Good Morning fans and friends,
I just woke up and saw that Westland is going to be selling Rain Barrels with some of the proceeds going to the cancer foundation. My mum died of cancer so whenever I can give, help promote research, I am in for it. But, it is not just for the cancer research fund, it is for the rain barrel. I have always wanted one to water my flowers, garden and save the water that comes from the sky and recycle it. I think it is a good thing for our earth as well as a good example of conservation. My grandparents had two of them at their cottage in Canada and I can remember at a young age, putting a dipper in and getting out a bucket full of water. The Cottage didn't have running water, so we used it to wash our hair, water the garden and yes, even flush the toilet. I know I won't use mine for all those reasons but I do think it is a good way to reuse our water that comes from the sky.
I have to research it and see where the best down spout to put it under. But, that is no different than researching a subject for school. Learning again is what I am talking about, learning about something new, exciting, is all part of life. I just found out that Granite State College is offering a
Masters of Science Degree in Project Management. I am so excited and want to get signed up as soon as I learn my new job better. I want to be proficient in this new position before I put other information in my brain. Taking these classes is a great education and career advancement opportunity. I am so excited about this new class, I have told other colleagues about the program and who knows, maybe a few of us will go to Granite State College and take these accelerated adult studies classes.
OK, I am off to get my rain barrel. I hope you all have a great weekend!!
Every time I begin a new semester, I wonder about the kinds of students that will come through the door at Granite State College. I wonder about ages, past educational experiences, work history, reasons for coming to class and I wonder if I will be able to meet all the various needs for attending Adult Education classes at Granite State College.
This semester was no different except that I was teaching at the Portsmouth NH college campus, where I have always taught at Rochester NH college campus. I entered the Portsmouth NH campus for the first time and was greeted by a work study student. She welcomed me, assuming that I was a student. She asked if I was ready to begin classes. I smiled and thought how much fun it would be to be taking one of the many continuing education classes at Granite State College. For a moment I envied the adults that come to do an Adult Education Certificate or an Adult Accelerated Degree Program. I love teaching the courses, but what fun to take one.
I felt so welcomed at Portsmouth and so excited about the new semester. So thank you for welcoming me to my "new" campus. Come and visit yourself and see all the course options Granite State has to offer.
I wake up this morning to the radio and the broadcaster calling for a "wintry mix."
Until I moved to the south, I never knew what a wintry mix was. Growing up in Michigan, winter was just that, winter. It meant snow, ice, cold weather, boots, gloves, hats and long johns. As a child, I was sent out the door prepared for the worse weather ever. Snow pants, boots, gloves and hats were the attire for most of those wintry days. As an adult, I went to work with boots, scarf, hat and gloves, ready for the worse with my snow brush in the car and scrapper. My life changed when I moved to the south. Schools would close when snow was in the forecast that morning. Kids were sent home from school if a white flake was spotted outside, and work had emergency lines to call and see if work was delayed or called off for the day. I am used to it now but thinking about it, brought back a fond memory I had one evening after work in Bedford, New Hampshire. It had snowed all day and no, we were not sent home, we were working since eight am that morning. It had snowed about one foot throughout the day and I had school after work to go to at the Manchester New Hampshire college located in the old airport. Some of my coworkers had remote starts, I was amazed; pushing a button to start their cars from inside the office, crazy but cool. Others had gone out early to start the cars. I just thought I would be fine at the end of my shift and had plenty of time to clean off the car and get to my class on time. Well, I was mistaken. That snow had a thin coat of ice under it and my wee credit card (southern scrapper) didn't do the trick. Thank God one of my fellow employees had a good scraper to clean off my car and get me on the road. From that day on, I had a good scrapper ready at all times.
