Life of an Older College Student...AKA

[Tigger&Belle]

Going back after all these years...

Took the plunge and am going back to school after 22 years off living the easy life as a stay at home mom . Kidding about the easy life.

I know that plenty of you have or are going back to school and I'd love to hear about your adventures.

I had my first class last Friday. I'm taking 8 credit hours through UMBC at a satellite campus that has a bunch of different Maryland state colleges and 3 credit hours (Spanish) at a community college since there are some required courses that the other place doesn't have (underclassmen don't go there, so it's expected that those requirements would already be filled). I was one of three "older" students in last Friday's class...most of the kids were my daughter's age. Real nice group of kids, though. Today I went to get my ID and book at the CC...I felt REALLY old there since most of them are my son's age. The funny thing, though, is that when I saw an older student they were so happy to see another older student that they smiled so big at me. Or maybe I had my lunch in my teeth. I don't know, but I'll hope they were glad to see me. You know, misery loves company.

I'm so kicking myself for not finishing college years ago, but all I can do is to move forward now.

Stories, I need stories from all you returning students.

 

[PlainJane]

Even though, it feels like you're all alone, you are far from it. There are at least two adults over 30 (didn't say that number to make you feel old, I don't even know how old you are) in all of my classes. In some classes, the 18 year old are in the minority, that is the case in my economics class.

There's a big influx of adults wanting to continue their education this year, and considering employers are expecting more and more of their workforce; that trend will likely continue.

Good luck, finding some bffs, us young things don't bite either

 

[Cindy B]

I will you my story.

I started back at age 33 at a local community college. I had about 30 college credits languishing around from 1988 or so.

The first class I went back was a MATH class, accelerated, 5 weeks long. I got home the first day and CRIED! I remember sitting at my kitchen table with a pile of homework, feeling overwhelmed. I hadn't been in a college classroom in over 14 years so I was definetely feeling out of place.

Fortunately, that was one of my worst classes. After that first five weeks, I took a Literature course which was a piece of cake. I needed that confidence booster of a class that I could excel in. Then I began my pre req teaching courses and they were intense but interesting. I did well there also.

I was still working part time and I had two elementary age kids then (I think 1st grade and 3rd at that time). I took one class at a time and realized I could take 2 or 3 at a time (all short 5-6 week classes, most ONLINE at my local community college). So there I was a wife, mother, employee and student.

Eventually, I got my associates degree about a year and a half after I began. I only went part time then since I wanted to "test the waters". I got mostly A's then

Then I went full time school. That was a shocker! I began full time school in 2007 under a triple major in a teaching college. I completed two years of schooling in one calendar year while taking 5 classes, 6 classes and last semester 7 classes (remember I'm still a mom and wife!) I also took summer courses this summer. Education majors in my school had to begin with a dual major and I added another major just for FUN -maybe it was insanity.

I quit my part time job, got school loans but also got tons of scholarships since I never got anything but A's on all my courses (except for one non teaching course).

I graduated a whole semester early summa cum laude because I worked my butt off! I just started student teaching yesterday.

I still have a few more classes to go. I'm taking some post bac work in Special Ed. When all is said and done, I'll be certified in three subjects (two certs are already done!)

My whole bachelor's journey has taken me one year full time and almost 2.5 years part time.

My DH is now back in school as well. He began fresh, new major at a community college. He transferred in only 6 credits (again new major). He's taken many accelerated courses and he will be graduating this December with his associates. He only took courses for one calendar year. He took classes all the time-- and now he's taking 3 at once and he's working full time. He will have completed over 62 credits in one calendar year. He is on the Dean's list because of his high academic work.

He wants to transfer to get his bachelor's and he's now scouting out programs that will work around his work schedule. His work schedule is pretty greuling (12 hour days!)

My DH is in his mid 40's.

As for the age thing, I didn't really feel it in the community college because there were many people that were going back to school. I always had someone my age in all of my classes. The older students were well received by the professors. At the university, it is a little different. In the teaching program, there are always adults (mostly moms) that are going back to school. I've been lucky that I've always had "older" (over 30) students in all my classes. The professors at the university seem to admire the adult students and understand what we are trying to accomplish.

