Adult Online Degrees

The end of the term is approaching fast. I have taken my first 5 week intensive online class. This (of course) is held the last 5 weeks of the term: which is the same time I have major research papers due in my other classes. It's a different type of experience. What's great is that adult education classes have the correct forum to try new things. Everything you do, every class you take will help you in your future endeavors. And everyone is traveling down the same road you are.

I am currently in this place where even though there are only 3 more weeks of classes, I know that time is going to fly by, however it feels like the days are never ending. This is the time when papers are due, quizzes are there to finish, etc. Outside of school, things have seemed to pile up and everything has now been officially moved to "#1 priority" which need to be done yesterday.

Life does this to you. These moments help define who you are as a person. I cannot even begin to tell you how many strong people I have met that will repeatedly stand up to the challenge. It's at these home stretches where you either "break" or walk against the wind "fight or flight."

I am a person who reflects...a lot! I was thinking about my first weekend intensive class I had at the Concord NH college campus here at Granite State College; not so much about the class itself but the atmosphere of it all. It was a very comfortable place for me. Not only was the class itself filled with information, but what was happening around us. Our class was constantly laughing - so much we had to shut the doors. The best part about it: we weren't the only ones! There were Foster Parent Classes right down the hall. Whatever you were there for, everyone seemed to have a glowing aura.

Career College Training is a resource that has become more easily accessible. From 4 year colleges, to strictly online classes, to adult accelerated degree programs (or even adult education certificates) which can be completed during day and/or night classes: there is something for you out there! 

How does this relate with this being the end of the term for me? It's because I have been put in a position where I need to pick myself up off the ground, dust myself off, and get ready to fight for the next 3 weeks. These 3 weeks will be a test and I can guarantee you I will learn more about who I am as a person. Every experience, new or repeated, will help push us to where we would like to see ourselves. Hard work pays off: although I wouldn't mind having a personal genie at times :) 

"Change" is a word that is often overused, but in the world of higher education "substantive change" has very specific meaning. An institution that goes through substantive change is one that embarks on new directions that require review by its regional accreditor. Granite State College has undertaken such a change by moving from an institution offering only undergraduate credit to one that will now offers its first masters degree.

The Master of Science in Project Management is intended to provide students with a highly transferable set of skills and competencies that are in high demand across a number of industries. GSC's first masters degree is designed to provide students with both pragmatic content and high level learning opportunities that can prepare students to advance in management and leadership level positions. A cursory search of job postings lists many positions in which project management skills are specifically identified. In addition, managers in general can gain a competitive advantage in the job market by gaining project management competencies.

Granite State College worked closely with industry experts to develop its first masters program in order to ensure our graduates will be well prepared to compete and advance in their chosen careers. At this point, the Granite State College masters degree is the only MS in Project Management offered by a New Hampshire institution. 

We are confident that our new masters degree will meet the advanced education needs of working adults and professionals across the state and beyond. The new program will be offered entirely online as well as at select Granite State College locations.

"If you want to go quickly, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together."  --African proverb.

I recently saw the above quote from my Granite State College Social Psychology textbook, "Social Psychology" by David G. Myers.  There is something about this quote that really seems to resonate with me.

For many years, I believed that working hard would alone get me to the goals and ambitions that I had hoped for in my life.  In many ways that is true, because without hard work, I probably wouldn't have gotten far.  My choices were very much "I" choices and what "I" would do by my own steam.  How much more fulfilling it has been to expand and be active in my community, being a volunteer in several organizations, and to continue my education.  I find that college life has expanded my knowledge in many areas, has helped me to "think outside of the box," and has that advantage of being surrounded by many like-minded people who enjoy their degree choices.  For me, that degree choice is a bachelor's in Behavioral Science.  Granite State College's online adult learning courses has been my primary method of "attending" classes and has really proven to be much more fulfilling than I could have imagined.  I'm on class discussion boards almost as much I'm on Facebook!  :)

I also find that being in a course at Granite State College doesn't mean that I "go it alone," since there are so many helpful people that I meet up with as I pursue my educational ambitions.  I will be continuing on to graduate studies after I complete my bachelor's in Behavioral Science in June.  I've put in a lot of individual work that will help me to go quickly, but the quality of the journey is from working with others at Granite State College that has made all of the difference as to how far I will go. 