Back to the wintry mix they are calling for this morning. We may get a dusting and up in the mountains, they may get a couple of inches of the white stuff, hence a wintry mix. The grocery stores will be full of people buying milk and bread as they are afraid they will get shut in for days. For me, it will be work as usual. I will hit the road early and go slow, remember some driving skills learned in my Michigan and New Hampshire days how to drive in the stuff. I will get to work the same as I got to class that night. It was one of my accelerated studies classes so there was no way I could miss it. I needed to be there to get the assignments for the next few days. I bet my friends in New Hampshire wish they had more "Wintry Mix Days" than the snow that fell just a few hours ago!!
Today was a crazy day. First off, was work and I had to be there at 8am. I usually go in earlier, around 6am to work out, but I have been sick and until I get back up to snuff, the workout ritual is going to have to wait for a few more days. We were busy at work and I was given the task to write my own review today and have to have it complete by the end of the week. I have done this before previous years with the company but since I got my degree from Granite State College, I really didn't understand how important it was. How the words you use can make or break your review and how you are viewed by your manager. Learning how to write well and how to put your sentence structure together well, can make all the difference.
So much of our review is all statistics, hence my Business Statistic class came in handy, when I had to figure out percentages and what the variables are and how to calculate the average of a performance objective metric. Getting my adult education degree has improved my writing of these reviews so much. I have excelled in my rating as well as my confidence has improved on this skill. The day is past and now I sit and write for the college. I love to blog and give others my thoughts about adult on-line education, accelerated studies, Granite State College and adult college classes. My education is Priceless......that pretty much sums it up.
With this time of year comes family and celebration and a quiet reflection of the year gone by. It is important to be aware of the things we would have done differently to avoid mistakes of the past. But above all, this is a time to give thanks for the blessings in our lives. As adult college students, it is easy to be bogged down in the extra time we spend reading, studying and writing at our Lebanon NH college. Here is what I am thankful for.
I am thankful for my family. Everyday I think about what wonderful people I have closest to me. My son makes me smile everyday and brings me the most satisfaction I have ever felt. His sister Ashlee makes me so thankful for new beginnings. Parents of teenagers can be as difficult to get along with as teenagers themselves. Our relationship has improved so much in the last year, and the feeling is so sweet. His sister Emilee still seems to be the human embodiment of the famous theater symbol of the comedy/tragedy mask. She can be so good one minute and so...so...Emilee the next. But a great kid nonetheless.
I am thankful for the company I work for. Hypertherm is a wonderful company, and not just because they are paying for me to go to college. We consistently rank as one of the top companies to work for in NH, are employee owned and have great benefits and a lucrative profit sharing program. I have been there for nearly 13 years and expect at least that many more.
I am thankful to Granite State College for providing the opportunity to finally attain the most important goal of my life: to earn my bachelor's degree. This adult accelerated degree program makes my experience so worthwhile and fulfilling. I cannot believe I waited this long to start my journey again, but what is important is that I am here, chipping away. My life has improved dramatically because of my time spent here with my career advancement education.
While browsing the web this morning, I came upon some sad news. A man by the name of Jim Miskelly, born July 4, 1914 died on Oct. 16, 2010. This man was diagnosed with cancer in 1975 and had a dim prognosis of only living five more years. He lived and beat the prediction by 30 years. This man was a former accountant and member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, married 75 years to his loving wife Carolyn, who had just died one year proceeding him. He had a self-taught art of calligraphy. He would use his talents down in Palm Coast, FL, where he had moved too back in 1975, and also at the local High School. He was asked on many occasions to write for the newspapers, fill in important documents for Palm Coast as well as a New Hampshire high school where his special brand of penmanship was widely known. What a wonderful talent and he shared it freely throughout his life. I am sure Mr. Miskelly learned so much through those 96 years he lived. His knowledge, whether is was through accelerated studies or for his education or career advancement, became part of his legacy.
Today is my mother's birthday, she would have been 87 today. I never forget when my mother's birthday was, it saddens me in ways but also delights me for the women she was. She was a warm loving person who would do and do for others. Not a selfish bone in her body. She never knew I got my Adult College Degree back in September 2009 but I know she would have been so proud of me. My children and my grandchildren may follow my path as it is all part of ones legacy that we pass on. Continuing education degrees or learning how to have wonderful penmanship like Mr. Miskelly did, is life. One should never stop learning, I know I won't, love it!!