 

[golfgal]

My Grandpa went back to school when he retired. Grandma died the year before and he needed something to do. He started out part time and then went full time. He was the first graduate of the then new program MN had for seniors to take college courses. They paid something like $15/credit or something like that. He was 68 when he graduated from college and kept taking courses until he was 85 years old. He traveled every summer with the elderhostl program and traveled all over the world. It kept him young and sharp.

 

[garydeb]

I am also going back to school to finish getting my BS degree after 20 years. I work full-time and take about 3-6 credits a semster. I am going to UMUC with all my classes online. It's great doing it all from the internet. I don't have to worry about gas prices or making it to a class on certain day or at a certain time.

Good Luck,
Debbie

p.s. I have only 21 credits to go!!!!!

 

[CarolinaBlue]

I'm right there with ya! I'm 42 (Yikes! When did that happen?) and I just started back to school. I"m taking some online classes through my community college, but I will be on campus next semester. I know it's going to be weird going to class with people who are my oldest dd's age(18).

 

[ksumn1]

I'll be 32 when I start college in January. I've been in school off and on since 2002 so I'm not totally out of the loop. My last school was a technical college so there were many non traditional and older students. Our local university is mainly normal college age and 10 % non traditional. I have to take the college placement test in November and I found a SAT book to try to brush up on my math.........I am so out of my element. The last time I took an advanced Algebra class was 1994 So I'm sure I'll have to take a remedial Math but the English and reading no problemo.

I've always studied hard and made good grades. My GPA upon graduation at the technical college was a 3.69 GPA. I'm mentally preparing myself for the craziness. I have 2 D's who both want to play basketball this winter as well as a fulltime job and a DH who works out of town Sunday night-Thursday night. Then there's class and studying on top of that

I asked Santa for a laptop for Christmas.....that will make it sooo much easier. Can do work during the kids practices on break at work. Luckily I work in a restaurant and my boss goves me whatever hours I request so that's not an issue. Let's try to keep the thread going......moral support for us "non traditional" students!!!

 

[AKbabe]

Hey Tigger&Belle!
Where are you taking the UMBC classes? I am an Education major with a minor in science and had considered UMBC (DH and all his family all went there and I have several friends who transferred there too-not to mention it's close by), but I went with Towson. Besides having the best teaching program, I started there 26 years ago and would like to finish there The only downfall is the commute I have to pass UMBC and go the whole way on the other side of the beltway. On a good day of traffic, I can make it in 30-40 minutes. But how often is there a good day??? Of course that's only for my afternoon classes; the morning commute may be an hour or more.

Anyway, I am transferring there after 4 years of CC work and getting my Associates. I started by taking a class a semester and working full-time and then eventually quit my job and went full-time (I could have finished a long time ago but I'm in no rush). I am now 44. I loved it there! Lots of people my age. I really had fun and was part of 2 honors programs, won a few awards, graduated with a 4.0 and was President of my PTK chapter, none of which was a big deal to me in my younger college experiences. Most professors were my age or older; the instructors tended to be younger. Most of my best friends though, tended to be around 20 or 21.

I couldn't get my BS there of course since it's a 2 year school and was forced to move on. I went to TU yesterday now that school has started to check on the parking situation at the time I will arrive. Not good. To think I get to pay $240 for the privilege of walking or taking a shuttle from a satellite lot. But while there, I also checked out the students. Man, I think I saw one person my age. Hopefully it will be different in my actual classes since there are women like me going back to school for teaching. I won't know until I go to my first class today (school started yesterday but I don't have any classes on Tuesday so today is my first day).

Because of the schedule and student teaching, I will be at TU for 2 years, maybe more for the middle school certification. Then onto getting my Masters in Special Ed (but I will do that while I teach).

Good luck with school! I have found I am a much better student now than when I was younger. I'm more mature, more focused, and have learned better time management skills from work experience and being a mother.

 

[TrixieBel]

Another returned student here - in my early 40's. I dropped out of university in my first semester back when I was 17yrs old. Finally re-enrolled at the beginning of this year.

