It sounds like you not only took a semester off, but you are also changing colleges. The process you'll go through is simply to apply. You'll need your transcript from your previous school, and those courses which apply to your new major will get transferred. As for recommendations, they may be required, and if so, you'll have to deal with that. It always helps to send copies of your old work to previous professors or teachers you've had; it can help jog their memories. Good luck.

You have options. First off, there are any number of very good four year schools that are "non-competitive" -- that is, they will take you without great concern about your past grades. Get a copy of Barron's Profiles of American Colleges to find out which ones they are. An option is an online college which will have more lenient standards to get you started.

Another option would be to begin again in a two-year college transfer program at a community college. If you do well in these and complete the work, you are a near certainty for admissions to a four year state program (unless you've killed someone along the way!).

Yet another possibility is to try the evening college of a better four-year school. You enter as a non-degree candidate, are limited in the number of courses you may take (although many are during the day, not just at night), and are not guaranteed admissions. However, with very good grades, you can typically get in.

Finally, I would suggest you look at two-year programs. Some of these programs parallel careers of four-year grads, but often make as much money. I feel your pain. So many people have been down your path. Don't give up.

Lots of people return to school after starting one career, and teaching would probably be good background for law school. Law school is typically a three-year program. There may be some colleges that have five-year undergraduate degree programs that count toward law school completion, but I'm not aware of any.

So, in general, you'd get your undergraduate degree (four years), then attend law school for three years. Then, of course, you'd have to pass the national and state bar exams.

They might be able to determine it, and yes, they could expel you for it (lying on your application usually does that). If you are many years away from that event, you might simply tell them about it and try to avoid giving a bunch of specifics. You may also inquire as to whether the school has an academic forgiveness policy. But colleges are pretty open when it comes to adults wanting a second chance. I really wouldn't worry too much about it.

Your husband is one of the many adults returning to school. The average age of college students graduating continues to rise. He could choose an online college to get into a new field more quickly. I would assume that he plans on attending school nearby, and probably not full-time. Often, adults take college courses at a nearby school, racking up credit hours without becoming a degree candidate. There are usually few requirements beyond a desire to learn and a positive checkbook balance. Later, when they decide to get a degree, the college is in a position to assess their ability without the SAT or ACT. Be advised that without good grades, getting admitted as a degree candidate may be impossible—taking classes is one thing; getting a degree is another.

I would encourage your husband to contact the school which he is interested in attending and ask how one goes about taking classes without becoming a degree candidate. Just make sure the courses he takes do lead to a degree and that it is possible to be admitted later on.

I think for older students, some other considerations apply. Are you willing to relocate to attend school? Have you considered an online college as an option? Are you going full time or do you need to work (as in support a family)? We recently answered a questions from a woman whose husband wanted to return to college. Check that answer out. I think picking up the additional courses you need for a completely different major could be accomplished in the same way.

Since your question seemed to allude to the money side of things, I would thoroughly investigate which jobs pay how much before plowing into a degree program. On the other hand, maybe you just need someone to help you break into another field without the formal ed. With a masters in English Lit., you could do many things—heck, you could get a real estate license in about four months and probably make $60K a year with your eyes shut.

The problem with your approach is that you’re essentially asking a school to accept 100+ credit hours toward graduation. What you should do is contact the college you attended and find out what specific courses you need for graduation. Then see if 1) you can take those courses by correspondence from the college you attended, thus completing your degree; or 2) you can find courses at a nearby college that will satisfy your degree requirements. The key is to coordinate this with the school you attended since they are the ones issuing the degree. It’ll work.

Well, first let me say that I am not an expert on Cornell’s admissions criteria. Second, I’m going to assume that you applied to Cornell out of high school and for whatever reason, didn’t get in. Every university has a unique transfer policy; many schools welcome transfer students with open arms and go out of their way to make it easy for them to do so.

Your first step in making your dream come true is to find out what Cornell’s policy is. Call the school’s undergraduate admissions office, tell them you’re interested in transferring, and ask for all the appropriate information. As a prospective transfer student, you will need to structure your current academic work so that it will transfer as credit for graduation to Cornell. This means you need to review Cornell’s requirements for graduation and begin to work toward that goal even though you are not a student there. This will likely require some contact with Cornell to ensure that the courses you are taking in Albany do transfer in the way you expect. Keep in mind, though, that you may eventually want or need to finish at Albany, so it's best to try and take courses that “work” at both schools as a way of covering yourself.