Sometimes I need to change. It is not always easy to recognize when I do though. Changing the wardrobe is easy--it goes with the task or seasons. Changing my thinking is different. It requires me to have conflict, (either within myself or with someone else.) Conflicts by their very nature are not comfortable, so the discomfort then becomes the catalyst for the change to occur.
My most recent discomfort came from work. My performance was not in question. I would even go as far to say that my boss was "pleased as punch" with my performance. I had attained the highest level of growth in my position, and yet, that realization was neither a moment of pride or accomplishment. Sitting with that realization is a process within itself and I will spare you the ugly details. Needless to say it would not be too much longer before I finally made the connection that I needed to change.
Going back to college was the way I chose to manage, and thus alleviate my discomfort. It has been an interesting time as I again try to juggle work and college classes. Sometimes when I find myself up earlier than the alarm clock, worrying or planning a writing an assignment, I invariably ask myself, 'Is this worth the effort?' And I still answer myself with a resounding 'Yes.'
The logistics of college were surprisingly easy with the help from the staff at Granite State College. They are knowledgeable in adult education resources, (which means the have seen it or done it all) and they are always ready to help. Combining the availability of online classes for adults and accelerated studies, choosing Granite State College was a smart choice.
The changes I chose to make have made a world of difference in my outlook as well as my performance. My inner conflict is now beginning to resolve itself. Pride in my accomplishments are once again my motivators. What's yours?
What a lovely South Carolina morning it is as I am sitting on the back porch, sipping coffee and thinking about my day. I am pondering, do I sew, do I read or work outside and pull out the tomato plants? I am not sure, but I will decide. I remember many Sunday mornings when I sat on the back porch and wrote my papers for college. Some of my papers where for my adult accelerated classes I took at
Granite State College and others were for my on-line adult education classes. Nevertheless, I had a ritual and it worked for me.
I believe that you have to be organized and prioritize what has to get done and figure out what works for you to get it done. Whether it be a paper or an assignment: everyone learns differently and studies differently. Finding what works for you can be so detrimental in your success in getting your adult education degree and getting your homework done on time. Sunday mornings worked for me. Sitting on the back porch and just thinking about the subject matter, with no other distractions, made writing fun and enjoyable.
I was just talking to my neighbor about getting my MBA. She wants to get hers too, so maybe that is something I need to prioritize and get serious about it in the near future. I love to learn and highly recommend it to everyone I meet.
It is a rainy morning here in South Carolina. Just sitting watching Sunday Morning on TV and thinking about what I will do today. I have a bit of sewing to do as Christmas is just around the corner. I also want to head out to the stores to look for some hiking boots. I do have the book that my friend wrote to dig more into later on in the day but I think most of the day will be sewing. I learned how to sew from my grandmother. She was from Scotland and was a tailor and sewed all my mothers dresses. At a young age, she sat me in front of the sewing machine and I made my first pair of shorts at the young age of seven. From then on, I was hooked. Learning to sew has been so much part of my life through the years. From making clothes for my grandsons, myself and my children. Learning, is the key word here. From all that sewing, my young son sewed for the Navy, packing and repairing parachutes was his assignment. He learned how to sew from sitting on my lap at a very young age as I made him and his brother and sisters outfits to wear. We pass things onto our children as they grow and mature. Even if we don't think they are picking things up, they are.
I went back to school for many reasons. One of those reasons was to be a good example for my children and my grandchildren. Just like my son learned how to sew from watching me, maybe he will continue his education like I did.
Granite State College was a good foundation for my education and gave me the tools and smarts to carry on in today's working society. There are so many adult education services like the accelerated studies as well as online classes for adults; all are valuable recourse's to receive your adult education degree. I hope he goes to college to get his degree someday. It will only help him in his future and his development as a young adult in today society.
