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Dirtbagging while working on online degree?

Original Post
Tom Lowery · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 5

Just wondering if anyone has done this, or has talked to anyone who has done this. Couldn't find anything with a google search. Thanks!

Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

I'm not sure a Google search would turn anything up at all. Then again, it's no different than the many "dirtbags" who are actually pulling down nice white collar salaries working a remote tech job. The only difference is you'll be way poorer.

Get a van, get a source of income (or have a nice savings cushion), hit the road. Sit in a cafe and mooch wifi when you have to work. Otherwise go climbing.

JeffL · · Salt Lake City · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 65

Just beware of the online classes trap. You must be motivated to do your assignments and stay caught up, or ahead of the class. I've known many people to put off assignments and studying for the entire course to less than one week prior to the deadline. This is obviously foolish, but harder than you might think to avoid

Rob D · · Queens, NY · Joined May 2011 · Points: 30
JeffL wrote:Just beware of the online classes trap. You must be motivated to do your assignments and stay caught up, or ahead of the class. I've known many people to put off assignments and studying for the entire course to less than one week prior to the deadline. This is obviously foolish, but harder than you might think to avoid
I want to echo this and add that dirtbagging while doing online is totally possible if you plan ahead.

I currently am doing an online degree, teaching full time, working other side jobs to make ends meet (standardized testing, coaching, etc), and training for a trip in march. The online degree is theoretically less time consuming that going to classes, but realistically you end up spending a LOT of time. This last semester I only did one class (because of aforementioned extra work) and still spent two evenings a week doing wok. I ended up doing one night doing the "lesson" and taking notes. And a second night doing whatever work was involved for the week, and setting aside time to work on the end of semester project. I really like doing online classes because free time is really really hard to find for me, but if I wasn't motivated to do the work I would be failing right now. If I had don't undergrad online, I would not have done nearly as well. Now I know that finishing this degree means a pay bump, chances for more work in field, and I'm paying a lot of money so motivation is financially based.
Happiegrrrl · · Gunks · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 60

Obviously the key will be having reliable internet access, and as mentioned already, actually working towards the completein of classes. I know that some have specific chat times when students are expected to be logged in and participating.

I "think" the way to go about researching the feasibility might be to try to locate people who have been through the courses/completed the degree at the school(s) you are considering, and asking them what is involved in the task. I think I would play down any "climbing first, learning second" so s not to be blown off by people willing to act as consultant who think you are less than ernest.

As a person running several small online ventures, I can tell you that it CAN be difficult to maintain the connection needed to excel. Climb all day, even the short days and few climbs I do, and the last thing I want to do is concentrate on something I need to do well(customer service, as an example).

I would suggest it is a requirement to have mobile broadband access, and not rely on public wifi. Currently, I am on public wifi and it just doesn't work well enough to excel. I have spent more in the last month paying fro "free wifi" than I would have just having my own connection. I SWEAR Starbucks wifi knows when you've been "living there" and beings to stall after a few lengthy sessions, and libraries aren't open as often as you might think. Plus of course you have to travel to these public wifi places(gas/time) and deal with whatever is going on(person who is creating a distraction, no seats, someone runs into a utility pole and cuts power for hours(as happened here a week or so ago - hidesertstar.com/news/artic… )....

Of COURSE one could complete an online degree while living on the road and climbing. There are frigging single parent homeless people who attend classes and get their degrees. Doing an online while pretending to be homeless should be a piece of cake compared to what those people deal with.

Eric G. · · Saratoga Springs, NY · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 70
Rob D. wrote: if I wasn't motivated to do the work I would be failing right now.
Anyone lacking motivation to do the work should most certainly not pay for any classes at all, whether traditional or online.

Anyone who elects to pay for traditional classes instead of online classes solely because physical class forces them to do the work should most certainly not pay for any classes at all.

Education does not occur by sitting at a desk getting talked at. You actually have to give a shit.

To the OP: if you are unsure whether you could keep up with an online program, maybe try out a course from iTunes University or Coursera and see if the format works for you. The wife and I have taken several free courses, and found them to be of high quality.

Give a free course that interests you a shot. And if you find you lack the desire, you won't be out the (likely criminally expensive) tuition.
Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

You don't really learn anything at school. You only prove to jobs that you will later apply to that you were willing to stick to something long enough for a piece of paper. Once you get a real job you really learn to do something.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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