If the point of this exercise is to make money, then studying the writers who have made tons of money seems to be a good goal. Norman Mailer made money, but Jack Kerouac did not. Would this be considered selling my soul?
When I was a child I found out that school was fascinating and that the possibilities were endless. The more I found out, the more I wanted to know, and the world became fascinating. Junior high was the last time I felt free to learn any and all things. By high school, our choices were being limited to the point that I felt it was a waste of time. College is when you find out that there are limits as to what you can do in a lifetime. Your friends take different courses from you and you find out that some colleges just don’t have majors you are interested in. When a high flyer decides to go to graduate school the end is in sight. The world is no longer amazing with unlimited vistas…you now have to concentrate on what amounts to what can fit on the end of pin. I kept changing my major because I didn’t like being limited. My major went from Psychology, to Literature, to Mathematics, and finally to History. I finished with a Liberal Arts degree with three minors. Perhaps I should have stuck with my initial plan. University of London AB in Philosophy where I would teach myself philosophy and sit for all of my proctored exams at the end. It seems that I need some structure though, so I ended up taking twenty five standardized tests and having my results forwarded to Excelsior College in New York, a state I have yet to visit. In less than one month I will start a series of writing classes in hopes of becoming a writer and in earning a writing certificate…and in becoming an alumni of the University of Washington. Writing Practice every day from here out as per Natalie Goldberg.
I was a Liberal until about six months into Bill Clinton’s reign of terror. At that point I realized that I was a blind Liberal no more and really started doing my own research and finding out the truth behind the fiasco of that presidency. I have Bill & Hillary to thank for becoming a Conservative and for wanting to pursue my education.
When we were all very small our parent(s) made us try until we succeeded in walking. I believe that is almost the last time anyone trys in their life. I have done a number of “try until I gave ups” and a few total defeats along the way, but I have never tried until I succeeded in anything, except walking. Things I might want to try until..? Magician; Writer & Poet; Athlete; Christian? We will see, but I need to try until or I will go crazy.
I have been dreaming the same dream since I was very young. A group of large barrels are suspended above the ocean and are supported with large ropes. There is an above rope and a below rope portion to this rigging along the waterline. The creatures who live here are Hobbit-like in size and temperament and can travel around the barrels by walking on the suspension ropes. The barrels are far enough above the sea so that seeing what they are walking above is quite difficult. There is a kind of egalitarian government that is quietly agreed upon. No one gets hurt or has problems with one another. The seasons change and weather happens, but the many are quite happy just being left alone to eat the bounty of the water below. How they got there is a matter for conjecture. No one knows for sure what the true history is or is to be passed down. I would think that aircraft would be spotted if this were a tale told in the modern sense, but maybe as an allegory would be best. I know of no better way than to just write and to see what comes out. Nonsense verbs are part of the sing song way they speak. Many a small person would love to live here among the barrels. We shall see what we can let fly.
I am going to write for 12 minutes no matter what comes out of my head. No editing allowed. I want to be a writer and I don’t have the “or else” about the subject. I can’t really type, I am a bit too scatter-brained, and I have realized that I am not a leader, but a follower. So, here goes with the diatribe. If I really matter to people then my life has meaning, or not. I should be the only voice I need to hear in my head, but I hear nothing but noise. Being depressed is no way to go through life. Did I make a mistake retiring? Did I make a mistake caring one iota what people thought about me? Do I need to take another drink, second one in my life? Only time will tell, with a little effort that is. This format is fun but unnerving cuz ya don’t whose gonna read it. I need to keep writing, no matter what comes out so here goes. I am proud of my royal heritage, southern heritage, Patriot heritage, and the fact that I am not like either of my parents. The book I write will be something like Angela’s Ashes, but my own upbringing instead. I just finished reading Writing Down the Bones b Natalie Goldberg and now I’m reading Spooky Art by Norman Mailer. I was could have been killed by John Wayne Gacey when I was about 13. We got within 10 feet of each other and I ran out of the store just because of the way the evil bastard looked through me. 5 years later he was on TV after getting arrested. I still have not had the nerve to read a book about him. My mother was a violent, alcoholic, career-teacher, single parent. She was mean as a snake and died from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. I may outlive her!
I have about a month to go before my class starts. I need to do timed writing practice sessions before I show up to try and learn to write and write well. I have been told that I write well, but have always spurned or ignored what I had been told. I have wanted to write since I read A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway back when I was 26, so over half a lifetime ago with no real follow up. I have taken only a few writing courses over the years. We will see what we can do in a classroom environment. I am looking forward to having Theo Nestor and Scott Driscoll for teachers. I should write this up on MS Word first.
