What can I do to be more educated?

Question

I'm a dropout, pothead, legally insane, writer. I'm not looking to get back into school, nor am I going to. (Please don't argue my choice, you won't change my mind). I'm eighteen years old, and I only have up to a tenth grade education from an alternative learning center. So technically, I only have a ninth grade education. What I specifically want to know is, how can I learn everything I need to know, as though I were graduating? I want the academic knowledge of an honor roll, senior-year student. Remember, I'm not going back to any school. Of course, except to get my GED and later enroll into a community college. But please, answer my question accordingly. How can I learn everything I need to know, as though I were graduating high school?

-CicatriX

Answer 1

I would recommend getting this teacher's test book used off of amazon.com for 29 cents-plus shipping:

MSAT - The Best Test Prep for the Multiple Subjects Assessment for Teachers (Test Preps) (Paperback)

I had to take this test to show that I had all of the content knowledge required to teach elementary students in California. It was a six-hour test that covers everything that a high school honors student would have learned and gotten A's in.  From Mesopotamia, osmosis, geometric formulas,  sonnet form, allusion, tone, U.S. history, Supreme court rulings (concerning education, e.g. Brown v. Board of Education), and so on.

I studied the Baron's MSAT (multiple subjects-not medical school as in the UK) guide and passed the test on my first try. You can try to buy a similar one in a used book store. The test has been re-formatted and re-named the CSET. It has the same content, but you can take it one subject at a time, six hours each session, until you get the minimum scores overall to pass. So, maybe the CSET guides would do the trick for your needs.

By the way, you don't always need a GED to go to community college if you are 18 or 16, depending on your state. It might be better to take some of the classes you are interested in at the c.c. and then take the GED later, after you've been more inspired by learning things that you care about.

Answer 2

For the amount of time you spend trying to read through all the books and getting booklists of what you are to read or not read, you'll waste a lot of time. Couple that with smoking pot and you may never get your GED.

You're better off going to adult night school and here's why:

Doing it on your own at home is very difficult and being a pothead doesn't help. I'm not saying smoking pot is bad I just know that pot is not the greatest motivator if you know what I mean.

Being in an adult night school allows you  to socialize with adults and not kids.  As an adult, teachers are trained to teach adults differently than kids in your average school.

You might find that there are some subjects that you don't like and so you can substitute them.

You can take as little or as much classes as you can handle without anyone jumping all over you.

It's worth checking out the adult school thing.

Good luck and don't be too hard on yourself.

Answer 3

well i would suggest getting a GED study book at barnes and nobles or other book stores. or you can go to adult class for your GED.

Answer 4

Judging by your question, I doubt that you are "legally insane" (in fact, you sound very bright).  I teach "at risk" middle school and high school age students.  However, to try to answer your question; if there is any way that you can find out what text books you would need for each particular subject - get them and read them!  At the end of each chapter there is what is called prep for "Standardized Testing".    If you can answer those questions, try to find books used for accelerated classes.  You would, no doubt, be above average as a student ready to take his GED.  Above all, be sure you can write essays, research papers and keep a portfolio.  Good Luck!!

Answer 5

Well u can try reading books about different subjects, maybe u could take a few online classes and stuff like that. Go to seminars theres a lot of things u could do to be more educated.