Anyone decide to go back to school later in life?

[BeTheChange]

I attended 2 years of college before deciding to jump on the technology Certification bandwagon.. Ive been riding it ever since. The pay is good but I hate my job. I dont know if Id be that upset if I never saw another computer/router/dslam/yaddayadda again. It is definately not the profession for me and Im unsure of wether it is a profession for females, period. But that is a whole other topic of conversation.


Im debating going back to college. Im 27. I figure if I dont do it now, Im not gonna do it.. and Im going to be stuck doing something I hate for the rest of my life. My husband has a good job, we dont have any kids yet, but would like to once we decide where we are going to be in the long term. He supports me finding out what the heck I want to do with my life, 100%. Unfortunately, most of my credits wont transfer to CA or WA (we will be in one of those states in the next 1-3 months).

I guess Im looking for some inspirational stories of people who actually did it.. or realistic stories of people who tried and were unable to, so I know what pitfalls to look for on my own journey.

TIA

[Floogeldy]

1. Yep

I went to college straight out of high school but had no interest in any academic pursuits at the time. I was much more fulfilled getting high and playing the guitar and piano. :) I ended up with some F's and Incompletes!

I ended up playing music professionally through my early 30's. After that, I enrolled in a junior college to see if I liked it and how I would do. I did not have to work so I ended up studying a lot and making straight A's. I developed a great thirst for learning and knowledge. I fell in love with history, especially early American\colonial, law and politics. After a couple of semesters, I transferred to a 4 year state institution and started working part-time. So I got a history degree and applied to a local, private law school. I was accepted, was the first person in my class published, and got my JD at age 37. I was fortunate though, again, in that I did not have to work during law school, until I wanted to during my third year.

It can be done if you want to do it, and you may find that you love higher learning, as I did.

:)

Edit: I honestly cannot think of any pitfalls, for you. I think the problems arise if you have to work, take care of kids, do not have a supportive spouse or family, etc., while you are pursuing a degree. You should GO FOR IT!

[BeTheChange]

11. Im scared of that too..

I come from a family of career students.

Of course they all think I need to go back, but they are also 100k and debt and still live on Ramen. :)

I was thinking of having children during the journey tho.. So hopefully I could be with them when they were small alot more then if I worked a 9-5.

[seaglass]

24. Even if you have kids you can take night classes and online

classes.

I went back to school in my 40s with two kids and that's mostly how I've done it.

[BeTheChange]

30. Im newly married..

although we have been together for 5 years. He and I spend a ridiculous amount of time together. We used to work together and we've been living together for 4.5 of those years... so, I worry that night school and children would be too much away from us. Selfish, I know.

Then I remember I have my whole life with him and that 4 years is a drop in the bucket. If he gets the job that we are really really hoping for in WA then he will get to telecommute so its not like I wouldn't see him.

It's amazing how the mind can rationalize so many ideas to convince us that living our dreams is impossible in the plural.

[seaglass]

41. You can get used to almost anything depending on how much

you want it.

I've been doing the same rationalizing about getting a 9-5 job. How will my son get to hockey, baseball - I'll never see any of my daughter's JV softball games. What if they miss the bus and need a ride or what if they're sick? How will my daughter get to and from work? How will I do all the things I have to do and also work 40+ hrs. a week?

But...I need to work so I can't worry about any of these things any more.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Make A Nike Commercial

JUST DO IT! Inspire yourself. Be all you can be. Make your life an adventure. You are 27 years old. In other words you are just a kid. You are exercising one of your erroneous zones - worrying about something that has not happened (if I don't do it now, I won't ever do it.) That's a waste of time. You can go to College now or in 30 years. JUST DO IT!

To quote Henry Ford - "Whether you think you can or you can't You're right."

To kinda quote the Eagles in their song "Get Over it" - Find a little college and kick its little ass ....

Good Luck!

P.S. - I got a College Degree and I pursue education on an uneven schedule. I'm 51 years old and I think I'm a kid.

[BeTheChange]

13. Yea yea yea...

Logically, I know that.. but something feels like time is running out to make a decision.

Thanks for your reminder :)

[BOSSHOG]

17. "Something" is wrong

Bosshog says you got all the time in the world. Let me dig into my bag of cliches:

- Manage your time or it will manage you. And there ain't no doubt who (what) is doing the managing right now.

Turn off those erroneous zones. Pretty soon you'll be worrying about not having anything to worry about.

One more saying (and don't take this (too) personally

- Youth is wasted on the young.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Go Back!

