r/BackToCollege

So back in my early 20s I started college, knocked out maybe a year's worth of gen ed classes, and then dropped out. Honestly I just didn't have direction at the time and I needed to work. Bills don't wait, you know
Fast forward to now. I'm a retail supervisor, stable income, but I don't see a real future in it. I've decided I want to go into nursing. Long road I know. But I figure if I'm going to do this, I need a real plan this time and not just jump into something expensive and hope for the best
Right now I'm trying to figure out if my old credits are even still usable and whether SNHU is the smartest first step before I commit to anything. Anyone here restart after a long gap? What did you wish you knew before you re-enrolled?

UPDATE: After some helpful comments in this thread, I've been looking into knocking out some gen eds online first and then applying to WGU for their pre-licensure BSN program. Turns out the closest simulation center to me is in the Indianapolis area which is manageable since I'd only need to go there occasionally. Still a lot to figure out but finally feels like I have a direction. Goodluck to me lol

I graduated high school in 2020. Growing up I always got honor roll but once I got to high school, I stopped caring and did absolutely nothing. Junior and senior year I did online school and did literally bear minimum and passed with all 60s. I never intended going to college but after working my ass off at jobs and failing to function in society with minimum pay I'm realizing college might actually be the way to go. Also, I discovered what I actually want to do with my life.

When I was 20, I went into psychosis and it completely destroyed everything good. It fucked up my social life, the job I really liked and most importantly I was severely mentally incapable of things for a long time. I couldn't understand much at all. It's been a long recovery and the fact I can even express myself right now is huge. Sometimes I would go on reddit and try to read posts, and I couldn't understand anything anybody was saying, and it was like that for a really long time. Finally, I am back to where I was before everything happened and now, I want to go to school to get a degree to be a Psychiatric Nurse. I want to work in the psyche ward and make it a better environment because from my experience it's not a very pleasant environment and I know I can make an impact on it.

My concerns are

- Afraid of breaking down. I'm terrified, I don't know if I can handle the stress

- It's been 10 years since I really put any kind of effort into school and I don't know if I can do it. I hated school back then and found it impossible to pay attention

- I'm still relearning grammar and the basics of things and still working on things and I don't know if I'm ready, but I think I am

-I don't know if this is a valid fear but I'm just terrified of me working my ass off and not getting the job and wasting all that time and money

-Like I said it's been so long, how do I even get good at school again? Like what should I be working on?

-AI didn't exist when I was back in school and I haven't been to up to date with it, so how does this impact school these days? Is it a must? Is it something I have to know how to use?

Just a lot of fears and doubts, any advice, encouragement or answers to my questions would be greatly appreciated, thank you

Hey guys, I just turned 29. I dropped out college because I was pursuing something that I had no interest in (computer science). I am thinking about returning and getting my Bachelors in Psychology and puruse becoming a therapist. I have always loved learning about human behavior and patterns. Am I too late too venture into the profession? Any advice and guidance would be really appreciated.

Hello! I'm 33 and I start college again on Monday. I originally went to the same school on campus but finances and lack of discipline got in the way. What was supposed to be one gap year, turned into 13 gap years. I finally decided to go back and finish my degree in Human Resource Management online at the same school. I enrolled a month ago and have been eagerly waiting. I love studytok so I'm excited to finally be able to study. 18 year old me would have cringed at that but I love it. The classes will appear on Canvas between now and Friday so I plan on getting started on reading over the weekend. I'm back in my hometown farm sitting for my parents so it will be nice and peaceful. My city apartment is peaceful too but still. Anyone else starting college again in their 30s?

I have been wanting to further my education and learn to be a better writer for awhile. So I decided to finally get it started and start taking a community college class

For the summer semester i signed up for a single once a week creative writing fiction class. Seemed like a solid place to start.

However, because of how portland community college works, i am going to need to sign up for fall classes before actually TAKING summer classes.

My first thought was that it would make sense for me to make my 2 days off a week tuesday and thursday, and just load those 2 up with as many classes as they would let me take.

But i feel like i dont know what im signing up for. Like if i sign up for 4 classes, how much time am i going to need to spend OUTSIDE of class. Because like, more then an hour and a half a day and suddently my scheduling is looking really really different. that kind of thing is tougher to figure out when your an adult with adult responsibilities.

How long do you spend on coursework outside of class per class? Any suggestions for what to do?

37 y.o registered to start summer classes in two weeks (college algebra and psych 101)

Previously have a BFA in sculpture but that’s irrelevant- i haven’t sat in a college classroom in 14 years.

