Teh College

Fizban140

I have about a year left in the military and I am making plans for what I want to do when I get out. I am pretty sure I am going back to Minnesota and I want to go to the University of Minnesota, but I am not too sure what degree yet.

The only things that really interest me is biology, maybe computer science or possibly some type of engineering degree. I have not really researched all my options and I am finding it almost impossible to do. I have tried assessing what I am good at and that never turns out any answers. I never tried in high school for a lot of reasons so I really have no idea how good I am or really what classes interest me since I never really participated in any of my classes.

So this leaves me being 23 with no idea what I am good at or what I like academically. I have been taking some classes but with such little free time I nearly failed a few of them (turned in all my speeches for my speech class on the last day and somehow passed with 100%) including math which I struggled a lot with. That is my main problem actually, most of the things that I am guessing would interest me are all heavy in math and according to admissions at the U of M they require at least calculus.

The last math class I did was College Algebra which I struggled in quite a bit, a part of that was missing half the classes and having a horrible teacher that could not explain anything. But I don't like to make excuses I just don't think I am amazing at math, I will probably always have trouble with it no matter how hard I work.

So what are my options now? As far as I can tell I can attempt some classes I am not ready for or possibly intelligent enough for or I can go for something a lot easier that does not require as much or any math. My main problem is that I don't know if I can do these classes/careers and I am not even sure if I should be going to this university, I didn't really do any research at all I just have some friends and family who went there.

The one thing I know for sure is that I am getting out of the military, I can't do this for 16 more years.

Veevee

I would highly recommend finding a community college that will transfer credits into the university of your choice. It's cheaper, the classes are smaller so it's easier to get the help you need.

I'm currently at a CC that has a guaranteed transfer into any University of Wisconsin school as long as I maintain a 3.0 GPA with a max of 72 credits. I'll be entering the UW system as a junior into the major of my choice (assuming I took the right courses at the CC) and it will cost me 10's of thousands of dollars less than if I started at the school of my choice (UW-Madison)

Also keep in mind that you don't HAVE to go straight to school. I'll be 26 in November and just started this year. Yes you'll be behind the curve, but you'll also have a lot better idea what you want to do and how to get it.

VisionOfClarity

First I'd say get in touch with whomever in the military will be your contact for getting tuition money and second get in touch with the school. Most have liaisons now for helping servicemen transition to college (this includes tutoring, tuition, some have groups where the servicemen can help each other, etc).

Fizban140

I am suppose to get a call back about the GI bill tomorrow actually, and I almost have an associates degree from the Community College of the Air Force which they said they won't accept most of but all the classes I have taken should transfer over. Unfortunately I will be going to Korea soon so I will not have much of a choice of schools for a year.

VisionOfClarity

I'd look at this as a prime opportunity to really look at schools and think about your interests. Get in touch with advisers and if there is a major you're interested in then email the department head to get some more info. Don't be afraid to reach out for information. The schools should have class descriptions online as well.