Trying checking out some of the courses that are available at Granite State College and you'll see that together we'll go far!

     We all have our issues, and life has a way of making sure we keep on our toes too but that doesn't mean my issues need to be my obstacles.  Even if your college legs are not yet under you and you are still a little unsure, you can make a difference in your outcomes by creating your own road map to help ensure your success.

     Talk to your Advisor;  you are not re-inventing the wheel here.  You are an adult going back to school, pursuing adult higher education.  It's been done before so there are things you need to know.  That's why Granite State College makes your first appointment with an Advisor. 

     Listen to what your Advisor tells you.  Then do what they tell you. 

     Balance the ugly with the pretty -- this is something you don't realize at first blush.  Part of my thinking went like this, "I'm 40+ years old and I haven't got time for basket weaving, so I am piling up my courses, because I'm older and wiser."  The reality is that I needed time for the learning to sink in.  Maybe you have to power through to get your degree, but at least remember that learning is not just a task to cross off a list.  It is an experience in and of itself.

     Breathe--'nough said.

     Bite the bullet -- how ever you need to do it, role your sleeves up and get the job done.  Have I told you to call your advisor yet?  I will not lie to you, because that will waste my time and yours. Sometimes they are going to tell you to "put your big girl pants on and get it done",  though not as succinctly as that.  You're in college now you'll recognize it when you hear it. 

     Get ready early -- Get your books.  Make sure your computer is in good shape.  Sharpen the pencils and buy new pens.  Try not to leave registering for classes until the last day of the Add/Drop deadline.  Know your professor's contact information.   Plan your snacks, (seriously, if your blood sugar is low after a long day at work and the professor turns the lights out to start a video at 8PM, you will miss the video because you are fighting to stay awake.)

     Make connections - get together with other students before class or over the weekend.  This helps me keep my "Negative Nancy-speak" at bay.  When I can share with other students in adult education courses, the learning is more enduring.  Check out the GSC Online Library Make sure you connect with your professor too, let them know where you might need help.  Check in with your center's Academic Resource Center to help you brush up your skills.

     Know what the end result should look like.  I like pictures, so I picture myself crossing off assignments on my syllabus as they are completed, or handing in my final assignments.  But the most important picture I keep is the one with me in my cap and gown on graduation day. 

There are many myths about adult education colleges that keep people from applying:

1. College is only for the young. Wrong! In fact, the average college student is 27 years old. Actually many college students are more than 27 years old - age doesn't have much to do with the ability to learn, and many older students are more focused and ready to learn.

2. College is only for very smart people. Actually, many college students are of average intelligence. Why would you go to college if you already knew everything there was to know?

3. College is only for rich people. Not true. There are many ways to pay for college, including scholarships, student loans and grants. Most of the money has to be repaid, but some of it does not.

4. College is only for people who know what they want to be. Actually, college is the perfect place to figure out what you want to be when you grow up. You will find plenty of opportunities to explore.

5. College professors are less patient and understanding of older students. Not True! Many of them actually prefer older students because they are often more focused on learning and more prepared. But, professors are also understanding of the fact that many of the older students have families and jobs to juggle with the school schedule.

6. College is only for people who have a lot of free time. Actually many colleges, including Granite State College, are so flexible with their schedule that students can work around jobs, families and other commitments.

There are many other fallacies about adult college classes and many reasons you can come up with not to enroll, but any reason you might have for thinking you can't fit college into your life is easily overcome. Granite State College offers evening classes, online adult education classes and Hybrid classes which combine online and face-to-face classes. Just two classes a semester makes you a full-time student and it doesn't take long to complete your degree.

I have never found any of the professors to be impatient or condescending to the older student, in fact they are all very supportive. The advisors are very helpful in creating a game plan for you to attain your goal and in some cases you can even take the CLEP test to get the credit you need in certain classes. Of course, that takes the fun out of it for me. I prefer to actually take the classes, but it is a way to save on tuition and attain your goal that much sooner.

