Should I go to college right now?

So I have always been planning on going to college but it has really been on my mind lately. I wanted to wait for a while but now I am thinking that I should go now while I am still living at my boyfriends parents house and don't have many expenses. I am almost 21 and want to get my own place in the next year or so and want to be able to afford school while living here before I have a home to pay for.

I want to go to Globe University for Veterinary Technician.

I am really worried about it though. Because I never have done good in school and I have ADD. I am not that school smart and I am afraid I will fail.

I have no knowledge about how much school costs and student loans etc.

Plus I want to make sure that being a Vet technician will be a job I can get where I live.

I am just really nervous about it all and hopefully you college goers can help me out.

www.salliemae.com is good for student loans. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and fill out the FAFSA. You have to enter your tax information and this determines how much financial aid you can get from the university (based on monetary need) and if the government will give you any grants, etc. The only thing is, I think until you're 24 you have to put your parents' tax info on the FAFSA as well (as b.s. as it is).
I think being a vet tech is a job you could get just about anywhere.

You know what they say, there's no time like the present!  College is something that can be hard to complete once you've got other obligations like paying rent and a full time job.

It sounds like you are craving a little more information and some certainty.  Talk to some vets in your area and see if they use vet techs in their practices.  You might be able to volunteer to work for little or no cost for a while to see if you enjoy the work.  Being an unpaid intern could eventually result in a paid position for you once you're out of school.

It might also be beneficial to talk to a guidance counselor at the school(s) you plan to attend.  They can show you placement data -- how many of their graduates found jobs and at what salary level -- and they might have ideas on how to help you with your ADD.  Many schools offer free tutoring and other help for people with attention disorders or learning disabilities.  You could even ask to sit in on a class or two to see if you feel like you're getting in over your head.

Good Luck!

Oh Schood, you are smart.  You don't have to be Stephen Hawking to get through school.  You're probably smarter than most people in college right now. 

First thing you need to do is fill out your FASFA.  Then you need to go down to the school and talk to the Financial Aid people.  They'll help you with scholarships, grants, and loans.  Some schools require you to apply for admission before they talk to you, but this place probably doesn't.  They might even let you talk to an admissions counselor who will help you figure out what you need to do.  Go down to the campus, they'll help you.

Start study groups and befriend all of your classmates (you never know when you will lose your notes), find a quiet place to study and declare it your study place (school library), devote two hours of study time everyday, reward yourself for studying each day and completing your goals.

Always be one chapter ahead, learn the professor's exam style (e.g; 30% from book, 70% from notes), spend time thinking about the subject and find other sources on the subject to help in comprehension. Sit in front of the class, ALWAYS ask questions and participate in the class if the class is small.

Understand the subject you're studying, just don't memorize it.

Create an outline for your class notes using Microsoft Word, and use plastic folders to keep everything organized.

Learn meditation, exercise, do Yoga to de-stress yourself, do not get carried away in the college life with drinking and skipping class.

If ADD is that debilitating, consider going on some drugs for it. Why would you let something like that ruin your goals and life?

Woah, fortius is a little hardcore.
You can be a good student and not be so intense.

I second jewels. Don't worry about not being "school smart." Being book smart is overrated anyways. I don't know you per say, but you come across as intelligent. Remember, if it's a subject you're interested in, it makes it a whole lot easier.

Definitely go down to the campus, or contact an admissions advisor to set up an appointment.

Good luck!

Go for it now. Why wait? You should check it out and get some money together. I would advise against borrowing too much. So many graduates walk away with huge loans and then can't find a decent job.

Just do your research and you'll be fine. I think you're smart :)

Original Post by fortius:

If ADD is that debilitating, consider going on some drugs for it. Why would you let something like that ruin your goals and life?

I was on drugs for it. They made me totally

emotionless.

Thanks for all the advice!

I think you should go for it if that's what you really want! You only live once (I know, I know.. it's a cliche but seriously..) and you'll never know unless you try! Good luck!!

Original Post by schnooder:

I am really worried about it though. Because I never have done good in school and I have ADD. I am not that school smart and I am afraid I will fail.

