I don’t know what you might want to know, but I’ll answer any questions to the best of my ability. I just started back to school doing one class at North Carolina State University during a Summer Session, and will have another Summer Session with one class before diving in to a full Fall Semester. The last class I took was in the summer of 1995. I dropped out as a Junior when the money ran out and I had to go to work full-time.
So ask away. 
What is your major? I am actually a 40 year old undergrad as well! (psychology)
Were you surprised by any differences between your younger classmates now, and the people you went to university with in the '90s?
No questions, but I’m just chiming in to say more power to the both of y’all.
I’ve read several articles re: the benefits of a college education (or lack therof), but the prevailing opinion is that college grads tend to earn more bucks than non grads.
My experience has shown that I believe I’ve learned quite a bit more IRL based upon a vast amount of experience in actual useful business knowledge, but while in college, I did gain a great amount of book sense. They tend to even out.
IMO, the best thing about getting a degree is that it tells a potential employer is that “you are teachable” and can stick to a plan through completion. These are things that will do you well in an employer’s eyes.
So: Kudos to you both for going for your goals! I wish you well!
I’m majoring in Nutrition Science with probably a minor in Food Science. When I left school in the 90s I was majoring in Landscape Horticulture.
It seems like they are more mature than when I was in college the first time. I was afraid I’d feel very awkward being old enough to their mother, but I’m over that now. In some respects, I still feel like I’m 28 instead of 40. I do identify more with the instructors though. The class I’m taking right now is Intro to Food Science and every day there is some type of hands on demo. They seem to be in awe that I know how to do stuff like kneading bread and slicing avocados. Some are beginning to look to me for help, which I am more than happy to give.
Are you one of those 40 year old undergrads who asks 2/3 of the questions asked to the professor each class? Your eagerness is appreciated, but some of those can be saved for after the class…
ETA: Also, every question doesn’t need to be a personal anecdote about your kids or your day job.
Are you also a virgin and/or hippie?
**Lurkinghorror **- no, I don’t have kids or a day job, but I know I can monopolize a discussion. I have been purposely letting the kids answer questions first. I have a fair working understanding of the material in this class because I’ve been cooking for 30 years, but most of the other students have barely made a peanut butter sandwich before. They have lots of questions to ask. If I do have a legitimate question I will ask it though. I have to get my money’s worth out of the class also. 
**Washoe **- neither a virgin nor a hippie (although I do love Whole Foods).
Yikes! That’s me… I’m a 41 year old sophomore, and while I don’t ask a ton of questions, it seems like I answer most of them. My poor professors seem to ask a ton of questions, and I hold off on responding until they get the look of desperation on their face and then I answer… I’m shocked at how unengaged most of the 20-somethings seem to be.
I actually went in for some office hours with my business law prof and we got into a conversation about the lack of participation of most of the students. He told me that 90% of the people who never say a peep during the lectures are busy with facebook or texting.
He told me he is actually relieved to see a mature face in class as it meant that he wouldn’t be lecturing to a roomful of people who refused to give him any attention for two hours and forty minutes.
Being engaged with my instructors has been very beneficial. I know that holding a 4.0 GPA has something to do with the participation points I have earned…
Did you have an awkward first day where you showed up in a Nirvana T-shirt and Birkenstocks?
Are you legally allowed to go on Spring Break?
Do you get weird looks from students wondering why there is an adult sitting with them?
Ha! No, but I wouldn’t actually be surprised to see anyone on campus wearing that anyway.
I never went on Spring Break when I was in college. I bet I could afford it now. 
The class I’m in right now is very small and we had to go around and introduce ourselves on the first day. I told them I had finally decided what I wanted to be when I grow up. Otherwise, around campus I look like any other professor. 
When the Fall semester starts I will be in some larger classes and may get some weird looks. I’m sure I’ll be able to deal.
gee…one of these answers is not like the other… 
hockymonkey and dbear, have your raised kids of your own, and does that affect how mature the other students seem?
(I’m 50 plus, and it seems to me that the kids today are more knowledgable, but less mature, than when I was a student in sandals and torn jeans.)
No kids here. Try as I might I can’t get my husband pregnant…
I think my experience is due to the fact that to save money, and since I never took the SAT or any entrance exams, I’m doing all of my core curriculum at a community college and I’m surrounded by 2 types of students. The slackers who couldn’t get into a university (or out of a wet paper sack) and the brilliantly smart but poor students who couldn’t afford a university.
The dumb ones just text and facebook and the underprivileged ones seem to be painfully shy. When ever grades are posted I find that I am NEVER amongst the students with the perfect grades, so I know that there are some very smart people in my classes, but they just never seem to be willing to speak up in class.
I don’t have any kids either. Maybe they seem more mature to me because there are no freshmen in the class. It’s all juniors and seniors. This is also a high intensity summer course as well, and no one is there to putz around. The entire semester’s material is covered, quizzed, and given a final in 5 weeks. Maybe when I start the fall semester, I’ll run into some younger kids who aren’t as mature.
NC State? are you taking classes in farming?
love,
a UNC student
OK, strange question from an instructor time. As far as instructors go, I’m pretty young and look younger than I am, and routinely end up with students older than I am in my classes. How do you react, as an older student, to an instructor who’s very visibly younger than you are? (I’ve had both positive and negative reactions, so I’m curious as to other reactions).
Wow, haven’t heard that one in 20 years. :rolleyes: ;)
It doesn’t really bother me any. I assume if they are teaching the class, they know more about the subject than I do. Don’t worry, you won’t be young forever.