Quick history. Graduated both high school and college (BS in Chemistry) early so had my bachelors at 19. Immediately started grad school while working at a national laboratory. Got my masters just before i turned 21.

When i was 25, i went back to get an advanced degree in statistical mechanics. Finished that at 28. Then, when i was 36, the company i was with told me to go get an MBA, and i could focus on any area i desired. So, i went and got an MBA with a dual focus in economics and financial analysis. I took my time getting that, so i got it when i was 39.

I was taking college classes 17 yeras after i started TEACHING graduate classes. If i could do it, anyone can.
The Professor

[BeTheChange]

14. You had a BS at 19?

Wow...Just out of curiousity, what do you teach?

[ProfessorGAC]

16. Don't Teach Much Anymore

I'm in private industry as a consultant now.

When i was teaching regularly, i did adjunct work in three different fields at 4 different univerisities. Taught about 3 grad classes per year, sometimes two. Fields: Quantum Chemodynamics, First and Second Theory Classes; Statistical Mechanics and Applied Statistical Modeling of Complex Systems; and Econometric Modeling and Theory, which is VERY close to the latter stats class.

Now, i'm a corporate egghead whose job it is to make sure that systems in a manufacturing environement are operating are peak efficiencies by maximizing productivity and yield, minimizing operator intevervention and simplifying the operation so everyone understands it the exact same way. This reduces variation and ensures operation to targets.

Anyways, that's what i did teach. I only teach a class every few years now. But, i do 3 or 4 guest lectures per year, all around the U.S.
The Professor

[SharonAnn]

4. Yes, I did it. Got my bachelor's and then my MBA, I enjoyed it so much.

For those of us who are "non-traditional" students, it's usually better to look for a university (usually a private one) that will accept more credits from previous college work and even some from your certification courses.

I too was in the IT field, lots of certifications, and wanted to progress to something else.

If you can find an employer that has a tuition reimbursement plan, that's a good way to go. Take as many courses as they will reimburse you for and then finish up on your own.

I think you'll find that you really enjoy going "back to college". I did it out of need, to get promoted I needed it, but found that I finished it out of love of learning. Hard? Well, in a way. But I had done much harder things in my technical work.

[BeTheChange]

15. Did you end up changing fields?

Or staying in IT?

[gypsy11]

5. My mom did

She went to collage at age 50, she just graduated this past May. I am SO proud of her!
My grandmother also went back to school in her late 40's. I remember being at her graduation when I was 10. She went on to be a social worker for many years. Now she is retired.

[nini]

6. I did.. I graduate with a BS on my 35th birthday

I was in a car accident in '85 and couldn't return to my job. So instead of settling for low paying jobs the rest of my life I gutted it out and returned to school. It took me 4 1/2 years to earn a BS in Computer Science. It was tough, especially the physical challenges added to my situation, but I did not give up. I'm glad I did as I know my earning power is proably 4 times what it would have been if I didn't go.

But ultimately I am most proud of the fact I stuck it out and finished. Looking back I don't know how I did it with all the things that got in the way.

Go back.. you'll never regret it.

[WCGreen]

7. I graduated College when I was 28....

Tried to go back but my heart isn't in it....

I just don't have the patients anymore for the drudgery that comes with the stimulation......

I have enough disipline, until I discovered DU, to learn on my own....

[LynzM]

8. Doin' it right now, slowly

Granted, I'm only 24. I'll be going back full-time when I'm just turning 26. I'll have one more year to finish at that point.

I'm scared of the math I'll have to do again next fall (engineering) but I really want to finish my degree. So, my situation is a little different from yours, but I'm there, too. My mom also went back and got her BA when she was in her late 30s. It's worth doing, in my opinion, if you have the resources, time, and you know you don't want to stay in the line of work you're in. But I'm sure there are others who will tell you differently!

Edited to add: I have less patience for the 'tedious homework' end of things now, but a more knowledgeable world view, and I'm getting more out of class, so far. I'm more motivated than I was when I was 20!

[MissB]

20. .

Good luck! (I went back at 24 and graduated at 26. I got way more out of engineering school at 24 than I did at 19 :D )

[Lisa0825]

9. I'm going back for a graduate degree.

I will be 37 next week. I got my Bachelor's degree right after high school, but was burnt out on school after that. I have taken courses sporadically over the years. I am hoping to start graduate school next spring.

[EC]

10. Yep, and you'll find it

easier, and I found the Professors respected me more than the teeny-booper students...Why? Because they knew I was there for the education and not to please Mom or Dad or for socializing. Also, I think being about the same age as they were helped. I was 32.

