So close and yet...

[cookderosa]

I know exactly how you feel. I started my college career in 1976. Yeah, pathetic isn't it. Now I am not going to allow myself to quit. I am a procrastinator and I put everyone else's needs before mine. I won't bore you with the details but it is easy to set aside my books to spend time with my grandchildren and/or children. I am working hard to "just do it." In addition to my advice above to schedule a test and then get to studying, make small goals for yourself. Otherwise it is a daunting project to consider. Look at it one class at a time and go from there. I don't know how to study either. I go thru the IC flashcards first, then supplementary information, then pre tests.
I just make notes and then notes of the first notes until I have at least enough memorized to pass the exam. Yeah, listen to me, the old sage, that has passed all of one exam. Let me get off my teeny little soapbox and defer to the veterans.

Cate,
I don't see how a veteran could have said it any better. Feel free to stand tall on that soap box grandma!

[categ]

Sure, if only I could follow my own advice.

[Kiwi Lover]

I know exactly how you feel. I started my college career in 1976. Yeah, pathetic isn't it.

Cate,

Like you, I also began working on my college degree in 1976, so I know just how you feel! And it isn't pathetic at all; in fact, I know you will find many IC members here who also started working on their college degrees many years ago.

The main point is this: you have now made the commitment to finish what you started 30 years ago, and just that alone should make you feel very PROUD!!. You can do this and you'll have plenty of help along the way from everyone here.

We're all rooting for you (especially us "veterans" LOL). :p

Hang in there!
JoAnne

[Paul]

Farmerboy,
.....still praying for you on these!

[dc67]

You all are making me feel like a youngster at 41, THANKS!!!!!!!!!

Doug

[categ]

Heyyyyy, I'm a youngster! I must be I'm still in college.......right?

Come to think of it, if you use the word youngster, you are showing your age. Sorry.

[Lindagerr]

I have you beat Cate I started my college career is 1972. I finally have my AA, but I still need 44 credits for that elusive BA. I finally have most of my plan done, now to just do it.

Whats really sad is I was just wondering how I am going gto tell my Mother I am doing this. She seems to feel I owe her my time and energy to help her figure out where she wants to live. My 3 children are all having their own crisis right now and I am going through a late mid-life crisis.

We can all come up with a million excuses why we can't finish, the hard part is going on any way and "JUST DO IT" once it is done the problems will still be there, but we will feel better about ourselves and that will make the problems easier to cope with.

That is my veteran (Ha HA) 2c. as far as I know I am still one of only 3 in the oldie but goodie age range here.

[alleycat]

If we all waited for the pefect time none of us would be getting this done. Because there really isn't a perfect time. No matter what your age!

[Calboy]

I'm not sure if you have some kind of deadline you're trying to work towards, and if that the case, then just focus and get it done. If, on the other hand you're just pushing yourself - then I would strongly urge you to take a short breather. Take time to rejuvenate. If it means taking off one class period to get your mind back into school - so be it.

I know a number of posters who disagree with me - but sometime this is a good thing.

As for me, I started college back in 1981 and complete about half the requirements. I have one class left (Race to Save the Planet) and I'm done.

I can't imagine how it will feel when I acheive my long standing goal, but like you - I'm almost done.

Good luck.

Cal

[jkfuss]

How about this experience. I started college in 1997 and was cruising. I earned my associate's degree in 9 months. I was picking off classes and challenge exams left and right. Then...in the fall of 1998, at age 27 and with no warning, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening, chronic illness. I will have it for the rest of my life. I had two emergency surgeries. I have been hospitalized 13 times including once for a year and a half. I've made 4 attempts to go back to school, but have completed only 4 classes. To add insult to injury, I found out that, due to the nonstandard way they were recorded by my original college on my transcript, other colleges won't accept the challenge exam credits I earned. So I needed to CLEP the same subjects before moving on. Fortunately, I seem to be making progress again, so I am banging out exams left and right for as long as my good run lasts. I know it won't last forever.

Get your degree done before you have an unforeseen disaster hit your life. It could happen to you this afternoon.