Is It to Late to GO Back to college

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   queelahposted 15 years ago

   Hey  I just  strated college at I'm in my 30 do you think it is to late to go back. I found it to be hard to keep up with the other kids some times but I still keep on going . I just want one degree that says I finished then Ill be alright . What do you think is it to late to go back.

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      Scott.Lifeposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I'm 31 and will start full time in January on a pre-med course before transferring to a university for two more years them med-school for another 4, if I'm accepted. I'll be 39 when I graduate, but who cares. It's never too late to have a dream. My grand father is in his seventies and just earned his master's in Business.

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      LViddamoyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      If you want to do it, then do it, simple as. Somebody in their thirties aint old, if you think you would like it, then its for you.

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      Lady_Eposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Never too late Queelah. Try to have some study buddies i.e a group of people you move with so if you can't make a lesson, they can hand you notes or if your finding something difficult, they can explain things to you.
      
      Wishing you success and as Jobister wrote - Don't give up.

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      dutchman1951posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I am changing career at age 58, NO, never to late to go.

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      saletteposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Queelah I started undergraduate school when I was 33 years old. I had two young children and went partime for 10 years.  I earned 2 Masters degrees and 2 PhD degrees since. I am now a retired scientest who is reinventing herself.  You go for it and always follow your bliss. The world is conting on you.

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      Kathryn LJposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Your still young! you'll never look back, studying for a degree is a brilliant experience and you never know where it will lead.  I was an adult student and ended up as a university lecturer.  No one was more surprised than me.  You sound like you have a great attitude and don't forget that life experience counts for a lot.  The young ones always appear confident and clever but don't be fooled, talking the talk isn't the same as walking the walk!

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      vox vocisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      My mother started university at the age of 41 (I was on the third year then) and guess what! She graduated as one of the top 5 students! Kids with whom she studied were younger than me, but she was better than me and better than them! It's never too late and you never know what life can bring so hope for the best and definitely go for it because it's never too late!!!

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      Pamela N Redposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You are never too old to learn new things. I read about a woman in her 70's that got her degree. I'm in my late 40's and take classes every now and then to update my writing knowledge.

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      patspnnposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It is never too late to learn and the fact that you are not a teenager will give you a better perspective on life when you deal with your studies. good luck and keep on keeping on

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       yenajeonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Its never too late to go back. My favorite aunt went to law school very late and is now a successful lawyer!
       Hang in there

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   rebekahELLEposted 15 years ago

   never too late. get the degree. it will mean a lot to you.
   there are people much older than you in the college classrooms now.

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   Laura du Toitposted 15 years ago

   I started my degree when I was 45 years old, studied part-time and got a distinction in accounting when I completed my degree at 49.
   Never been sorry except maybe I should have done it earlier on in my career - you have more than 10 tears head start on what I had. Don't put it off for 10 years. Do it now! Good luck.

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   jobisterposted 15 years ago

   its never too late to start or finish education. You can use it to enhance your career, or start on something new. There will be many obstacles in your way but don't give up. Also I would recommend you try Pomodoro Technique for time management, it worked for me and you can try it out and let me know if it works for you.

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   liuwenhuaposted 15 years ago

   I can understand how you feel. I started my part time degree program when I am in my 30s. It's tough especially to juggle between  work and family. I have to wait till my daughters fell sleep before I can revise for my exams. If you have kids, its actually a good opportunity to set a good example for them.

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   hoodieweatherposted 15 years ago

   Now you can go to cool college parties!
   
   

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   rmcrayneposted 15 years ago

   Never too late.  I graduated high school at 18, college at 28 and got my masters just shy of 40.  By the time I got my masters, a significant percentage of the BS and MS students (in Occupational THerapy) were in their 30s and 40s.
   
   I think you are psyching yourself out, thinking the younger students are somehow better.  I'm pretty sure evidence shows that as we get less and less young, our ability to memorize is worse, BUT our comprehension is better.

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   TMinutposted 15 years ago

   I hear this all the time, that it's never too late (and certainly in your 30s it isn't) but how about employers? Perhaps it's only too late for some degrees - I want to work in neurobiology but I think it actually IS too late. I'm still a couple classes short of even an associates so by the time I finish all that's required, who will hire me since I'm 48 right now?
   
   Scott, can your grandfather DO anything with his degree? Is he working in a field where his degree helps him? Is he working at all?

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      Scott.Lifeposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      He started a contracting firm last year and is now booked for the next five years doing renovation work in Orlando, he has also been retained as a consultant to Union County in Florida as there revenue manager. Before that he was the County works manager. His degree got him a 32,000 dollar a year raise.

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   sandwichmomposted 15 years ago

   I am finishing my masters at 41- and there are several retired folks in my classes- the oldest is 71.
   I think the most difficult part for me was learning to taken otes and test on the computer. I prefer to see my handwriting before I put it in print- but often no time for that.
   I have kept a 3.87 grade point- so my daughters now know they can't say too much about how tough it is to keep up grades for high school-

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    TMinutposted 15 years ago

    Are these old people in school just because it's fun? I can completely understand that, I love reading, researching, taking tests, all of it. If any of you know people in their 50s or so that are in college that you can ask, will you find out if they're expecting it to do something careerwise? My friend is begging me to go to school with her and I would love to. I'm trying to find out if it's worth going for what I want or just any kind of classes that will get me a reasonable job. Most likely I need to take whatever won't take too long so I can ... never mind, too depressing.
    
    OP, you DEFINITELY should do it now if you have the chance!