I work full-time and am doing my BSc as an external/long-distance student. I download my lectures and the pdfs for them and each subject also has required on-campus sessions for the external students (3-4 days each semester per subject). My work has a great employee education assistance program and they are supporting me financially with the fees and with some study leave.

Last semester I did 2 subjects: Evolution & Biodiversity and Human Biology. I got a credit and a distinction for the subjects. This semester I'm doing a subject on DNA (The Thread of Life) and Human Anatomy. Not worried too much about passing the DNA subject, but the Anatomy is FRIGHTENING! I'm lying awake at nights worrying about having to remember all these "bits"...

Having said all that - I'M LOVING IT!!!!!

regards Jennifer (full time worker; mother of 3 including 1 with special needs (Down Syndrome); wife; housewife... YES, I CAN do it all!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

AKbabe, I'm at the Universities of Shady Grove in Rockville. You can keep an eye on my son--he's a freshman at Towson. If I had of ended up back in education (my very first major) I would have been going through TU, still at USG, but if I had of switched to Occupational Therapy like I almost did, I would have been at Towson. LONG commute from Montgomery Village to TU.

PlainJane, the student in the class that I've started seem very nice, so that I'm glad of. When they found out that my youngest is 8yo a bunch of the girls said, "awwwww". The professor said that us older students are mature, not old. I told her that I'm anything but mature.

garydeb, where is UMUC?

This semester won't be as bad as others will be even though I'm going fulltime. I have 3 social work classes, which is my major, and Spanish that I'm required to take, but I've always wanted to learn. I have to sit down with my advisor and go over everything I need to take, which will be a lot. That I'm dreading and will involve me contacting the first college I went to so I can get clarification about some things--we're talking going back to 1978-80.

 

[Gina]

See, OP? There's lots of us!

I'll be 42 next month. (Lies! It's all lies! It's not possibly possible that I'm that old!!) Ahem.. anyways, my first stint at college was back in the mid-80's. I was distracted, I floundered, and never did finish. Took another class or two over the next decade after that, but only had about 35 hours total.

Since then, I have been married, and then divorced for the past 10 years. DS is now 12. In the fall of 2005, I decided that I really wanted to finish my degree. And since I have alllll that spare time in between working fulltime and being a single parent I thought, "why not?"

I have since been a student at West Texas A&M, via their special distance interface, since '05. (They have a really cool setup!) Some days I think this was THE dumbest decision I ever made. (Okay, next to marrying my idiot ex.) Trying to cram new information into a brain that would much rather just take a nap is HARD. Trying to concentrate and focus on your studying and homework while dinner is burning, your son is wailing on his electric guitar, a toilet somewhere is overflowing, and the cats are re-enacting a recent episode of WWE wrestling behind you is HARD.

But... I am setting a good example for my son. And I really do love learning! Plus, I figure I am helping to stave off Alzheimer's for another year, if nothing else...

I am finally a Senior, and it feels awesome. At 9 hours at a time, which is the most I can reasonably take, I still have a couple of semesters to go. But oh man... I will be so proud of that piece of paper when I get it!!

And now, while I have a few slow minutes here at work, I need to go study "Religion and Politics in America." Timely course! Good luck to all the "grown-up" students out there!!


-gina-

 

[Robinrs]

Congratulations!!! I so admire your plunge!!

My boyfriend went back to school at the ripe old age of 39 and got his masters degree. He was with lots of people his own age!

I went to school not long after many Vietnam vets were coming back from war and going to school. I attended college with so many ages of people, my most noticeable was Butterfly McQueen in the theatre dept. I think she was in her 60s back then!!

Good luck to all of you!!

 

[LoraJ]

I am also going back to school to finish getting my BS degree after 20 years. I work full-time and take about 3-6 credits a semster. I am going to UMUC with all my classes online. It's great doing it all from the internet. I don't have to worry about gas prices or making it to a class on certain day or at a certain time.

Good Luck,
Debbie

p.s. I have only 21 credits to go!!!!!

I am also taking classes at UMUC and taking on the same workload. It is perfect for me since I work two weeks day shift and then two weeks evenings.