I have to say that most of my classes were a diverse mix of students, but more of them were over 30 than under 30, and the younger students were also very supportive and added a different viewpoint to the classes. When I recently took a class in Issues in Women's Health, it was a very mixed group - one man, three women in their early twenties, three middle-aged women  and one who was over 60. It was great we had women at every stage of life, from childbearing age through menopause and beyond, plus the male take on all of the stages. It made for an interesting class.

Most of the classes I have taken at Granite State College have offered that kind of interaction. I have participated in some enlightening and valuable discussions throughout the years at GSC. The diverse ages and backgrounds of the students offer a unique opportunity for learning.

Are you a busy person? Most people would say yes! Are you an ambitious person? Again, most people would say yes! Are you an adult who thinks college is something kids do after high school because they don't want to go to work, or they don't know what they want? To that, I hope you answered no.

What if I were to tell you that many of the people who come to classes at Granite State College are a lot like you? They are adults interested in adult education courses. They may have found a program they are interested in but most are not going to school full time. They are taking part time classes or even online adult education classes to further their education. That is pretty ambitious because they are working during the day and coming to class at night.

But classes only meet one night a week. So, just think, one night a week you could come over after work to a campus in Portsmouth, or Rochester, or Concord, or Manchester, or Berlin or Littleton and take a class instead of crashing in front of TV.  

Right now I am teaching a child development course. Two people are taking the course for their Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood, one is taking it for a degree in Behavioral Science, another for an associates degree, and one person is taking it because he thought it would be interesting to know about the theories of child development. 

There are so many reasons to come to Granite State College. I hope you will find a reason and I will see you in a class next semester.

Online Classes: It's that time again. Instead of being stressed out about it, I'm actually very relieved. The holidays are over, and now it's time to settle down into a routine, and taking either the accelerated college classes and/or regular 12 week online classes, you have the peace of mind that you are working towards that well deserved degree.

Each first day of a new term is always a day I look forward to: It's a first day of school for adults. Granted, I have a lot of first days, but that spills over into the other parts of my life. It reminds me that I won't always have the same job forever, and that there really are a lot of "tomorrows." However, this specific day was even more symbolic. It was not only the first day of school, but it was the first day of class in the New Year.

Last week I was taking a look at where I was at this point last year. I wasn't even enrolled in school last year. I was living in Texas recovering from an severe illness. Now, because of my hard work, I am now working part time and taking 3-4 classes a semester and now a sophomore ... In less than a year. It's always amazing to see how far one person can go in the "short" amount of time of one year.

I challenge you, whoever may be reading this blog right now, to look into taking a class (or 2) and see where it takes you. Either online classes, weekend intensive classes, adult education certificate classes, etc.. Take a look at where you are right now, and then think about where you can you be in a year from now. If there is one thing that I can be brutally honest about, it's that I never thought I would have come this far this fast. You won't know where you will be a year from now unless you bite the bullet and sign up for classes and do it. Don't give yourself any excuses either - there is financial aid available. No more excuses! It might be the scariest thing you do, but you will NOT regret it!

See you next time! :) 

I am really excited about the expanding partnership that the City of Franklin has with Granite State College. A very energetic committee of Franklin agencies and citizens have partnered with us to increase the visibility and access of our college to its residents.

The second Tuesday of the every month I will be at the second floor of the Franklin Public Library to encourage people to consider further education and career advancement.  Many people  do not realize that affordable college study is within their reach. Students can take college evening classes in Concord and elsewhere in the state; and also can benefit from online adult degrees.

On Tuesday January 11, I will be running a free workshop for anyone unsure of their future direction. We will discuss non-traditional paths of learning and strategies to move ahead. Many people I have met don't believe they have the skills to go to college and feel "rusty" since they have been out of school for a while. Actually they will find the process is easier than they think and there is extensive adult financial aid available for people returning to school. The first step is really to take a risk and meet with someone to begin to explore future options.  I will be in Franklin once a month and I hope people will feel comfortable to meet me at the Library for an informal chat when I am there, perhaps over coffee.

