Well folks, I'm at the end of my rope, and I'm ready for a career change.

I'm looking to take some online classes. Being married with children, driving an 80 mile round trip for work everyday, and actually going to class would be a pain in the bung-hole. It would probably kill my motivation after awhile, so online classes are what I'm looking into.

Anyone here take any online classes?

Thoughts?

 

Never tried any, but have you decided what kinda move you wanna make?

 

I havent taken them personally, but one woman who works in my building is and she thinks its great. I work full time nights/weekends plus being in school full time, I was pretty much burnt out after the first semester, can only do 16-20 hour days for so long. My 8am classes are a write off most of the time, plus my grades are no where near as good as they would be if I had time to go over my notes at night instead of spending 10 hours dealing with retards.

But damn, I think Im more excited about the end being almost here than anyone else

Go for the online deal, it takes longer but it will be alot less painful for ya.

 

I have a few ideas in mind.

I'd love to be a meteorologist, but that would require tons of time in the classroom.

A crime scene investigator would be cool as well.

Technical Project Management too. I have taken a couple of classes offered by the company I work for, so it's an option.

I would love to get into the video game industry. But, I dont want to be a programmer or anything like that. I don't want to learn any coding.

..and of course I am open for idea's of any other career that doesn't involve sitting at a desk for 9 hours answering a phone.



I am SICK of having to say that every 5-10 minutes a day.

 

My wife is doing the online classes via community coll. She loves it. It is a little harder than instructor led class as you are really teaching yourself. So far she has taken some health classes (easy way to ease into classes) a Lit class (just lots of writing papers).

I've seen that UGA has online classes but no degree path where community coll has 2 yr degree path 100% online.

Stan

 

First off, don't waste your time taking classes unless you have a specific goal in mind. In many cases schooling won't help anyhow.

If you decide you want to become X and classes help then go see an academic adviser and plan out our educational map. Take as many of the low level classes as you can at a community college, they are a lot cheaper and frankly you can sleep through them and get an A. Make sure you have your 4-year school picked out and that they will transfer in what you took at the 2 year joint.


Online vs In Person.

Online is much much tougher in my opinion. You read the books, watch the TV (if they do that) and then show up and take a test or write a paper. Very little leeway.

I personally am not going to school to learn, heck most of the time I know more than the teacher, I'm just going for the paper so I want it as easy as possible.


Most importantly, know what you want to do first. You don't sound very sure or very driven at this point so I don't think school will help. Find something you love or something that can make you good money that you can tolerate and go from there.

 

Your absolutely right vader, I'm not 100% positive what I want to do.

There are a few options, but when the wife said, hey, just go back to school, we can afford it, I was shocked.

Now, I feel like a senior in high school with no idea what direction to go.

I'm still digging around for options, and I have a goal to get into a field that fits my personality.

Maybe I should be a wrestler.

 

I would have to agree with Vader. From your second post, you listed jobs that had absolutely no relation to eachother at all. Narrow down your search and then you will be able to pick and chose classes that fit into your curriculum. I took a few online classes when I was back in college and thought they were alright. The best thing about them is obviously you dont have to drag your butt to a classroom all the time and can comfortably do all your "learning" wearing boxers and sitting in front of your computer. On the other hand, I learn more and absorb more information when someone is sitting in front of me and we can interact more freely. Online classes you really do teach yourself and then maybe meet with the teacher once a month or so for testing and such. I would have to say it all depends on how you absorb information and what methods work for you to learn the material to decide if online classes were right for you or not. Either way, good luck

 

Back in ancient times when i started college, a degree set you apart. Not so now. It is expected by most employers, so what Vader says about having a careeer goal is definitely even more important now. You need to figure out what you want to do and will be happy doing and set that as your goal. That will determine your education needs. When I started college the summer after HS graduation, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was scared of that decision, but the first 2 years of college are basics anyhow, so I had time. In my sophmore year, I took elementery accounting and the instructor really challanged us. Told us that only 2 or 3 would make an A and several would fail. That only 2 or 3 would have what it takes to continue in accounting. Well, it woke me up, and I proved I could do it and at the same time, found out I liked it. I then knew my major would be accounting and I minored in psycology so I could deal with all the crazy accountants. Jamz, you need to do the same, figure out what is fun and challanging and go for it. No one else can make that decision for you, but I can tell you, happiness in your work will allow you to get a lot more out of life. Sorry for the rambling, just trying to help.

 

Jamz, man I feel you on that career change...I find myself in a dead end job also..the only way up from here is management, and I dont want to be a manager in the company I work for (THE phone company)...but I have yet to think of a job besides fishing for a living that I would love to do...so I just sit here collect my paycheck and go home and carry on about how bored I am at work. I would like to run my own business, and have thought about catering events...but I dont have time to take all the cooking, business classes, and I dont have starting capital

 

As others have said, you really need to narrow it down, and figure out what you want. I personally would avoid any 4 year facility. If you can't find some kind of vocational type education, and its what you REALLY want then maybe, but 4 year university is more about cramming as many useless subjects down you as possible to either get as much money from you or satisfy the curriculum that was setup by some government agency that knows nothing about the real world...

I probably learned more in my first year after college than I did all 4 while I was there, and I've talked to several others who feel the same way. They always seemed more concerned with making sure I knew a little bit about everything, while not knowing a lot about anything... I often wish I'd found a votech school. I have a piece of paper that says I made it, and really that's all most employers look for anymore... Not always what that piece of paper says...

 

Amen.

This job is a dead end job as well. I work in a very small department. The only way into management is if our manager leaves, and that aint gonna happen.

 

That's exactly what I am trying to avoid. Since most say that online classes are tough (and I am not one for wasting money), I might have to just suck it up and go to class.

 

School sucks. Don't do it.

 

Jamz, have you ever thought of trying to get into management at Rudy's?