And then there's "The Back Door." This does not work at every school and has an element of risk, but I’m going to lay this out for you as truly an alternative for dreamers.

Many universities have an evening college or continuing education school where you can take courses offered by the regular university, often at the same time of day. The difference is that 1) you are not a degree candidate; and 2) you aren’t going to get certain benefits of other students (like the option of living on campus which can enhance the college experience). The strategy here is to rack up a number of hours (maybe 30-50) toward your intended major, then apply to the school for admissions as a degree candidate. If you’ve done well in these prior courses, the school typically admits you as a degree candidate.

Again, there is always the possibility that you won’t get in, but if you discuss this possibility with Cornell openly, you may feel good enough about your chances to give it a try. I know a number of students who have gained admissions to colleges and earned degrees by this back-door admissions approach. But by all means, apply to the school first as a transfer student. Good luck with your dream.

There are many online learn-at-home opportunities which would lead to college credit. You can find them by checking out Bing or Google and doing a bit of surfing.

Many colleges and universities also offer by-mail, study-at-home courses for college credit. Simply call the school’s main number and ask for the office of continuing education. If they have one, you’re off and running. The trick, of course, is to make sure the credit you earn transfers to the college in which you ultimately plan on earning a degree.

For a more complete discussion of this, check out the previously answered questions on this subject.

There are certainly ways to make it happen. You should try filling out the FAFSA for this upcoming year to see how much financial aid (usually in the forms of grants and loans) you might be able to receive from the government. Also, please, please search for scholarships.

You also need to consider what kinds of programs you might want to pursue. Degree programs at vocational and technical schools can take only two years to complete, rather than four, which could be more affordable for you. (Community colleges are also usually more inexpensive to attend.)

Otherwise, if you'd really love to attend a four-year college or university, then discuss with your spouse whether you can limit your budget to the necessities and save the rest to pay off your schooling. Can your spouse help with a large amount of childcare for your baby as well? People can frequently live on less than they think and spend their time with more focus if they have a specific goal to work toward (paying off debt or attending school are common examples). It's really a matter of perspective, coupled with hard work.

If you and your spouse commit to working hard, still putting a priority on raising your child together, and continue to search for financial aid and other resources, I do believe that you could afford a college education.

Congratulations on making this important decision to return to school! Have you tried talking directly to the admissions officers about your situation? Often schools can work with you to make special arrangements for you to obtain your degree. This school might be the same.

If you really want to go back to this same school that you used to attend, let them know that clearly and share your dilemma with them honestly. If you need to work to support your family, explain this to the school and ask what options you have with them. You might even be able to apply for additional scholarships that favor people in your situation (working students, students with dependents, nontraditional students, etc).

Also check to see if your current job offers any tuition reduction options for continuing education. If your work is in any way related to the degree you want to get, you may be able to apply tuition credit -- and people who do such continuing education through their work are most often able to work at a slower pace, like you desire.

If the school doesn't allow for a slower pace of work on your end, then I suggest you check into other schools that may offer nontraditional ways to get your degree. You may be able to transfer a large chunk of your credits. But of course, I highly suggest you try to work with the school you speak of before this, as it sounds like more of your credits will naturally count for you there. It depends on what is going to be most cost-effective for you. Weighing the cost of possibly losing some credits against the potentially higher cost of attending your original institution will probably help you in the decision-making process. My best to you as you move forward.

As far as financial options go, you should definitely apply for scholarships for nontraditional students. FastWeb is a great place to start. Even if you can't get a government grant, there's no reason you couldn't qualify for school or external scholarships and help supplement your college career that way. Look for scholarships for mothers; scholarships for women; scholarships for married people; scholarships for adults going back to college.

Also, is there a way you could get a part-time job? Or will that hinder your relationship with your children? You can decide what's best for your family and act accordingly.

