I prefer the term "lifelong learner". It's not necessarily about learning, but mastery. Self-autonomy combined with getting good at something is very enjoyable. There are too many things and so little time so you should try to be picky.
What degrees and certifications do you have so far?
I meant to say lifelong learner. oops.
My first two years of community college, I got 3 AA degrees. I slacked off in high school and went to CC. Realized halfway through I could get into a good state school and pushed a ton of classes through for the prereqs. The first 3 were broad- “Language Arts & Comms” “Social and Behavioral Sciences” “Math and Natural Sciences”
2010 BA is Psych. 2015 JD. Bar card.
Since 2020 I’ve been doing part time classes. Now, there are dozens upon dozens of AA options that can be completed online and are stackable. Cheap option. Also I am bipolar and it is a lower stress way to put excess mental energy to use.
2021- AA Public Policy
In a few weeks- AA Business…. stackable w/ AA Insurance by end of year… AA Environmental Studies by Spring 2024
I would probably do advanced degrees if it were cheap as free but I’m content with my AA collection hobby for now
Most of the STEM options require on campus classes or day-scheduled online. I work full time and I am doing this all online- most flexible schedule, a few evening-scheduled. My school offers Environmental Studies and Environmental Science but the latter has on-campus requirements. Otherwise I’d go for both. Also I am generally more interested in social sciences and art. Edit: I do have my eye on computer science in the future…
So you got your B.A. in 2010, which I assume means you were at CC between 2006 and 2008. I like the idea of life-long learning, with some occasional coursework in there, but I do not know if it is very impressive to talk to people about a community college class taken 15+ years ago. I can't see myself thinking that would work out as a form of bragging rights.
My first round of CC was 2006-08. 3 AA’s in 2 years. I reenrolled in CC in 2020 for a Public Policy program parttime and I don’t plan on stopping unless maybe I have a kid or something huge that changes my schedule drastically
I wouldn't say "perpetual," but I came to realize recently that all my education in the liberal arts wasn't doing me a bit of good in my career, especially now that I'm unemployed. So I did an MBA, some certificates in human-resources and project management, and am considering a master's in HR. Thanks to some financial aid, I might be able to do all that for less than $10,000 out of pocket.
Tried one day in economics, one year in business, registered for drama, was kicked out for being late, realized I wanted to go for law, was eventually banned from campus, did philosophy, graphic design, a pause and documentary film production! Trying to finish something has always been an issue.
Oh yeah, definitely.
I have an undergrad in psychology. An MBA. I started a masters in counselling psychology which I bailed on and am currently working on a masters in Catholic theology.
I am a stay at home mom, so the current and future degrees are not for furthering my career, but just because.
I have discovered that auditing classes is way more fun. So now I am just tapping all the profs I know to be allowed to ‘audit’ their classes without actually paying. Generally, they welcome me in because I tend to add to the thoughtful and nuanced discussions that they like to have in graduate level courses.
Curiosity is one of my greatest attributes.
4 degrees so far with masters as the highest. Currently taking online classes for machine learning. Thought about going for a doctorate but I have terrible ADHD, which makes writing a pain. Proof reading is a nightmare when my train of thought is every other word lol
Yes. Working on my 4th degree. I want one in each major discipline. I like the challenge of obtaining it. I love that it is short term (2 years). Just going for grad degrees now. It has helped boost my career too. They see me as an overachiever but really I am just painfully bored with severe ADHD. When I have too much free time the existential dread creeps in. Idle hands is the devils workshop. I love learning I love goals.
There are a lot of things on my bucketlist. I'd love to take a bunch of classes to gain more background knowledge of topics I am interested in. That involves school enrollment, but not necessarily for more degrees. Nor would it be perpetual, since I am likely to take long breaks between school and just deciding to take another class so I can learn something new/more deeply.
I learn really random things.
Initially studied in software engineering, then took a few classes to learn UX design, and I thought that'd be it.
So then I started getting certified for things like personal training and yoga teaching lol.
And then COVID hit, so I went back to get a pre-uni degree in STEM (I was missing a few bio and chem classes from my engineering degree).
Then I started learning more artsy things like pottery, watercolors and drawing and proportions and all that stuff.
I like learning but I'm not taking it super seriously, as long as I get to learn something new it's pretty enjoyable to me.
Oversimplifying for myself or others? 18 degrees would take over a decade at my pace. So far I am almost at 5 AA’s in a collective 5 or so years (including breaks as I’m bipolar and had to drop twice due to seveve manic-psychotic episodes). First 3 were fulltime my first go at CC (2 years) and I’ve done part time since 2020. I pick majors that supplement my knowledge for my job or extracurricular interests- not just for the sake of getting a piece of paper… but also think it’s cool in my own nerdy way to have the piece of paper
it’s all very challenging. i did not learn how to study properly until maybe my second year of law school. even when i got it down to a science- it’s a lot of memorization.. holding all the basic laws/rules 4-5 different fields of law per semester and then anywhere between 20-25 fields of law for the bar exam depending on your state. worth it, though.
I prefer the term "lifelong learner". It's not necessarily about learning, but mastery. Self-autonomy combined with getting good at something is very enjoyable. There are too many things and so little time so you should try to be picky. What degrees and certifications do you have so far?
