ok so my job wants to send me away to school to further the field i've kinda fallen into. it's a great oppurtunity to have been presented with but at the age of 32, i'm like, gee i did not intend on going back to school.

anyone here going back to or in school now and you're not the typical student age?

Milty said:

i went to barber college before i went into meat. i was in my 40's

Holy crap! You just reminded me of the dream I had last night! I was renting an apartment with a couple of college students near some campus, and I was thinking to myself "What the hell am I doing here again???" It was all so weird!

Im a student, and Im 21, but Ive always been very mature, so consequently I tend to hang out with an older crowd at uni, of ages from about 25-45. Also, I study a construction industry degree, so most of my class is 17 year old boys! Im so not hanging with them!

Anyway, I dont know if I can help you, but my closest friend at uni is a 31 year old woman, and I have a lot of friends in the early 30s there. I think their general thoughts on going back, or just to, uni, was the same as you - a bit nervous about the age gap. The truth is that theres always a good mix of people in any further education institute, in any course. People of all ages, there for all different reasons. My friends eventually realised this when they settled in, and Im sure you will too. Yeah, their credit cards have felt the burn a bit (were almost all full time), and they have a lot of hard work, but I know a guy whos in his early forties with a wife and two kids, who also had to go back to study for his work and hes settled into it fine. If anything the maturity and determination you will have gained by needing, more than the 17 year olds, to succeed will serve you well. It has for this guy.

Sorry, I do tend to ramble on, but I hope this helps!

I tried going for a CIS degree a few years back and was about 30 at the time. However, I took evening classes and found myself in a wide mix of people of all ages within those classes. It made me feel a little more at ease, I guess.

I'm 36 and have been in school at night almost full time for the last year and with work full time it's more than a challenge. The thing is that I'm actually learning this time around where as when I went the first time I was just trying to get the grade/degree/job/career.

Kick its ass

I've taught people much older, dont worry Milty. you're never too old to learn.

I know many students your age, and older, and they`re having a great time.
I would say you have an advantage because of your age, cause as you get older, you are more concentrated, more focused, and you have more confidence, so you might not be so afraid to get involved in discussions and so on. Good luck

good advice guys thanks.

it's just the thought of not having a plan up until now. too busy living the life of Reilly and all that.

and it's not the idea of being around 18 year olds it's me wanting to get on withg it (life) and school was not on the agenda.

the college I am attending is mainly a commuter college. so we are very diverse as far as age. most of the students here are older non traditional. I too have found that I am a lot more focused and serious this time around. My graduate grade point average really reflects that maturity.





good luck if you need any more assistance I am here

I am 35 and ....back in school

Going to be an Emergency Manager

Its hard to set aside a few years to accomplish something when you just want it to happen NOW! But itll fly by, go for it!!

im 31 and finishing up at a 4 year college for artand design/photography. had to leave when i was raising my kids and decided to come back and finish.
i think i would've been angry with myself if i didn't finish.
[Edited 1/5/06 8:07am]

I'm back in school getting a degree in graphic design. I enjoy it...although I find I can't take as many classes as I once did while working full-time. I just don't want to put the energy toward it. I'd rather have more time for myself.

i'm 26 and finished my schooling last year. again. of course, i'm not even working in that field . . .

i've gone to college twice now, and am not working in either field anymore!!

that doesn't make me sound lame, does it??

fantasyislander said:

Go on...get off this thread you....you've caused enough trouble around this forum today...

2canplaythis said:

i'm thinking of going back to school this spring. I graduated a year ago and got my undergrad bachelor's in Business/Administration. I want to go to a technical school and get an associates in IT/Multimedia. Then, if i want to go further, i'd get a Master's in either Information Technology, or Computer Info Systems...

what do you guys think?

missfee said:

you would be the IT expert! a wise field for the future

In Aug 2003, I gave up a job as the Evidence Tech for my town's police department (a dead end job) to go back to college to get qualified to take the national license exam for radiology technician.

I got that license in Aug 05. I'm still in school to get my BS in Mammography.

I'm 38 and on the 21 year plan to get my BS.

I tell every highschooler/20-something person I know "Put your head down and stay in school. Just get it over with."

If you like what you've fallen into, your employer is willing to sponsor you to further your education in that field and it's education that will benefit you career-wise go for it!

Good luck!

Milty said:

I was 30 back in 2000 when I started college. It was a good time. Teachers like you better because the children that are comming from highschools are in fuckoff mode. I had no trouble making friends of all ages. Some were older and some younger. Many "Adult Students" attend college. The only people that don't like you are the real fuckoffs because Adult Students tend to damage a grade curve out of their favor.

I am taking a practical musical examination in May so basically, yes.

brownsugar said:

i'm kind of fucked up in the head about it 'cause although i'm learning about all the things i absolutely love which is all that is art, i'm meeting all kinds of interesting people in the art world but i'm having a hard time figuring out how the hell i'm gonna make some decent money off of it. i've been raised to go to school for something practical and then make money but i chose to go with my heart. i hope my love for it will prevail

brownsugar said:

Very common problem. Same for anyone who studies any social science subject, history, english etc...but they all seem to get jobs, there are plenty of options for all degrees, and there are plenty of jobs which dont have specific requirements for what you studied. Youll get there in the end!

Hey Milty!!

I'm actually thinking of going back. I'm 39. I really need to get my B.A. I only have my A.A. I'm just lazy. I should do it this year.


M

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

yeah get it over with.

brownsugar said:

Hi Darlin,

you know, the silliest thing stopped me from continuing. I had to have a Speech class. I didn't want to speak in front of people. That is my only hurdle.


M

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

i'm almost done and thats one of my requirements that i've been putting off. i waited till the absolute last minute to take this class

I'm going back to school this fall. I will be 31.




But, I have to. I don't have much of a choice anymore. I hate my job and don't see opportunities to move anywhere else forward without it. Frankly, it's rather astonishing I make as much as I do without a degree now.

brownsugar said:

Good for you!!! I'm sooooo scared. But I gotta do it.
We should all support each other. It's never too late.

M