[platinum21]

I really need to further my education. I am so lost with my life, I don't know what I am doing anymore. I have a high school diploma.. barely passed. I am 21 years old and working dead end jobs. I want more than this... I have anxiety around people. Does anyone know if online college is a good idea?

My interests are nutrition and wellness.
I am interested in the brain.
I am interested in health food.
I am interested in being a landlord.


I feel stupid. What are some steps to take to become something.
I was thinking online school. Every day is negative for me... I hate my job.
I need to do something else. I am not sure if you can take online classes without having to take your generals.

[Gernald]

Online schools are a great option for people who don't have time to commute to classes or would prefer not attending classes in person. As long as you pick the right online college, it's pretty much the same as attending a college in person. However, some people find having the encouragement of professors and classmates to be helpful- and that's something you don't get with online classes.

The nice part about college (or at least colleges you go to in person, I'm not sure about the specifics of online colleges) is that you don't have to decide what you want to do right away. You can start classes and not declare a major until you find one that is right for you. It's called being "undeclared." This way you can start college and take the basic classes needed for a degree and get an idea of what sort of classes you like and go from there.

I have plenty of friends who started university late and now have very nice jobs. My own father took online and night courses and he now has a masters degree and works with computers. And he was planning to work in construction his whole life and almost flunked out of high school.

Don't let other peoples expectations of your academic level stop you from trying to achieve your goals. Sometimes all it takes is wanting something better for yourself and that drive can push you through and help you get where you want to go.

[platinum21]

Thank you.
Do you know of any online schools?
I heard some of it can be a scam. I really don't know the steps to take. I am extremely lost about all this, I never tried in school and I'm paying for it now.

[Wondergirl]

Many online colleges are scams. Call an area community college (which offers associate degrees and certificate programs of all kinds) or a four-year college and ask about being an undeclared student taking one class in person or even online, just to get your feet wet and see if you like it. If you don't want to call a college, call the reference desk at your public library and float this past them. Be sure to post here again and let us know what you did and what you found out.

[joypulv]

Nutritionist sounds like it might be good for someone with social anxiety. Schools hire them to plan menus for hundreds/thousands of students. You may not be able to get all the healthy foods you want to include, because they buy 'industrial' bulk foods for the most part, but you might be able to add some new ideas, and have job satisfaction knowing you are making small changes. You do have to deal with people: suppliers on the phone or computer, truckers on the loading dock, cooks and helpers in the kitchen, but it's not a lot. Of course every nutritionist wishes they could have a cushy business advising people about healthy food, but not many people can afford to pay for that privately.

I would sign up for a known college or university who has an online branch, not some fly-by-night unknown, even though it might cost more.

[Fr_Chuck]

If any school does not accept and use Federal Government Aid, and if not listed and approved by US Dept of Education ( if in US) then don't use them. Kaplin and Liberty University are two very good ones