40-something going to college?

[Tiggerlover91]

I'm 40 and I'm working on my degree for Elementary Education. Still got about a year and a half to go, but I'm working on it. Had a friend who was 50 when she got her degree in Humanities, so it's NEVER too late. Good luck!

 

[Scoobmuzic]

I am going through the process right now at 41.

My DH and I worked for the same company and were both laid off at the same time. Once that happened, I took that as a sign that I needed to get back to school to do something I really enjoy, working with computers. I just enrolled at ITT Tech and should have my associates in 2 yrs.

Can't wait to get started.

Like everyone said, you are never to old. Go For It!!

 

[D&DDisney]

Go for it!
I went back to school PT for my degree and graduated in my 30s. Much better to go to college with a goal in mind than right out of high school.
You'll do fine!

 

[mackeysmom]

Hi -

I had the same worries two years ago at 38 when I went back to school - did I "remember" how to study, how will I fit in, how will I juggle work, school and home

I'm now only two courses away from my Associates (went to a local Community College to save $$$) and so pleased with myself that I finally did it!

D&DDisney said it best - much better to do it with a clear goal in mind.

Here's wishing you the best of luck and success

-- Laura

 

[lovetonap]

I say you should do it if it interests you! I have to admit that it sounds overwhelming to me though. I am 40 and just the thought of going back to school and facing tests, papers, etc. exhausts me. Of course I still have youngish (6 and 9) children. Also, I have two bachelor's and a master's degree so maybe I'm still exhausted from the memories of all of the work that I did for them. Since I'm not planning to work outside of the house ever again, I doubt I'll be going back at all, but I did enjoy it while I was there.

Hope you have a positive experience!

 

[horseshowmom]

I appreciate everyone's encouragement! I'm excited and more than a bit nervous. It's been more than 20 years since I did math!

Not sure what direction I will end up going in. I have always wanted to teach, and I am also interested in doing ultrasounds/xrays/MRIs, etc.

I'm hoping to do the online stuff, too. And hoping I'm disciplined enough to actually do it!!

I know a lady who raised her 8 kids (and she did it without a television show ) and then decided she want to get her teaching degree (her youngest was in college then, and she was in her 50's). She went to college (had never taken even one college class before), got a degree in elementary education and taught for many years before finally retiring.

 

[legalsea]

Years ago I read a Dear Abby letter that ran thusly (paraphrased from memory)

=======

Dear Abby,

I would love to go to college and get a degree. However, it would take four years and in four years I will be 56. What should I do? signed, Puzzled


Dear Puzzled,

How old would you be in four years if you didn't go to college?

======

In my law class we had a gentleman who was a retired diary farmer. He had always dreamed of being a lawyer so, by gosh, at age 60 there he was in class. He did well, too.

 

[horseshowmom]

Years ago I read a Dear Abby letter that ran thusly (paraphrased from memory)

=======

Dear Abby,

I would love to go to college and get a degree. However, it would take four years and in four years I will be 56. What should I do? signed, Puzzled


Dear Puzzled,

How old would you be in four years if you didn't go to college?

That's basically what I told my husband when he was 34 and considering going to college to get his teaching degree. He said that he would be 38 when he graduated (which seems really funny to me now ). I told him that he would be 38 with or without a degree.

In my law class we had a gentleman who was a retired diary farmer. He had always dreamed of being a lawyer so, by gosh, at age 60 there he was in class. He did well, too.

Okay, now you're stepping on my toes. I've always wished I had gone to law school. I've had numerous people tell me that I should have been a lawyer (due to the way my mind works and how I pick up on things that other people miss).

My husband has encouraged me to go back for years. I just kept thinking I couldn't handle it anymore (I'll be 50 in November). I think I would actually consider it now (due to a change in my job environment), but I've heard that the job market isn't great for attorneys these days.

 

[Muffin]

I'm so glad to read this thread because I've been thinking about going back to school too.

