Textbook Terror

For anyone who has been faced with the terror of textbook prices –    listen up!

This semester I am taking two classes. I have to pay a bit more for these classes, because I am out of the district. My textbooks for these two classes were 30% of my course costs.              I almost croaked! Right there in the bookstore!

So here are tips to save yourself from textbook terror.

First – get the ISBN number of the book. Make sure you have the correct title and volume number. This is very important. I once turned in the wrong homework because I had a different volume number and the questions were different. Now, sometimes an older volume will work fine – IF – you can access the correct questions from the library, a classmate, or anyone else.

Second – Oder your books online. I’m sorry. I want to be supportive of my school and buy local and all that, but I just can’t afford it. My online book purchase was 25% of my bookstore purchases! Let me just spell this out. Bookstore – $100      Online – $25      Huge difference!

Note: I ‘rented’ one of my textbooks and they were still crazy money. So make sure you look at all of your options before you buy or rent.

Check out used books or textbooks online. Check out a few different sources. It is less convenient, (you have to wait for the books to arrive,) but the savings are worth it.

Oh, and buy some cool spirit wear to support your school with your savings!

New Semester!

For those returning to school, once again I recommend Community College.

Here you will find a much wider range of students.  There are those fresh out of High School to folks that have retired, and everywhere in between.

Community College is less intimidating yet still offers an excellent education.

Most Community Colleges are well versed in assisting you, should you desire, with preparing for and transferring to a four year college.

The bonus, you are more likely to meet others in your same situation.

Knowing that you are not ‘the only one’ does provide some reassurance.  Often that is the little boost you need to keep you going.

Well, that and coffee!

Go for it!

The “I” Factor

http://www.flickr.com/photos/star-dust/

Intimidation

Heading back to school can be intimidating when you are in grade school. When you are in a class with people who are about the same age as your own kids – It can be challenging.

One ‘I’ Factor for me, I feel my children have received a FAR better education than I did. What they learn, the level and speed of their knowledge is intimidating. I have felt that I may be much slower on the uptake than the ‘kids.’ For example, I know that my child has had a better math education then me. When I am sitting in class and the professor streaks through an equation… I have to accept the fact that what the rest of the class ‘gets’ instantly, I will have to go home and study, and study and maybe study some more.

Here is the good news:
Because I’m older, I will go home and study, study, study. At this stage of the game, I know I’m behind and it means that much more to me than it did when I was younger. I have something to prove – to myself! I want the good grades or at the minimum I want to know I gave it my all. When I was younger, I didn’t really care so much. I care a great deal now.

Just remember, as intimidated as you are, your classmates may also be intimidated by you. They are not sure what to make of you. Since you are their parents’ age, they have a combination of respect and distance – just like your own kids do!

Turn you ‘I’ Intimidation factor into an ‘I’ Can Do This factor.
You will be amazed at your resolve!

Face it!

Returning to college can be intimidating.  You have to force yourself to face it.

However, you can give yourself a break without deterring from your goal.

One way is to take your first returning classes at Community College.  You don’t have to start out Ivy League!

Another idea is to make your first class back something you really enjoy and are likely to have success at.  Don’t jump back in with a hard class or one you are dreading.

These ideas will help you ease back into your college education.

There is nothing like a little success to face off the feelings of intimidation!

You can do it!

“Non-Traditional” Students

This blog is designed to be a forum for “Non-Traditional,” aka “older,” aka Crusty Coeds!

Share your funny, interesting, challenging, questionable…experiences here.

Crusty – as in – “Older”

Back to campus – it’s an adventure!
So many things have changed –
yet some things are deja vu all over again!