Thanks for stopping by our blog!
We are trying to understand the experience of students at 2 year colleges, community colleges & regional campuses. We would be so grateful if you could share some of your experiences.
Here are some prompts to help guide your thoughts:
- Please share what a typical day is like in your life. Be sure to include inside & outside of school details.
- What should people know about your experience?
- Please talk about the ups and downs of your life as a student.
Again, thank you much!
Kristy & Pete
Hi Kristy, Hope all goes well with this project. Mark
ReplyDeleteHi Kristy! I would be happy to give you some input!!
ReplyDeleteA typical day for me is probably not like most "college" students in that I am 37 years old. I only have to go to the campus 3 days a week this quarter.M, W and Th. On Monday's I am only there for 1 class, so I pretty much just go to class and leave, don't spend much time on campus. On Wednesdays I am there from 10am til 2pm. My classes are one right after another. Alot of times on Wednesdays I go out alittle bit early and go to the computer lab or just walk around and read the events going on and such. On Thursdays again, I am only there for one class so I just basically go to class then leave. I am however involved in Human Services Club and Multi-Cultural Club. We have not met yet this Fall but I will be on campus a little bit more when these start up.
People should realize that going to college is actually a privilege. Take advantage of the clubs and the events on campus. They are there for the students to utilize and to make college life a little more bearable.
Ups and downs of being a student. Again O am sure my take on it is different from "younger" students. You have to devote a lot of time to school. Being a single mother of 2 daughters sometimes this make it rough. Thankfully my girls are older and understand when mom needs time to do school work. It is easy to procrastinate, you have to be disciplined enough to stick it out. 3 of my classes are Hybrid classes, so I only meet once a week with the instructor. This makes for more work on the students part as well as commitment.
Going back to school as an adult overall seems easier to me. I don't notice distractions as much as I did when I went to college when I was 18. I feel like I am more focused and I do better in my studies.
Hope this helps some!!
Angie
Hey Pete and Kristy!
ReplyDeleteMy "typical" day is not that of your average 24-year-old. I get up at 730 with my 1 1/2 year old daughter. After were up, I get my two step-sonsv (ages 6 and 10) up for school. I dress four people, get four people fed, and then pack three book bags and a diaper bag. Out the door we go with two getting dropped off at school and one at Grandma's house. Then its straight to work or school for me, depending on the semester. I am either at work or school for most of the day. I typically have classes scheduled five days a week and they are usually 15 minutes to 30 minutes apart. After finishing school its time to pick up the little ones and then home to cook dinner, do homework, clean, and work. The next day I get up and do it all over again. Soon my days will begin to include watching my niece and attending Accounting Association meetings.
While my experience may seem unlikely for many 24 year olds it does seem to be typical of many regional campus students. This is a privilege to be able to attend, and soon complete, college and it should never be treated as a guarantee. My success, or failure, is a direct result of my actions and attitudes; not those of my peers or professors.
There are many ups and downs to attending a regional campus. One negative was the unavoidable; relocating to Oxford in order to finish my BS in business. Please dont misunderstand; I love the Oxford campus, as well as the faculty there, but it isn't the same as Hamilton. At Hamilton I know who to call or where to go for anything I might need and I dont have that same security in Oxford. Also, I do not feel I have been able to establish the same types of relationships with my peers or professors because they are not as understanding about my "nontraditional" circumstances. The transfer process has been a positive as well; being thrown into a unexpected situation and being forced to adapt to the environment, the new peers, the different expectations, and finding my groove has given me more confidence in my abilities and skills. Another positive about the regional campus are the relationships I formed. I feel like the atmosphere at Hamilton not only allowed, but encouraged, positive relationships between faculty, staff, and students. The smaller class size at Hamilton was also a major plus. I have many classes now that are 75-150 students and the only way the professor ever knows our names is if we are forced to use name tags. Hamilton provided appropriate class size which encourages discussion and allows the professor to not only lecture, but to take the time to ensure that students fully understand the subject matter. There are always activities in Schwarm which encourages socialization amongst the student body. There are other practivcal positives such as the closeness to home and the affordable cost, as well as the ability to take night courses and/or Saturday courses. The entire experience overall has been a huge positive in my opinion.
