Quote:
Originally Posted by DESS
I think going back in your mid 30s is a terrible idea, unless of course you have rich parents that can subsidize your schooling costs, your life while in school, and the years after school as you struggle with earning a starting salary at 40ish. And this would also presuppose you would be willing to take their money even though you are an adult, which is a tad unmanly, IMO. (much like using the word "tad" is unmanly, lol)
If you do not have rich parents, here is the bigger problem. School should be looked at as an investment. Your career is likely not going to earn you enough money to give you a payoff on your investment. Say you work until you're 55 or 60...that's only 15-20 years of work after your degree. You're going to have to do a calculation kind of like this to see if this is worthwhile:
ROI = [what you can realistically make with the degree over course of your career after you graduate - what you would realistically make had you not earned a degree over the same time period] - [(cost of education including living expenses, tuition, books, etc.) + (loss of salary calculated at approximately your current rate for the four years you're in school) + (interest on any loans you may need to finance your education)]
I hope that makes sense, but my point is from a purely financial perspective, this is likely a very bad idea in that you're going to end up with a negative return on investment, particularly because you're exploring a career that isn't going to be very lucrative.
If you have rich parents and don't mind sucking on their teet at 35, however, go nuts and good luck!
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A good friend went back to university in his mid 30's. He did not get ANY financial support from his parents nor was he sucking on thier teet. He owned his own home and took in roomates to help offset the cost of his education. He was also able to return to his former position in the company during the summer months. It can be done.
Then you say school should be looked as an investment. Did it ever occur to you that doing something you like for the rest of your life is an investment also. Imagine getting up on a Monday morning and actaully looking forward to going to work that day. Money isn't everything.