Currently going to an accelerated college...and its bringing me back down to earth!

by Joliette 11 Replies latest jw friends

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  Billy the Ex-Bethelite

  "I know there are a lot of ex-bethelites on here, was going to bethel very fast pace like this? Ex: if you missed something, you missed it, and that was it!"

  Bethel was fast paced, but not in an academic way. If you missed mealtime in the diningroom, you missed it. If you missed the WT study, you missed it. If you missed the shuttle, you missed it. If you missed Morning Worship, you missed it. Things don't wait for you to get there. But for all of those things, you "missed" it in the sense of not being there, not in the sense of experiencing a sense of lose for not being there. There was always going to be another meal, meeting, or shuttle coming along soon. However, if you missed Morning Worship, you might get a call from the table head or you might miss some crazy/stupid comment from Brother Couch or Sister Quakenbush or someone. It just wouldn't be the same hearing the story from somebody else. And if you missed the Bethel Family WT Study, you'd have to come up with the time to underline stuff on your own.

  Contrasting with college life, here at school is fast paced and academically challenging. If I really wanted to learn something in Bethel, I was on my own. I should clarify that I was involved in some research projects with Writing/Teaching, but it was little more than the type of shallow review that is done at the local Hall. Bethel was just not the type of academic challenge where anyone was left behind trying to catch up. Frankly, we were all pretty equally stupid, some were just better with the stupid statistics and stories.

  Now for the pep talk: Right now I'm doing 6 classes for the spring 16 week. It's hectic, but I'm juggling all these different times and classes. However, I took two condensed classes last summer, first a science 6-week, then a math 8-week. Although it was very fast paced, I found it advantageous that pounding through the courses had me concentrating on a single subject right up to taking the test. Fortunately, I was in the circumstance where I didn't have a lot of other things going on, and didn't even come here much then. I got As in both classes, mostly because I learned something and was tested on it before I had the chance to forget it.

  Joliette, the most important thing: DON'T FALL BEHIND! And if that means that you won't be here, fine. Come back when the course is finished. That's the nice thing about accelerated classes, they're over fast... as long as you only need to take them ONCE.
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  Band on the Run

  I don't quite know how to phrase this or even if I should mention this, The University of Phoenix has appalling figures for graduation and employment afterwards. I skimmed the articles. Last year I attended a small for profit school. A lot is happening in Congress because of Phoenix and Kaplan. Hearings were held. Senator Tom Harkin is the primary mover and shaker in this area. Legislation is pending. Most of the controversy has to do with financing through manipulation of student loans. The school makes money even if the student leaves.

  It is no as easy as the publicity says. There must be a market for this type of course. Not everyone can attend Princeton or Oxbridge at eighteen, pay for private dining clubs. I was furious to see the paralegal program at the for profit I attended. Right now skilled lawyers with many years experience are competing for paralegal jobs. It won't be a growth industry. Because of TV shows, people get the wrong idea. The paralegals I knew were Ivy League grads not certain if they wanted to invest time or money in law school. There is NO way people can do what they say they are doing. Lawyers can't do it. I always encourage people. So I asked if they knew the placement rate or called local firms to check out the word of mouth about the school. No one did.

  One powerpoint course is taxing me. Part of it is I don't take this type of school seriously. My F was serious, though. The first F of my entire life and I'm no spring chick.

  Maybe the legislation will clean up the industry. I'm coming off a very serious disability. When I telephoned about getting a specialized legal degree with a two-year postgrad program, I was heavily dissuaded by my law school. I always thought the more skils the better. Maybe it is like home improvements that don't justify the cost when you sell. Again, this is sketch stuff that I stumbled upon.