No idea where to start, 22 years old

Applying to College
1

<p>To begin, I was never much into public school. And after moving to a different state for 11th and 12th grade, my grades took a nose dive into the barely a D, maybe a C, sector. I just barely graduated, literally by a hair on my head. No need to go into all the reasons, but suffice to say I hated school and didn't care all that much about college after finally getting away.</p>

<p>After school, I got out in the real world. Got a job, which i've now had full time for over 3 years. (40k salary, not too bad) And I own a small side business. I guess I must have had a quarter of a mid-life crisis recently. Because ive been thinking about going back to school again now that im more mature, and my life is more in order than it once was. Maybe its a mix of seeing all my friends graduating from their 4 year schools, and partially just not feeling like im getting anywhere or making a difference.</p>

<p>So ive begun looking at options, and im just bewildered and lost. I don't even know what GPA I graduated with, but I assume it was horribly low. Lucky if it was in the 2's? I never took the SATS or ACTS either. I do not know if I will need them or not, it looks like some schools require them, and others if you are out of school 3 years they do not?</p>

<p>Basically, I am not sure how to begin looking into things. Financial Aid I know will be a problem. I'll likely be able to keep my job part time, but I doubt that will cover things. I do have a 10k car debt that I need to pay off, and insurance. But that is my only expenses. I want to look at financial aid, but I see that it still requires my parent on it. She makes a decent salary, but can barely afford mortgage payments. Im afraid with my own salary and my parent, i'll end up with next to nothing in help!</p>

<p>Now money aside, because thats really secondary... my biggest concern is how will I get into a school. Do I even have a chance at a good school? I read that if you do well in a community college, you can transfer to a university. Does that mean you would need to do 1-2 additional years of college, or do those credits transfer over from 1-2 years, to 4 years?</p>

<p>I am not sure what I want to do yet, so maybe community is the best way to start while I look at majors. I am really interested in medical and business(marketing) fields, so I think I would like to take some classes while I decide on a major or field?</p>

<p>Is it even possible for me to be a full time or "traditional" student and still hold a part or full time job without burning out or affecting my grades?</p>

<p>Excuse me for ranting on, just so much information and I really have no idea on how to get started. It would be easier if I had a school picked out, cause then at least I could speak to someone, but I don't even have that worked out yet! </p>

<p>Thanks to anyone who reads or answers. :)</p>

2

<p>I think community college would be a great start. After you get enough transferrable credits (usually 2 years) you can apply to a 4 year. The credits would transfer and you'd have, roughly, 2 years of schooling left. JC's are really good for people who have jobs and theyre not just meant for outgoing high school seniors. I'm still in high school, but every class I've taken at our jc since freshman year has had at least two or three people who have come back to finish their education. The classes are also really flexible and (I'm not sure if they have this at 4 years) but the jc where I live has a work study program where you actually get credits for how many hours of work you out in at your job. There are also lots of weekend and short course classes to fit into your regular work schedule. If you do really well at the community college, that's what the university you transfer to will look at. </p>

<p>People make mistakes--especially in high school-- and we all have to deal with different circumstances and situations that arise. Colleges know that and as long as you've learned from that and bettered yourself, it shouldn't really hurt you. </p>

<p>I think business would be a good fit for you, especially if you already have your own side one. Your present experience in the field can only help you. As for medical, do you mean like a doctor or something? My brother is 21 and just graduating from Berkeley and then he has to go through medical school, his residency and all that good stuff and i don't think he's ever gonna start working for real until he's about 30+. That stuff takes forever.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply! I figured that was how the credit and transfers worked, so thats good to hear. I know that if I started college now, i'd be striving to have the best possible scores I could. Where as in high school I was just striving to get the hell out.</p>

<p>I do well at business and tech, but i've honestly never enjoyed it very much. Im kind of hoping that taking some classes and exploring my options will just open up a window that I didn't even know was there to open. Medical has always interested me, but im definitely not fooling myself into thinking ill become a Doctor. Thats a lot of schooling and bills and years, and I dont think im quite made out for that. Nursing is a bit of an interest to me though, as well as some other non med-school required professions. But even that is a bit of a reach and tends to require a lot of schooling, stress, and time.</p>

<p>I've lived very comfortably the past 4 years, and i've made a fair bit of money. But its dawning on me that money isn't going to mean much if I am not happy with what I am doing. So I really hope to find what makes me happy.</p>

<p>I think I will start looking into my community college here, as well as some adult programs. One university I looked at lists these requirements for adult students:</p>

<p>*FRESHMAN ADULT LEARNERS *
G.E.D. recipients, evening school graduates and students whose high
school graduation glass has been out for three or more years are
required to submit:
• A completed application for admission and the required application
fee.
• A high school diploma or its equivalent.
• A high school transcript, if appropriate.
• A written work history and/or resume.
An interview my be scheduled as part of the process. </p>

<p>And this is actually a pretty easy to get into, but decent 4 year college. Im wondering if I would even have a chance at something like that!</p>

4

<p>Ahh, so refreshing to hear from someone who is not obssesing about getting into Harvard! :) Sound like community college might be your best bet if you live in a state with good CC system. The best thing is that you can work while pursuing your degree! Here are some real life examples I'm familiar with. A friend's daughter worked for a year or so after graduating from high school, then completed 2 years of community college classes while still working part time and got accepted into USC full time. A lab assistant at my H's company worked almost full time while completing community college followed by a transfer to UW. The guy will soon graduate from UW with a B.Sc. degree. Ditto for the lab assistant at my former place of employment. You sound like a person who was really bored in high school but has matured tremendously in the past years, therefore you have a great chance of succeeding in college. And you also passed the "definitely" test ;). Good luck!</p>