Life is all about learning, whether it be learning how to sew or learning that a college education is so valuable, it is all about learning. Studies show we should never let our minds get stagnate even in our senior years, so I will be learning for the rest of my life, at least that is the plan.
So I returned to GSC with a renewed spirit. As far as distance learning universities went,
Granite State College was offering everything I needed to get my degree. I started back up in the winter of 2008 with critical thinking. The blackboard tutorial walked me through everything I needed t know to make it in this new electronic blackboard jungle!
I found the level of instruction and interaction more fulfilling than before in my face to face classes. It was exciting to not only be back in school but using new tools and techniques to achieve my goals. The on-line college opportunity that GSC was providing me was really making a difference. I began to rack up the credits and get closer to my goals, feeling like I was on an accelerated undergraduate degree path. I knew I was going to seal the deal this time!
One resource that I tapped with GSC was the ability to do CLEP and DANTES test-outs. These college level aptitude tests evaluate whether you possess college level knowledge in a number of subject matter. Although I did study to prepare for each test, you can really take advantage of prior learning with this adult education service the college provides. In one summer I was able to CLEP out of three subjects, which gave me 12 credits towards my degree. This also saved me 9 months and about $3,000 bucks too! This is a perfect way for adults learners to qualify the knowledge and skill they already possess and really race towards a college degree.
Well after 18 short months from my second go-round, the impossible became the possible and I walked with the class of 2009 receiving my Associates degree in Business. This was a great feeling, well worth the wait, and a milestone that no one can take away from me. I described it as a half way victory because getting that degree let me know, I had what it took to go all the way. I was going to continue on for my Bachelors in Criminal Justice Administration. Now I knew, getting a degree wouldn't be a matter of if I could do it, but WHEN!
Next up: More classes and a trip to Validation Nation!
I had put my dreams of a college degree away and carried on with my life. I was busy, and happy in my career, but really never thought I would "close the book" on an adult education diploma. I was enjoying some success in my career and as luck would have it, I was promoted to Lieutenant of the Conway Police Department. This was a happy time for me but a crossroads as well. Now that I was an administrator, would I have the credibility dealing with budgets, Boards and Committees? I new I had to take another look at finishing my educational journey.
In December of 2007, I went down to the local
Granite State College office and met the greatest people. From my academic advisor Nancee Caughey to the office staff, Cindy, Patti, Julie and Molly, they were all clearly pulling for me to get back in the game! They could tell that I was nervous about returning to classes after 15 years, especially the online classes for criminal justice. I wasn't the most computer savvy guy and I was more than a little intimidated. They explained the process of re-enrollment, accuplacer testing and the many new programs available to help me obtain an accelerated undergraduate degree.
The thing that caught my attention first was the huge variety of degree choices. I had choices like Associate in Science in Business, Criminal Justice or even General Studies. All of these choices were now available online too. No traveling to the Berlin NH College or to any Concord NH Classes for credit. I settled on continuing with a Business Degree, now at the Associate level, and realized I was actually more than half way there! My fear was replaced with excitement and a renewed sense of purpose. I thought, "This is really going to happen!"
Next: Online classes, test outs and the impossible becomes possible!
You wouldn't think you could form friendships from fellow students in different states but you can. I completed my associates degree on line from Granite State College as an online learner when my job took me to South Carolina. I then went on to get my BS degree in Business Management with a minor in Finance. I started noticing that some of the same people in one class the semester before where in my new classes that next semester. It was nice to see a familiar name appear on the class roster. I, right away, sent the familiar fellow students a note through blackboard e-mail and started building a relationship with them. Before I knew it, I had a friend in Portland, Oregon, another in San Antonio, Texas, not counting all my friends I had met that lived up in New Hampshire. I soon had a great friendships formed and we would help each other on occasion if need be. Even though we all were miles and miles away, we were close in many ways. There was even a way to set up a chat session on Blackboard if we wanted to study together. The tools for learning and getting a degree from a distance were all attainable though Granite State College and the Online learning classes.
