Kudos to getting another degree later in life

[ACG]

I am 50 and working on my bachelor's.
I'm a much better student that when I was 18.

[GLC1968]

I went back for a master's at about 30 (and ended up with a second bachelor's as well) and while it was challenging to manage everything, the school work actually felt easier. I think I just had 1) better study habits and 2) a real sense of WHY I was back in school which made it feel easier than it did at 18-22. I was no where near the oldest in my classes either. I felt quite 'average' in terms of age, actually.

My husband did the same thing - got his masters at 37, I think (maybe 38) and felt the same way. Now I'm back in the university setting all the time and I'm tempted to go back once more!

Personally, I think you get more out of your education as an adult with more world-experience than you do as a traditional aged student. Of course, had you told me that at 22, I would have said that was bull-poop.

[shootingstar]

I totally agree that older students with work experience of several years, have better study habits and are more focused: you know what you want to get out of the educational program.

I have my undergrad and master's already. So right now I couldn't even think of the cost if I footed the entire tuition.

My reality is paying off a home mortgage before I retire. So no matter what educational aspirations I have now and later, that reality must be worked in too.

Not that I'm complaining: I've learned so much from my jobs and have taken alot for granted at times, until that knowledge gets "tested" /used in another environment/with different employers.

[withm]

I was 50 when I finally completed my MA.

[goldfinch]

After doing research in psychology I totally changed course and went to law school. I then joined a law firm. I was a peon associate when those of my age were partners. I never really caught up in earnings. So instead of buying into the rat race of getting more and more bling, I saved my money and retired at 50. Seven years later I am still glad to be gone. Most of the time we rationalize away our regrets so we can sleep at night. However, I do regret the career change because I never really enjoyed practicing law. But then again, it allowed me to bring in enough money to bug out early.

But years pass. It would be hard to get back into psychology after being out since the 80s. So instead I ride my bike, look at birds, and make a nuisance of myself on the internet. I wonder how many who have gone back to school late in life manage to find work in their new field, especially if it is unrelated to their former career. I am a firm believer in the existence of age discrimination.

FWIW.

[Crankin]

I experienced no discrimination at all. I went from being a teacher with a MA + 80 hours, making over 75K a year. I am now a mental health counselor (still unlicensed), working a fee for service job that pays, well, about half of what I was making.
I was lucky. I waited until we could live in the style we were accustomed to on one salary, to quit work and let my DH support me. I know that not a lot of people can do this, but it gave me a little wiggle room. Still, the mental aspect of knowing that I was dependent on DH was not easy, at least for me.
I found out that in the mental health field, age="life experience," which is valued. I took my BA and first MA years of graduation off of my resume and didn't list any jobs before 1990. I went on 4 interviews and had 3 offers. I chose to work 80% time, to have some flexibility in my life and time to ride my bike. I still am on track to have enough hours for my license (once I pass the exam) in 2 years, which is the minimum required, as in this field, 35 hours a week is considered full time.
Being honest, I did go to the career services office and talked to the director about age discrimination before I graduated. She looked at me and said, "You look young and active. Don't worry, especially in your field." It's true, I listed my bike leader experience on my resume and every single interviewer asked
me about it.
On the other hand, one of the other students who I went through the program with is about 5 years older than me. She looks older (though not "old") and has difficulty with attention and time management. She's had several other successful careers. She is a fantastic clinician, but was already fired from her first job, because she couldn't handle the paperwork demands. I am not sure this had anything to do with her age, but I am very careful to not dress, act, or look "old." Since I've been around teenagers all of my life, this isn't too hard!

[Blueberry]

I'm starting pre-med classes in August. Life's too short to continue doing something that doesn't feed the soul!