5

<p>and you also passed the "definitely" test </p>

<p>hahahahhahahah I hate when people spell definitely wrong.</p>

<p>Anyway back on topic. I will have to agree with the previous posters, go to CC and make the best out of it. Good luck!</p>

6

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<p>I think community college is definitely the way to go in your case. If you work hard and get good grades and take the right classes you can easily transfer to a good four year university with little or no loss of time.</p>

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<p>It's good to be realistic, but at the same time don't sell yourself short. I know a guy who came out of high school with no money and no particularly bright prospects. He did well at community college and after two years transfered to UCLA. After graduating he got accepted to UCLA dental school and today is a succesful dentist.</p>

<p>The key to being able to hit the high targets is doing well in school. In your case you are going to have to put your old high school habits and approach to school behind and develop good and efficient study habits. You may wish to work with counselors early on at the community college to make sure you are studying the right way to maximize your chances. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>Thank you everyone. :) Great comments, and giving me a lot of hope!</p>

<p>Im definitely (haha) not selling myself short, but im looking at the short term goals I guess. Taking one step at a time. Hell, if I end up falling in love with learning again, who knows what lengths I would go. I really have no commitments, little debt, and plenty of years ahead of me. So I guess im really open to anything.</p>

<p>Well, its a good thing that i didn't have ANY high school habits, unless you count skipping class and sleeping as studying habits. :P So im a blank page here willing to do things the right way.</p>

<p>As for councelors, I would certainly plan on using them. I also have friends who are graduating from their four years in the top of their classes and all of them are willing to teach me the ropes. So thats a good thing.</p>

<p>I guess now I should look at some community colleges and speak with the counselors, I was hoping to start in 2009 so we will see where this leads!</p>

8

<p>I wanted to add that you write very well and I think you will do well in your college classes. Best of luck!</p>

9

<p>Thank you! :) One thing I can't stand is bad writing on the internet. I've also written for blogs and whatnot. I was always a good writer, I was just never good at writing things that didn't interest me. And that is a hurdle im going to have to get over, because I know I will not have much of a choice! </p>

<p>English has crossed my mind, but my friend is graduating in the top of her class, the papers and self exploration type writing just makes my head spin. I love creative writing (hell I wanted to be an author when I was growing up), but ask me to write about myself and I go utterly blank.</p>

<p>My friend is going to send me a copy of her, "Princeton Review - College Majors" book, which has a huge amount of details of all the majors out there so I hope some reading will set me on the right track.</p>

<p>By the way, you all rock, thanks again. :D</p>

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<p>I am THRILLED to read about a person contemplating college after a few years on their own. My friend, you will get so much more out of your classes because the material will have real world applications to you. I took a college personal finance class after being on my own and it was riveting stuff to me. The freshmen around me were four (or more) years away from having to decide between a credit card with a teaser rate or a credit card with a decent credit union. They squirreled around while I squirreled away helpful nuggets of information that saved me real money. </p>

<p>Colleges are as varied as cars. There are luxury choices, pragmatic choices, fun choices and a few miserable lemons. Since you already have work experience, you might like the practicality of a land grant school (such as Washington State University or Texas A&M). Research like crazy and take time to do some campus tours and talk to admission and financial aid people. Some colleges (Evergreen State) may give you college credit for your work experience. Ask. That could shave thousands off your bills.
Many campuses will let you sit in on a lecture or two and that could help you figure out interests --- your work experience will gain you respect from both students and professors (Ok, many but not all students and profs!) Go for it!</p>

11

<p>You and I have lived basically the same exact life(moving in the middle of high school and everything). I (barely) graduated from high school with a 1.5 gpa, terrible SAT score (by this board's standards), etc...Worked various jobs for four years and decided to go back to school starting in the fall of '06. I registered at a local community college and proceeded to bust my butt for a year. My second semester I had an Anthro professor who was a former professor at Wellesley College take me under her wing, which ended up being the best thing that has ever happened to me because she encouraged me to apply to Columbia's general studies program for the following fall and offered to write me a letter of recommendation (the letter made my mom sob for an hour). Long story short I got in and enrolled last fall. I guess the point of this is:</p>

<p>1) Don't think that because you go to community college you won't be able to transfer to a great school.</p>

<p>2) Get to know your community college professors. They are an incredible resource and a great letter from them really goes a long way.</p>

<p>Feel free to shoot me a PM if you have any questions or anything. Sorry if this post in incoherent it's 2am and I'm exhausted.</p>

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<p>Wow, such great replies. Thanks you two. Apps i'll be sure to send you a PM if I have any questions, it does sound like the exact same life! And also, grats! That is an awesome achievement.</p>

<p>Im just glad to hear all these replies, because at first I felt like it may be too late to get a "quality" education. But now I feel like I can reach higher rather than aiming for "just getting in".</p>

<p>I've already started researching schools, and im trying to plan a little road trip to visit a few out of my area. (I love long drives.) We'll see what happens! And i'll be sure to update here. :)</p>

13

<p>I'd just like to second whoever it was here who mentioned that some colleges/universities will give you credit for life experience. PLEASE look into that at each one you visit! Some will give credit or placement for tests on CLEP tests, others might want to look at a portfolio of your previous work. Sometimes this is done informally on a case-by-case basis, and other colleges/universities have sizable formal programs set up to facilitate these kinds of credits.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>