I think the only think I do well is genealogy. I have worked on my family tree for most of my adult life. I have done family trees for people and have even earned a little money doing that. I have had charts made, done DNA tests, joined lineage societies, broken through brick walls, and delighted in the activity itself.
Give the BA in 4 weeks website a read to see how this method of education works. I found this website very early on and it is somewhat dated at this point.
I call InstantCert.com the best $20 per month in education. I recommend joining ASAP to find out the latest on distance education. Take a good look at the thread called Specific Exam Feedback after you join which discusses what is on the tests, how hard the tests are, what to study and what not to study, etc…in essence this is all about the fastest and cheapest way you can possibly go to get a degree in this day and age.
A good method: Join InstantCert and see what all of the various plans are that people have both worked out and followed. Start by getting your transcripts together and then knocking out both CLEP and DSST tests toward your goal. When you have got about 60-90 semester credits under your belt go ahead and contact a college and throw all of your credits at them because by that point you will be mostly done.
I have way more education websites at home so feel free to send me an email and ask any and all questions.
Dave
I “tested out” of college. I “went” to Excelsior College in New York and I graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts; my GPA was 3.7.
The best books for non-traditional education are: Accelerated Distance Learning: The New Way to Earn Your College Degree in the Twenty-First Century by Brad Voeller, Bear’s Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning and Bear’s Guide to College Degrees by Mail & Internet by John Bear, PhD & Mariah Bear, MA. It is possible to get an accredited Bachelors, Masters, or PhD non-traditionally for a fraction of the “brick-and-mortar” cost. So gather up all your old high school and college transcripts, licenses, certifications, military records, any training you have done on the job, any documentable information from life events, and get started. Anybody from 18 to 118 can do this!
Best Distance Schools:
http://www.excelsior.edu Now has life experience credit.
http://www.cosc.edu Still awards credit for GRE Subject tests.
http://www.tesc.edu Life experience credit.
Best Tests (there are others):
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html CLEP: 3, 6, or 12 credits in a sitting, all lower level. $77 + proctoring fee.
http://www.getcollegecredit.com DSST: All are 3 upper or lower level credits. $80 + proctoring fee.
http://www.excelsior.edu ECE: Upper and some lower level credits, now have many online classes as well. $275 or $95.
This is how I started testing: Get a copy of CLEP by Barrons. Circle all the right answers using a medium pen. Read only the question and right answer, do one test at a time: Humanities, Social Science/History, Natural Science, and College Math (this one may take some actual study). Excelsior will award 24 semester credits for these 4 tests. Then start taking the individual CLEP and DANTES (DSST) tests: Use InstantCert and read 1 or 2 books in 2 to 4 weeks (or sooner!!) and take a test. There are over 50 to choose from. The discussion boards on InstantCert are invaluable for non-traditional education.
The Tools:
http://www.instantcert.com $20/mo CLEP, DSST, and ECE “flash-card” test help and a discussion board with people who have taken these tests!
http://www.free-clep-prep.com/clep-difficulty-list.html Difficulty comparison of the tests as well as study resources.
http://www.degreeforum.net/off-topic/15669-free-mit-classes-2.html Free schooling.
http://www.123collegedegree.com great overview!
http://www.rea.com books for individual test subjects.
http://www.thegreatcourses.com/ Lectures from the best professors on tape/CD/DVD; wait for frequent sales!! Buy these used at ½ Price or from Amazon. Amazing…really amazing.
http://bain4weeks.com explains the gist of all of this stuff.
http://www.scholar.google.com best for looking up academic papers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page the online encyclopedia is much better than it used to be.
http://www.textbooks.com is my newest find and you can rent textbooks there!
I also use Encyclopaedia Britannica: Ultimate Reference Suite DVD
ANY questions, just ask!
BA in Liberal Arts @ Excelsior in 2014
I completed 25 tests: CLEP: Humanities/600, Natural Sciences/530, Social Sciences/History/570, American Literature/65, American Government/59, Intro Educational Psychology/59, English Literature/64, US History I & II/70 & 69, Human Growth and Development/57, Intro Psychology/66, Intro Sociology/59, and Western Civilization I & II/67 & 60; DSST: Business Ethics and Society/432, Civil War and Reconstruction/71, Criminal Justice/434, Intro Modern Middle East/65, Organizational Behavior/65, Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union/65, and Intro World Religions/475; and ECE: Abnormal Psychology/A, Psychology of Adulthood and Aging/B, Research Methods in Psychology/B, and Social Psychology/C.
Capstone in Liberal Studies/A
AA in 2010 from Excelsior.
Dewisant's Blog 