"Make life happen for you instead of letting it happen to you!"

In a hammock on a beach in Cozumel.  Yes, this is the life. If only I could have made it last. 

Unfortunately, most of us can't stay perpetually on "Caribbean time."  We have obligations, responsibilities and goals, most of which cannot be accomplished in the reclining mode.  There is snow to be shoveled and bills to be paid.  If you are looking to improve your financial situation so that down the road you can fit in a little hammock time, quite possibly finishing your college degree will provide the necessary element that will give your career a boost.

Granite State College is New Hampshire's common sense choice for adult college education. With an affordable tuition and online, evening and weekend classes, Granite State College makes it easier than ever to achieve your academic goals.

It's only natural to daydream about stress free tropical vacations.  Sadly, daydreams won't get you any closer to the beach.

     Do you have that thing that makes you smile each time you encounter it?  Maybe it's the picture that you took when you were on vacation.  Perhaps it was the trinket from your last excursion to the beach.  Maybe its a mark on the calendar that reminds you of an event that will occur.  No matter what it is you find yourself being excited by that little something.  I call that "My Little Sparkle."  There is no magic in it -- it is just how I react when I see or think about "My Little Sparkle."  

     Now what I am about to reveal is corny and I do not want to be judged for the small things I find delightful.  So please honor this as a piece of sacred information.  

     "My Little Sparkle," I want to share with you is when the new Granite State college catalog arrives in the mail.  I look forward to it arriving. 

     You see, it is not easy to be going to college as an adult.  I still have to earn a living, and take care of all my responsibilities, like my house, my family, my life.  But choosing to carve out the time for classes and homework means I have signed up for A LOT of extra work.  Sometimes when I am in the middle of a semester, and I am tired, I invariably ask myself, 'Is this REALLY worth it?'  This little ripple of uncertainty lingers for awhile and the resolve to plug through my class will eventually arrive.  I begrudgingly convince myself that continuing is the better part of valor by saying,
     'You already paid the tuition and bought the books, you might as well get the grade.' 

     I go through this process each time.  So when I get home and the new catalog is in the mailbox I smile.  It means a new adventure in learning for me.  Will I be in a face to face class, will I meet new people or run into others who I have already met?  Will I take online college English classes or try something totally different?  The possibilities are almost endless.  Regardless of what I choose to do receiving a new catalog ultimately means I am one step closer to achieving my goal of getting a college degree.  Knowing that makes me smile.

Hi all.

Only a few more days until I finish these three courses of the fall semester.  I really enjoyed my Human Development class with Beth Benoit (Hi Beth!).  Beth is my instructor as well as a fellow Granite State College blogger. 

I'm finding my degree specific classes for the bachelor's in Behavioral Science to be so interesting.  I want more of it!  This may later prove to fall under the category of "be careful of what you wish for," but I don't think so.  Beth will also be teaching my online course for Social Psychology, one of the behavioral science classes, and I imagine I will enjoy that just as much as I've enjoyed this one.

It's so nice to get to this stage of my life and really know what I want to focus on and that is to help others.  Not that I regret the past, but now I feel more focused and ready to stretch myself to new experiences.  When I was in my 30s, going back to school wasn't even a blip on the screen for me, but now... I can't believe how many cool things I've gotten a chance to do in my 40s!  A few weeks ago, I received my GSC reminder to submit my "Intent to Graduate" form.  How exciting!  Two more semesters and I'll have my bachelor's from GSC, the center of adult education.  I can hardly believe it.

We're  capable of accomplishing so much and life can be so rewarding.  I have my ups and downs too, but, wow, life is good!

If I don't write again until after the holidays.  I hope your holidays are everything you hoped for and that you have a wonderful new year!

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.

Since arriving at Granite State College, I have met with students at our Concord, Claremont, Conway, and Rochester regional campuses and hosted an online chat for our distance learning students. The message has been consistently positive when it comes to the quality of education and services students feel they are receiving from GSC. I have also spent enough time with staff throughout the college to know that there is a very high level of student caring that exists throughout the college. The Granite State College mission of access and opportunity is one staff embrace and students appreciate.

