Should I start going to school now or later?

Question

I will be shipping out to the Navy this year. Should I start taking online courses? Or should I wait for after boot camp to start going to school? I want to study either law or medecine. I am also 26 years old and I feel like time is slipping away. Also, I don't have neither my bachelor's or masters. I want to get my Phd. I just feel like i'm too old. Help?

Answer 1

My husband is 38 and has been in the Navy for twenty years. He had been working on his bachelors degree a class here or there over his entire Navy career, but when he and I got married almost nine years ago and started having kids, he realized he needed to really buckle down and start working harder on the degree. And somewhere along the way he decided he wanted to become a lawyer. Well, long story short, he was due to retire from the Navy this year, but decided to stay in a bit longer so we'll have an even bigger retirement check each month, because he'll only work part-time when he gets out while going to law school full time. He has earned his bachelors in Criminal Justice.
I couldn't be prouder of him, and we often joke that he'll probably be the oldest law student in his class, but he would be the first to tell you to start working on your degree now and do as much as you can. Start with a class now, and then you can take more classes when you settle into Navy life a little bit more. They have instructors that come on the ships during deployment, and with the Internet, you can take classes anywhere on-line. Not to mention how many free classes you can take while active duty.
My husband is a Chief and made it before they started making all of these changes in the Navy, and I don't know if they have already changed it, but they say they are going to start requiring a college degree to make Chief. Now most people don't make Chief until at least their ten year mark, sometimes more, after going in the Navy, so you would defiantly have enough time to earn your bachelors.
You're very young still, but I would really go ahead and start working on this now. I think you'll be happy that you did. Good Luck! I wish you the best with you degree, and a great Navy career!

Answer 2

Hello, everyone says start now, but unless you or they have been to boot camp you would understand that it is better to wait til after boot camp. You are only 26. Really that is not old at all. I didn't go to school to become a pharmacist until I was 30. People are living longer and retiring at an older age. You really won't have time for classes during boot camp besides boot camp is really not that long. Good luck in the Navy and with your PhD.

Answer 3

You're not too old, first of all. Second of all, if you can finish the course prior to leaving for boot camp, then start now. If not, wait. You won't have any time at all for that at boot camp.

However, while you are in the service they will pay (at least a decade ago when I was in) 75% of your tuition so you can go while you are in or take online courses. Usually military bases have education centers that can tell you all of the options available to you. You could easily have your bachelor's degree by the time you are done in the service.

And then when you get out you'll have the G.I. Bill which won't cover the entire cost of tuition, so then you'll be looking at loans. However, if you are single it is feasible to use the G.I. Bill money as income and not have to work while you are in school which will really speed up the educational process.

Answer 4

Hey!! You are never too old to go back to school!! I'm 30-and just started my B.S. last year. I do wish I had done it sooner though!! I have a little brother about your age who is going through the same questions you are-I keep telling him-"just get back in school already!!!" My husband is military, so I see some of your concerns, try checking into schools such as University of Phoenix, or there are also military colleges available online as well. When you get to your Permenent Duty Station-check with the base-they should have an education office that will have all of the info you need. These are good schools to go to because in case of deployment, they allow you to take time off without losing credits! My advice about now or later...I would wait until after basic training then you can get settled in wherever you are stationed, and the stress of training will subside! The best of luck to you, whatever you decide to do!!!

Answer 5

You're not too old, you're just starting later than most people.
I'd wait to see what the Navy can do for you, financially. Besides, if you start something now, you likely will get SO bogged down with naval duties you won't have time to finish, and then you'd be frustrated because of it.

But don't NOT start because you think you're too old. You're younger than you will be 5 and 10 years from now. Think about it; that time is going to pass no matter what you do, so make the most of it!

Answer 6

You are not too old.. Look at the retirement age now..
You will have many years to pursue your carreer.
If you are leaving soon to the Navy, maybe I'd wait to start any classes. But Don't say O' I ve waited too long, because if you don't do this, then down the road you will kick yourself in the behind for not following your dream.

Answer 7

i was 26 when i joined the AF...of course i joined because i didnt want to goto school....but i can tell you this....if you wait, you have to consider that the navy my have rules in place that keep you from getting outside education until you are fully certified in your navy job (the AF had this rule, of course it was waiverable by the CMDR but it was there none the less). And i dont know how long you plan to stay in the navy, but in the AF and Army (which im in now) looks very favorably on education for promotion through the ranks

Answer 8

I believe you'll be reimbursed for student loans afterward (after boot camp - training etc).

However, I personally think that you should enroll now and take as much as you can until you leave for boot camp. You may have to pay that portion of the bill later but since you feel you're "getting old" why postpone it?

Answer 9

u should start now to go to college .ur right ur getting old did u know u should start more earlier 20 or something, if you will take up medicine it will take 10 year of education just to finished that course . 4 years in bachelor degree in biology and another 4 years of pre-med and 2- years of intern so 10 years of medicine and if ur taking law its 5 years of law school plus 4 years in PhD so u rather start earlier as soon as possible okay thanks . don't waste ur time in the navy unless ur going to Indianapolis naval academy but if ur just a simple navy crew then quit now remember going to college can gave u a better future for yourself than in the navy okay and one last thing make ur dad or ur mom be proud of u when someday they will have a son who is a doctor or a lawyer. thanks

Answer 10

You did not say how long you have until boot camp. If you have a few weeks you can start. I applied for Excelsior which the military likes. It takes them at least six weeks for them to evaluate my transcripts. In other words you can start the process.
Learn to use spell check. Once you start you can put it on hold while in basic.