This page has been moved, please update your bookmarks.
This page will be removed from GeoCities by September 30th, 2008.

My life as a re-entry student

It took me over a year to convince myself that going back to school would be in my best interest. I hadn't been in an educational setting for 20 years and I wasn't quite sure I was up to the challenge. I finally took the plunge in September, 1998 and started with two distance learning/internet courses from Rio Salado Community College. Happily, I had a good experience and felt encouraged to continue and take more courses. Now a year has flown by and I have 18 credits toward an AA degree. By the end of this year, I will have 28 credits.

Do you have an interest in going back to school? Click here to read more about why I decided to go back to school and why you might like to go back to school.

The courses I've taken thus far

First Semester, Fall 1998

I decided for my first semester I should try to take classes that I was both interested in, and could excel at. I have always enjoyed English and Communications, so I chose ENG101 and COM110. You can see some of my ENG101 essays here. These courses are also required for my AA degree, so they were good choices. I was very pleased with my instructors and the information I was learning. I got A's in both classes. My grade point average at the end of Fall, 1998 was 4.00. I decided to go for another semester.

Second Semester, Spring 1999

I decided to get ambitious. I decided to take on algebra. I had taken one course in my freshman year of high school before I was persuaded by life and circumstances to drop out. I recall enjoying algebra and I also recall teaching myself as I needed glasses and couldn't see the teacher's examples on the chalkboard. At any rate, I enrolled in MAT092. Elementary Algebra. This course is a prerequisite to Intermediate Algebra, which is a prerequisite to College Algebra. When I took my competency test I was only two points away from being able to go straight into College Algebra. I am glad for that, as MAT092 was a challenge and I think I would have failed miserably at College Algebra without the two prerequisite classes. I found Algebra to be like a puzzle and I actually discovered some formulas which can be used in real life. A big perk to Algebra are the very competent tutors, Rick and Rhonda, who I contacted sometimes daily in order to make my way through the course. I was shooting for an A in this class, but I missed it by a mere 6 points and ended up with a B. This semester I took the next English class, ENG102. You can read my ENG102 Final Exam Research Paper here. This semester I decided to stagger my classes, which is to say I started one class on one date and started the second class two weeks later. I would definitely recommend this to new students. This way you don't have the pressure of studying for two midterms in the same week and two final exams in the same week. I earned an A in ENG102. My grade point average at the end of Spring, 1999 was 3.75.

Third Semester, Summer I/II 1999

I decided I wouldn't take a summer break, but continue on with a summer session since I am only taking two classes at a time. My choices this semester were MAT122, Intermediate Algebra Accelerated. I was a bit perturbed by the "Accelerated" part of the course title, but was quickly assured by my instructor that all of Rio's courses are "Accelerated" because they are completed in less than the standard 16 week time period that most other schools use. I also decided to take SOC212, Women and Men in a Changing Society. Once again, Algebra was a challenge, especially the first half since I fell slightly behind. SOC212 was incredible and for the first time I missed the interaction of a real classroom, and interaction with my classmates. That is one thing I must say about distance learning, it is like taking these classes all alone. I have tried numerous times to correspond with classmates via the course conference option on FirstClass, to no avail. When SOC212 was nearing its end, I decided to enroll in one more summer class, CIS133DA. I am really enjoying this class. I have received my grade in SOC212, an A. I have not yet received my Algebra grade, but once again, am anticipating an A. UPDATE! YAY, I got my A that I was hoping for. My grade point average at the end of Summer, 1999 was 3.83.

Fourth Semester, Fall 1999

Algebra is on the schedule once again! This time, finally, I am taking COLLEGE Algebra, MAT151. My start date is October 4th, but I already have my books and course materials so that I may get a head start. I am also taking what I hope will be an easy class, ENH251. This is an English Humanities class, Mythology. It looks as if it is going to be very intriguing and interesting. This course uses the Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers video series, The Power of Myth which has been shown before on PBS.

Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Semesters, Spring 2000 to Spring 2001

I haven't had a chance to write about these classes. In a nutshell, in Spring 2000 I took required classes, but I began feeling burned out and for Fall 2000 and Spring 2001 I took "fun" elective classes. I have begun working part-time now and I am heavily weighing my decision to return in Fall 2001. I may decide to take a break for a year or two.

Visit these sites

Rio Salado Community College
Fastweb online scholarship search

How to determine your Grade Point Average (GPA)

First of all, your grade letters correspond to numbers.

A is equivalent to 4.00.
B is equivalent to 3.00.
C is equivalent to 2.00.
D is equivalent to 1.00.

Here are the steps to follow:

Add all your grades together using the number equivalents.
Take that grand total and divide by the actual number of courses.

Example:
Let's say you have earned three A's and one B. The number of courses you have taken is four.

Your numeric equivalent for your A's is 3 multiplied by 4.00 which equals 12.00.
- (3 × 4.00 = 12.00)
Your B is worth 3.00. Your grand total is 15.00.
- (12.00 + 3.00 = 15.00)
Now you take that 15.00 and divide by the four classes.
- (15 ÷ 4 = 3.75)
Your resulting GPA (Grade Point Average) is 3.75. Congratulations!

Back to top
Courses I've taken
Session Course Credits Course Name *GEC Instructor Name Grade

Fall, 1998 ENG101
3
First Year Composition FYC C. Woods A

Fall, 1998 COM110
3
Interpersonal Communication SB L. Helminski A

Spring, 1999 MAT092
3
Introductory Algebra - R. Epperlein B

Spring, 1999 ENG102
3
First Year Composition FYC J. Wood A

Summer I, 1999 MAT122
3
Intermediate Algebra Accelerated - F. Schineller A

Summer I, 1999 SOC212
3
Women and Men in a Changing Society SB/C R. Huskin A

Summer II, 1999 CIS133DA
3
The Internet: World Wide Web - S. Shepherd A

Fall, 1999 MAT151
4
College Algebra N1 J. Dutson A

Fall, 1999 ENH251
3
Mythology HU/G C. Brabec A

Fall, 1999 CIS233DA
3
Web Development - J. Was A

Spring, 2000 ASB102
3
Introduction to Cultural and Social Anthropology SB/G T. Marble B

Spring, 2000 PSY101
3
Introduction to Psychology SB D. Hodges A

Fall, 2000 BPC135DK
2
Word for Windows M. Westley A

Fall, 2000 CIS120FA
1
Adobe Photoshop J. Lake A

Fall, 2000 CIS105
3
Introduction to Computers R. Camarillo A

Spring, 2001 CIS117DM
3
Microsoft Access 97 J. Haarer A

Spring, 2001 CIS114DE
3
Microsoft Excel 97 J. Krutz A

*General Education Code

Back to the top of this page
Back to Starlene's Main Page

Background by Windy

Get your own FREE Yahoo!GeoCities homepage