late life education

[greenman3610]

anyone out there with experience with going back to school
late in life?

I am in my 50s and considering making the jump.

[murielm99]

1. I did.

I got my master's degree when I was 53.

I always take classes at our local community college, too.

[miss_kitty]

2. I am a leet younger than you, and been back in for a while now

I mostly love it.

[Mikimouse]

3. Go for it. I started graduate school at 43, and have no regrets...

Many people around me thought that I had lost what little mind I once had, and I still haven't heard the end of it from my father, but I wouldn't go back to my first profession for all the money in the world. I made good money in the first profession, but it became less and less professionally satisfying as time passed, and eventually became a mockery of its own past. I make uch less now, but am happier than I have ever been. As long as I can feed the cats and myself, I don't need anything else.

[greenman3610]

4. they say "50 is the new 35"

and I'm trying to internalize that.
seriously, I think in 20 years there will be 2 distinct groups of
senior citizens, those that take care of there bodies and
are active and productive well into later years, and those
that let themselves go but are still living into their
80s and 90s with severe dysfunction and deficits.

[Mikimouse]

11. That's good news for me...

Does that mean that I can tell everyone that I am really 36?

[miss_kitty]

15. hey when people guess I am around that age

I always say "Good guess!" :P

[Tikki]

5. I graduated from....

High School in 1967 and I graduated from the University in 1995. In between, I did take many Community College classes.


Tikki

[XanaDUer]

6. Do it.

My BF is going to pursue his second Master's degree.

He is in his early 50s.

[serryjw]

7. At 54

I'm going back to school for non traditional education. I want to be a holistic animal practitioner and will get certified in several modalities over the next year. I agree with someone post above. I don't beleive that SS will pay for more than a Starbucks in the future so I might as well do what I love (working with animals) and have enough money to pay the bills and have cat food for Einstein.

Here in CO you can go back to school( I think undergraduate only??) 100% free after 60 yrs old.....many are doing it.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

8. I have a law school classmate in her 60s

She was a social worker and decided to get a masters in law, then decided to get her JD. She has never missed a day of class and LOVES school. I'm 42 myself and started law school the day before I turned 40, and I also love it. If you want to go back to school, I'd highly encourage it! Don't worry about those young whippersnappers - you'll shine in comparison by virtue of your life experience and maturity.

[greenman3610]

9. what about employers?

how are they viewing older grads?

[murielm99]

10. The same way they are viewing younger ones.

There are few jobs.

In some fields, I think they want the less educated ones so they can pay them a pittance.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

12. My mom loves older graduates...

She says that they have experience that younger grads don't have. Also, she said that their character has been proven time and again in general. If you are willing to go ahead and let go of what is familiar to go to school, odds are you will work hard at the job you obtain with that degree.

[RagingInMiami]

13. I am 36 years old and I am entering a master's program this week

Ten years after I graduated with a bachelors in journalism

[KG]

14. went back to school twice in my 30s. it's tuff but worth it.

[brook]

16. The day I turned...

65, I signed up for Medicare - and a webpage design class at the Community College. I sold my silver to buy a computer. No regrets at all. In fact, I'm hoping to go back either for grant writing/non-profit courses or more computer stuff.

Go for it. It's exhilirating.