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.

My summer term grades have finally been posted.   Being the typical Non Traditional Student, I was hoping for another 4.00!!   Had to settle for a 3.60 this term.   This keeps my aggregate GPA at a 3.83 over two terms back in school.   Maybe I have set my expectations to high to start with, but its all about goals, right?   I had to struggle for my “B” grade in Algebra, but I’m not going to let that happen again.   I had never received a 4.00 in my life and my first term back was quite a personal accomplishment….but wait, I can’t remember even getting in the 3.60 range back in High School either…   Guess I’m doing well, I just need to focus on each class specifically.  I’ve been doing some research and blog surfing and have found some great resources that you should look into.

One fantastic site I’ve found is How to Study.org, well worth a good look at.   There are fantastic sections about goal setting, organization, specific subject study guides and  much more.   I’m impressed.   I’ve been digging around in the site all day and have a ton of new skills to try out in the Fall.  Another great site that I found today was www.studentagain.com This is another great site for Non trads to find study skills and resources.   They have a great guide to buying and selling textbooks that is very important right now as we get ready for fall term.  I’ll continue to post study skills information in this category on Reaching Lifelong Goals.com

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I just spent some time reading a very informative article on Associated Content about math barriers for Non Trads.   There were some great tips on how to deal with completing a series of Math requirements.   One main point that I really identified with was the concept of pursuing MASTERY…not just completing assignments.   This idea really hit home with me during my struggle this last summer term with Algebra.   Being the typical Non Trad, I set my sights high, expecting an A from this class, just like I received in MTH 020.   Well, my grades came in this week with a solid “B” in MTH 060.   Was I crushed? Yes, but maybe my expectations need to be tempered with a bit of reality as well…Reality is like gravity – IT SUCKS!   Not that I have any real excuses, but I tried to take a full load of Summer Term classes AND Stage Manage a musical at my local ACT community theater!    Bottom line was that I was not as consistent with the homework for my math class.   I did not really MASTER the concepts, and struggled with the formulas and concepts on tests.    Hence, the horrible (to me anyway) B GRADE.

Another important concept was “shopping for the right professor”.   I was lucky to have a caring, entertaining and conscientious teacher.   I am completing my Math requirements at Linn Benton Community College.   I felt it wise to take math in this setting with smaller classes, more personal attention and less stress than Oregon State University would have.   I will be sticking with my new favorite teacher, Tom LePage.    I also found it useful to have a support group of students in the same boat as myself.   (Another great concept I found in this article.)   My “Math Buddies” really helped to motivate me during class and we “competed” with each other on test scores.   I plan to be at the top of our group for Fall Term’s Math 065!

I have not done too much more digging around in the Associated Content website, but if this article is any representation of the quality there, I highly recommend a look around!    The title of the post is Math and the Non Traditional Student:How to get Past the Math Barrier.   We “Non Trads” need all the help we can get in many areas….for me, Math is at the top of this list.

I never thought that a backpack would be such an essential piece of equipment.    As you walk around campus, it is hard not to notice all the different types of packs.   I searched the Internet, I went to the OSU Bookstore, REI Outfitters and spent days just finding the right one.   I tried on red ones, I zipped and unzipped pockets, I tried on blue ones… you get the idea.    I finally found one at Target that had just the right amount of storage and not so big that it would carry a small automobile.   Text books are heavy, especially when you have two or three classes in a day.   I have seen folks dragging the wheeled cases around campus just like the airport.   People I have talked to seem to like them,  I didn’t go that way however.   I did look to find a backpack that could carry a laptop.   (more on this later…)  The side pockets are compartmentalized so you can keep supplies, pens/pencils and a the Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Graphing Calculator right at hand.   I carry extra pencil leads and other office supplies and I found this to be a plus.   The brand is ful JT
, probably pronounced “fool”…

I decided to move into the Netbook type of laptop computer for schoolwork, notes and Internet.   If you have not looked into these types of smaller computers, they are really quite handy.   MSI Wind is the brand I decided on.   With a 10″ screen, they are bigger than most of the netbooks out there.   This little computer has a keyboard that is about 80% sized of a full laptop.  Takes a little getting used to, but they really are not that bad overall.   You can connect wireless to the internet, and they are capable of word processing.   All that you really need to have with you at school.   They will not play intensive games, but you should be fine with most web based applications.   I found the best deal on the MSI Wind through Amazon  MSI Wind U100-432US 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 6 Cell Battery) Black

If  you have not found that perfect backpack, keep searching, one will “speak” to you soon.   I’ll get some pictures posted of how I have set up my mobile office on my back.  Being a non traditional student returning to school presents all kinds of new adventures, selecting the perfect backpack was just one of them.    The new school year is just a few weeks away, better start trying some on!

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I have finalized my schedule for my fall term classes.  Plan to take more history for fun, more math to fulfill requirements and an English Lit class for my Bac core class requirements.   Also have plans to do an independent study series in History.   Full load, how to deal with this?   One of the best classes that I could have ever taken first term back as a Non Traditional Student was “College Skills” CG111.    I wholeheartedly recommend any form of this class for a non trad.   This course teaches you how to study, take notes and take tests.   I’m sure that most institutions have some course like this.   One of the key points learned was what type of learner you are…visual, auditory or Kinesthetic (hands on…)    Tailoring your note taking and study habits to one of these three types is essential to your success.

Although this summer term…..I should practice what I preach….just like my father always said….

Don’t do as I do, Do as I say!!

I’m putting together a post on the Cornell Note Taking System.    I find that this one really helps with organization and further study of your class notes.

This online program appears to have some real potential check it out…every little bit helps

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