(no subject)
Hello! I'm looking at going back to school soon, and, after running across mention that there were programs for nontraditional students at some women's colleges, have begun to consider attending one of them if I can. I think I'd be far less distracted and far more likely to speak up in class in a women-only environment. (I'm pretty shy... my hope is that I could learn to speak up more in what feels to me like a safer environment, and later use my greater confidence in the rest of the world.)
I've been browsing around, trying to get a feel for the colleges, but it's hard to discern what's real and what's the sales pitch. I'd love to get some personal input from all of you, as well as any suggestions you might have for colleges I should check into.
I'm 28 years old, from Alaska. I took two years of college, but due to some medical stuff that went on during that time (which I wouldn't admit to myself for a while), my grades were terrible and I eventually had to take some time off from school to handle things. It's been almost ten years, and some vain part of me actually sort of hopes it's been long enough that the credits I've earned have expired so I can start fresh with my gpa. It's hard on a girl's ego to go so long being great at school and suddenly have things spiral into the trash can!
As things stand, I have: some lousy grades, a lot of time off from school, a fantastic reason for both, fairly strong writing skills, a willingness to work hard, and an enormous desire to be successful in college. I also have a disability which has been wrangled down to something quite manageable (I wouldn't consider going back to school anytime soon if it weren't), but still a consideration.
I'm very interested in engineering (particularly civil engineering), but not certain I can hack the math after so long away. I'll know more once I get back in class. If I don't wind up pursuing engineering, I'll most likely go for creative writing or something to do with languages.
My plan at the moment is to take some classes at the local community college, prove that I can get my butt to class and complete assignments with good marks, then transfer elsewhere.
Some important shtuff:
- learning/social environment: I really, really want to be successful and have a positive experience this go-round. Ideally, I want to go to a place that feels welcoming and supportive, and is very conducive to learning. I'm shy, introverted, nice, and easily distracted from schoolwork if my friends make it sound good. If it's helpful info, I don't smoke and drink only very, very occasionally.
- affordability: definitely a consideration. My income is very low, and I would need a lot of financial aid.
- selectivity: can I get in? I want to be at a school where education is the priority, not social/MRS/other, but I also have a poor academic record at the moment. Good reasons and huge determination to move forward, but still.
- disability services: I don't require a ton of special help - I have a service dog who would be coming to school with me, and I sometimes require small accommodations in the form of having a notetaker or a tape recorder in class to help me get the parts I miss when my brain decides to take a commercial break, or fewer distractions during test-taking, generally nothing major. I know from past experience, though, that it is wayyyyyy better to have a supportive disability services office to ask for help and not need it than to need help and have zero support from anyone, so this is an important factor for me.
- size: I do want a smaller school; I think I'm just a small-school kinda girl. Most women's colleges seem to be on the smaller side, though, from what I can tell, so this might be a non-issue. :) I just really don't want to be one of the masses. I went that route before, and I hated it.
- location: Someplace closer to home, i.e. West Coast, would get an extra point or two in its favor, but it's not a major priority. I don't mind not being in a city as long as I can easily get everyday necessities like toiletries and the like on/very near campus. (I don't drive.) I'm from small-town Alaska, and isolation doesn't really bother me as long as I have space to go for a walk, and books for when I stay in. :)
I think that's all the big stuff... if I've left out anything that might be useful, please let me know and I'll be glad to fill in the blanks.
So far I'm particularly interested in finding out more about Agnes Scott and Mount Holyoke. Mills is interesting to me just because it's closer to home and family, but I haven't really been able to get a clear picture of what the atmosphere is there. I've run across mention of Smith because of its engineering program, but don't have much of a feel for it yet.
I know there are more schools out there than I'm aware of so far, so please, do make suggestions if you know a place that might be a good fit for me.
I'm so glad this community exists! I've been reading back through the archives for the past couple of days - what a great resource!
Edited to add: Comments about veg*n food options at each school would also be handy. :)
I've been browsing around, trying to get a feel for the colleges, but it's hard to discern what's real and what's the sales pitch. I'd love to get some personal input from all of you, as well as any suggestions you might have for colleges I should check into.
I'm 28 years old, from Alaska. I took two years of college, but due to some medical stuff that went on during that time (which I wouldn't admit to myself for a while), my grades were terrible and I eventually had to take some time off from school to handle things. It's been almost ten years, and some vain part of me actually sort of hopes it's been long enough that the credits I've earned have expired so I can start fresh with my gpa. It's hard on a girl's ego to go so long being great at school and suddenly have things spiral into the trash can!
As things stand, I have: some lousy grades, a lot of time off from school, a fantastic reason for both, fairly strong writing skills, a willingness to work hard, and an enormous desire to be successful in college. I also have a disability which has been wrangled down to something quite manageable (I wouldn't consider going back to school anytime soon if it weren't), but still a consideration.
I'm very interested in engineering (particularly civil engineering), but not certain I can hack the math after so long away. I'll know more once I get back in class. If I don't wind up pursuing engineering, I'll most likely go for creative writing or something to do with languages.
My plan at the moment is to take some classes at the local community college, prove that I can get my butt to class and complete assignments with good marks, then transfer elsewhere.
Some important shtuff:
- learning/social environment: I really, really want to be successful and have a positive experience this go-round. Ideally, I want to go to a place that feels welcoming and supportive, and is very conducive to learning. I'm shy, introverted, nice, and easily distracted from schoolwork if my friends make it sound good. If it's helpful info, I don't smoke and drink only very, very occasionally.
- affordability: definitely a consideration. My income is very low, and I would need a lot of financial aid.
- selectivity: can I get in? I want to be at a school where education is the priority, not social/MRS/other, but I also have a poor academic record at the moment. Good reasons and huge determination to move forward, but still.
- disability services: I don't require a ton of special help - I have a service dog who would be coming to school with me, and I sometimes require small accommodations in the form of having a notetaker or a tape recorder in class to help me get the parts I miss when my brain decides to take a commercial break, or fewer distractions during test-taking, generally nothing major. I know from past experience, though, that it is wayyyyyy better to have a supportive disability services office to ask for help and not need it than to need help and have zero support from anyone, so this is an important factor for me.
- size: I do want a smaller school; I think I'm just a small-school kinda girl. Most women's colleges seem to be on the smaller side, though, from what I can tell, so this might be a non-issue. :) I just really don't want to be one of the masses. I went that route before, and I hated it.
- location: Someplace closer to home, i.e. West Coast, would get an extra point or two in its favor, but it's not a major priority. I don't mind not being in a city as long as I can easily get everyday necessities like toiletries and the like on/very near campus. (I don't drive.) I'm from small-town Alaska, and isolation doesn't really bother me as long as I have space to go for a walk, and books for when I stay in. :)
I think that's all the big stuff... if I've left out anything that might be useful, please let me know and I'll be glad to fill in the blanks.
So far I'm particularly interested in finding out more about Agnes Scott and Mount Holyoke. Mills is interesting to me just because it's closer to home and family, but I haven't really been able to get a clear picture of what the atmosphere is there. I've run across mention of Smith because of its engineering program, but don't have much of a feel for it yet.
I know there are more schools out there than I'm aware of so far, so please, do make suggestions if you know a place that might be a good fit for me.
I'm so glad this community exists! I've been reading back through the archives for the past couple of days - what a great resource!
Edited to add: Comments about veg*n food options at each school would also be handy. :)