Online classes for adults are great, I can not say enough about them.
Every once in awhile, I get someone at work who will ask me where I got my degree from and when I tell them it was from a New Hampshire College, they are shocked. I soon explain to them about the online adult education degrees that can be obtained through Granite State College, whether they be regular term classes or accelerated five week classes, and that they are quite doable.
During my student recruiting travels for Granite State College I frequently hear stories of woe from parents of traditional age college students about how their child’s undergraduate experience took longer than the anticipated four years. “My son spent six years in college because he majored in fraternities during his first two years” said one parent. All too frequently, students who complete eight full-time semesters in a bachelor’s degree program have either insufficient credits or lack required courses for graduation. Changing majors, dropping courses, poor academic performance and course scheduling mistakes are common reasons for an extended college experience. These extra semesters equate to higher out of pocket costs for parents and students and bigger student loans.
Fortunately there are strategies that can assist the traditional-age college student to complete their bachelor’s degree on time and, in some cases, ahead of schedule. Taking one or two summer courses every year, along with proper academic planning can enable a student to complete their plan of study a full semester ahead of time. This strategy can reduce both tuition and room and board costs and enables the student to begin the career search five months earlier than their classmates.
Many students at our sister University System of NH schools take advantage of Granite State College’s five week online spring courses or eight week summer term to build credits, then transfer these course credits into the plan of study at their ‘home’ college. Our online, evening and weekend course options allow students to complete the coursework while still working summer jobs and having adequate ‘beach time’. Registering for a summer course at Granite State College is both affordable and easy. The NH Transfer.org website allows students to make sure that the selected courses will transfer and meet their plan of study needs. My son is a communications major at Keene State College and by taking a summer course every year at GSC is on track to complete his degree requirements in December of his senior year. My checkbook is really liking that!
If you are interested in learning more about this and other accelerated graduation strategies drop me an e-mail at tom.oetinger@granite.edu .
This spring term is a significant one for me for a couple reasons. I am on track to earn my Associates Degree in June, and I am continuing on with my plan of taking two classes per term (the significance of this can not be overlooked). An explanation will follow...
When I chose to leave Keene State in June 1997, I told myself I would return to school, that I was just leaving for a break. Of course I attempted to keep that pledge true. I took a class with the College Of Lifelong Learning in 2002, but did not continue. Again, I enrolled in the adult education program and took one more class in 2005 but the reality of having a new baby son again had me reconsidering my idea. In the summer of 2008, I returned to Granite State College, this time for good. What was different? I was in the middle of interviewing for a newly created position at my company, and two things were quite clear to me: 1-I was being seriously considered for this position of high visibility and responsibility and 2-my lack of degree completion was a major concern. At this point I decided there was no more room for excuses, and it was time to set my sights and accomplish this goal I had set for myself so long ago. In hindsight, I am thankful for this commitment I made, because my current position is being moved to a new region of the world at the end of the calendar year, and without a degree, I would most likely be moved into a position with a lower pay grade and fewer opportunities to advance up the ranks.
Why is the fact that I am taking two classes this term again a significant milestone? When I found out a year ago in the summer of 2009 that my current position would be leaving our US based office, my leader made it very clear that it would be a tough sell to get me a position with the same level of responsibility and pay without a degree. He encouraged me to double up on classes to ensure the attainment of my Associate's Degree by the end of 2010. Around this same time, a significant change in my life forced me to pick up a part time job. From late August to the end of the winter term in March, I cursed the decision. I had zero time to do things I really WANTED to do, but I recognized the important message I was sending to my leader, as well as the great friends I have made at my part time job. Alas, I seriously considered not taking two classes per term anymore, until I realized the myriad course delivery options available at Granite State College. This term I am taking (along with my normal 12 week class) a 5 week intensive class (delivered through online classes for college). This class will begin later this term so I look forward to blogging about my experience. Now I can finish school sooner and still have time in my life for friends and activities that make me happy and fulfilled.
