How long did it take you?

[Lindagerr]

I have seen newcomers talk about how old there courses are and how long it is taking them to finish. I would like to let them know it is never too late and some of us have taken decades. Just so they know once they start those things don't matter.

I walked into my first college course in September 1972 ( yes I'm an old bag). I attended a total of 3 CC's over the years and had 43 credits when I applied to TESC in Oct. 2006. I earned my AA in 2008 and my BA in 2010. So my road to degree took almost 4 decades. I had 3 children 2 marriages and lots of jobs in those years but at least I finally did it.

I have not done a whole lot with my degree, although it does allow me to substitute in SC where I spend my winters. The reason I have not used it more is because my circumstances changed and I don't need to work.

If I had it to do over again I would have tried to do it faster, but hind sight is 20/20. Even at my age and considering I don't use it much I am glad I finally did it and recommend earning that paper even if it is only so you can look at it once in a while and say I really finally did it.

So tell us how long it took you, you don't have to give the years you attended, but I think seeing how long it took some of us and that we still were able to do it might encourage some of the newbies that they CAN do it too.

[davewill]

I started CC in 1980 and spent 8 years trying to get my degree part time. Decided to try again two years ago and just graduated in June. So it took me just about as long as it did you. Wish I had done it sooner, but it's still been very useful to me.

[cookderosa]

I earned my culinary degree right out of high school, I graduated when I was 20 and went to work. Fast forward, from the time I took my first CLEP until my first graduation (AA) was 15 months, my second graduation was my BA 3 months later. Just for clarity, I didn't complete my BA in 3 months, rather my AA was held up while I tried to figure out how to get my science credit, so my BA was almost finished when I finally finished biology- at the time you couldn't get both degrees in 1 graduation quarter (not sure how it is now) so I did the AA and then the BA 1 quarter apart.

[ZsaZsa]

I graduated from HS in 1976...from an LPN nursing program in 1985. At the age of 50 I decided it was now or never, I wanted to get my degree before my grandkids headed for college. It took me 7 years of clepping, on line classing, self-teaching and following the invaluable advice on this site, but I finally got my BA from COSC in 2015. I still walk a little taller when I remember that I DID IT!

You can too.

[GoodYellowDogs]

OMG!!! September 1972 was my first college course too! I finished my LVN in 1977, AA in 1989, my BS in 2014, and now I'm doing a MBA and another AA

[Lindagerr]

@ goodyellowdogs We may be in our "golden Years" but only we can make them golden, I toyed with the idea of MTA but I got my AAS instead thinking I'd go back into that field.

I don't HAVE to work anymore but I know if our finances change or I change my mind I will be able to make enough to keep me afloat because I have that degree.


PS: My first year was for Nursing school too

[Mamasaphire]

I love this thread! It's so neat to read about people's educational journeys, especially when the stories show determination and long-term dedication!

I started 24 years ago and just graduated with my AA. In-between were years of parenting and health issues. Hopefully in the next year or so I will finish a BA... but for now I am just thrilled to be this far

[Inteljustice2]

I started with my first clep in 2007. Life really caught up to me in 2008 and my focus went in a different direction. In 2012, I found out about Straighterline and ended up knocking out around 30 credits, then I finally came back to it in Dec 2015 and completed around 60 credits in 5 months to qualify for the Sept 16th Graduation. It was a long hard frustrating journey but well worth it. I earned the BSBA with a concentration in general management.

I've been noticing since putting my degree credential on my resume, I've had retail places call me back for Management Trainee positions and even blue collar jobs at very good organizations have been calling. I feel getting this degree combined with my experience really will give me liberty to switch companies very soon. I've had multiple job offers and I've turned most of them down. I do have an interview this Thursday with a very well run private company that actually empowers their employees. This is why I'm very interested more so than the paycheck. They have experienced rapid growth as well and get around 50-60 applicants for every job opening, so competitive as well. I'm going to prepare really well for this interview and knock it out of the park. It might be harder to get my foot in the door since I don't know anyone currently at the company, but I've always been great at interviews and they seem to really value my experience.

So yes, is pursuing your degree worth it? In my opinion it is, cause you might need it down the road for future promotions or to make a career move.

Good Luck.

[JTP]

***Relatively Short Timer in comparison***

I graduated high school in 2008 and had the opportunity to take 5 engineering courses while there. I went to a local brink and mortar university and due to uncertainty I ended up having 5 different majors in 6 years.

Life got hectic and I was offered a fulltime IT job if I could get a low level certificate. I dropped the courses I was enrolled in and studied non stop for two weeks and passed the exam. Having liked the self study I just experienced I looked into more advanced certifications that would advance my career and my happenstance allow me to test out of courses for school. In June 2014 I started looking into CLEP/DSST exams and stumbled upon this forum and by September I had 27 credits from various alternate forms. At the end of that summer COSC also announced their Cybersecurity program and the timing felt right so I applied and started chipping away at the program.

Fast forward to now and (assuming no surprises pop up), I will have my BS awarded August 31.

[Lindagerr]

It doesn't matter if it took 2 weeks or 42 years, I just find it interesting and encouraging to hear these stories. I am going to make my son read them when I see him for Labor day. Maybe someone else story will light the fire in him.