Thoughts on Education Later in Life

[ACG]

Yellow
Whatever you decide to do, good luck to you.
I got married young, worked and had 2 kids. I sporadically took college classes at night. I have moved up in my 'career', changed employers several times, raised 2 kids, divorced, re-married, become a grandmother and now am the mom again of an 11 year old step daughter. I've been very lucky in my chosen career and am in a pretty great job right now. Most people here think I have a degree by the way. I never volunteer the information to them.

My spouse is very very supportive and encouraging. So I am back at night college, taking algebra! I have many units so it is just a matter of time before I can transfer to a 4year university.

Why did you do it? Well because in my career I was turned down many times for promotions because I didn't have a degree. I have been told this in almost every position I've had, by lawyers, by accountants and by engineers. You don't have a degree, so you can't make more money and can't have this promotion. I had to work my way up to be a manager.

Would you do it again? I'm doing it now, so yes. It is a life goal at this point.

What was the hardest part? There are two answers, one, the time away from my family. Two, having to deal with taking classes that are a pre-requisete to another class, that you really only need to get into yet another class.

I'm 52, by the way.

Again, good luck to you.

[GLC1968]

I think you know my story, so I'll try to be brief.

First degree was a BA in Sociology and I spent 7-8 years in retail management. Quit at 30, started bartending and had no idea what was next. I was single, debt free and had the freedom to decide. I ended up with a BSEE and an MSEE in a highly specialized field (that has been booming in recent years). I worked as an engineer for 8 years and then struggled with my choice. I *almost* went back to school for veterinary medicine (at 43) but landed my current job instead. Currently I am the college program manager for my company. I am a liaison between the technical and the non-technical in a hi-tech industry. I like that I get to combine skill sets from both previous careers into one...for now.

I expected that this job would be short-lived when I took it. I mean, I could stay where I am until I retire, but I don't really have the desire to do that. My plan is to work in this role for another couple of years (to finish creating this program and to make myself obsolete so that I can move on to something else). As I plan for this, getting an MBA is high on my list of possibilities for my next step. I hesitate not because of my age (45 now) or any fear of the academic challenges, but because of finances. When we sold our farm last year, the plan was for us to retire in about 10 years (at 55) and farm again. If I do an MBA that'll shift our finances quite a bit and might require us to delay retirement. I need to decide if it is worth it at this point in my career. Will the MBA do that much for me or not? I'm in the research stage of this decision right now.

Anyway, my advice is to really weigh the options. When it comes to a full on career change (like I did at 30), it was 100% worth it. No question about it. BUT (and it's a pretty big BUT), make absolutely sure you are choosing the new career for the right reasons. I don't think I did and there was a time there where regret was pretty dang high. What are the right reasons? I can't say. The wrong ones are really any reason that stems from your dissatisfaction with your current career/job. Don't let what you don't like now influence your future. Choose your path based on what you truly want to do, not on what you want to avoid.

To answer some of your questions:

Why did I do it? I saw no future in my job at the time and I really wanted a totally different career path.
Would I do it again? Yes - but I might have made some different choices. Timing was right, the impulse was right, but my decision-making algorithm was wrong. No regrets now though as it has all worked out for the best.
What was the hardest part? Living as a broke student after having been fairly 'well-off'. This is the biggest hurdle for me about business school, too.

Sometimes it's important to feel the fear and do it anyway.

[Crankin]

Not to get off topic, but GLC, my DH decided against getting an MBA. He is probably the only living person in Massachusetts without a graduate degree, in the type of position he has. He could be the prof in the management classes. He didn't want to give up the time. I suggested he might do it now, so when he retires, he can teach (he would be awesome), but he said he'd rather work in the hardware store in Concord Center!

[Skippyak]

Not to get off topic, but GLC, my DH decided against getting an MBA. He is probably the only living person in Massachusetts without a graduate degree, in the type of position he has. He could be the prof in the management classes. He didn't want to give up the time. I suggested he might do it now, so when he retires, he can teach (he would be awesome), but he said he'd rather work in the hardware store in Concord Center!

I think MBAs have been seen as a big waste of time for many in the last 10 yrs. It would behoove anyone to do due diligence before laying down cash.

[GLC1968]

I think MBAs have been seen as a big waste of time for many in the last 10 yrs. It would behoove anyone to do due diligence before laying down cash.

I do think that varies greatly by position and industry. In my case, an MBA would be evidence that I have more than just the technical knowledge/background. Every member of higher management in our corporation (and perhaps our industry) has a technical degree AND some type of business degree. It is hard to be taken seriously as a non-engineer without it. (There's a switch, huh?)

That said, its usefulness will somewhat depend on my specific path which is why I still have a lot of research to do. There are roles I could do that I would probably enjoy where an MBA would be unnecessary, so I need to chose my path before I choose my degree (for the first time in my life!!).

[Crankin]

Yeah, for my DH, it's sort of the opposite. He has a BS in Business (Computer Info Systems), and he is in charge of 300 engineers. He does have a lot of technical knowledge, but he's the business guy who keeps the engineers on track with their business skills, which is more of their role because they are customer facing people, who work with sales people. I can see how an MBA would be useful for you, GLC.

[Pax]

Kind of an opposite view. I decided not to go back to school, I'm 53.

My job is very dead end, I don't hate it but it certainly isn't where I thought I'd end up. In my 30's and 40's I was a mental health clinician, in order to move up within my agency I needed a specific masters degree... I gave it long hard thought but in the end decided I really didn't like school so wasn't going that route. Instead I left my career and went civil service at a university library. The job is basically mindless but it pays well, I have excellent benefits, and am up to almost five weeks of vacation. If I was looking at having to stay here until age 65 I'd lose my mind, but I can go at 58 so I'll stick it out.