Tigger&Belle, It is University of Maryland University College. The campus is in Maryland but you can do many classes online, enough to get a degree in many fields. Their website is umuc.edu

I'm going to have to take a math placement test sometime this semester and I am dreading it. I have been doing tutorials at yourteacher.com to get me caught up. It's been over 20 years since I have had a math class.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Having finished my degrees while in my 30's, and later teaching, I can tell you that a lot of students are more "mature"

I taught at a private college and the majority of our student body was going back to get an undergraduate and graduate degree.

Some of the better students that I have had in my class were retired, and looking to start another career. Not to mention the mom's that have the multi-tasking thing down cold!

You will do fine!

 

[MsLeFever]

My DH is back at school this fall! He is 36 and not at all the youngest in his classes.

As a prof I can tell you that I LOVE having "grown-ups" in my classes - they add SO much to discussions.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Another returner here!

Went to college, mid to late 80's -- finished everything but the general ed courses (yep, all my major stuff - none of the English, etc.). Moved around a lot, never finished.

Returned to school March 2005, graduated with a BA in December 2006 (woo hoo!). Started right up into a masters degree in January 2007. Finished my coursework (with a 4.0 average....), am finishing my final project, and will walk in December.

It's a challenge balancing fulltime work, home, family, pets, and school. Get into a routine, and plan your weekends and weeknights around your study time.

One tip: I looked at my schedule in advance (my program was an evening cohort program -- took one class for six weeks in a row, then moved right on to the next one with the same group of people). I requested vacation time the day before (or of, depending on the course) my final class period. So often there were projects that needed to be presented and papers that needed to be completed -- it helped having the extra time at home, alone, to get the work done. I'm also an "Urgent Quadrant" person, which I've never overcome, and really needed the time.

Best wishes. You'll do great!!!

ETA: Just noticed you're a SAHM, so the tip doesn't make a difference. If you still have kids at home, do try to carve out time just for "Mom's studying". My kids would always get a kick out of my having homework when they didn't.

 

[Praying Colonel]

DW graduated in May with her Masters in Library Science. She did it over 4 years, taking 3 classes/year while working full-time as a childrens librarian. She was an average student in college ('85 graduate), but she got straight As in her Masters work. She did an awesome job, and the kids and I were very proud of her.

The key for her was being disciplined and doing something with her classwork every day, no matter what. There were days when she was exhausted and just didn't feel like looking at it, but she's one tough cookie, and her hard work paid off.

Good luck, OP--you can do it!

 

[can84]

DW graduated in May with her Masters in Library Science. She did it over 4 years, taking 3 classes/year while working full-time as a childrens librarian. She was an average student in college ('85 graduate), but she got straight As in her Masters work. She did an awesome job, and the kids and I were very proud of her.

I just started on my MSLIS at age 39, and so far it's been a lot of work, but great! How did she like her program? I find that if I don't think about all the work on my plate, I don't feel so overwhelmed. There are students of all ages in my classes, and even while I was getting my B.A., there were both older and younger students too. In fact, I always liked having the "mature" students in class, because they added a lot of real-life experience plus they were always willing to ask a lot of questions when the rest of us were intimidated.

 

[Praying Colonel]

For the most part, she enjoyed her program. As in any course of study, there were some required classes (like cataloging) that she detested, but overall she liked learning more about the field and how she could apply it in her work. I think it helped her to be working as a librarian while pursuing her Masters. Good luck!

 

[Crankyshank]

I'll be 34 when I graduate in May. Right now I'm poised to graduate magna cum laude, but I'm hoping to graduate summa with a little bit of luck.

I'm probably middle of the road as far as age in most of my classes. I've had 18yr olds in my classes, and I've had 70+. I've never been made to feel different or weird because I am older.

It was a lot easier than I thought it would be to work full time and go to school full time (I pull 40hrs plus 4 courses a semester). The key is time management and making good class choices. I try to have a balanced semester so I'm not overloaded with writing assignments, and also got my major requirements out of the way ASAP so that I wasn't scrambling for courses and also because I could relax more this year while I apply to graduate schools.
Yep, not only am I an older BA candidate, I'm going for 2 masters (possibly my ph.d) next.