Ok, so that lyric has nothing to do with my short post. But I can't get it out of my head.
Wow, so my plan to go back to school has already been put into place. In order to even be considered for admission to this program, I need to take one programming class at UW. Sadly, it's a class I dropped while in grad school there 7 years ago. I dropped it in the 5th week because I just couldn't keep up with that and my labwork. Now I wish I would have finished it - funny how that stuff comes back to bite you sometimes.
This class is offered in Summer quarter which starts June 20. And getting admission to UW as a "summer-only" student is super-easy - just fill out the short app online and pay $38 and you can take any summer class you want. I was getting distracted by the cool language classes they offer but found CSE 143, the programming class I need to take. Unfortunately it meets 5 days a week, and only at the Seattle campus which is going to be a pain to get to in the middle of my work day. Fortunately there are plenty of spots available (which isn't always the case for UW classes...)
TJ made some good points when I talked to him about this plan (I'm *so* glad I married him!!):
1. Just register and take the prereq class now - even if I don't go through with the degree program, the class will be useful to me. Plus, if I do go through with the program, Microsoft will probably reimburse me for this class.
2. Just apply for the degree program - if I get in, I can defer admission till Spring if I'm not ready, ditch the plan completely, or take the first quarter and decide whether I like it and want to do the work. Microsoft will pay for it so it's no loss to me.
Anyway, it was nice to have him lay this out for me so logically. So I've applied to UW as a summer-only student for the prerequisite class. I can't actually register until they send me some sort of code (love that bureaucracy!). And the sections that meet at noon are full or almost completely full though I may be able to talk my way into one of them. It's still going to be a 2 hour chunk in the middle of my day when you count travel time. But my schedule is pretty flexible so I should be able to deal with this.
Wish me luck! Now I've got to go pull out my old dusty Java materials as they've switched the course syllabus from C++ to Java in the 7 years since I last took it...
Dreadcow - awesome! I've never taken summer classes so this will be a new experience for me. Plus the whole working full-time and taking classes thing. I haven't figured out yet how many classes I can really manage with my work schedule, so starting out with one will help.
ReplyDeleteWow. When you decide to start something new, you don't waste any time! Good luck with your class.
ReplyDeleteThe lyric has me totally stumped.
Dreadcow - I was one of those students whose parents paid for tuition, etc. but I had a job for spending $$. I am very grateful to them, but yes, I think there's a very different value placed on your education when you pay for it yourself. Especially at 18 years old...
ReplyDeleteRaine - I'm hoping to take the bus. I haven't looked at the schedule yet but there's a rockin' express bus from Microsoft to UW that only stops twice. Wish me luck!
thc - it's Gwen Stefani again (If I was a rich girl).
ReplyDelete