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    zadrobiposted 15 years ago

    My accounting professor went back to school at age sixty and graduated and became a CPA. He was the Accounting Department Chair for a local community college and now he is a professor.

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    poetlorraineposted 15 years ago

    never ever too late..... if it is what you want to do just do it.....

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    TMinutposted 15 years ago

    sandwichmom, It definitely would take some work getting used to taking notes on the computer!
    
    queelah, you probably just need some time to get back into the whole school mindset (if you ever were in it). You have a goal instead of being there because that's the next expected thing so that will help. Being an adult may keep you from being so easily distracted too!

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    Scott.Lifeposted 15 years ago

    I'll be 39 when I graduate Med-School, and I worry about being hired when most interns and residents are in their late 20's. So I have been contacting several hospitals and administrators and the response surprised me. Most said they would quickly hire someone of that age because of the maturity and life experience dealing with people. Most interns straight out of college are young and have little relational experience. Most are also socially immature and unsure of their goals in life and many times end up leaving the programs after discovering how serious and stressful medicine is.

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       rebekahELLEposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       thrilled to hear your news, scott, you sound like you're moving ahead.

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          Scott.Lifeposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Yeah, I have started the admissions process at the local State college. They have an arrangement with The University of Tennessee, so I will do my basics and review there and start on my pre-med courses, then I'll transfer over to the University and finish my Bachelor's before going to med school. This way I don't have to worry about the ACT/SAT, and I can catch up to where I need to be to start sophomore classes at UT. I am excited. It's a long road ahead but I'm happy to at least be moving forward towards something promising.

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             Flightkeeperposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             That's a great plan. I know you'll do it because marines are tough.  I think most people would like to talk to a doctor whose mature than a Doogie Howser!

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15. 92

    habeeposted 15 years ago

    NEVER too late! My mom had a friend who started college at the age of 80!

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    TMinutposted 15 years ago

    Sounds like my brothers, their raises and bonuses equal more than a full year's pay to me.
    
    Right now I'm back raising kids again, something I'm finished with, didn't want to do again. There are things I want to do, I had always hoped I would be allowed to turn my brain back on at some point, hope it still works.
    
    You two with the older people success stories, thank you.

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    habeeposted 15 years ago

    Wow, Scott, that's great! Best wishes!

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       Scott.Lifeposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you, the hardest part has been overcoming my fear and believing I can do it.

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          Aquaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          YAY Scott - I'm so glad to hear you've decided to go back to school!
          
          There is lots of inspiration on this thread for those of us who are "non-traditional" students. I think habee's 80 year old is the oldest I've ever heard return to school. Now that's cool!

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             Scott.Lifeposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Thank you...alot of it was from you guys last weekend, I spent the week talking to different reps and schools. I didn't realize Colleges were so enthusiastic to get people my age enrolled. They have been very helpful. I have found funding for most of my expenses and should be okay, in fact the hardest part is going to be getting my vaccinations updated so I can attend classes full-time. Figured I'd go all the way since I'm not working days anymore.

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    dahoglundposted 15 years ago

    If I recall my wife was in her 40's when she went to school.I went back for additional training in my late 30's. Don't forget, education and learning are lifetime activities.

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    Flightkeeperposted 15 years ago

    Queelah, do what you want to do. In the end it's your life and your choices that you have to deal with.

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    Cagsilposted 15 years ago

    I have only one question for you, before I answer yours.
    
    Do you think it's too late for you to go back to college?
    
    If not, then go.
    
    If so, then don't go, because you'll only frustrate yourself, because you won't have confidence in yourself or your ability to get through it.
    
    Hope I helped.

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    Sexy jontyposted 15 years ago

    that's true .....
    a step towards right direction is always appreciated ......

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    Rosa Bergerposted 15 years ago

    Hi, no it is not too late. You do not have to measure yourself with the younger students. The qualities that you bring to class are different:
    
    You know why you are there and you take the classes and teachers seriously.
    
    You can juggle a variety of activities and demands on your time and that will show in finishing assignments in a timely manner.
    
    You certainly have a few more that will be helpful studying. Focus on your strengths and bring any weaknesses up to a reasonable standard. You will be bound for success and graduate!

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    krystalmirrorposted 15 years ago

    I am also changing careers and I am in my 40s. I think mostly it is mindset. If you believe you can do it, then you can do anything.

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    Betty Reidposted 15 years ago

    If your goal is just to finish, then keep working at it until it's done.  You should get the hang of it by the end of the first semester.  If it's still hard, you can take fewer classes, but just keep going.

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    TheGlassSpiderposted 14 years ago

    I can tell it's already been written a hundred times, but I can't help but add my voice to the clamor: It's never too late to go back!

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    ralwusposted 14 years ago

    Nevah!

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    Miss Belgraviaposted 14 years ago

    When I hesitated to start law school when I was 38, knowing I would be 41 when I started practicing, a lawyer friend of mine said, "You'll be 41 anyway. Would you rather be a lawyer or a secretary?" I decided to be a lawyer.
    
    Now I'm 55, and am planning to get my MBA, because I want to learn more about economics, have a better understanding of the businesses I represent, and meet some new people. I fully expect that the younger people I go to school with will think I'm too old, wasting my time, and that it will be easy to make better grades than me. I also fully expect to graduate at the top of my class. I love a challenge.
    
    It's never too late to accomplish something new, or to gain more knowledge. You will certainly never look back at an accomplishment and think it was a waste of time, or that you're "too old" to benefit from it. Go for it, and good luck.

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    AEvansposted 14 years ago

    It is never to late to go back to college, people of all ages are always in attendance.

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