Advice: Going back to school, in your 30's

[CaptainCrunch]

Hey I admire someone who's a bit older who goes back to school to better himself, you know takes a pitstop on the rat race for higher learning.

Bottom line, I'm in my early 40's, and at some point I'll go pursue another degree just because I can.

[Phanuthier]

I find the more mature students generally seem to enjoy classes and going to school more then someone who is younger. For me personally, I'm with Locke - I find it hard to understand why someone would want to go back to school unless you have a definate goal you are working towards (some of the posters here) rather then "just for the hell of it" (Captain Crunch). I guess alot comes down to what is the benefit of getting a degree vs what you can just pickup yourself anyways, I know for me, it felt like 75% of my undergrad classes were completely useless and I got next to nothing out of it.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I find it hard to understand why someone would want to go back to school

Babes.

You are all over-analyzing this.

[Dion]

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!

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.

[DESS]

Originally Posted by Dion

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.

I agree, but it is a very important consideration that I hadn't seen raised until I came into the discussion.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Dion

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.

Yup I did it. I worked my ass off at 2 jobs while returning to school. And honestly it wasn't even that hard. You just need to be able to manage your time well.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yup I did it. I worked my ass off at 2 jobs while returning to school. And honestly it wasn't even that hard. You just need to be able to manage your time well.

Didn't you get exhausted and sometimes just want to go home, take a night off and watch some TV? Go out to dinner or drinks with friends, and not feel guilty that you've been there for 2 hours and you really should get something done?

I'm not even working, but when I look at my friends who are out there working and go on spontaneous trips to Las Vegas or Cuba or Mexico, or skiing every other weekend or things like that... and I'm at home Friday night doing homework so I can take a few hours off on Saturday... like I said, I don't understand why someone would want to go back to school unless they would really, really enjoy doing what they were studying. (Which, in my case, I'm not sure if I enjoy it that much.)

[driveway]

I think when it comes to making career-related choices in your mid 30's money should be a secondary consideration. If money is still the driving force in your life at that age, there's probably something wrong with you at a genetic level.

The best advice I ever got about work and life came from my Mother (who worked her tail off at the executive level around Calgary and is currently enjoying her retirement in Germany), she said:

"Figure out what you love to do, then figure out how to get paid for doing it."

Go for it, Thor!

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Didn't you get exhausted and sometimes just want to go home, take a night off and watch some TV? Go out to dinner or drinks with friends, and not feel guilty that you've been there for 2 hours and you really should get something done?

Well I had been out in the workforce for about 10 years doing all that stuff and frankly it got boring. The only thing that was truly difficult is that I felt like I wasn't very dependable for my friends and family because I was rarely around.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I know for me, it felt like 75% of my undergrad classes were completely useless and I got next to nothing out of it.

Probably depends on what you take.

My broad generalization based on talking with students at university would be that the students who go there and take something their parents help persuade them to take (usually something "practical" like management, engineering or business or what have you) or something they think will get them a profitable career usually don't enjoy it as much as the students who go there to take something they enjoy or the students who switch out of their original plan after finding a more interesting major.

Of course I'm biased. I'd probably kill myself if I took accounting or management or something like that. On the other hand I find science and humanities fascinating.

People need to branch out at university. Take a bunch of a different types of courses and see what you like. Most departments at university aren't really like I thought they would be. Philosophy, Psych, etc were substantially different from my expectations. I think a lot of people find that their major isn't quite what they thought but too many are scared or financially prohibited from trying other things and switching majors.

[driveway]

I highly recommend taking an Intro to Women's Studies class as an option. Not only will you be the only guy in the room, but it can be a really interesting and rewarding class.

Also, there's nothing more fun than pulling back a rabid young feminists' chair for her, or opening the door for her.

[JerzeeGirl]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Also, will you punch any science student you meet that says they are pre-med? There is no such thing in Calgary and I hate all those stupid kids.

Am I the only one who read this and heard in the back of their minds, "Damn kids....get off my lawn!!!" with a cane wave thrown in? LOL

Anyways, back on topic....congrats Thor on making this choice - sounds like it's something you and your friend really enjoy for the sake of the topic - not solely as part of a financial goal.