It is important to begin school at the right time in your life, but consider that there is never a "perfect" time. It is a real commitment, and beginning sooner rather than later can only benefit you. Also, for people concerned about the intrusion in their life that this comittment will engender, realize that you can take 5 week classes or even weekend intensive classes that deliver accelerated studies, yet allow you to minimize the time requirement.
The Study Guides and Strategies website (www.studygs.net/metacognitiona), has an extremely useful webpage on “Learning how to learn”. This useful resource suggests that “effective learning is through knowing
• yourself
• your capacity to learn
• the process you have successfully used in the past
• your interest in, and knowledge of, the subject you wish to learn”
The site continues to outline the four steps required in an effective learning experience:
• Begin with the past
• Proceed to the present
• Consider the process, the subject matter
• Build in review
By connecting to past experience one can accelerate a new learning situation. The Center for School Success suggests, “When new information is learned, a chemical reaction occurs in the brain between brain cells (neurons). When repeated, this reaction spreads and builds connections between previous knowledge and information. The more frequently this process occurs, the more memory and comprehension are strengthened, as it becomes easier and quicker for the brain to access information." (www.centerforschoolsuccess.org).
By building in review, elaborate rehearsal is a preferred method of anchoring the new learning. David Sousa defines elaborate rehearsal as a “a more complex thinking process in that the learner reprocesses the information several times to make connections to previous learning and assign meaning. There is almost no long-term retention without rehearsal Sousa suggests. “Simply increasing your time on a learning task does not guarantee retention” if you do not take the time personally interact with the content being learned through rehearsal. Additionally, Sousa recommends the initial learning needs to be on target as “practice does not make perfect…it makes it permanent.”
For more on effective learning visit: www.studygs.net.
As an academic advisor, I love those times of the year when my students are signing up for courses. The pace picks up, the phone rings constantly and the office is alive with students. I love the meetings with my advisees, hearing about their successes and challenges at Granite State College and helping them to plan the coming semester.
During one registration period, I worked with a woman who had more than half of her bachelor's to complete. She had been happily taking two classes a term, but came to me one day with a dilemma. A job had opened up in the school where she worked and the position had been offered to her - contingent upon her finishing her degree in a very short period of time. In order to successfully meet her goal, she would have to take five or six classes a term for a year. She had two small children at home and a husband who had recently lost his job. They really needed for her to get the position. We discussed the incredible work load six courses a term would involve - but she was determined. As an advisor, I had to listen very carefully and judge whether or not I thought she was likely to succeed and help her to brainstorm strategies to do so.
Since two courses is considered a full time load at GSC, four courses is the maximum you can take without approval from the registrar. So....I listen carefully, believed her strategies would succeed, and wrote a request to the registrar. Approval was granted.
This woman successfully completed five or six courses per term for an entire year, taking both online and live college courses. Not only did she complete them, she completed them all with a B or better. She is now in her new position and grateful that GSC had the flexibility to work with her to provide the accelerated studies she needed.
Ahh.......I love my job!
Do you remember what it felt like when you were a child and made your parents proud? I remember when I was in the first grade and won the spelling bee which meant I won a five foot tall stuffed Snoopy animal our teacher had brought in as motivation for all of us. My classmate, the runner up, cried hysterically because she had dreamed of winning this prize. I was so moved by her emotion that I gave her the stuffed Snoopy. By the time I had arrived home on the school bus my teacher had phoned my parents and informed them of the events of the day. That is the last time I remember my parents telling me how proud they were of me. I felt great on that day, not because my hard work and studying had paid off but because my parents were truly proud of their daughter.
I became a single parent at the age of 25. I raised and supported two beautiful daughters on my own. I bought a home and gave of myself to community organizations for more than a dozen years. It was not until I began my Adult Accelerated Degree Program at Granite State College that my parents again expressed pride in me. Let me tell you, it feels even better at the age of 40 to make your parents proud than it did at the age of 7.
