2 ms·

In the interest of trying to prove myself wrong, I looked around a little harder, and preferring government sources to any old page. https://wsac.wa.gov/sfa-ove

In the interest of trying to prove myself wrong, I looked around a little harder, and preferring government sources to any old page. https://wsac.wa.gov/sfa-overview https://wsac.wa.gov/sfa-overview A lot of programs seem to be targeting mostly high school students or minorities. It's great that those groups are getting help, but I cannot help feeling left out. Is my desire for education or a better life less valuable or less important because of my identity? Of the programs listed on that page, I have a chance at maybe two: the State Work Study, or the College Grant. The College Grant seems to look at a lot of variables, so the level of coverage may not be as "free college" as advertised, though I do make less than 200% of federal poverty at present. The others which advertised helping disadvantaged people seemed more focused on helping women, minorities, and foster children. Fair, of course, but still doesn't seem like they'd be interested in helping someone like me. It seems like a wonderful environment for non-white, non-male students to get a leg up. Lots of stuff to help them. I wonder if there's a male outreach program to get enrollment and graduate rates up for men, since they've been falling for at least a decade...

throwguy7 3y ago
WGU: $6k/semester. Online. If you already know everything in a CS curriculum and have the practical knowledge (e.g. databases, ds&a, calc/discrete, front-end, back-end, OSes, etc.) you can finish in one semester by testing out. Low income? Go into sales or work in an oil field or go be a lineman for a year. Save $100k, go to school after. If you live in Washington state, I know you know linemen are in demand. If you’re able-bodied: this is a viable path. Risky? Yes, but that’s life.
- zlg_codes 3y ago
  Sadly, I am lacking in higher math so I would need some refresher courses on algebra, geometry, trig, and calc to catch up. I suspect I learned parts of those things "intuitively" so I would prefer to fill those holes in. I've learned a little about sin() and cos() with 2D graphics but a deeper understanding of math I think would propel me further. Is that something WGU could do? I don't know what a lineman is, but I'm definitely not up to hard labor; recovering from tendonitis I got from a recent agricultural job. Is electrical easy enough on the body? I've daydreamed about a dual CS/EE but I imagine the grit required for that path is far beyond the resources available to me. Thanks for the recommendation, though, I'll look at it.

throwguy7 3y ago

WGU: $6k/semester. Online. If you already know everything in a CS curriculum and have the practical knowledge (e.g. databases, ds&a, calc/discrete, front-end, back-end, OSes, etc.) you can finish in one semester by testing out. Low income? Go into sales or work in an oil field or go be a lineman for a year. Save $100k, go to school after. If you live in Washington state, I know you know linemen are in demand. If you’re able-bodied: this is a viable path. Risky? Yes, but that’s life.

zlg_codes 3y ago
Sadly, I am lacking in higher math so I would need some refresher courses on algebra, geometry, trig, and calc to catch up. I suspect I learned parts of those things "intuitively" so I would prefer to fill those holes in. I've learned a little about sin() and cos() with 2D graphics but a deeper understanding of math I think would propel me further. Is that something WGU could do? I don't know what a lineman is, but I'm definitely not up to hard labor; recovering from tendonitis I got from a recent agricultural job. Is electrical easy enough on the body? I've daydreamed about a dual CS/EE but I imagine the grit required for that path is far beyond the resources available to me. Thanks for the recommendation, though, I'll look at it.