Deciding to go back to school at an older age provides an experience that can be wonderful and horrid at the same time. A person must have a strong drive to trully advance themselves and be able to take some criticism. Your first decision is to figure out what kind of school you need to attend. Culinary schools, DeVry or similar schools, online classes or schools like University of Phoenix, local community colleges, and universities. If you do not have the skills or drive then a major university, no matter how appealing, is not a appropriate avenue. Try community college first to see if you can still keep up with the work. You will also find similar age brackets and not feel like a outsider. You need support to do well in school, and this comes from your classmates who usually turn out to be lab partners anyway. You should be comfortable in your surroundings, and not being asked if you are a professor makes walking around campus easier.

Attempting to go to a major university poses many problems for the older student. One major problem that arises is the class schedule and your work schedule. If you are lucky enough to have support from either spouse or other areas then this problem can be solved. Most universities have night classes but, if you are trying to attend full-time a majority of upper division classes are not available.

Money is another issue. Are you going to apply for loans and grants, or are you paying out of pocket. This will also be a determining factor about which school you are to attend. Loans are nice and allow you to go to school, pay books and bills, and hopefully have enough left over so that you can cut back on work. The major drawback - you have to pay them back!

Be prepared to answer alot of questions! Everyone wants to know why you are going back to school. Friends, family, the school, and everyone in it will ask you the question. Why are you here? Whether you waited until after you got out of the service, didn't want to go when you were younger, or need that promotion. This is a question that will be asked repeatedly until you are very sick of answering it.

If this is your first time going to a university be prepared for a culture shock. This is not high school anymore, the professors don't care if you are there or not. You have to prove yourself to them even more it may feel like. You will have to make sure that you go to all your classes and meet with the professor as much as you need. Show them that you are there to better yourself and you will win them over and maybe learn a little something extra.

Remember one other important detail, your classmates may be at least a decade younger than you. So understand that you will not be able to relate to them in alot of ways. Some may be downright snobbish and mean to you. Always keep in mind that you are there for you and you alone. Ignore the remarks and just make the grades, let their remarks fall to the wayside. Most are there because thier parents are paying and they have nothing else to do. The experience is beyond them at times, so you have an advantage of wanting to be there. Also don't exclude your classmates because they are younger. Some may become very close to you and will try to learn from your real life experiences. That is your number one advantage over all them. You have lived in the real world, use that experience to enhance your and those who choose to listen learning. Apply what you have learned through life to college and that will increase your experience.

One final piece of advice for you, ENJOY YOURSELF! Go to the football games or whatever else you are interested in. You have the opportunity to see plays, go to museums, and just sit around the main quad and people watch. Participate in your school as much as you can. This will make you feel less like a number and more like a student and part of the school.

Good Luck in your endevours.