At the same time, colleges and universities must learn to go beyond caring about students and ensure that their practices, systems, and policies are "student-centered." Which means that we anticipate student needs and align our practices, systems and policies in a way that enhances student success and minimizes student frustration.

Over the past several months we have taken steps at Granite State College to better align our practices, systems and policies with student needs and goals. For example, more than half of our students are now enrolled in online courses, so in order to better support our distance learning students we have recently added new online tutoring services. We are also introducing new self-service capabilities that allow students to better plan their programs of study. And we are focusing attention on course scheduling to ensure more rapid tracks to degree obtainment.

This student-centered focus will be core to Granite State College as we engage in a process of continuous improvement moving forward, and find new ways to serve the evolving needs of adult students throughout the state of New Hampshire and the region. 

Less than two weeks remaining of the Fall term at Granite State College!

I can honestly say that this term has gone by the fastest for me of the seven terms I've attended to date.  At the risk of sounding like a walking cliché, it feels like just yesterday that I was registering for my current classes.  In all actuality, I cannot believe that it's already been over two years since I first registered with GSC.

I'd flirted with the idea for years, but never found the courage to actually take that step until after I'd turned 40 in April of 2008.  Even then, I procrastinated for as long as I could as I took a small baby step forward by making an initial appointment with an advisor.  I didn't know where to start, and was overwhelmed by what I'd imagined the process to entail.

I can assure you that it was much less daunting than my mind had painted it out to be.

If you are currently considering pursuing an affordable bachelor degree, or any other adult college degree, I encourage you to look no farther than Granite State College.  Located in New Hampshire, GSC is small enough to retain a sense of community, even to those of us who attend almost entirely online, yet big enough to offer a broad range of online classes for adults and evening college classes located throughout the state.  Financial aid is available even if you don't have time for anything more than part time classes.

1. You can apply for financial aid online.  The FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) doesn't take nearly as long to complete as you might imagine, and you may even discover, as I did, that you are eligible for grants and/or scholarships.  Though there is an annual deadline to apply, I completed mine in mid-August, and began my classes on time in September.  For more information, check out GSC's Financial Aid page.
2. If you fill out the FAFSA, you'll need a PIN.  This isn't a big deal at all, but serves as your electronic signature.  A link to the Federal Student Aid web site is provided on the FAFSA web site.  Creating a PIN only takes a moment, and is very easy.
3. You can meet with an advisor, even if you haven't formally decided to enroll.  I first met with an advisor from GSC a couple of years before I actually enrolled.  He answered all of my questions, and never once made me feel as though I was wasting his time.  Though I didn't actively enroll at that time, that meeting prepared me for the later step.
4. Download and view the Winter 2011 catalog, or prior catalogs going back several years.  Once you start reading about the courses offered by Granite State College, you'll soon find yourself wanting to take many of them!
5. Register online!  According to GSC's web site, you can even register for a class now and apply later.  Registration for the Winter 2011 term is now open through December 29th, 2010, and classes begin January 8th, 2011.

I am living proof that it is never too late to pursue a college degree.  As one of the student bloggers at Granite State College, my goal is to help encourage you to take that first step to embark on an exciting journey.  I've been there, and I'm well on my way.

If I can do it, so can you!

Have I mentioned that I am a big believer in life-long learning?  To that end, I have recently  embarked on a new adventure. I am currently teaching Intro to Drawing for the first time at the Conway, NH Granite State College campus.  Teaching a college evening class has always been on my "bucket list" and it has been a wonderful experience so far.    

Much to my surprise and delight, 15 students registered for my course.  As is typical at GSC, the class is a rich and diverse mix of ages, from 18 to 50.  I have been so impressed by the warm and supportive atmosphere that has developed in the class. I have always heard about the wonderful atmosphere in GSC courses, but it is exciting to experience it first hand.   