Do you know what is even more gratifying than hearing your aging parents tell you they are proud of you? It is hearing your child tell you how proud they are of you. I received a flower delivery at work; I had not received flowers since the birth of my children some 18 years ago. I opened the card and read,” I am so proud of you, Love Brittany.” I immediately called my daughter and asked what she was proud of. I thought I may have won the lottery and did not realize it! She simply stated that she was proud of me for pursuing my adult college degree, working fulltime and still supporting her, her sister, the family dog and our home. This is the child that saw me as the Devil incarnate for some 5 + years! How wonderful is that?
Last year I was inducted into the
Honor Society. My youngest daughter came to the ceremony out of obligation. She made it clear that she was put out by the fact that she had to get up as early as 10:00am and wear her “Sunday Best.” While at the event she sulked and complained that they did not serve any food that she liked.
Danielle was 18 years old and in her “dark” period. She dyed her hair black wore black clothes and refused to smile or say anything positive during her day. As each of the 30 of us adult college degree students being honored were called upon for pinning we were asked to say a few words. I had prepared a brief 30 second speech so I was comfortable doing so. As I walked back to my seat after speaking my daughter leaned in and said “you just owned this room!” If you need a translation from the “dark side” my daughter had just told me that she was proud of me. What an accomplishment that was.
I am middle aged and have the generation above me and below me both proud of me at the same time. Is there a better place to be in life?
It was a cold and blustery snow storm, the kind that makes you want to cuddle up in your fleece pajamas with cocoa and a good book--or with your nine-year-old son to watch Miracle for the hundredth time. Instead I was in the garage, cell-phone propped on my ear trying to follow my husband's instructions to start the snowblower. "Crank the choke, throttle the rabbit, prime the pump then tork the lever." Huh??
Ever feel this way? The person on the other end of the phone knows exactly what they're talking about and launches into a language that you can't even begin to understand. You're frustrated, cold, wet and feeling a little bit dumb that you can't even get past the first command, never mind actually make this machine come to life.
I know that this is how going back to college can feel for adults. I've had students in my classes tell me that this is their first time back in a classroom since high school. It's scary. And overwhelming and there are alot of acronyms. The good news is, they picked Granite State College. Because we're an adult college program, we try to avoid the acronyms and help our students navigate the maze of higher education clearly and with a road map. We have specific resources for adult students including advising, academic support and a virtual library. We also walk our students through the maze of adult financial aid. We'll help you distinquish between a FAFSA and a MPN (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and (Master Promissory Note).
So if you're feeling overwhelmed with choices, and information, give us a call. We'd love to help you start fulfilling your dream of achieving your degree. (And we'll help you start the snowblower if you need that too!)
Like millions of Americans, my new-years resolutions included getting in shape. I think my expectations are pretty realistic. I know I'm not going to be Jillian Michaels within the next 6 months, but perhaps I can at least get rid of this double chin. To get started I decided to jump on the Wii Fit Advanced train. My son eagerly helped me set up my mii (because you know 9-year olds do this stuff about a thousand times faster than us adults!) I have to admit my mii was pretty stunning. Great haircut, nice glasses and the color eyes I've dreamed of having. I was in heaven. Until the board calculated my weight and bmi...at which point it started groaning what sounded like "ouch" each time I stepped on the board. I guess this is supposed to be a motivator...move from "ouch" to "yippee"? "amen!"? or even "phew!" (I'll let you know when I get there!). Unfortunately for me it had exactly the opposite effect. Who wants to be greated with "ouch" when they're jumping on board to get exactly the opposite reaction. How about a "good for you!" or "at least you're trying!"
This experience made me think about our students. Since we offer primarily adult college courses, we appeal to adults looking for affordable continuing education in an environment that is supportive and friendly. Some of our students are interested in accelerating their studies and completing their degree quickly. I believe that the experience we offer is closer to the "good for you!" than the "ouch." Based on our recent student satisfaction survey, our students agree. They give us high marks for academic support, faculty access and online course availability. If you're considering a college with online classes, I hope you'll choose the one without the "ouch"--Granite State College
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