<p>I have a degree. But, it was never what I wanted to get a degree in. I am in my 40's now. Sometimes, I wonder if I should go back. I think no...I need to pay for my own children to go to college and I had my chance before. Besides, I am not exactly in the shape I used to be in.</p>
<p>Nope, not a chance, but not for the reasons you mention (needing to pay for the kids or having used up my chance before). I just have no interest in studying or homework at this stage of my life. I could sit in on classes for enjoyment, as long as there were no assignments to do at home.</p>
<p>I’m considering going back. I wanted to be a muppeteer, write children’s books or work at sea world with penguins when I was growing up. Maybe I’ll just run away with the circus. Sigh.</p>
<p>I’d wait until the kids were done and do it if I could get someone else to pay for it (my employer will pay for this sort of thing).</p>
<p>These days, though, I’m perfectly happy to buy a textbook and watch OCW videos to learn something new.</p>
<p>I wanted to have a degree in nursing. But, I folded to pressure from certain people to get the liberal arts degree that I have. Frankly, not much work with an undergrad in econ. I did go to grad school, but did not finish due to my husband’s job relocating us away from where I was going to grad school. My heart was not in to it anyway. I was really only in the mindset back then of doing what others wanted of me. I was 17 when I went to college. </p>
<p>My husband thinks I should just go. But I feel selfish thinking of taking family money to pay for it, at my age (turning 42) knowing that this is a bit of a physically demanding job where I probably would not be able to work a long time in the field by the time I graduated.</p>
<p>Yes! I did go back for a second graduate degree starting at age 45. I had a career, then was an at home mom. A personal experience made me decide on an entirely new career. I thought long and hard and even had to take some undergraduate prerequisite courses before grad school, round 2. I have no regrets. I am loving my new career and also loved school always, though must admit, by the third year this time around got really sick of taking classes and never ever want to take another one again, (though would happily teach.)</p>
<p>Go for it. At 42, you’re not that old (said from the perspective of one who just turned 66 :)). So what if you have only 10 or 15 years to practice the new profession? You’ll be doing something important and, just as meaningful, something that you find fulfilling.</p>
<p>I finished thirty credits beyond my masters and started that coursework when I was over 40.</p>
<p>I am thinking about going back for a bachelors of science (maybe physics) once D2 graduates from college. I started work on the needed math sequence for our state university this year (she is a junior in HS now). I have a BBA and an MBA, but have a strong interest in science.</p>
<p>I have all the general eds and I already checked, I have to re-take the science classes. I can start with A&P this fall at the community college.</p>
<p>I started on my Master’s when babyfrog was 5, was lucky then that there was some tuition reimbursement from my work to help pay for classes (they quit the reimbursement about 20 seconds after I finished my degree…). I would LOVE to go back and get my PhD and teach in a University setting…keep saying that’s on the agenda once I get my 30 years in at work and can (hopefully, if they aren’t bankrupt…) retire from my current teaching job and be a student myself!</p>
<p>Yes… I am totally jealous of my college-going son. I never wanted to graduate. I loved school. But, there are lots of ways to learn for the sake of learning. I have been doing Yale Online Classes…just for the sake of it. :)</p>
<p>Have an MA, but applied to go back to get a second MA and teaching certificate after being a SAHM for many years. H talked me into waiting until baby was in 1st grade. (Last year. . .) Now I’m not sure if it is worth it, so I just do private tutoring. I’m almost 50, still have young kids, so I like the flexible schedule. Not sure if I’ll ever go back or if I could handle the academic work again–it has been a long time. I was an ESL teacher and thought about switching to math. If I could teach part-time at a private school that didn’t require a certificate, that would be ideal.</p>
<p>I have no desire to get another degree, but I’ve always thought that I’d like to take some of the courses that I wasn’t able to squeeze in as an undergrad – art history, astronomy, archaeology, literature. Unfortunately there are only two colleges in my area, a community college and a CSU; with the budget cuts, non-matriculaters need not apply.</p>
<p>OP, our stories are almost identical except I am 10 years older than you. I was an engineer until I started raising a family and at one point, as 90% of the way done towards a masters (part time) when we, with our 4 children moved once again for my husband’s job. I never finished that degree. Two years ago, my youngest 3 were still in college (2 still are)and my oldest, aknowledging my extreme interest in her medically related clinicals, suggested I return to school. It didn’t take me long to realize that my long- time interest in healthcare could be met. To minimize the impact on family finances I decided to attend our local community college. Because I had completed my degree 30 years ago, my prerequisite science, math, and English classes were actually accepted as completed but I needed to take psych and anatomy and physiology and apply to the program. It is competitive but now I am 6 months away from becoming an RN. I am not the oldest person in my class. Go for it. You will never regret it.</p>
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<p>Well…hang on if you are wanting to sit in on courses for the knowledge. Many colleges allow folks over 65 or 70 to audit classes for no cost.</p>
<p>I’m doing this now - I have three more classes to take before I student teach, and then I will be certified to teach high school chemistry (I already have an advanced degree in chemistry). It’s a lot of work (I also work full-time during the day and I do a lot of volunteer work as well) but also well worth it, at least in my opinion. I loathe my current job and I am really looking forward to starting afresh in a new career… assuming I can find a job.</p>
<p>I say go for it. Before I started taking classes, I dreaded the homework and I worried about being the oldest one in my classes. Both fears were groundless - the homework is manageable, and there are actually lots of people in my area retraining for second careers as teachers. I even found scholarship money to defray my costs.</p>
<p>It was something I pondered, as the nest was emptying. I’ve always loved science and wondered if I could do something with it (I’ve been a musician all my life). But when I realized I would have to do a brushup on all the math I’ve forgotten since HS, as well as other basics even before I got into some area of science (not even sure what that would be)…um, never mind.</p>
<p>I instead started doing even more music, more instruments, and pretty much saying yes to every project that came along. I’m plenty busy now, and happy with my choice. :)</p>
<p>thumper, it’s not the cost that stops me. The problem out here is that there are long waiting lists for many classes, so they aren’t allowing people like me take up a seat when they don’t have nearly enough room for students who are enrolled in degree programs (and they shouldn’t allow me).</p>
<p>I know someone who went to rabbical school at age 55. It’s a 5 year graduate-level program. Come to think of it, I know someone who went to seminary at about age 50. Both men were very happy doing what they finally wanted to do.</p>
<p>It seems every year at graduation time the paper runs an article about some elderly person who “finally” got their degree, or a 2nd degree. IF it’s what you want, I’d say go for it.</p>