Am I to old for College?

Question

I am a 28 year old female thinking about going to College. Am I too old for this and is it necessary? Also am I still eligible for any financial aid or scholarships?

Answer 1

You are never too old to go to college

Answer 2

You are most certainly not too old to go to college. In my experience, having "non-traditional" students in the classroom makes discussions more lively. My parents both went back in their 40s and my grandma is thinking of picking up a class or two at age 76. You are eligible for most scholarships that are available to undergraduates of any age. Some may set a cap at 25 or 30, but I'd wager that most are open as long as you're pursuing a BA/BS. You are also eligible for financial aid; just fill out the ever important FAFSA (see link below) and it'll cover grants & loans. Fastweb has lots of scholarship listings. And your financial aid office can tell you all about university-related aid. Good luck to you!

Answer 3

Not only are you not too old to go to college, with the current level of skills required in the business or technology careers, most people continue to attend college even after they get degrees.

The technology is constantly changing and growing, so in many career paths, if you are not learning and studying the new skills, you are falling behind.

There are always financial aide packages available. Grants and Loans look at your financial situation instead of at your age. There will be fewer scholarships available because those tend to rely on scholastic achievement or some sport skill. However there are a few that would still be available to you.

Answer 4

You are never too old. You will still be eligible for federal and state forms of financial aid, depending on your income. Most of what we call "financial aid" is based on economic need. Scholarships are numerous and often depend on meeting specific criteria. So, that depends. When you choose a college choose one that has a larger number of "re-entry students," the name given to students entering after 18 or after a prolonged lay-off from education. Many schools have populations with a majority of non-traditional students. I taught at a university where the average age was 27. As for, "is it necessary?", that depends. Confidence, a sense of achievement, (statistically) higher pay, more options...all these are products of a college degree but they can also be achieved without one. It depends on who you are, what your needs are, and how you define these terms. Good luck!

Answer 5

Go for it! If you take four years to get a college degree, you will be 32 when you finish. If you don't go to college, you will still be 32 in four years. Do you want to be a 32-year-old or a 32-year-old college graduate. I became a lawyer at the age of 59. I would have turned 59 in any case, but I feel better about myself for having accomplished this. There are scholarships for many different groups of people (based on age, race, sex, etc.). You need to check with the institutions that interest you. Scholarships normally pay only a small portion of your total expenses, so you are still going to have to work. One of the best deals is to find an employer who will reimburse your education expenses. In the past, my employer has paid 75% of expenses (books and tuition) after the end of the semester when I could show I had passed my classes.

Answer 6

Too old? no my mom went back at 50 why? because she wanted to and you know what it took awhile but she did it and we were all there when she walked. Necessary........I assume you have a job and are working and well there are a ton of good paying jobs that do no require college degrees and well no it is probably not necessary UNLESS you want to go back and learn something. As far as financial aide I have no idea. Call the local or nearest university and ask.

Pick a major you like not one that will get you a job be a purist

Answer 7

You are not too old. I went back to school for an MBA and PhD in my 40s.

Because you are there for the right reasons, you will likely do better than the typical students.

The one thing that could be tough is that you are 8-10 years older than the other undergraduates. This might make your social life tough. If you go to a large state school or do not go away to school -- this will be less of a problem (at the large schools, there will be other older students -- if you stay at home, you already have friends and family around).

Finally -- if you need to be around students your own age, try to go to a school that has a good MBA program. They might be graduate students -- but the average age of an MBA student at a top school is 28 -- so they might make for a good social life.

Answer 8

you are never too old to further your education and good for you! My daughter is a senior at Keuka College in Keuka Park NY and she lives next to a 28 year old who is a registered nurse and is now furthering her education as an elementary school teacher/special ed. And yes, some colleges will give financial aid and or scholarships. Check with your college financial aid office at the college of your choice.

Answer 9

1) You are not too old for college....I think you're never too old too further your education. I am going to be a SR. in college this year and I have had classes with people who are 40, 50 sometimes 70 years old!

2) You are probably eligible for plenty of scholarships and financial aid...you just have to look.


Good Luck!

Answer 10

Twenty eight is still very young. You have so much time to work at a good paying career that you enjoy. If you get a four-year degree at age 32 you'll still have 33 years to work until you're 65. Check out scholarships and financial aid at the fafsa site below. Go for it! I graduated at 29, started teaching, got my Masters last year, and am now starting my 6th year of teaching. It was definately worth it!

Answer 11

No, you are not too old to go to college. And yes, I think it will be necessary in the future for people to hold a degree to obtain nearly any job in the future.

Find something you would love to do, but keep an eye on future employment trends. Almost anything that requires math - from accounting to engineering to medicine - will be more in demand than other occupations.

Your age won't preclude you from receiving financial aid, but your immediate family's income (you, and if you're married, your spouse) will affect how much you'll get.

Good luck!