[BeTheChange]

12. Thanks..

My worry had been feeling like an outcast cause all of the other students were so much younger. That's a good perspective.

[MissB]

18. I took several years off

between my freshman and sophomore years of college. :) I actually had a whole other career going when I decided to pick up my education again. I left a great career to re-enter college. I also had to give up my car and my own apartment in order to afford it. Since I had been on my own for several years (making mid-30k salary), I wasn't eligible for financial aid for my first year back at college.

I was 24 when I went back and 26 when I received my B.S. in Civil Engineering. I was much more confident when I went back - part of that was being older and having been out in the "real" world and developing a career. I was certainly more successful in college the second time around. I knew what I wanted and I went for it.

I was much more involved in school the second time around as well. I joined the various student/professional societies related to my degree program and ran two of them in my junior/senior year.

Go for it. You won't regret it.

[underpants]

19. Does 27 count?

After a stint in the US Army I went back to school and got that G** D***** degree

[catmandu57]

21. The kids will hate you

for blowing out the grading curve, especially the good time slackers spending the parents money, but hey that's their problem.
I went to college when I was 28, there were many nontraditional students where I went.
Go for it.

[dannofoot]

22. I resisted for years...

...and damn, I'm glad that I have friends and family that talked me into going back.

Right outta high school, I went to an acting school, a rather prestigious one. Got an Associates degree. Let's just say that it didn't pan out to be something to be able to raise kids with, pay a mortgage, etc.

Not that I didn't do well...I managed restaurants, did commercials,wrote free-lance, had an antiques business. But the desire for stability led me to enroll at a university when I was 37.

I didn't want to string it out over years, either, so I went full-time, usually carrying 14 to 16 hours per semester. I didn't get much sleep for 3 years, but received my B.A. at age 40. Believe me, I was a much better student than I had ever been previously; my G.P.A. was 3.47.

I'm now in a great position with an arts organization, and feel that I can tell my kids about the importance of going to college from a better perspective. Besides, it's also fun to teach your younger, "traditional" classmates about the way things really are!

[hvn_nbr_2]

23. I went back for my master's at 45

I got my BA in math in 1969 and started grad school, also in math. But I got drafted. When I got out, I went back to grad school, but after the draft and the army, my heart wasn't in grad school and I soon dropped out.

After working in a political campaign, and deciding that that life wasn't for me, I found my way into computer programming and did that for 20 years. It was mostly a good way to make a living but never really felt like a chosen career.

During that time, I experienced a lot of personal and spiritual growth, and after a job layoff, I experimented with some alternatives. Then I decided to go to grad school and learn more about things I was passionate about, and got into a master's program in consciousness studies. I had dreams and visions of doing some sort of holistic healing work or being a seminar leader or some such, but it turned out that anything like that requires much more salesmanship than I have or want to do.

I'm back in technology now but working as a tech writer, not a programmer. Going back to school left me significantly in debt (which I finished paying off a few years ago) and didn't result in a new career, but it did significantly benefit how I feel about my life.

[BeTheChange]

27. Thanks so much for your honesty..

Im kind of struggling with what color my Balloon is :) Im leaning very strongly towards Psychology with a minor in Poly Sci, Sociology, Business or Education. The problem is that Psychology pretty much demands graduate school and 5-6 years seems like such a long time. If Im even lucky and decide I dont really want to be a clinical psychologist :)

Im hoping that making the jump back into classes will help me remember what it is that I truly enjoy doing and would enjoy doing for the rest of my life.

If you could do it again, what would you have went back to grad school to get your masters in? Would you do it again?

[hvn_nbr_2]

42. Balloons and parachutes and majors, oh my!

Im hoping that making the jump back into classes will help me remember what it is that I truly enjoy doing and would enjoy doing for the rest of my life.

That sounds like you're probably not really ready now to make a commitment to a particular field or maybe not even to go back to school. If it's an available option, maybe you could sign up for a course or two to get your school groove back and to explore some different fields to see what lights your fire and what seems like something to do for a long time.

Im kind of struggling with what color my Balloon is I assume that you're alluding to the book "What Color Is Your Parachute?" That, and similar books, are great for getting a good idea of what you want and even who you are, and can provide ideas that you never even thought about. You might even find a class or group that works through those things together.

For myself, going back and doing it in the field that I did was right for me and I'd do it again. Only thing is that I'd have my eyes a bit more wide open about the likelihood of making a livelihood in that field and what it takes to do so; not many people make a living in consciousness studies.