What is stopping me is this:
I'm 48 years old with about 3 semesters worth of credits under my belt. The job that I've done for the past 25 years has nothing at all to do with degree I'm interested in--speech pathology, which will probably require a master's degree for any job opportunities.

I would be a 50+ year old looking for a job in a field which I have no experience, competing with newly graduated 20-somethings. Who is going to hire me over one of them?

Do any of y'all worry about that?

Would it be worth the sacrifices that my family would have to make now (especially if I go full time) to follow this dream, which will probably turn out to be a pipe dream?

I know about the Dear Abby "but how old will you be in 4 years" thing. But I think about it like this, I'll be 52, have spent thousands of dollars/be thousands of dollars in debt and possibly still working at a job that I hate.

Is it pointless to try to get a degree and look for a new job at 52+?

I hope to hear some of y'alls points of view before I waste anymore time struggling with this decision.

 

[ElizK]

I'm so glad to read this thread because I've been thinking about going back to school too.

What is stopping me is this:
I'm 48 years old with about 3 semesters worth of credits under my belt. The job that I've done for the past 25 years has nothing at all to do with degree I'm interested in--speech pathology, which will probably require a master's degree for any job opportunities.

I would be a 50+ year old looking for a job in a field which I have no experience, competing with newly graduated 20-somethings. Who is going to hire me over one of them?

Do any of y'all worry about that?

Would it be worth the sacrifices that my family would have to make now (especially if I go full time) to follow this dream, which will probably turn out to be a pipe dream?

I know about the Dear Abby "but how old will you be in 4 years" thing. But I think about it like this, I'll be 52, have spent thousands of dollars/be thousands of dollars in debt and possibly still working at a job that I hate.

Is it pointless to try to get a degree and look for a new job at 52+?

I hope to hear some of y'alls points of view before I waste anymore time struggling with this decision.

I have similar concerns. I've been in the same job for nearly 23 years... and if you remember from my last post on this thread, I'm 41. I've never done anything else! I understand scary. And my area of interest has zero to do with the airline industry where I've been since I was 18. My mother-in-law earned her degree when she was 58. Now, she was already working in the general field that she wanted to be in, but needed a degree for the position she desired. She worked for about 14 years doing what she loved!


I'm going to have to put my college plans off until January. I'm having surgery Sep 10 that'll have a 4-6 week recovery. That would be too much school to miss. I'll have all my ducks in a row by January, though!

 

[redrosesix]

I went back to school in my 30's to get my master's degree (in economics) and wrote my thesis while my DD was a toddler. DH went to college for the first time when he was 44 after not even graduating high school. In both cases, I know we did the right thing.

I think that university was easier when I went back -- I was more focused and I got better marks (that's something you'll have over younger applicants who belonged to the P-A-R-T-Y fraternity) There are also a lot of time management skills, etc. that we gain through life experience, parenting and holding down other jobs. Prospective employers are looking for a lot more than youth and a degree -- they need to know you'll show up to work on time, etc.

So, for all of us older students (yes, I eventually plan to go back -- again -- and take more courses), there are a lot of advantages. I also wouldn't worry about getting a job in your chosen field (unless you really want to be a philosopher) since the job market you enter when you graduate won't be the same that exists now, especially if somebody is planning to do law. Not only does a few years make a big difference in the labour market, but with the current state of the US economy, it really isn't realistic to expect things to be the same in 4 years -- almost all areas of the labour market will be doing more hiring.

 

[ThanksForNoticingMe]

I recently decided to go back to school and I am LOVING it. Of course it is work..but it is also worth it. There are students of all ages in my classes, one lady was 83 years old... I think you should defn. go for it

 

[minkydog]

I never thought I'd do it, but I enrolled yesterday. I'm just taking one class, Spanish. I'm 52yo and I already have 2 degrees but somehow never got around to taking a foreign language(it wasn't required back then.)

 

[Serena]

I am 45 and just got an associates degree.

