Older, nontraditional college students in your classes?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Out of curiosity, in your engineering classes, do you guys have classmates that are considered nontraditional/old relative to a traditional college student?</p>

<p>WHen I say traditional, I mean students going to college right after high school.</p>

<p>In my program, there are a few people in their 40s/50s. One of them has a son who is in his classes. It's pretty cool. Quite a few are in their mid/late 20s. Idk if this is the same for you guys. Just curious.</p>

<p>I've seen people in there 70s take classes just for fun, but not actually get a major like the ones I mentioned above.</p>

2

<p>I know in my Fall 2011 semester, I was in an Electrical Engineering course and there was a man in there taking the course who looked to be upper 40s to low 50s. I believe he was back at school to get a new degree or something, but I don’t know.</p>

3

<p>I was at UCB for a year and don’t remember meeting/seeing anyone significantly older than me in my classes. After transferring to my hometown state university, I’ve seen/met a few middle aged people and quite a few are as you describe, in their mid/upper 20s. </p>

<p>I could be wrong, but I think at more prestigious schools, this is not as common. Probably because a lot of the non-traditional students are transferring from community colleges.</p>

4

<p>There are non-traditional students that are working toward degrees at my school, but it’s too expensive for people to just take classes for fun.</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>For people who usually have families and/or jobs it usually does not make sense to leave the state to go to school for x years to complete a degree and spend y amount of money. Really leaving the immediate region of the state they’re in is usually not tenable. </p>

<p>I know for my own situation it’s whatever is cheapest within a 45 minute drive that offers the field of study I’m interested in.</p>

6

<p>^Exactly. I’d be competitive for UCB/UCLA GPA-wise, but quitting my job and/or facing an inhuman commute are not options. Yeah, I totally wish I had a time machine.</p>

<p>EDIT: Not to say I feel shortchanged about my intended school. CA is a great place to be a student.</p>