When you think of continuing education degree programs, you wouldn't necessarily picture a studio art class like this one, with students of all ages sprawled around the room with drawing boards, the furious sound of quick sketching, the smell of fixative and markers in the air.  Every Monday when I teach the class, I am struck by the wonderful diversity that Granite State offers, from online degrees to live college classes.  

At Granite State College, adult continuing education includes those of us who are staff and faculty, not only students. We strive to develop new skills, expand our knowledge base and engage in professional development. 

I'm excited by this experience because it gives me a new way to connect with my students, as well as allowing me to use a lifetime of accumulated knowledge in a new way.  Even though this course is still in progress, I can't wait to do it again!        

Granite State College is pleased to share the details of our most recent degree.  Offered locally, conveniently, and in the manner that best suits the needs of adult students, our Bachelors degree in Health Care Management can complement coursework already taken, and will prepare students for a field that we know is growing and in need of talented administrators. 

For those wanting a running start this coming Winter Term, there is one course and Instructor in particular that I would like to highlight.  Kim Gibson will be teaching MGMT 518, Human Resource Administration, on Monday evenings at the GSC-Rochester campus.  As you can see from her online bio, Kim is very talented, and I also know she is incredibly energetic.  Kim will provide an essential perspective for students who will eventually work in the field of health care. 

Related. . .I found information on this website fascinating. . .

Now that you have eaten the Thanksgiving turkey and all of those pies, you may be thinking about enjoying December and then making the regular New Year's Resolution to go on a diet. Well, how about something more lasting this year? A resolution that will really change your life?

How about enrolling in Adult Education classes at Granite State College. You have debated taking a class, finishing a degree or maybe getting an Adult Education Certificate. Now is the time. Granite State College has face-to-face and Online Classes in many areas. Maybe you are interested in an Adult Accelerated Degree Program, or Online Classes for Criminal Justice. Maybe you are interested in Childhood Education Classes or Behavioral Science Classes. Check out all the offerings at Granite State College and then make a New Year's Resolution to further your education. Classes at Granite State are offered in the evenings and people like you are coming from work to learn more and further their careers. The people are friendly and ready to learn. So, make a move and make a New Year's Resolution that you will enjoy keeping. You can register on line today.  And, as for that diet, just watch that third piece of pie! 

I don't know about you, but I have been unbelievably busy for the past several months! Fall Term at Granite State College is winding down and registration for Winter Term is less than a week away! It's hard to believe how many things have happened in such a brief span of time.
 
A huge amount of my time and energy has gone towards getting my daughter settled into her freshman year at college. Unlike me, Jess has opted for the traditional academic route, with all the triumphs and tribulations that those very intense four years entail. She is attending a small, residential college here in New England. She studied like crazy all last year because she was intent on getting into an elite school - and she did it! I'm ecstatic for her! And so very proud of her! 

Even so, the meandering educational path I took - that many Granite State College students take - is equally valid. We just have a different set of accomplishments and adversities. We may not have to deal with communal living or eat cafeteria food ... our challenges are often more to do with finding child care in order to attend college evening courses ... or waiting until after the kids go to bed in order to focus on our online classes for adults. 

Neither pathway to a college degree is without challenges. Both routes offer opportunities for success. And while having a destination in mind, such as the attainment of a college degree, the really meaningful stuff is the learning that takes place along the way. As impatient as we might be to reach that goal, we have to travel some distance to get there, and we might just find that the journey is as precious - perhaps even more than - than reaching the destination.   

Whichever path you're on, don't forget to stop and look around along the way to enjoy the view!



Here I am with my daughters Anna (L) and Jess (R) on Family Weekend at her college - enjoying the view from the bridge across the babbling brook that runs through campus.

Life just happens.  

This has not been one of my best terms.  I don't say that because my classes are difficult, or because I've been under the weight of heavy coursework. I say that because life threw me a curve ball at the end of summer, a sudden change of direction that I am still processing.  Over the past few months, I have found my sense of focus and motivation challenged by these unexpected circumstances, and it has been all I can do to keep myself still moving forward toward my goal of earning my Bachelors Degree in Behavioral Science.