Do any of you know people who have gone back to college late in life and gone on to graduate?

Question

I am talking about people who have raised their kids and finally decided what they wanted to do with their life. Any success stories to share?

Answer 1

I am 52 and a Junior. I have 116 credits and need 190 for my degree. I started at the community college level then transferred to a state university.

The entire process has not been easy. It was three decades since I had taken any math courses so I had to start with math 081 and English 92.

Then taking the courses for the business program, and earning a high enough GPA for admittance was tough. Then taking the essay test was part of the process of getting in the university.

The most difficult part was taking the foreign language requirements( easier when younger) and now that I am taking business courses, not being afraid of presentations.

All it is is presentations and team work. I had forgotten a lot of math and now have to re-learn statistics and calculus for my economics class before fall quarter.

Working full time is difficult, the costs are expensive, and the road is hard. Getting a degree is a challenge, but well worth the effort. Even at 52.

Answer 2

I started back to school at 33. I graduated with my A.A. degree from a community college that I loved and transferred to two major universities. I am a senior now and plan on getting my Master's and Ph.D as well. My first major was Biology then, I changed to English Education. Community colleges cater to a diverse group of individuals, especially mature ones. The environment is rich with encouragement and every demographic; but sadly, I must warn you that universities are not so. They are environments for mid teens to early 20s, predominately, and are purposely promulgated to only those groups and younger. Older students will feel alone and neglected by teachers, counselors, and the student body. Their values and beliefs will be ostracized and belittled. Many texts have been rewritten or modified to include a certain agenda. Mature individuals will notice that tried-and-true values and ideals have been replaced with a new age (5th Age) agenda that is systematically and blatantly being taught to college aged young adults who are still impressionable; the deliberateness of this will turn your stomach. I've noticed whenever a mature student answers an ethical, moral, philosophical, metaphysical, or any type of question in class the professors undermine and berates them, 'how absurd it now is to think that way.' If you can overcome a very liberal socialistic anti-God 5th Age agenda you will do well. You have to be self motivated and thick skinned because the educational system (university level) discourages the influence and experiences older students bring-they are frightened by it. The newly installed "educators"/indoctrinators who replaced the fired or demoted moderate or conservative educators in the public school system don't really want us to see what they are doing to the minds of this nations children. I have continued to be an honor student and a Christian in this environment at 39 years old, but many mature student are just not on the campus' I've been on, or have fallen away because the administration does not care. Stand your ground, be excellent in your academics, and be the difference in the educational environment. This is my advice; don't let anyone push you out from what you have a right to have-your degree(s). This is the ugly truth, but is nothing compared to the joys you can have if you do not give up or pay attention to the dogs that bark at you ankles around you.

Answer 3

Cornell University did a study on this in 2003, I was unable to locate a link but it stated that, adults who return to college after the age of 30 have a higher graduation rate than that of traditionally aged students. If memory serves is was 55% graduation rate.

I have no personal story to share, but I thought this study was interesting.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Yes I did I started college at age 28 and graduated at 33. I am the only person in my family to graduate college.
I now have a daughter in her late 20's who is going to college and a younger sister (22 years younger) who has begun college.
You are never too old to do something for yourself.
I now own my own business and work from home I do enjoy it.

Answer 5

Heck Yea!
I have peers in my college classes who range from as early as 18 to as late as 52!
I laugh when one of my classmates announced that they could have been my parent!
anyways, geting to the point!
He will graduate after completing two more criminal justice classes next year!
Wohoo!
Go old man!

Answer 6

Yes a woman at the hospital became a nurse in her late 40's.

Answer 7

My dad went to comm. college in his early 20's of course he bummed that becuz he wanted to party, but now he's going into his 2nd year majoring in Religious Studies and he's doing great.

Answer 8

Yes my sister in law did. She finally started teaching this year.

Answer 9

Yes...I am one of them...Its really fun to go back to college at older age....kind of bring back the sweet memory when you were there few years back....try it you'll like it

Answer 10

I've known quite a few