. After what you’ve been through, there’s nothing wrong with lofty goals. </p>

<p>It matters alot more that you start than where you start.</p>

<p>Its hard to say how your track record will impact your admission now.</p>

<p>Going to college in your mid 20s is different than going in your late teens. Maybe you’ll love it, maybe you won’t. </p>

<p>If you move to CA then start school, they will hit you for out of state tuition - which is brutal. </p>

<p>Unless you’ve got an urgent need to be in CA, I’d stay put in AZ. Start with a couple of classes at your local CC soon - next semester if you can. Hold onto the accounting/book-keeping job. After the first semester, you’ll have a much better feel for where you want to be, what you want to study and what you can afford. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Hey Stras,</p>

<p>As an older student who also had a drug problem (among other things) I can relate. I went back to school, and faced a lot of similar stuff that you are probably facing. So, I’m going to say some stuff that I wish someone had said to me. B/C I can tell from your posting, you were a lot like me.</p>

<p>Remember, man, one step and one day at a time. First, you should be talking to your sponsor, not a message board. What does your sponsor say? Your sobriety is the single most important thing, period. You’re getting so ahead of yourself, and you haven’t even really started anything yet. Like I said, one day at a time. Coming out to Los Angeles (where I live) makes little to no sense. You’re a resident of Phoenix I take it, right? So, it would be safe to assume that’s where your support is. Family, job, sponsor, program, friends, etc, etc…Not to mention, that’s where it would be cheapest for you to study. UCLA isn’t going anywhere, and you could still transfer after you study at an AZ CC. Right now, it seems like you’re just getting yourself completely worked up. From the tone of your posting, and the scrambled, jittery, yet enthusiastic message, it seems like you’re all over the place. You need to slow down, focus on ONE goal at a time, and live…how did I say? ONE DAY AT A TIME. </p>

<p>Set yourself a stable, long term goal. That’s very important. BUT, don’t confuse that with short term goals. which should be more like…</p>

<ol>
<li>Talk to your sponsor.</li>
<li>Go to a meeting.</li>
<li>Be of service.</li>
<li>Be of service.
etc, etc…</li>
</ol>

<p>after that. you can answer some of the questions from your posting. Moving to Los Angeles is fine, if that’s your long term goal. </p>

<p>But, coming out here now simply because you are really desperately trying to make things happen as quickly as humanly possible, is not smart. In fact, it’s the sort of rash, rushed, illogical, reactionary, etc, etc…type of decision/behavior that made you (and me) a drug addict. </p>

<p>First, all you really need to do, is just apply to a local community college. Have you done that yet?
Second, you need to register for classes. Without priority, the first semester or two will be tough.
Three, you need to finish those classes that you start AND get GREAT grades.
Four, you need to take more classes, then more, etc, etc…</p>

<p>Make sure you talk with a counsellor early AND often. As an older student, time wasting days should be behind you. Take the classes you need, and do your best. No more taking classes you dont need, no more W’s, no more not showing up, no more not following through, etc…</p>

<p>Then, after you’ve gone to school for a bit, finished enough units, and have some more time under your belt you will want to…

  1. Talk to sponsor
  2. Go to meeting
  3. Be of service</p>

<p>and then…</p>

<p>Figure out what school is best for you. NOT what sounds good at the moment. Use logic, not what sounds good at the moment as your mind is racing around off a manic high.</p>

<p>Look, I know you want to be successful, go back to school, exercise all those demons from your past, prove to everyone (and yourself) you’ve changed, accomplish BIG goals, etc, etc…Because I was the same way. BUT, you can’t do that in one day.</p>

<p>It takes time. It takes making GOOD DECISIONS. It takes a plan, patience, hard work, and being smart. Not just a few hurried snap decisions.</p>

<p>SLOW DOWN. Please, for your sake, just slow down. Then, do what really is best for you both short term and long term.</p>

<p>and, please, for the the love of god. Talk to your sponsor, go to a meeting, and be of service.!!!</p>