Too Old for School?

[LovableGluttons]

If you are in a profession with a practical application of your degree, is there a point when you are too old to earn advanced degree that you will actually use everyday?

I'm trying to finish up my Family Nurse Practitioner program after starting it in 1997 (husband was military, we moved to places where there was no program twice, and then life got in the way).

I've had three colleagues tell me that at some point, I'm going to have to realize that I am getting too old to go back to college.

I am not planning on retiring. One of the reasons I want to finish this is to use it, to see families from the beginning to the end of the lifespan.

As long as my mind is sharp and my body cooperates, I would like to continue to do what I love to do.

I'm in my early 40's and have been a continuously employed RN for 20 years.

Am I really too old?

I don't feel it! I hoisted a 170 pound patient up in the air from his wheelchair to his bed by myself with no problems just today and do it regularly.

How am I too old?

 

[JessicaR]

Never too old to learn.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

When you stop learning, you stop living.

 

[deegack]

You are absolutely NOT too old! Many people go back two or three times for career changes. I worked at a law school and we had students in their 60s and older.

If you want to do it go for it. I hope to go back to school in A few years to get my phd and I will be in my 40s

 

[Wall-E1]

I just finished up getting an additional degree and certification last year. I'm almost 40. I'd been out of school for almost 20 years. But the shaky economy had me worried and I like to have options. So, I don't think you can ever be too old to get additional academic degrees and certifications. It can only benefit you. I know that I've put my new degree and credentials to good use and they have benefitted me.

 

[JLTraveling]

Too old?!?! That just sounds so ridiculous to me!! My mom was a year away from her doctorate in clinical psychology when she passed away unexpectedly at 50. She was in a program designed for working professionals, and everyone there was around her age. I went to college with an extremely cool lady in her 60s...she'd done the SAHM thing, became an empty nester, eventually decided she was bored, and had extensive plans for a career after college. My grandfather grew up during the Depression, his parents both died young, and he had to support a houseful of kids when he was college-age. So in his 50s, as a very successful tradesman, he just decided to college because he always wanted to.

I think Dear Abby said it best: How old will you be when you finish your degree? And how old will you be that year if you don't go to school?

Of course you should go back to school if that's what you want. There are exactly zero reasons not to, regardless of age.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I agree that you are never too old to learn! Besides, who says early 40s is old?

 

[minkydog]

If you are in a profession with a practical application of your degree, is there a point when you are too old to earn advanced degree that you will actually use everyday?

I'm trying to finish up my Family Nurse Practitioner program after starting it in 1997 (husband was military, we moved to places where there was no program twice, and then life got in the way).

I've had three colleagues tell me that at some point, I'm going to have to realize that I am getting too old to go back to college.

I am not planning on retiring. One of the reasons I want to finish this is to use it, to see families from the beginning to the end of the lifespan.

As long as my mind is sharp and my body cooperates, I would like to continue to do what I love to do.

I'm in my early 40's and have been a continuously employed RN for 20 years.

Am I really too old?

I don't feel it! I hoisted a 170 pound patient up in the air from his wheelchair to his bed by myself with no problems just today and do it regularly.

How am I too old?

Sorry, but your colleagues are off the mark entirely. Of course you can go back to school. You can actually do very well and have a long, successful career if you so desire. My own mother started her RN program when she was 43. She was a single mother with two teens at home, a mortgage, and a full-time night shift job. She said it was the hardest 2 years of her life(she was in a LPN-RN bridge program) but she never regretted it. She retired at 62. She's 76 now and still maintains her license, "just in case", she says.

I say go for it. I wish I had been able to do that in my early 40s. I've been an RN for 33 years. I'm 54 and plan to retire in the next 5 years. So it wouldn't pay me to go back to school for an NP degree. But maybe i'll do something else. I don't think education is ever a waste.

 

[laurie31]

I think they are jealous, or maybe secretly wish they could go back too and are either chicken or can't make it work with their personal or financial situation.

Goodness, LOTS of people in their 40s go back to school. I've heard of people in their 80s and 90s going back to school!

Read this uplifting story about a 95 year old college graduate: http://www.americanprofile.com/article/23364.html


I'm planning to go back for my doctorate when I'm in my 50s. I feel to young to go back yet!

 

[can84]

Heck NO!!! I finished my Master's last year at 40--and a majority of students in my classes were around my age and older! You are never too old to go back.

 

[kaytieeldr]

When are you too old to go back to school? When you're dead. Until then? Go. Enjoy. Learn. Get your advanced degree (then get promoted to be their boss, and fire the lot of 'em! teach them all a lesson)

 

[jekajekalynn]

Of course not! In fact, you know what scientists say is one of the BEST ways to stave off aging of the brain? Literally, it is to learn learn something new every day.

 

[DenMig]

I"m 41 and working on my Masters Degree at the University of Illinois in education. It's an adjustment teaching full time, being a husband and father and working on my degree, but I'm definitely not too old.

 

[dakcp2001]

My Great Aunt (gradnmothers sister) graduated with her Masters at the age of 87, they honored her at the graduation.

 

[not_minnie]

I got my first master's at 31, second at 42 and will finish my third at 53 (see a pattern here? ). The second was a complement to the first, didn't change careers or even jobs. This time I'm in a library science program and hope to work at least 15 years as a librarian. I have no interest in retiring early!

 

[jaminmd]

No way are you too old, especially in our profession. Go for it!

 

[browneyes106]

I agree with others you aren't too old and it is never too late to seek higher degrees. I'm taking MBA courses part time and some of the people in my courses are in their 40's and 50's and a few of them said they wanted to get MBA earlier in life but they couldn't for various reasons.

You aren't the only one to return to finish something or pursue a goal you wanted earlier in life. Don't worry what your co-workers think.

 

[aprilgail2]

My 70 year old cousin is in college right now for social work degree!! Never to old!!!

 

[disneymarie]

I've had three colleagues tell me that at some point, I'm going to have to realize that I am getting too old to go back to college.

I'm in my early 40's and have been a continuously employed RN for 20 years.

Am I really too old?


How am I too old?

Never too old, especially as a 40 something. I was injured as a police officer and at age 50 retired due to injuries and on disability SSDI.
I went back and finished my BA, and currently work PT to keep my mind going and share the education and life experience to help others. Especially with the economy we need to think of reinventing our skills.
The hard part, financing it! I had so much going for me from life returning to school; it was a huge classroom contribution. The down side was the math skills that you use now, I never learned. Another challenge was the grammatical for writing papers....oh, and studying for test!

Go for it! And enjoy sharing your talents with others and feeling rewarding yourself. My suggestion, do it part time. That is the most difficult is time management and you do fatigue easier carrying a school load and family life.

 

[golfgal]

While you are never too old to go back to school to learn, I do agree that there is a limit to which it makes sense to go back to school for a career change but you have 20+ years of productive work left so in your situation, go for it. If you were say 55, I wouldn't do that to change careers. As much as you would like to think it isn't so, you would be competing against 30 somethings for any job and it will be pretty obvious to most employers that you are a lot older than that, but in your early 40's that is an advantage to most employers-more experience, usually more responsible/reliable, etc.