Going back to school.

hbionic · August 09, 2011, 02:25:52 PM

Sine me up?

Sgt PSN · August 09, 2011, 02:40:55 PM

Quote from: hbionic on August 09, 2011, 12:25:11 PM
*Sarge, did you sign up for anything?

No, not yet. Summers are no good for me since I have my kids and I didn't want to sign up for anything in the fall since I'm moving. I'm hoping that I can maybe sign up for something starting in Jan and go through the spring, then take a break during the summer again and pick up in the fall. Problem is that I still really don't know what direction I want to go in and I've decided that I'm not going to go simply for the sake of going. So I guess I need to make up my mind. One thing I am fairly certain of though is that I don't think I have an interest in pursuing a bachelors degree. The trade route is something I think I'd enjoy a lot more than anything else. Maybe I'll be a ditch digger. I've got plenty of experience digging fighting holes from the 6 years I spent as a grunt. I probably possess the skills of an advanced ditch digger. Maybe even a master digger. Then I could be Dio's boss. We shall see....

Sgt PSN · August 09, 2011, 02:42:53 PM

Quote from: hbionic on August 09, 2011, 02:25:52 PM
Sine me up?

Math pun ftw.

hbionic · August 09, 2011, 04:46:31 PM

Don't go into something for the sake of a job. Take some time and see what you would enjoy or if you have been inspired to pursue something. Then move forward...otherwise...you're just getting a job and wasting your life....like most people.

phattymatty · October 19, 2012, 02:10:15 PM

So this is similar to the MIT online program except it's classes in real time by real professors...some even send you an official certificate of completion. Anyway, there are some very cool classes here...one of my buddies just finished the Gamification class by some UPenn professor and said it was great.

https://www.coursera.org/

I signed up for one or two coming up.

Sgt PSN · October 19, 2012, 04:09:20 PM

Funny that you brought this thread up because I was listening to news radio today and they were talking about college education, the high cost and the % of people who incur massive amounts of debt but don't even finish their degree. They mentioned the MIT thing and were talking about how college-level course work is starting to pop up online and that we may start seeing a shift from traditional 4 yr colleges to these unacredited online options that are either free or a fraction of the cost, even compared to other online programs like UoP. The problem obviously is getting employers to lower their demand for accredited degrees and start accepting the certificates you get from just doing the online course work.

The one site the guy brought up was www.udacity.com. Seems to be mostly techie related stuff but apparently they are getting some tech companies to take them seriously enough to actually hire people who are doing their education through them. Courses are free and at the end of your studies you have the option to certify your skills (for a fee) and they send your resume to their partner companies.

Not sure how legit this specific site is, but I like the premise of it....free education and pay at the end if you want a professional skill certification. It'll probably be decades before that concept takes root in the non-tech world (if it ever takes root at all) but I think the concept is great.

General_Failure · October 19, 2012, 04:36:37 PM

I would have saved around $20-25k if that had been available twelve years ago.

Munson · March 11, 2013, 02:38:08 PM

Officially declared History and Political Science minors today. Yay me.

hbionic · March 11, 2013, 02:56:15 PM

Congrats.

Geowhizzer · March 11, 2013, 09:34:58 PM

Quote from: Munson on March 11, 2013, 02:38:08 PM
Officially declared History and Political Science minors today. Yay me.

Good luck.

Munson · March 11, 2013, 11:08:48 PM

The good news is, so many of the classes line up with each other that it doesn't add any extra time, since I'm taking classes this summer and next. Of the 12 classes needed total for both minors, I already had to take 4 of them for my degree, and then 2 others count towards both.

Other than just being subjects of interest to me, the history minor should give me some content knowledge I've long since forgotten so I can make sure I pass the SS Praxis II, and the PoliSci minor will leave me with only 15 classes left to take if I wanted to go back and get a 2nd degree in Government and Public Policy, which I am strongly considering after I start teaching.

Diomedes · March 12, 2013, 06:28:44 AM

Do return for the second degree. Then after that, you'll need to get a Masters I'm sure. But whatever. None of that will hurt you, and you'll likely get tuition reimbursment/loan forgiveness.

Keep up the good work.

Rome · March 12, 2013, 07:48:38 AM

Good job Munson. Keep it up, dude.

Munson · March 12, 2013, 03:04:43 PM

Thank you guys

Quote from: Diomedes on March 12, 2013, 06:28:44 AM
Do return for the second degree. Then after that, you'll need to get a Masters I'm sure. But whatever. None of that will hurt you, and you'll likely get tuition reimbursment/loan forgiveness.

I do think teachers get some form of debt forgiveness, but even if I don't, if all goes to plan I should be graduating with only 16K or so in debt.

The fact that I'll probably have to get my Masters to keep teaching might be the only thing that prevents me from getting the Gov&PP degree. But I'd really like to get involved in local politics so, we'll see what happens.

Diomedes · March 12, 2013, 03:13:11 PM

It strikes me as idiotic to skip the second bachelors when you have so little coursework to do in order to get it, even if you are required to go on for the Master. Just do the extra couple semesters and when all is said and done, you'll be the guy with two BAs and an MA, which will make you more likely to land the teaching job you want than if you had just the standard one and one.