[Left_Winger]

25. I graduated with a BA in 1985

Then after two lay-offs within two years (1991 and 1993) I decided to return to school to obtain the credentials for another line of work which I would enjoy more than being a computer operator. I chose to go into education because teachers are rarely laid off; and I am really happy with this decision. When I returned to college I was in my mid-thirties. I never regretted my decision.

[BeTheChange]

29. Teaching really appeals to me..

but I have a problem with buerocracy and nimwitted authority. Two of my sister in laws are teachers and they seem to think that if Im driven that crazy by those two things teaching wasnt going to work for me...

But I absolutely love the thought of helping to shape the lives of adolescents. I had such great teachers...and the thing Ive enjoyed most in technology has been the jobs where I actually formulate and conduct training.

What do you think?

[Left_Winger]

37. In my opinion...

if you decide to try this option you will either love it or want to run away. It all depends on the various factors of each case (basically what you teach and where). I am lucky to have a good administrative staff in my school. Yes, there are bureaucratic headaches, but there are always parts of any job that causes one headaches.... However, I have heard from other teachers of the opposite situation than what I have at my school.
I teach something I like but not the subject of my degree. Thankfully I am able to work my history degree into my language classes. Although I was educated as a historian, I had to be fluent in a foreign language to meet the standards for my degree. This skill to speak another language is what gained my current job for me: I teach German, a critical need in my area (all foreign languages are deemed as such in my state). Although my actual degree in German is only a BA, I am paid at the highest level I earned (Ph.D.), so my compensation is greater than one might expect. This is a good income for only 190 days of employment. Another big perk in the line of work is that you receive most of the vacation time as the students.

I do love helping young people learn more about the world around them and to to grow as responsible people as we much teach more than our subject (we are one of the principle adults they see on a daily basis). The German language, with all the state language requirements, makes this possible for me to experience. Teaching them about another way of life outside the small bubble of the world they know makes my job enjoyable. The history and the culture/lifestyle of the European world are required components of the state curriculum and fits what I like academically (history, language, culture and perspectives). I even take annual trips to various parts of the German-speaking world with my students. So far I've made three trips and with one more planned for next spring. After this next trip I receive one free trip all to myself (:woohoo:). And, this is my summer job ($$). Actually showing them, in person, what I have been teaching them and that it is indeed real, combined with their reactions makes me happy in this job. I do love what I do. Like I stated in the beginning, you would either love it or want to run away; it all depends on what you teach and where you teach it. That's just my opinion.

[trof]

26. Flunked out twice. Did military. Came back. Dean's list.

I was an immature screw-off my first two years. Seriously, I flunked out for a semester, twice.
Joined the guard, went to pilot training, and returned to college at age 24.
I couldn't believe how easy it was then.

[Left_Winger]

39. Same here

I was a major screw-off as a teenager, joined the Marines, returned home and college was a breeze.

[Initech]

28. I'm thinking of just quitting school and following my dream job.

[BeTheChange]

31. What's your dream job? nt

[Initech]

32. Something that involves being able to travel for free

Havent figured out what that is exactly yet.

[Floogeldy]

33. Truck driver!

:)

[Initech]

35. I'm thinking more along the lines of international travel.

[Floogeldy]

38. Drug smuggler!

:)

[Initech]

40. Travel for free and cheat the feds! Brilliant!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

34. Bottom line, you have to really WANT to learn and be a student, hunger

for it. You can't just have the idea that you want to go to school again.

Sometimes you can test yourself: if you just take a single course during a time when you have plenty of spare time to study, but you are not motivated to study or even do well in one course under such circumstances, you probably wouldn't while taking a full load.

It's common for people who are a bit older and more mature to be good students, as a lot of the simple hormone and maturity issues of the late teens are largely resolved and there is sometimes a much better ability to focus.

And depending on what's going on in their life and their reasons for returning to school, they may be more motivated than a fresh out of high school student.

[Tikki]

36. Started College at age 39...did the...

Community College route...three classes per semester (including Summer Sessions) for 3+ years then transfered to a nearby University and graduated with a BA by the time I was 46.

My boys were grown and my hubby paid my tuition.

No regrets....well, maybe one....I never joined any clubs or organizations at the University because I felt rather out-of-the-loop....My age and all.


Tikki

[patcox2]

43. I did it at 40. Go for it, nothing to fear, its easy.

If you've been working, you'll find it ridiculously easy, only college students think college is hard.

You'll also find they are wierd, all politically correct and shrill.