 

[horseshowmom]

I'm so glad to read this thread because I've been thinking about going back to school too.

What is stopping me is this:
I'm 48 years old with about 3 semesters worth of credits under my belt. The job that I've done for the past 25 years has nothing at all to do with degree I'm interested in--speech pathology, which will probably require a master's degree for any job opportunities.

I would be a 50+ year old looking for a job in a field which I have no experience, competing with newly graduated 20-somethings. Who is going to hire me over one of them?

Do any of y'all worry about that?

Would it be worth the sacrifices that my family would have to make now (especially if I go full time) to follow this dream, which will probably turn out to be a pipe dream?

I know about the Dear Abby "but how old will you be in 4 years" thing. But I think about it like this, I'll be 52, have spent thousands of dollars/be thousands of dollars in debt and possibly still working at a job that I hate.

Is it pointless to try to get a degree and look for a new job at 52+?

I hope to hear some of y'alls points of view before I waste anymore time struggling with this decision.

Muffin, I see you are in LA (I'm in MS). While I can't speak for the job market in your area, speech pathologists are in high demand in this area due to a shortage (probably because you do have to have the master's degree, and some people don't want to go that far before being employable). I can pretty much say that if a person is qualified, they can find a job (regardless of their age).

I know that it's a lucrative position if you work in hospitals, rehabs, etc. I constantly see school districts advertising for them (but if you work in a school district in my state, you're paid according to teacher scale).

You said that you were concerned about not liking it after you finished. Have you considered doing some job shadowing? Believe me, it is NOT uncommon for people to change careers at your age.

 

[Scoobmuzic]

Everything is moving along for me. I start school on Tuesday at ITT Tech.

2 years I'll have my associates degree in Computer IT
then if I decide to go on it's another 2 to a Bachelors.

I am so nervous. I am 41 and it's been so long since I've been in school.

Wish me luck everyone!!

 

[LadyZolt]

I start school on Tuesday at ITT Tech.

.... I am so nervous. I am 41 and it's been so long since I've been in school. Wish me luck everyone!!

You can do it!! One class at a time, and you will be done before you know it!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[wdwiala]

Good luck! I started back to school this semester as well. I'm 35. Three internet courses and one classroom course. The classroom course was filled with 18(ish) year olds. I felt a tad old. Still, I'm very very exited to be there.

Have a great time!

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I agree with everyone saying to go for it. I have a friend who is 39 and going to school to be an RN. His fiance is an LPN. The only thing he's having a hard time with is Algebra and I'm helping him with that.

 

[unacorny]

I am soooooooooo happy for you. I love to hear stories about people going back to school. It was the best thing that I ever did for myself. I will give you the very short version of my story...

Graduated high school with a 1.7 GPA , decided to take a semester off before college, met the love of my life , got married, had 2 kids (one and one on the way)got divorced. Here I was with a 7 yr old and an infant, min wage job, mountain of bills, no car, house about to be foreclosed on and no husband to help. Now what???

It was 10 years for me between high school and college, so I enrolled in our local community college .It was a little awkward at first being in class with 19 and 20 year olds, but they were very accepting and we even formed some study groups. I went full time and graduated in 2 years with my A.S. in Science. I then transferred to a local 4 year school to complete my B.S. degree in Chemistry and Forensic Science of all things 2 years after that!

It was not an easy task....I had both kids and worked 2 part time jobs. They spent most of the time with a babysitter while I was in class and working. There were many all nighters to get the work done. I also had to max out on my Fin aid to keep my head above water. I now have a great job that I love and a great future for my children! It was the best thing I ever did. I have also set a good example for my kids. They saw how hard I worked to get where I am now and they are both looking forward to college. I have no regrets about going back to school and I am glad that I waited. If I would have gone right after high school I probably would have flunked out

Now I am working full time and taking class part time getting my Masters. I feel like the never ending student!

Anyway...best of luck to you! You can do it and congrats on enrolling!!!