Hiya Pete,
ReplyDeleteWell, that is quite the question. I absolutely loved being on the Hamilton campus. It was so easy to get around and I always knew where I could go to get help. Really, for me the smaller campus was what got me going in school. I was able to get more involved and I felt like I wasn't just a number there. If I had to choose between the Hamilton campus and the Oxford campus I would definitely pick the Hamilton campus. Hands down. To put it plainly, I nearly dropped out of college once I was moved to the Oxford campus. It is just not as people friendly as the Hamilton campus is. I felt at home and comfortable there. So much so that I would love to come back, but my courses aren't offered there. Not to mention the tuition for the Hamilton campus was PERFECT!!! I could pay it off by the end of the semester and still have a little bit of money left over to get Christmas gifts. Forget that happening as an Oxford student. And I can't forget the first time the Hamilton campus was closed and the Oxford campus was still open. I am a commuter, and it is NOT commuter friendly here at Oxford. The Hamilton campus is designed for students of all ages, and ethnicities, and backgrounds to come to school to learn. But while it meant to or not, it really felt like a place I could be for a lot longer. I miss it.
Anyways, to sum it up, as a 28 year old, non-traditional student with a wedding on the way, I would much rather be a student at Hamilton because it is SOOOOOO much more inviting than Oxford is. Everyone here knows everyone, and as a commuter and a transfer student I feel like a third wheel. I can't wait to get out of here. All Hamilton needs to do now is add Master's programs and I'd be all set.
I've actually made the decision to go back to school twice after finishing my bachelor's degree at Louisiana State University 13 years ago. First, to an 18-month culinary school and most recently, to a 6-month academy for dog trainers. You could say I have accumulated a lot of varying interests in my 35 years!
ReplyDeleteWhen I decided to become a dog trainer, I went part-time at my then full-time company and added two more part-time jobs, including one at an animal shelter. So with juggling all of the jobs along with school, I don't know that I ever had (or do to this day) a typical day. I tried to block out an hour per day for reading but wasn't always successful. In addition, my school required observations of other trainers' classes and externships in dog-related businesses. In total, I was involved in school-related activities about 12 hours a week. I actually kept a spreadsheet of where I was supposed to be and what I was supposed to be doing each hour of the day. Though I'm done with school now, I've added a fourth job as an assistant dog trainer, so not that much has changed as far as my frenzied schedule!
I enjoy being a student because I excel at it and love learning new things. Unfortunately, along with that knowledge comes large school loans to pay back. Why does enhancing yourself have to be so expensive?
My advice to any student would be to make the most of your experience. Don't just do the minimum. Take every opportunity to learn and observe from your mentors.
A typical day begins around 6:45 when I get up and get ready for my 9:00 Zoo class. I'm taking 13 credit hours at the moment and working part-time, usually around 15 hours a week. It's not unusual for me, between classes and working at the information desk to have 12 hour days on campus. There is the advice that you should study 2.5-3 times the amount of time you spend in class, and I usually spend some time studying and reviewing coursework during the day. In total the amount of time spent on school/schoolwork adds up to be a full-time job, and that is kind of how I look at education.
ReplyDeleteI do not consider myself a traditional student, though I do probably fall under that category. Part of this is that I grew up in Oxford around Miami, and it influenced what I consider "traditional students" and gave the term negative connotation for me, which I admit is not a fair bias and probably has more to do with wanting to distance myself from association with the Oxford campus and the atmosphere/image it projects. The other reason I do not consider myself a traditional student is that I took a year off to do volunteer work with Americorps and didn't go straight to college from high school. I'm incredibly glad I did this as when I got to college I was there because I wanted to be there. There were a couple times I got tired of the student life and tried to jump ship and join the navy/coast guard/do volunteer work again but in the end I stuck it out as the other options weren't much better.
