17 minutes now. In 17 minutes the De Anza College computer system will let me begin class registration. So nervous I didn't sleep a single minute last night. I'm running off of nerves and coffee. Don't know which is more effective. I'm on a quarter system, with long class periods, so a full workload is 3 classes. I'm aiming for 4. Let's hope I get them. I really want to get them. I want Elementary Algebra, English/Writing 1A, Elementary German, and Intro to LGBT Studies. I want to be a science major and German minor, bu no science right now. Need more math skills first, and gotta get English/Writing out of the way. Should get humanities out of the way, too. LGBT studies works for that, and it is a class of obvious interest to me. Hopefully I get all the classes I want. 13 minutes now.
Wait. De Anza website has it's own clock. Is faster than my clock. Only five minutes to go.
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Go for it!
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Good thing about De Anza system: first come, first serve, tells you immediately if you got into the class. Was clicking register button continuously at 8:59. Got in as soon as it hit 9:00, have been given an official schedule of the following:
English/Writing [redacted]
Elementary German [redacted]
Elementary Algebra MTWRF [redacted]
Introduction to LGBT Studies [redacted]
Beginning Swimming S [redacted]
19.5 units total. Generally pretty high, but I love LGBT studies, Algebra will probably be pretty easy, and I'm not too shabby at English. I think I can handle the workload. I don't like how late in the day English/Writing is compared to the other classes, but I got the class, and I'm not going to risk losing that by dropping it to try for a better time. I decided to add swimming on Saturdays. Can't see why not. I like swimming.
Thanks for the well wishes. It's not perfect, but I have all the classes I wanted.
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If you can find a classmate to practice German with, do so. Watching German TV shows or movies, if you can find some, also helps, with and without subtitles. But it's way, way helpful to have someone to speak a foreign language with every day outside of class, to help get your brain into that mode (and preferably not a native German speaker, as I found that my Parisian grandmother was a total detriment to my learning French in school, since native speakers often have no clue about the 'rules' of their language). German being so early in the day could be rough, as you won't likely have a chance to get into that mode before you are already in class. Morning classes were my kryptonite, and language classes (French, in my case) took up brutal amounts of my time and mental focus compared to English, math, science, etc.
(If you already sprechen sie Deutch, never mind.)
I went into 'academic overload' several times, and even had to sign a waiver a couple times that the college wouldn't be liable if I flaked out and went all Terms of Enrampagement.
Seemed like nonsense, at the time. I'd just gotten out of high school, which obviously had many more hours of the day in classes than college, so 'academic overload' felt like a vacation by comparison.
Don't put stuff off, 'though, and don't wait to ask questions. Ask away. Go up after class and engage the teacher. Getting so far behind that you need a tutor to catch you up on stuff you should have paid more attention to last month (that you really need to understand before you can grok what's going on *this* month) is just a tad embarrassing... :)
When I was in college, entirely too many students sat there and let the teacher talk, and, IMO, were throwing their money away (or their parents money, or, worst of all, some student loan that was going to haunt them for the next decade or two). If something comes up that interests you, or that you want to know more about, ask. Ask in class if the teacher is comfortable with that, or after if they prefer to monologue from a script and not digress. Don't be afraid to monopolize the teacher's focus, if nobody else in the class gives a rat's ass. That's their loss. They can engage if they want. They can doodle in their notebooks if not. Don't let the people who don't want to be there dictate how much you get out of the money you're spending on higher education.
I don't speak any German. That's why I'm taking it as my minor. It's something I want to learn how to do. Early morning is what it is. It's the only time slot offered for this language, so no use complaining about it.
I appreciate your advice. I'll keep it in mind.
I need to go back to college eventually.
Good luck!
If you're ready to venture into the very uneven depths of German TV shows/movies/books, give me a shout. I could cobble together a list for you.
Good luck with the first semester! Everyday morning classes can be rough, but they can also be really good for helping you structure your days and keep a regular sleep/study schedule. And the swimming class sounds like a good way to decompress on weekends. :)
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I appreciate your advice. I'll keep it in mind.