I've gone back and taken classes purely to aid my job and not enjoyed it and that really does reflect in the grades at times (I mean, really, who gets excited about Cost Accounting?!?!?! )

Wish I were in a similar position to yourself and willing to just do it, I'd love to explore a completely different career path but am unwilling to sacrifice my job/lifestyle at the moment so I admire your choice even more as you are clearly willing to make the sacrifice of your time & money to follow something you really desire!

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by JerzeeGirl

Am I the only one who read this and heard in the back of their minds, "Damn kids....get off my lawn!!!" with a cane wave thrown in? LOL

Haha, ya I'm a bit of a disgruntled educator (I'm done teaching now though). I've taught so many students over the years and the bioscience kids are second only to engineers in being supremely irritating.

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Also, will you punch any science student you meet that says they are pre-med? There is no such thing in Calgary and I hate all those stupid kids.

Ahh yes the pre-meds. These people piss me off to know end. My buddy was asking this girl what degree she was taking. She replied that she wanted to get into med school so she was doing her pre med. I told her that I did know they let people with made up degrees into med school. Needless to say she wasn't too impressed.

[bcb]

Of the 100 med students U of C takes in each year, something like 2 have less than a bachelor's degree. If it's any consolation, any student coming into university with hopes of entering Med school after two years are generally put in their place by the time the first marks come out in January

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I did it - and it was the best decision I ever made. Not only did it put me on the right career path but I really enjoyed school the second time around. There was some culture shock at first, but after it wore off it was fantastic.

I'm sure you meant to wirte "I thought it was the best decision I ever made."

Surely after reading DESS's insightful posts you've come to see the error of your ways.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by DESS

- don't worry about the cost, just do what you love (apparently CPers don't watch the news and don't know this is the attitude that has brought financial ruin to the world's doorstep)

Doing what you love brought financial ruin to the world's doorstep? You'd better let the various world economic leaders know. Seems to me they thought problems in the credit markets created most of the problems.

But at least we know what you do for a living. You're obviously a leading economist.

Seriously though, I'm guessing you're an accountant (as am I). Unfortunately you are one of the accountants who think every life decision can and should be made based on ROR.

Wake up man, there are intangibles in life.

[wooohooo]

Well I think it's a great decision to go back to school. I'm in my 3rd year of science doing a Bsc at the UA.

Yeah, there is that 'old-guy' in 2 of my classes who asks about 15 questions PER lecture. Yes. We all hate him.
But that said, there are some other old people who don't really say anything, and we treat them as anyone else. I think it's moreso the fact of asking many, many, many questions in class that doesn't pertain to the lecture material at all.

If there is anything I learned, education is definately worth it. Yeah, my first two years were a drag, but now that i'm specialzing in things I really enjoy, I actually wake up early to study! As they say, your first two years are ALWAYS the hardest. Suck it up and your last two will be fun.

For people who say what's the point? You get to learn things not too many get the chance to do. It changes your perspective on how things operate and your mentality of thinking... something only education can do.

As for good classes to take, my favorites have been Microbiology (lab really blows though), Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Animal/Human physiology. Those pertain most to my life and I think it's 'hella interesting'

Another intersting one I'm taking now is Modern physics. So Einstein's theories of relativity etc. Fascinating, but a little difficult with the concepts.


Classes that I've wanted to shoot myself in:
Cell biology, Biol 108 (not sure what it's called ) has to do with Phylems and all that boring stuff. Elementary physics.
Chemistry. The Labs are insane. 3-4 hours of your life every week wasted, and it's hard as hell.

[wooohooo]

As for what people say about money being a big cost. Yes, your cushy job is nice. But learning something in school, then getting a job that relates to it is even sweeter. Granted, not all jobs are like that but in sciences, alot do.

If you're thinking of doing part time school, you can definately get a job and do school. Just prepare to take time off work during finals.
It's even doable with full time school. Just you won't have a life outside work and school. But hey, it's worth it!

[Two Fivenagame]

I wanted to bump a great thread that I found very helpful in making my decision to return to school in my early thirties. (so glad dess is gone btw)

I found an applied degree program at MRC that seamed very interesting and i attended an info session which made things sound even better.

Attending student orientation (yesterday) was quiet a relief. At 31 i'm far from the oldest person there and met several really cool mature students with the same fears/concerns as i have including:

-debt load
-finding adequate part-time employment
-does my brain still work?
-can i manage school and work?

Any tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated.

P.S The girls to guys ratio at MRC is 2:1