A major downside about being a student for me is that your're stuck in limbo. You're working a fulltime job with killer overtime commitments that doesn't pay and a part time job that just covers bills. Not being able to separate home life, or for that matter actually start to develop a home life, from your job is a major thing I hate about being a student. I'm someone who needs that distinction and goes out of their way to separate the two.
Cost is another. It doesn't apply as much to me because my mother works at Miami, but my girlfriend who also goes to Miami Hamilton is going to have $60,000 in debt coming out of college and I know others that have more than that. It seems almost criminal that in order to get an education to provide yourself with a better future you have to put yourself in the hole, especially when so many other countries provide free or subsidized higher education.
Please share what a typical day is like in your life. Be sure to include inside & outside of school details.
ReplyDeleteMy typical day includes going to work and then to class until 10PM. I get up at 5:45AM and try to make it to bed around 11PM. I work 8 hours have a 1 hour break and then I am in class. I usually study on the weekends. I am taking science classes so they tend to require more in-class time.
What should people know about your experience?
I sometimes feel like I am burning the candels at both ends. With my job I have a lot of responsibilities that entend beyond the normal 8-5 work hours. Therefore, it is important for me to make sure that my classes will not interfere with some of those responsibilities. I think that if you are working full-time, on-line classes are fantastic. You have to be very organized and take responsibility for your learning, but in the end the on-line classes made me a better learner/student.
Please talk about the ups and downs of your life as a student.
Since I have started taking the science based courses, I do not have much of a life or time for anything.
I am really enjoying learning something new. Taking courses that are challenging have helped me feel more confident intellectually and socially. It has also forced me to be more organized and drink less.
The following is a post written by Georgina Ntow.
ReplyDeleteTraveling to another country to continue life is full of positives and negatives when it comes to culture. As the daily activities continues you are compelled to act as the country in which you have traveled culture demands.
I traveled to the U.S.A. with my family in 2004 we had won the Diversity Visa Lottery which permits a person to have a permanent residence in the U.S.A. With only a high school level of education back home in Ghana, West Africa, I deemed it necessary to have my degree since this country has been blessed with a lot of Universities. I worked full time for 2 years since my husband and myself had to acquire some basic necessitates before I could switch to part time which enabled me to cope with school. I had admission to Miami University as a full time student in 2007 fall. Initially Life at campus wa s a bit difficult since that was my first time in college. I had difficulty in communication because of the slang term most college students speak, but fortunately for my group the University had introduced ABLE for non Americans who had been admitted to the school and so that helped me a lot. I had to send most of my homework to them for help.
The daily activities began to be difficult when I had to cook for my family as a Ghanian woman since that is one of the values cherished in Ghana. I could remember when sometimes my kids would say, "what are we going to have for lunch when we come home from school?" I knew I could not be able to cook that day because of how my classes were tight and I could not skip classes for cooking. I had to say to them, do you want pizza for lunch, and I felt guilty for not exhibiting responsibility, as a woman would do in Ghana. But, I had to do that anyway to save the situation.
Generally, my studies have been successful because of some of the burdens lifted off me. For example I have been getting scholarships from the Hamilton Campus Community, which has lifted a big burden in the aspects of my financial issues. Since I only buy my books for the term I now have a sound mind to study. So far my stidies have been successful.
The only obtacle I have is driving between the two campuses, Hamilton and Middletown during the evening. I had to do that because I work and at the same time go to school so I had to take most of the classes in the evening. I also have the responsibility to adhere to as a parent and so I had to arrange my classes such that I could pick up my kids from school when they had to stay after school for a couple of hours for school activities.
