I have registered for 3 credits of Independent Study this Fall Term.   As a History Major and a Non Traditional Student, I am still trying to figure out this whole “college” thing.   I took History 203 during Summer Term at Linn Benton Community College and my fantastic instructor Scott McAleer informed us about this opportunity.   Basically, you and your adviser come up with an independent study project in your field.   I will be receiving 3 credit hours for this “class”.    Since I am a History Major, we have come up with a project for me to start developing an annotated bibliography in my area of study.    During the term, I will research all the materials out there for a specific subject, and catalog and review each of them.   Since this can become an overwhelming task, I will narrow my search to my possible Master’s Thesis subjects.   I am heading in two main directions at this time; the German ace Ernst Udet’s WW1 career, or The development of aeronautics during the Great War. Both of these topics will benefit me during my Non Traditional College journey.   I have goals of writing a book someday about Ernst Udet.   Developing a complete bibliography now will save  a huge amount of work for me in the future.    Also, the Master’s Program at Oregon State University in History has an emphasis on the History of Science (Linus Pauling is a major influence in this…).    This all becomes part of my ongoing college goals.    I am in the process of setting specific goals for my College experience (another blog topic waiting to happen…) and both of these topics are the building blocks for reaching these goals.   I have very specific goals for my Non Traditional Student Journey and I really have to start pointing my class scheduling  efforts toward them.   While I am at Linn Benton Community College finishing up my Math requirements,  I will be filling my schedule with under grad classes that propel me into my Junior and Senior years at Oregon State.    My wife suggested a couple of days ago that I should look into more writing classes….we all should listen to our wives!!!   What a great notion…since my new hobby of blogging is becoming such a big part of my life, and I’ll be doing a huge amount of writing over the next few years,  boning up on writing skills is a must!

I am probably preaching to the choir here, but I highly recommend looking into an Independent Study class.   Your adviser at your institution will help to tailor a program that will specifically dovetail into your area of study.   The individual attention from your Independent Study Adviser will be a big bonus here as well.   I really hope to develop a relationship with Scott as a History advisor as well as a History MENTOR.

Posted: 09|4|09 at 2:25 pm. Filed under: Study Skills.
Tags: college, Lifelong Goals, Non traditional student, Udet, WW1
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