here i am, getting ready to take the admitions test college, and im wondering if i have lost my mind. 11 years and a few jobs, and im wondering if i will be able to handle the class load and the costs and working to boot. anyone else done this? i was an alright student, as long as i like the teacher. im just worried that i wont do good enough to get the degree that i want. im going after an associate degree first then if that works out im going after my Bacholers degree in network securities.

I HAVENT,THUMPER, BUT I DO COMMEND YOU ,BRO

First off, congrats.
Second, I am in the same boat. I take my placement tests in Oct. and start classes in Jan. And I have been out of school for 31 years. You can do this if I can. Just hang in there and ask for help every chance you can get.

good luck to you thumper...it will be some hard work going to school and working too....but well worth it in the end.

doing it right now! I graduate in 11 wks!
It was the best thing i have ever done for myself. It's hard work but you can do it. trust me- its worth it
best of luck to you

Hiya, I say good on you!!! I went back to studying and to be honest i felt as nervous as you do when i first started but i love it. I had to leave in my last year in 1996 because i gave birth to twins and thankfully as i'm still registered i have just started studying again this year to take my exams in December, because i didn't want to just quit it. Although i am finding it even more tough now because i have the kids too, i still love it and feel like this is something for me.

As for teachers. personally i felt the entire atmosphere is completely different to that when you were at school if that makes any sense. Almost like you are there because you 'want' to be there rather than 'having' to be there.

Good luck! I wish you all the best and to everyone else out there studying again.

i thank yall, im just nervous i guess. i dont want to get into something and feel like im drowning.

Went back in my mid-40s. Hard to do as I absolutely hated school!!! And I was old!

Had a blast! The education system get's so bad each decade or so that the earlier students seem to be so smart. HA Sorry, child teacher/coach/health instruction professionals.

I hope to go back again in the spring and I'll be 56. I worked full-time and was raising two young daughters while I was full-time school. Ain't no extra time but it's just so rejuvenating to be around so many people with goals and positive attitudes.

You'll do great. Congrats on the decision - make it fun: want to learn.

You will do fine. Don't forget your lunch and clean underwear!

im doing this to make myself better. not just for the money, my body needs a break. and i like messing with computers anyway, so i figure maybe learn all i can about them and make some money off something i enjoy.

I went to back to college in my early early 30's. You will be surprised when you see how many "older" students there are.
It was all good.

If you are worried about the class load with working, why don't you just take one class the first semester? It might may it feel less daunting.

Worried about not doing well enough? ALL students can feel that way sometime or another. Just class, one day at a time.

I think it's great that you are doing this. Nothing but good will come out of it.

the school that im looking at has a mapped out load for the diffrent degrees that they have. classes 3 nights a week and maybe a sat once in a while. i think its 2 classes first quater, then 2 more the next quater, then the fun stuff begins

That sounds busy, Thumper. How long are the classes those three nights a week?

about 2 hours apeice. i think,,, depending on labs

Good luck man!

I go back in January...then hopefully I'll be in a nursing program by 2010.

classes start in december, and by mid 2012 i would be a graduate if i do good

You will be fine. I was hoping they weren't three hours.

Thumper, it is a change of lifestyle. But...the positives are overflowing!!

You can do it.

that is the thing to remember..be flexible and don't think that just because everyone else is younger that they are smarter.

Luv, you're gonna do great! I have faith in you

Awwwwww, good luck!! Take it one day at a time. The fact that your paying for it will help too. I paid my own way through and really didn't care to be wasting my own money...
Congratulations on the new phase in your life!