I went to the bookstore yesterday to buy my books and was honestly shocked to find out my math textbook is entirely online, MathGpt.ai

Okay i’m old, shit.

Do i need a laptop for class? I have a desktop computer at home.

Hi there!

I’m 39 and have been thinking (constantly) about going back to school for Psychology. I 1st thought about this 8 years ago, but now it’s all I can think of. First a BA followed by an MBA so I can be a Therapist; very likely I’d not pursue a PhD since I’m already so old and I don’t think the return on education investment would be worth it.

Anyway, I have my Associate’s Degree (from 17 years ago) in Architectural Design. I did not finish my Bachelor’s, but I did complete many higher level GE courses when I was attempting to get my BA.

My grandfather worked in Admissions for a university and literally handled everything for me when I initially went to school, so I’m kind of blind on what to do here since he passed 10 years ago and I can’t go to him for advice.

I don’t know what the best way is to see which completed courses of mine are transferable so I can get a better idea on how many credits are needed. Do I contact both colleges I attended for AA and BA to retrieve unofficial transcripts and manually input my completed courses into sites like Transferology? Or do I reach out to academic advisors for the 2 universities I’m interested in to have them help, even though I’ve not yet applied?

I’m sorry if this is a dumb question with an obvious answer. I suffer from multiple anxiety disorders, depression, and ADHD (hence why I think psychology would be a great field for me since I could offer real-world experience to future patients, plus I just want to help fellow mental health sufferers), but because of that I’m just extremely overwhelmed with the beginning stages of enrolling back into school. I truly appreciate all the advice & input!

I had been out of school for 11 years. Decided to take some classes this semester and wow, it was hard! I got good grades but i learned nothing? It’s like my memory would hold on to things long enough to do the assignments and quizzes and then forget. I was completing a class discussion assignment earlier today that combined with one of our initial chapters and the words felt foreign to me. Like it was my first time seeing them. I used to retained info so well in my early 20s and I don’t know what happened. Any tips? I wont be taking classes next semester for personal reasons but I am truly concerned about my brain. This assignment was eye opening to me. I will say though, that for the last 6 years or so I have been speaking Spanish primarily so could that be a reason ?

I'm 22 trying to apply for college as an undergraduate is sat required for me to write because my high school certificate I had math A1 English B2 physics B3 and biology A1 and I'm planning to study nursing or computer science.

I went started back into college in the fall. I enrolled in as a transfer program that I'm should be due to graduate Spring of next year. With that, I'm starting to look into places that I can transfer to, preferably with online options. I don't have the ability to up and move like traditional students at this stage. I'm 39, I've got a family and a job. Every single one of the universities or colleges that I could transfer to are an hour or more away from where I live and that's just not practical for a daily option (especially with current gas prices).

Online options through local colleges/universities are kind of limited for the direction that I'm looking to go (non-clinical psychology) and I'm unsure if the limited options also limit my potential. I know that psychology is one of two of my top options but my first choice has virtually no online options.

Either way, I'm feeling a little bit stuck and it's both frustrating and discouraging.

Tomorrow, I will graduate with a BS at age 52!

I (26F) am going back to school after 7+ years! I graduated high school in 2018 and planned to go to college shortly after. Well, here I *finally* am; only a bit later than expected.

I registered for my classes today at my local two year, which transfers to a larger university. I am beyond excited to begin this journey and just wanted to share. I’m giddy and can’t seem to sit still.

Thanks for listening (-:

Hello everyone,

If all goes well, I will enroll in a bachelor degree for Geology at 30 years old 🙌 I am very excited about the course and what I’ll be learning, but right on the 1st semester I’ll have Math, Chemistry, Physics. I know in the US high school is a bit different, but in country we choose a general area, like Technologies, Economy, Humanities, etc. So, yes, my background is in Humanities. Which means I never had contact with Chemistry and Physics on a high school level. Some Math I did have contact with, but applied to Social Sciences. It’s been more than 10 years though. So what I’d like to ask is, after looking at the program for those courses, how can I better study and focus for those courses? What tips can you give me to better understand them when the time comes? I will most definitely have a Math tutor. I would like to more than just survive those courses, but realistically speaking I know it will be very hard to get good grades.

Thanks in advance!

Edit to add: I will be working full time, and if things keep going as they are, by shifts too (including night shift, yes), and I live about 1h30/2h away from the university.

Hello everyone,

Is this a no hope situation or will it hinder my progress through and through

Please, no negative energy comments but don't sugarcoat.

Thank ya'll so much!!!!