One of the fun ways to amuse yourself in college is to try very, very hard not to gape in wonderment at all the freshmen who literally have to go home every weekend *because they don't know how to do their own laundry.*
It's amazing.
It's like they were raised by wolves, or something. Abercrombie & Fitch-wearing wolves.
all the freshmen who literally have to go home every weekend *because they don't know how to do their own laundry.*
I had a roommate for a couple years, well after college, who never, not once, did his own dishes or his own laundry. Grown man, on the career track level, who went home to have his mom do his laundry, then got married and had his wife do it.
I was flabbergasted every time.
all the freshmen who literally have to go home every weekend *because they don't know how to do their own laundry.*
I had a roommate for a couple years, well after college, who never, not once, did his own dishes or his own laundry. Grown man, on the career track level, who went home to have his mom do his laundry, then got married and had his wife do it.
I was flabbergasted every time.
He didn't do any cooking either?
He didn't do any cooking either?
Depends on how you define cooking. He certainly managed to dirty some pots and pans as well as plates.
I'd never get away with that. I have to do my own laundry. I just never fold it.
I never considered that people could find me with that info. Sorry about that.
Have any of you heard of a swimming class with homework? Because apparently the prof assigns a ton.
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Swimming homework ... tread water, swim laps, hold breath underwater, research paper on the proper techniques involved with the following styles: the butterfly stroke, the breaststroke, the backstroke, and freestyle comparing and contrasting the differing styles. ;)
Actually, for an archery class I took in college, we did have written tests (identifying the parts of a bow and arrow, proper stance and grip, terminology, etc.). It was not a major part of the grade, but it was there.
Customer Service Dire Care Bear Manager
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I did a canoeing class in college as well as an "outdoor activities" (ie camping) course. Those two classes, especially canoeing, did more for getting me active and moving and exercising than any previous physical education course in my education. I also took a Women's Self Defense course which was incredibly useful as well.
For the canoeing course, our "final exam" was an overnight camping trip and canoe excursion down the Pine River in Michigan. Best test of knowledge ever :)
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For the canoeing course, our "final exam" was an overnight camping trip and canoe excursion down the Pine River in Michigan. Best test of knowledge ever :)
Those who survived passed?
Good luck with the first semester! Everyday morning classes can be rough,
Morning classes were my bane as an undergrad. I suspect my chemistry department was run by a Chelexian. Really now, nucleic acid chemistry at 8am? Really? D:
Mind you, morning classes are the reason I started drinking coffee. It would be several more years though before I started drinking -good- coffee. ;)
But good luck with classes!
Morning classes were my bane as an undergrad. I suspect my chemistry department was run by a Chelexian. Really now, nucleic acid chemistry at 8am? Really? D:
They aren't any nicer at the grad level. Topology where I worked toward a Master's was 8:30 every semester... for the last 20 years. 20 years from now, I'm sure it will still be 8:30 in the morning. There was another common class that was 7:30 every semester, as well, but I don't remember which one.
Thankfully I managed to get my teaching duties in afternoon classes.
Thanks for all the advice and well wishing. I know morning classes aren't ideal, but I gotta do what I gotta do.
My orientation class had us who want to transfer look around the transfer planning website for California, and I found something I like.
The best part is that the counselor I talked to at De Anza says that, while it is a gaming program, it also qualifies me for the same jobs as a normal computer science degree. So, I would have a good range of job options, and a solid shot at working on video games for a living.
Also, the counselor doesn't think it would be hard at all to get into UCSC with this specific major, so long as I maintain a 3.5 GPA. Not to mention that UCSC does offer transfer admission guarantees for this program.
Oh, and it's in . That's a major factor, too.
With this in mind, I made some adjustments to my schedule. I am now registered for Math 212, EWRT 1, German 1, and Arts 4 (beginning drawing). I showed that to two counselors, and they both think it's a pretty good start for this specific transfer plan.
Oh, I forgot to mention. I got a job Tuesday afternoon. It's a work study position in the De Anza library for 10 hours a week. Did my training and got my work schedule today. I start when my quarter starts.