What I've learned so far in college...the 2nd time around.

Last semester I was amazed at how much work is completed online.  I did take 3 online classes and 1 on campus class, but even the campus class had you turn everything in online and you took your test on a computer in the "testing center".

Checking the ratings for a professor whose class you may take can / can't prepare you for how they really are.  I looked up a professor on http://www.ratemyprofessors.com to see what students thought about him.  They had comments like, "would not recommend", "would not enroll in any of his classes", "he's fair as long as you do the work", and the one comment that was SO TRUE, "does not give timely feedback".  I didn't have a choice on which professor to sign up for because the other class filled up so quickly (sign of a good prof), so I tried to make the best of it.  I kinda knew what to expect, right?  But the reality is, I would REALLY like to know where I stand in the class 2 weeks before finals.  Can you PLEASE grade all the outstanding work and post our grades so we know what to expect after finals?  I was beside myself with this one.

You don't need to carry a purse AND a backpack to class.  It makes you look silly....and old.  The key is to blend in!

When talking about your classes with your spouse / kid, don't call your classmates "kids".  It makes you sound silly...and old.  Although I'm fairly certain that I'm the oldest student in all my classes AND older than my professors.  😒  (heavy sigh)  

Apparently wearing pajamas to class ISN'T frowned upon....that one is still acceptable!  Yay!  Although I didn't try it...just wore my "activewear" because it was cold and I REALLY didn't want to get dressed that day.

If you miss a class, you can get notes from classmates via the App GroupMe!  Someone in your class creates a "class account" with everyones email linked or something like that.  Why can't you just text someone and have them email the notes to you?  Still more efficient than old school where you had to track someone down, xerox their notes or heaven forbid hand copy them!  I had "technical difficulties" trying to get that App thing set up on my phone so I just exchanged cell#'s with a couple of people for future need.

Not as many people bring their laptops to class as you might think! I debated buying a laptop but held off.  Glad I did because my Prof in Educational Psychology last semester banned them from her class.  Too many people surfing the net during class.  And studies show that "active listening" and writing notes during lecture proves to be more effective in retention of the material covered.  But this semester I have a Prof that speeds through his slides and I type much faster than I write...so I may have to rethink the laptop thing for that class!

It is REALLY HARD to attend a night class during spring semester!  This girl is in her daytime pajamas by 5pm!  A 7p-9:45p class, once a week, is quite a challenge.  Its dark when you leave the house and you get home at your usual bedtime!  Plus, Little Man sounds so sad when I have to call him to tell him good-night while on a bathroom break from class instead of tucking him in.

They have Food Courts!  And the food is SO MUCH better now!  Chick-fil-A and Starbucks! AND they have food trucks by the student activity center once a week! Nice!  At OU, we had a Little Caesars Pizza in a lobby near the dorms.  Pizza by the slice and breadsticks with marinara sauce was the cause of my freshman 15! Bleh!

Although I have more distractions now (family life responsibilities), I feel more focused than before.  Having purpose and direction makes it so much easier to stay focused on the course you've set for yourself.  And, I have a Husb who supports me in what I want to accomplish and a kid who is proud of me.

So the second time around isn't as hard as I thought it would be!

Is there something that you wish you had done?  
Find a way to do it!