Posted by Sharon Cece on November 28th, 2008
I had a number of fears prior to enrolling online, some relating specifically to online mechanisms and format, and others that dealt with the more with typical fears of a returning college student.
In regard to the first, though I had a general knowledge of computer applications, I certainly was no tech whiz. At first glance, being hit with the numerous course websites and academic pages as well as ”blackboard”, the online education platform, gave one the impression a new student might require a preliminary degree in “learning how to be an online student” before becoming an online student! Thankfully, this is not the case. There are numerous support vehicles in place to assist distance learning and online students, and after a few days of trial and error you soon become quite adept at maneuvering the various course sites, finding out where you need to be and gaining the information you need to have. Advisors, professors, mentors, and TA’s are very helpful; moreso, my fellow students were invaluable in pacifying e-course apprehensions.
I also was concerned that learning online would sequester me socially compared to attending a brick-and-mortar classes, where social interaction is a virtual inevitability (no pun intended). However, I found that online learning can offer similar social benefits, and soon “clicked” with a number of students with shared ideas and similar family circumstances. One student, who happens to be from Tallahassee where Florida State is located, was following the same course schedule as I and we became fast friends as well as study partners. When I drove from North Carolina to Tallahassee to walk for graduation, she was right there in the bleachers cheering me on. Our friendship continues, and I hope to do the same for her when she graduates.
Another fear I entertained was, quite frankly, that I would not be able to test well after so many years of being away from school, or find time to study with two small children to care for, or devote myself to coursework the way I did when I was the quintessential 18-21 year-old college student. My fears were unfounded. As an older student, I found I was more disciplined, more determined and–well–smarter than I used to be. My grades as a young, fresh-from-high-school student were varied, A’s to C’s (okay, a couple of D’s too). When I returned to FSU as an online student, I received straight A’s from my first class straight through to graduation. I mention this not as a bragging point or to minimize the scope of difficulty regarding online classes; on the contrary, some online courses were the most challenging I have ever had. Rather, I hope to highlight the possibility that our fears can in fact drive us to be more successful. That you have a fear at all means that you care, and to care makes you work harder to succeed.
Posted by Sharon Cece on October 17th, 2008
Making the decision to return to college can be a complicated one. If you have an unfinished degree with college credits sitting in your academic bank not earning “interest” (forgive the economic pun), certainly the idea gnaws at you from time to time. You abhor the idea of wasting the credits you’ve spent time and money for with no degree to show for it.
This decision is complicated; however, there are factors to consider that may assist in helping you come to some conclusions and feel good about them. One factor is financial in nature (thankfully, there are many financial aid options available today). Another is time. Third might simply be whether you have the incentive or the desire to finish. There may be other factors that pertain specifically to you.
For many years I struggled with the decision to return to school. Having left FSU with 96 credits, you can imagine how I carried around my choice to leave before I graduated for years afterward. There were personal reasons for doing so which made perfect sense to me then and even now, and I never regretted leaving when I did sans degree.
Over the years I toyed with returned to college (I had since moved, so FSU was no longer an option), however, it never seemed to be quite the right time, or I didn’t have the funds, or there was always some life event or issue that was paramount to my education. The truth is, the desire simply wasn’t strong enough.
It strikes me as ironic that when the desire did finally hit me to finish college, I was married with two young children and a very busy life. But I had spent all the time and had 96 credits, and I said to myself, “You know you want this and have always wanted it, so Just Go for It”. I didn’t want to have the regret of an unfinished degree following me for the rest of my life, and my children were starting to ask about my college education. I knew if I was going to encourage them to finish college I needed to walk, literally, as well as talk.
When I decided to “go for it” then, after many many years of toying with the idea, everything seemed to just fall into place. I think that’s how it happens–if you have the desire it will happen and you will make it happen. I was very pleased that I could return to FSU through their online program, and they were able to apply many of my credits toward matriculation. Their online program made it easier, more convenient, and more time-friendly than physically going to classes. Financial aid forms are filled out online, also very convenient. The coursework was tough and challenging, but I wasn’t going back to college to catch a free ride to my degree. And thanks to online options, I arrived at my destination with diploma in hand.
Posted by Sharon Cece on July 11th, 2008
I first attended college back in 1984, fully expecting to have my degree within the customary four years. My goals at that time were typical: job, college, boyfriend turn into career, degree, marriage. But as many of you know, “life” takes detours and that sometimes includes your education. Somehow, without planning it, I left college (with 96 credits under my belt!) and though my work experiences and marriage stayed on track, my education took a pit stop.
Though my life was pretty fulfilled, I continued to have this nagging sense of unfinished business. I often said how I wished I finished my degree at Florida State, but here I was almost 20 years later living in Raleigh, North Carolina. Talk about a long commute!
Fortunately, FSU had a good distance learning program and they were able to restructure the classes I had taken for Business Administration into a Social Science program. For the record, it is no easy ride with distance learning. It was very challenging at times with a little one tugging me while I finished a timed quiz in my bathrobe, or juggling my school cap among all the other hats I wore. But finishing my degree online enabled me to fit in my studies whenever I wanted, for the most part, and within my schedule rather than the other way around. I needed the sheer flexibility of eLearning or it wouldn’t have happened for me.
In April of 2006, I received my Bachelor of Science in Social Science. My degree is hanging directly over my laptop as I type, in a stunning frame that I splurged on in the FSU school colors (of course!) Garnet and Gold. Though I am proud of many things I have accomplished in my life, I cannot describe, even now, how amazed I am that after 21 years I finally have my degree.