I am grateful to be part of this great University, which has embraced other students who are not Americans, and has given us the opportunity to develop ourselves. I am also grateful for the support I get each year through scholarships which has enabled me to reach this far. I hope the rest of my stay would be successful; I see to that of my graduation as a BSN.
The following is a post written by Ansah Ntow.
ReplyDeleteLife in another country is full of uncertainties as each day unfolds with decisions based primarily on the culture of its citizens. As a result of this trend, the immigrant needs to work assiduously to be able to comprehend the culture of the country in order to enjoy life to its fullness.
I traveled to the United States of America with my family in 2004, and settled in Virginia, before we finally relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio. Initially, life was very stressful as we found it difficult to communicate well with Americans due to the "slang" and the way Americans speak. Personally, I found myself in a situation where I thought that it would be very difficult interacting well with people because of this language barrier. My assumption was wrong as day in and day out I became used to the way Americans speak.
Moreover, when I gained admission to study at the Miami University Hamilton Campus, I realized that any member of staff I contacted for any form of assistance was cooperative, excited, and encouraged me to study. In fact, I was delighted to know that the University is a multicultural institution where diversity is paramount. Generally, my studies has been very successful and quite challenging as a full time worker in an automobile ports manufacturing company and at the same time being a parent of two children. My son is a senior in Fairfield High School, and my daughter is in 8th grade at Fairfield Middle School. The major problem's that I have faced as a student is that combining my children's school activities namely, conferences and other extra curricular activities has been very difficult, and also having to maintain the home.
Again, I have observed that the Miami University regional campuses schedule had been structured to enable workers to improve upon their level of education, and this idea is unique, as this opportunity does not exist in my country.
Finally, irrespective of all the problems I have enumerated, it is obvious that the University has been very supportive in my academic work, and financially in terms of awarding multicultural scholarships and giving me all the encouragement to be able to succed in my studies.
I am a mother of two Miami college students who also works at Miami. I received an Associates Degree when I first graduated High School. I have been taking classes off and on for the past 10 years to get my Bachelors Degree. I still have not accomplised this goal but, in the meantime I received another Associates Degree. So, at this time I have 2 Associates Degrees and I am 4 classes away from my Bachelors.
ReplyDeleteI have attended 3 different small or regional campuses to take classes that go towards these degrees. After working full time in an office setting (answering phones, customer service, etc.), I wanted a smaller, relaxed atmospher to attend college. I didn't want more stress by going somewhere that I would get lost or lost in the shuffle. I wanted the more one-on-one experience.
The reason I am not going back to finish my degree at this time is because of money. It would cost me approximately $1500.00 a class for the 4 classes I need to get my bachelors degree. Even though I work at Miami, I am getting my degree from another college. If I transferred my credits back to Miami it would put me back in Junior status and I don't want to take that long to finish my degree.
Since I have gone to three different colleges (two of them as a non-traditional student), I have had many experiences. Some of them good and some bad. Some of the good experiences I had were meeting different types of people. Some of the students I have met I am still in contact with them. Even though they may be my childrens ages. I have also enjoyed some of the classes I have taken which I thought there was no way that I would enjoy them. One of those was a History class. The instructor was off-the-wall and made the learning experience fun.
Some of the bad experiences I have had was dealing with instructors who should not be instructing at all. The students just sat in the class and was totally disconnected from the learning experience. It was a waste of my time and money. Since I work full time and this class was a 5:30 to 9:55 p.m. class, it made for a long, long day.
I wish I would finish my degree because I deal with many people in higher positions that I know I could do their job and better. I don't have that position because I don't have that piece of paper.
It is getting easier to attend college because my children are older but there were many times I had to miss out on my childrens activities because I had to go to class, do homework or study for an exam. But one thing that I think had a positive influence on my children is to see their mother work so hard to take classes and get a good grade. I made the Deans List many times and I put that certificate on the refridgerator along with their schoolwork. I feel that I was a good role model for them.