Lastly, there are certainly different options for your schedule. The easiest way to start your research is on the Internet. Lots of community colleges, technical/vocational schools, and 4-year schools offer options for night study or students with nontraditional schedules. And there are options for programs of study you might not have even realized. Check out the programs offered at schools around your area. Then contact the schools you're interested in or schools in your community and discuss your options with admissions offices. I hope this gets you off to a good start.

It depends on how long ago you attended the previous institution(s). Some colleges neutralize credits and allow a clean slate if several years have passed. If you attended school more recently, I suggest you look into "academic forgiveness" or "academic renewal" policies with the schools you are interested in. Talk to the admissions officers at each school you are applying to; they will be able to give you better help on how to proceed with these credits in your background.

But above all, do not tell them that you've never attended college before. I've received many questions about revealing one's academic past, and I will say again for your benefit, do not lie about your past records! Be honest, as you were with me, and I think that will display good character and work to your advantage.

And lastly, yes, of course you have hope. Work hard and keep your head up. It sounds like you know what you'd truly like to do. It's not too late at all. Go ahead and work toward it!

Without the pertinent information about what you're intending to go back to school to study, I'll give you some general advice: It's basically whichever option you would prefer. If you are wanting to seek out a master's degree in law, say, then an English or humanities (or pretty much any) degree would be fine to lay the foundation for that master's.

However, if your bachelor's degree doesn't really apply at all to your intended master's program, then you won't be able to apply those older courses to your new master's program. In that case, you could certainly apply for a new bachelor's program of study as a nontraditional undergraduate student. Does the field you're intending to pursue require a master's degree, or will a bachelor's degree be sufficient to obtain a job in that field? Talk to people you know who might be in that field. Collecting advice from others based on their own experience will be very helpful for you.

Now, in your case, communications could apply to many different master's programs, so that is one advantage you have if you really do want to get a master's instead of a second bachelor's degree. You will just have to check with each school you are applying to in order to find out the specifics of what might transfer from your older degree. A little research will do wonders for you as you're reentering the academic world. And there is much more out there these days, especially online, to aid you in your pursuit. Congratulations on your decision, and I wish you the best.

I wouldn't worry too much about reporting your old grades or sending in old transcripts even if they are required. You may simply need to state on your application that you have a degree from 1988. Regardless, your grades are old enough that it probably won't hurt you. Your initial best course of action, though, is to simply explain your situation to academic officers at the school you are hoping to attend to find out what its academic policies are.

You may also be able to apply to the old school you attended under an academic renewal or academic forgiveness policy. This allows students who attended several years ago to reapply to the same school and be granted a "clean slate" from their past grades.

One more option is to take a few courses, or even a few credits, at the school you'd like to attend. Then officially apply to a degree program after you've earned some good (and new) grades.

Regardless of your decision, don't let your old transcripts hinder you from making a fresh start. Schools are typically very willing to help students reenter academic life. Good luck, and congratulations on your return to college.

The probable answer is no, they don't count, since it was so long ago - but there is no harm calling up your old school and asking! If you want to go back and attend the same school, or a school in the same system, maybe there is a chance that you can glean some credits back, even if elective credits. No harm in doing a little investigating of your own and suggesting some creative ideas. Congratulations on your decision to continue your education, and I wish you all the best.

Thanks for your question. You can probably take some classes again at the college close to you if you just want a review of the basics. Most colleges allow people to audit courses without earning official credit.

Another good option is to take accounting courses through Kaplan or another program-prep company that helps people prepare for exams and certification. If you still want to become a CPA, etc, that might be a good thing for you to consider. Of course, keep in mind that both these options require a little bit of money. Good luck.

I don't know exactly what you're interested in pursuing, but if you are interested in just working your way to a bit better career, pay-wise, I suggest you look into a vocational/technical college in your community. Many of these schools have great training for medical coding, dental hygiene, culinary arts, business, advertising, finance and others. There are actually a lot of options (some math-related, some not-so-much). If, at the end of a two-year degree, you would rather press on and obtain a four-year degree, go ahead and do that too.

Otherwise, if you already know you want to pursue something specific at the four-year level, why not go ahead and apply to a four-year college or university?

You might also want to look at options for online degrees -- that might even be preferable to you, and we have a lot of resources for that on our website as well. I hope that at least gives you a start!

