<p>I worked for 17 years between my UG degree and going to graduate school. I went back at age 37 to get a masters in education when I realized I really liked working with high school kids--which I realized because they were my kids' babysitters. </p>
<p>I found graduate school far easier than undergrad, partly because the school was easier (UMassLowell vs MIT), but also because having kids and a life forced me to be organized, not procrastinate, and study effectively. I had learned, while working, to sit down and complete an assignment without any whining about whether or not it was worthwhile, made sense, etc. I just got the stuff done.</p>