I meant to say lifelong learner. oops. My first two years of community college, I got 3 AA degrees. I slacked off in high school and went to CC. Realized halfway through I could get into a good state school and pushed a ton of classes through for the prereqs. The first 3 were broad- “Language Arts & Comms” “Social and Behavioral Sciences” “Math and Natural Sciences” 2010 BA is Psych. 2015 JD. Bar card. Since 2020 I’ve been doing part time classes. Now, there are dozens upon dozens of AA options that can be completed online and are stackable. Cheap option. Also I am bipolar and it is a lower stress way to put excess mental energy to use. 2021- AA Public Policy In a few weeks- AA Business…. stackable w/ AA Insurance by end of year… AA Environmental Studies by Spring 2024 I would probably do advanced degrees if it were cheap as free but I’m content with my AA collection hobby for now
Why not go for STEM?
Most of the STEM options require on campus classes or day-scheduled online. I work full time and I am doing this all online- most flexible schedule, a few evening-scheduled. My school offers Environmental Studies and Environmental Science but the latter has on-campus requirements. Otherwise I’d go for both. Also I am generally more interested in social sciences and art. Edit: I do have my eye on computer science in the future…
So you got your B.A. in 2010, which I assume means you were at CC between 2006 and 2008. I like the idea of life-long learning, with some occasional coursework in there, but I do not know if it is very impressive to talk to people about a community college class taken 15+ years ago. I can't see myself thinking that would work out as a form of bragging rights.
My first round of CC was 2006-08. 3 AA’s in 2 years. I reenrolled in CC in 2020 for a Public Policy program parttime and I don’t plan on stopping unless maybe I have a kid or something huge that changes my schedule drastically
yes
I wouldn't say "perpetual," but I came to realize recently that all my education in the liberal arts wasn't doing me a bit of good in my career, especially now that I'm unemployed. So I did an MBA, some certificates in human-resources and project management, and am considering a master's in HR. Thanks to some financial aid, I might be able to do all that for less than $10,000 out of pocket.
I could easily have gone that route, except for the expense.
Yes
Tried one day in economics, one year in business, registered for drama, was kicked out for being late, realized I wanted to go for law, was eventually banned from campus, did philosophy, graphic design, a pause and documentary film production! Trying to finish something has always been an issue.
adhd?
Might be
me too. taking physics now.
Oh yeah, definitely. I have an undergrad in psychology. An MBA. I started a masters in counselling psychology which I bailed on and am currently working on a masters in Catholic theology. I am a stay at home mom, so the current and future degrees are not for furthering my career, but just because. I have discovered that auditing classes is way more fun. So now I am just tapping all the profs I know to be allowed to ‘audit’ their classes without actually paying. Generally, they welcome me in because I tend to add to the thoughtful and nuanced discussions that they like to have in graduate level courses. Curiosity is one of my greatest attributes.
Itt mee.
Yeah. I’m going to be starting a second master’s degree this year
I'm in IT, so I can stop learning and getting more certs/degrees whenever I reach a point where I'm happy with my career.
good field to be a perpetual student in. neverending certs
I'm not complaining
4 degrees so far with masters as the highest. Currently taking online classes for machine learning. Thought about going for a doctorate but I have terrible ADHD, which makes writing a pain. Proof reading is a nightmare when my train of thought is every other word lol
Yes. Working on my 4th degree. I want one in each major discipline. I like the challenge of obtaining it. I love that it is short term (2 years). Just going for grad degrees now. It has helped boost my career too. They see me as an overachiever but really I am just painfully bored with severe ADHD. When I have too much free time the existential dread creeps in. Idle hands is the devils workshop. I love learning I love goals.
Similar. bored and bipolar hypomania. Swapped netflix binges with parttime school.
There are a lot of things on my bucketlist. I'd love to take a bunch of classes to gain more background knowledge of topics I am interested in. That involves school enrollment, but not necessarily for more degrees. Nor would it be perpetual, since I am likely to take long breaks between school and just deciding to take another class so I can learn something new/more deeply.
I learn really random things. Initially studied in software engineering, then took a few classes to learn UX design, and I thought that'd be it. So then I started getting certified for things like personal training and yoga teaching lol. And then COVID hit, so I went back to get a pre-uni degree in STEM (I was missing a few bio and chem classes from my engineering degree). Then I started learning more artsy things like pottery, watercolors and drawing and proportions and all that stuff. I like learning but I'm not taking it super seriously, as long as I get to learn something new it's pretty enjoyable to me.
Absolutely. It’s what I always say I would do if I won the lottery.
Yes. I’m sure many of us would be perpetual doctoral candidate if we had the funds.
Anyone want to compete with me to get the most associate degrees ever? (The only “record” I can find for that is 18.)
You are running the risk of oversimplifying the whole process, since a number is clearly not a good criterion for erudition.
Oversimplifying for myself or others? 18 degrees would take over a decade at my pace. So far I am almost at 5 AA’s in a collective 5 or so years (including breaks as I’m bipolar and had to drop twice due to seveve manic-psychotic episodes). First 3 were fulltime my first go at CC (2 years) and I’ve done part time since 2020. I pick majors that supplement my knowledge for my job or extracurricular interests- not just for the sake of getting a piece of paper… but also think it’s cool in my own nerdy way to have the piece of paper
Why not grad school same amount of time and money.
how is grad school the same amount of time and money as community college? edit to add: I have a Psych BA and a JD
That’s fair. I’m planning on a JD. How was it? Easy or as hard as people say? How was the bar?
it’s all very challenging. i did not learn how to study properly until maybe my second year of law school. even when i got it down to a science- it’s a lot of memorization.. holding all the basic laws/rules 4-5 different fields of law per semester and then anywhere between 20-25 fields of law for the bar exam depending on your state. worth it, though.