I’m seriously considering going back to college for a different degree. I’ve always been interested in Electrical Engineering, I think I’d like to try it. I’m 39 years old, I’ve been a computer programmer for 15 or so years. Frankly I’m a little tired of it. Anyone here go back to college late in life? How was the experience? I remember how I used to look at the ‘old’ students in different college classes I was in.
Anyone want to share some experiences?
E3
The first thing to know is that if you take classes at night, most students will be older than the day students.
I went several times, once for pottery making, and once for computer spreadsheets, and once for modern drama, etc.
I.e., not for a degree, just enrichment.
I got no special treatment one way or the other. I was, however, startled by the fact that many younger students are very socially shy until they’ve seen you around a couple of times. Maybe they were afraid I was a teacher, since I am.
I went back this February at the age of 37. It’s been OK, although a big adjustment for me. The experience has been interesting. I’m lucky in that there are a few other older women in my class - I wouldn’t have wanted to be in a group which was comprised of only school leavers and very young people. I look 10 years younger than my chonological age and none of the younger ones realised just how old I am which I think may have made it easier in the beginning.
Issues for me have been that when there have been conflicts with tutors etc for some reason I have tended to be ‘elected’ spokesperson. I suffer from a certain lack of tolerance for people who don’t do the work or don’t attend classes and who want to be given sympathy when they fail classes.
I don’t regret it at all.
Well, I wasn’t exactly “old” when I went back for a graduate degree, but I did have an entirely unexpected reaction that might be worth sharing: The selfishness of study drove me crazy. After graduating from college I had come to enjoy “doing something” and being part of a team and contributing (in my small way) to the good of the organization I worked for. In contrast, getting my grad degree was just for me. I could flatter myself and say my presence enhanced things for other students, but that wasn’t really true. I was there for me, to pursue my own interests, to further my own education. It felt arrogant and selfish and society-sucking to me. It was a blow to my self-esteem until I told myself to suck it up and deal.
This is more of a poll than a General Question.
Off to IMHO
DrMatrix - General Questions Moderator
I went back in my mid 30s and even lived on campus (I had a single room. though). I had been laid off twice in two years and decided my field just wasn’t going anywhere so I went back for a teaching degree. There were a few older students besides me living on campus so I didn’t feel totally awkward. In my graduating class, about 5% of us were in our 30s and up. I started off kinda slow but felt comfortable with it pretty quickly so dived right in the next semester. FWIW, I went to a smaller university since the large one in my backyard is widely known as a notorious party school.
My advice is to start off easy and see how it goes.
Took a couple of classes at age 40, at my alma mater.
The first thing I noticed was predictable, but it still caught me off guard: When I first walked in those classrooms, I felt 18 again and it was a delightful rush. Then I looked around at my classmates and realized that most of them could easily be my children. (Note to self: like it or not, you are aging.) A few of the students seemed to treat me like I deserved respect or something, which was odd.
Otherwise, it was a great experience. Classes were fun. Writing papers was fun. Taking tests was fun. Ogling young women was fun.
I may do it again one day.
Though I’m a traditional age college student, my dorm houses the non-traditional student floor. I would say that generally there is little stigma attached to the older students because of their age, so I would say that you should gauge your decision on how interested you are academically and not worry too much about the social stuff or how you’re going to fit in.
TV
After I got back from overseas and did the job thing for a while, I decided to go back to college and pick up a useful degree. I was markedly older than many of my fellow students, but I valued the education a bit more too and worked a great deal harder than I did the first time through because the second time I saw the purpose in being there.
I was well received by both staff and regular students. I was invited to both of their parties and at the students’ parties, they often invited some girls more my age just to make me feel at home (either that or they were worried I would hit on the youngsters and wanted to distract me).
Perhaps the wildest thing was that a woman instructor took a shine to me and we had quite the relationship for a while. I passed her class, but I’m not sure I earned it academically.
I was usually mature enough in my classes to ask intelligent questions that were not wrapped in teen angst. A number of instructors said they appreciated not hearing Lord Byron (or similar individuals or thoughts) described in relation to this or that popular rock star or this or that popular song.
I think going back to school with a few years of maturity under my belt was great. I appreciated the experience without making some of the more stupid errors that many (younger) students are prone to make.
TV
I don’t know why I put my own name at the top of my post, but there it is.
Note to self: Preview is our friend–Use it!
Go for it.
For the most part I (a “traditional” 20 yr old student) like “older” people in my classes more than my “peers”. I prefer serious students who are trying to learn more than kids who focus on where they can get drunk without being busted tonight.
Unless you’re one of the few, but painfully obvious, stupid old people. The ones who can’t understand even basic things and need the entire lecture repeated every day and don’t understand the purpose of office hours. (sorry, pet peeve. I can’t stand people who waste my class time. If its a relevant question, ask it. If you are trying to be pretencious, funny, don’t get it the third time through or weren’t paying attention, hie ye to the office hours and shut up. This goes for everyone.)
And come to the engineering school. Most of us are so tired blind it doesn’t matter how old you are, only if you work well in the group.