Dopers, please help me pick my next class!

In My Humble Opinion
1

Got through my first six credit hours (Distance Learning) now that I decided to be an intellectual college grad-type at 37 years old with an A, and a 4.0 GPA. Proud of myself? Yep! Could I have done it without the Professor I got for those first six credit hours? Nope!

She is teaching another six credit hour seminar class (Dist. Learn. again) in Natural Sciences - I can also choose a Humanities Seminar or Social Sciences Seminar for the same number of credit hours, but without her as an instructor.

My dilema is this: do I take the Natural Sciences course, led by a teacher I loved but, based on the catalog, subject matter I am not really thrilled about, yet offers a HUGE opportunity to actually learn something new and maybe, just maybe, really get into, or take a chance on one of the other two classes that really interest me (catalog again) yet I don’t know who the teachers are, they don’t know me, etc. etc. Those classes (minus my revered Professor) = Social Sciences or Humanities - which are two topics that would be right up my interest alley (so to speak).

I’m so confused - but am leaning towards her class - although not a huge interest of mine, I think I could LEARN more, since it ISN’T something I have ever been drawn toward. Plus, I kind of figure that that is the point of continuing education, right? Or should I go the “easy route” and take classes that I’m “comfortable” with and won’t have to put a whole lot of effort into?

Maybe I’m just insane - I feel like I want to WORK this - I want to LEARN things - and expand my horizons - thank the <insert Deity of choice here> I’m being given a FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION! I don’t want to waste it, and I want to take advantage of the opportunities it will give me to grow as a human being.

Please, wise Dopers - tell me what to DO!!!

And while you’re at it, please tell me that I’m not completely out of my mind in the way I feel about this gift of a college education; Mr2U really doesn’t get it, and I can’t talk to him anymore about struggling with this decision, and my feeling like I would be wasting it if I don’t make the most of it - he thinks I should do what I’m comfortable with - my point was, I want to LEARN. If I wanted comfort, I’d buy a Barcalounger. :wink:

Thanks in advance,
M2U

2

If you like the instructor, and she’s already been willing to help you, I say go for her class again. As you point out, you’ll have to work, but you have a huge opportunity to learn. Just out of curiosity, what are the specific topics for each class?

And yeah, if it’s free, take it for all you can get out of it.

3

Hello fellow non-traditional student! I’m 32, though I’ve been at this since I was 22. I’ve been going part time and had to take two years off for family stuff, but I’m almost at the end, next May. :slight_smile: Anyway, when I first started I was under-confident, but I had an appreciation for what I was learning that I don’t think I could have mustered at 18. That first semester, like you, I had an instructor I just adored. She was totally different than anyone I’d ever met and when the next semester rolled around, I took 2 of her classes. I think doing it like that helped me to build confidence. I don’t know where you are in your studies, you mention distance learning, are you trying for a first degree or are you further along than that?

Oh, and getting out of your comfort zone is a good thing, but only you know if you’re ready for it. :slight_smile:

Anna Belle

4

I don’t know anything about non-traditional students and distance learning. My advice is 7 1/2 years of being a regular college student. (Actually, I’m considered an older student in grad school, because I took five years off. I didn’t know I was old!) Since you’re not getting an education to prepare you for a specific career, I don’t see why you should limit yourself to certain subjects. I good professor makes a big difference, and she might be able to write you letters of recommendation and give you other help in the future.