Learning New Things Later In Life

Mid-life. Close to 50 years old.

Is it wise to decide to go to graduate school at this age? A good 20 years left in my career, given the possibility of retirement continues to get pushed back. How much time each week will it take to get a Master's Degree? Is it worth it to give up time that could be spent with grandchildren, learning to play an instrument - or traveling?

How does one find the answer to this dilemma?

The pros - it can lead to job security, more money, a "desk" job (age does start to influence the body's ability to lift, move patients and hustle up and down the halls).

The negatives - the time involved, the cost - or incurrence of more student loans.

Does the older brain learn much slower than the young brains? Does the years of on the job experience enhance the learning ability?

All angles considered, returning for the advanced degree makes sense. Online universities offer great flexibility. The degree is scheduled to take two years to complete, but can be done in less time.

So my conclusion is for potential students to research the fields available in their field of interest, commit to one, and just do it. Go fast or slow, it's up to your schedule. I have chosen Western Governor's University, the Master's Degree in Nursing Management program.

My remaining concerns are scheduling time with the grandchildren, time with husband, and ensuing that I continue to pursue other interest such as writing and learning to play the sax.

I am aware that this is a short entry, but I'd love some feed back on how other's perceive this or how you did it.