I find that really hard to believe given how you come across on cc! I bet that you will have an easier time with school when you are studying subjects more directly relevant to your interests and what you want to do in life. You should not let fear hold you back!

 

I know at my school they have an office for students with disabilities.  I think that the school you go to would take into account that you have ADD and help you through it, give you more time for tests or something, things like that.

The younger you are the easier it is to get through school.

Original Post by moonikins:

The younger you are the easier it is to get through school.

Yes..... I cringe every day about going to class, finding time to do 6 hours of homework done in the three hours of free time I have during the week and thats without getting to the gym too. Do it young!

you'll probably find it much easier than you remember.  you've grown, you've found strategies to deal with your ADD, you have the maturity that fresh-out-of-high-schoolers lack.  and waiting can be dangerous; you'll find a good job and have an income that's hard to give up.

i suggest that you start slowly, though: maybe just two classes to get your feet wet and find your stride.  school is 90% about balance and routine (and although i don't often say this out loud among my fellow students, it's waaaay easier than working for a living).

and that's from someone who's finishing grad school at 40.

In my experience, it was more "convenient" to go to school while younger and single. It is alot easier to concentrate on yourself before you get married and have kids. This makes school a little easier to handle. All you have to worry about is yourself and your own life. I got my associates degree from a community college before I got married, always thinking I'd go back later to get my bachelors. I am 32 now with four kids, and I think its going to be awhile before I get my bachelors! Right now, I am just looking at an internet class for something to do. I'll worry about my bachelors later. IMO, do it now while you still can! Good luck!

My friend has ADD and once she told counsellers at school about it, they set her up with helpers.

Don't worry about possibly failing! You have to at least TRY!

i have a friend who went to vet school, and she found it not only hard to get into school, but also hard to find a job coming out. 

so i would recommend going to veterinary clinics in your area and simply talking to the people there - ask them how they see the job market, what they liked and didn't like about school.  maybe even see if you can volunteer at a clinic for a few weeks so you can get a sense of what the job is really like on a day-to-day basis. 

your education is a major investment, so you should inspect it before buying, just like you would a house.

I think you should think hard about what situation you'll be in if you don't go to school.  If it will be worth it for you in the long run (chances are it will), then get in there and do it.  School is easiest when you are motivated.  So if you are serious, and you aren't being pushed by other people to do it, then it could be a really good time to go.

I'm not sure what the job situation is like for vet technicians, it seems like it would be quite variable.  It may be wise to look into a few different options, and apply to a few different schools and go from there. 

My perspective may not be all that valuable to you; I went straight into university from high school, did two undergraduate degrees and then went straight into my masters, which I just finished a few months ago.  So I've been in school for almost my entire life. 

personally, i don't believe it letting the (prospective) job market dictate decisions about education.  first, it's trying to predict the future.  second, if you're passionate about what you do, and if you're good at it, employers will see that.  even if only 5 out of every 10 graduates get hired, if it's where you're supposed to be, you'll be one of the five. 

or you can try to anticipate employment trends and end up employed in a(nother?) field that you hate.

Original Post by schnooder:

Original Post by fortius:

If ADD is that debilitating, consider going on some drugs for it. Why would you let something like that ruin your goals and life?

I was on drugs for it. They made me totally

emotionless.

Thanks for all the advice!

Flat Affect. But there is not only ONE drug for treating it. See a Psychiatrist, experiment with the different types of drugs to avoid the side effects.

Simple as Apple Pie.

And Jblah, I have one word for you: ACCOUNTING!

Original Post by fortius:

Original Post by schnooder:

Original Post by fortius:

If ADD is that debilitating, consider going on some drugs for it. Why would you let something like that ruin your goals and life?

I was on drugs for it. They made me totally

emotionless.

Thanks for all the advice!

Flat Affect. But there is not only ONE drug for treating it. See a Psychiatrist, experiment with the different types of drugs to avoid the side effects.

Most of those drugs have similar effects. I've been on too many to count. They make you not care at all. They make you feel lazy. It sucks.