Could someone please advise me on just how to make a career change from elementary teacher of 22 years to BSN without losing my mind? I can see no way to do this except to leave my job in May. In order to finish my pre-req's (34 hours) in time to apply for a fast track program, I will have to take 16 hours next Fall. No way can I do that and teach full time!
At this point, I have broken two teeth from stress grinding over this. Two crowns - $$$! I have some savings, and my financial adviser says I can survive for 2 years on that, but I will have no med. insurance. Scary! I plan to try to work part time through as much of this as I can.
Does anyone know if those with a BS can qualify for any type of financial aid? Also, will the fact that I am starting all of this as a single, 48 year old hurt my chances of being successful?
I have been researching this for so very long, but as the end date for my job draws near, the stress from fear is physically affecting me. Could anyone out there ,who has been in this situation themselves ,please let me know how to make this change and live through it?:uhoh21:
Forgive me, but I HAVE to comment on this, because whenever I see it, it really upsets me.
I would not say that community college courses are "less challenging" than those at the university level. In order to obtain approval for courses to transfer directly to state universities, community colleges have to prove that the courses they are offering are comparable to those at the university system in question.
My BSN was my second BS. I've taken several science courses at the university level, including a year of organic chemistry - in a class designed for pre-engineering students. I can assure you that the anatomy and the micro I took at the community college level was no less difficult than any course I've ever taken at any university.
In fact, in some ways, the courses at community colleges are harder (I've taken college physics and calculus at the community college level - I thought I wanted to go to pharmacy school) because the classes are so much smaller. I had micro and A&P exams with long-answer essay questions. My friends who took it at local universities didn't have that. You haven't lived until you've taken an A&P exam with essays.
Don't be fooled by - or even underestimate - community colleges. "Cheaper" doesn't necessarily mean "easier" - and when it comes to educational reputation and the value you're expecting for your dollar, that's a good thing.
Sorry, all - that's just a big pet peeve of mine.
Sorry that's a hot button issue for you, but I've had A&P 1 and 2 at the university level, and now I'm retaking A&P 2 at my CC. It is way, way easier. The crazy thing is 10yrs later, it's the exact same textbook (new edition obvsiously) I used at the University level, but we're covering a fraction of what I had to learn the first time around. I busted my butt studying all the material in the units, assuming we'd be responsibily for it all, but my prof. only tested us on what he lectures on, and he skips whole chunks of info. Mind you, I'm not complaining because I have already had to learn it once the hard way, and I'd rather do it this way. But I do feel like I was more knowledgable when I went through the University.
I'm also re-taking Chemistry (again, it's been 10yrs since I first had it) and it is also much easier at the CC level. I think a big part of it is that the professors are more willing to work to help you. When I was at the University level with these courses it was sink or swim, profs would tell you the first day of class how many they expected to fail, etc... on the other hand my experience with CC's (I've had about 18hrs at them) is that the profs. are really trying to help you pass. In chem we're covering the same material as at the Univeristy-level, but we aren't required to memorize nearly as many formula's and things as I was back then. I don't think the classes are "blow offs" by any means, and I don't think they are sub-par but they are definitely less intensive then the 100+ credits I've taken at four year schools.
I have some savings, and my financial adviser says I can survive for 2 years on that, but I will have no med. insurance. Scary! I plan to try to work part time through as much of this as I can.
picurn10
409 Posts
Sorry that's a hot button issue for you, but I've had A&P 1 and 2 at the university level, and now I'm retaking A&P 2 at my CC. It is way, way easier. The crazy thing is 10yrs later, it's the exact same textbook (new edition obvsiously) I used at the University level, but we're covering a fraction of what I had to learn the first time around. I busted my butt studying all the material in the units, assuming we'd be responsibily for it all, but my prof. only tested us on what he lectures on, and he skips whole chunks of info. Mind you, I'm not complaining because I have already had to learn it once the hard way, and I'd rather do it this way. But I do feel like I was more knowledgable when I went through the University.
I'm also re-taking Chemistry (again, it's been 10yrs since I first had it) and it is also much easier at the CC level. I think a big part of it is that the professors are more willing to work to help you. When I was at the University level with these courses it was sink or swim, profs would tell you the first day of class how many they expected to fail, etc... on the other hand my experience with CC's (I've had about 18hrs at them) is that the profs. are really trying to help you pass. In chem we're covering the same material as at the Univeristy-level, but we aren't required to memorize nearly as many formula's and things as I was back then. I don't think the classes are "blow offs" by any means, and I don't think they are sub-par but they are definitely less intensive then the 100+ credits I've taken at four year schools.