Great question. Since you're not an 18-year-old freshman, and you're not really transferring into a program from another college, I would go ahead and apply as a nontraditional or returning student. There are several good schools that offer programs for adults returning to school who prefer a rigorous and perhaps even selective academic program ... as it sounds like you might. You may need to apply through a continuing studies or general studies avenue, but it really just depends on the institution. Your best bet is to make a list of the colleges you'd love to attend and then systematically go through and either peruse their websites or call their admissions offices to find out what each school's admittance policy for nontraditional students is.

One further note: You'll probably want to look at schools that have accredited programs in architecture. That will make finding an architect job easier later on.

It normally depends on the program and/or school you're applying to. Some adults returning to college choose to simply begin taking college courses at an area school or a school they're interested in - then applying for the degree program later on after they've proven they can handle the courses. (Of course, you have to make sure applying into the degree program later on is even an option!) Others choose to apply as nontraditional students, for which they do often need to take the SAT or ACT. But I would check with the admissions offices of the schools you're interested in for a final answer on that.

First, congratulations on recognizing your true passion. This is a great step toward a valuable education and a rewarding career. The credentials and degree necessary to teach art will depend greatly on the state where you plan to work as well as the level at which you'll teach. For instance, an art teacher in a community college or university typically needs an advanced degree such as an M.F.A. or a Ph.D. However, if you desire to teach at the high school level or lower, you'll likely need state certification.

In most states, a teaching license requires a bachelors degree and certain education courses, as well as an assessment that leads to certification. The best strategy would be to research your state and find out what is required to become certified. If there are core courses you need that were not a part of your bachelors degree, you can likely pick up these credits at a community college for a cost-effective alternative. You can find financial aid opportunities that suit your needs, and there may be scholarships available if more loans are not ideal. The good news is that because you've already earned your B.A., you probably won't have to earn an entirely new degree. However, it might be a good idea to explore the types of classes an education major is expected to have. For more information, check out our article on the education major and research your state requirements. Good luck!

The answer is certain: You are never too old to return to school! Congratulations on your goal to enhance your education. It sounds like you have a well-planned strategy for bridging into an academic career. Online courses are very popular, and schools are always on the lookout for industry professionals to lead classes in your field. Go for it, and don't let age hold you back. If you plan to extend your career significantly by teaching online, it sounds like the cost of completing the MBA would be worthwhile. Good luck!

It's a great idea to finish the degree, especially with just four credits left! However, you will have to check with an adviser at Radford to find out exactly what online or classroom courses will count toward that final credit. Each college and university has its own policies about transfer credits. For a science course, you may need a lab credit as well as a lecture credit. Your best bet would be to contact the school and get the information directly. If you had an adviser at Radford in 2001, try to contact that same adviser for assistance. The school will still have record of your transcripts and will be able to advise you. Good luck!

Because of your business experience, it sounds like repeating an entire bachelors degree is unnecessary. My advice is to find out which  accounting classes are available in your area or online. Because you already have a bachelor's degree and business experience, an accounting certificate may very well suffice if you plan to work in a family business. (To become competitive in the finance field at larger companies, an MBA or Master's in Accounting might be advisable.) For your particular goals, it sounds like practical and applied education is what you seek. A community college in your area probably has the accounting classes you need. Another option is to take online courses through Kaplan or a test preparation program. This way, you can refresh the skills you'll need for accounting and work directly toward passing the CPA exam. Good luck!

Congratulations on your decision to continue your education. It is a big step and a big investment, so you are wise to take time to choose the best route. It is true that many returning students begin at a community college and then bridge to a university for their remaining credits. This is a great decision if finances are an issue. Community college courses tend to be cheaper than university courses, and many are offered on weekends and during evening hours to accommodate working students. Furthermore, you will find far more students in your age range at a community college than in daytime classes at a university. If your classmates and cohort are important to you, you might consider this factor. My best advice would be to combine both strategies. Start with a community college so that finances and time are more flexible to your schedule and budget. Also, research and decide what field you would like to study and what degree you want to pursue. If you know what career you'd like to channel your education toward, you can make informed decisions about which schools to attend and which courses to take. Some careers require only an associates degree, while some require a bachelor's or even a masters. Good luck!