s/o Best way to finance a graduate degree in your 40s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some universities offer graduate teaching assistantships/research assistantships. Very little pay, but it's a viable option. If you're certain you're invested in this potential career, you've researched your job options and your application is strong (high GRE or whatever it is that's called for), then this might work out for you. After all, if you're in your mid-forties, you may have as many as 30 more years in the work force. Weigh 30 years in your potential career against 30 years in the one you have experience in.

Thank you for this advice. I will look into this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a job -- any job -- at a school that offers this program and provides tuition remission as a benefit of employment.

I really like this approach. Being able to earn a little money and possibly receive a discount on tuition is the best of both worlds for me. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate everyone who gets it, and I respect the other opinions as well. I don't want to hate what I do for the next 20-30 years. And after spending so many years in a marriage where I gave everything to DH and his career and received zero support for anything I wanted to do outside of caring for our children, maybe I feel a wee bit entitled to enjoy what I am going to do. However, I do want to approach this in a sensible way. Thanks again for the perspectives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate everyone who gets it, and I respect the other opinions as well. I don't want to hate what I do for the next 20-30 years. And after spending so many years in a marriage where I gave everything to DH and his career and received zero support for anything I wanted to do outside of caring for our children, maybe I feel a wee bit entitled to enjoy what I am going to do. However, I do want to approach this in a sensible way. Thanks again for the perspectives.

I think some of the blowback you are receiving is based on how glutted the job market is right now with advanced degrees- in a down economy tons of people have returned to graduate school only to find that the grad programs were only to happy to take your money but were not entirely honest about future career prospects (I think law schools have been the most egregious offender in this regard.) Just something to keep in mind and be cautious about.

I really like the PP's idea of getting a job at the university you are interested in, any kind of admin work or whatever, and using the tuition benefits to go to school part time. That way you are also building a job history (even if it isn't in your ideal field), and not extending the work gap in your resume. good luck.

[Anonymous]

Best way to finance it: SUGAR DADDY!!

Take an entry level job and get a Master while working. Pay cash or find a company that has tuition reimbursement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with the PPs. If you want to start over, do it. Yes, you will be borrowing money and yes, you will be making up time compared to peers in your new field. That said, you need to go back to work and if your past profession is not viable for you, there is nothing wrong with starting over. As a PP noted, there are a lot of years left in your work life.

.

Her new peers will be 20 years younger. Dont you think employers would notice that? Even if they are open-minded its hard to have a 25 yo attitude when you are 50.

I went back to school at 43 and graduated at 49 with my PhD in another profession. The fact that my peers are 20 years younger doesn't bother me much; in fact, most of the time I think it is a bonus because it enriches my life and keeps me young! I have NO REGRETS. Life is short. Assuming you're not neglecting your responsibilities, I say do what makes you happy!

[Anonymous]

PP again - I meant to mention that I have a very good job. I did encounter occasional ageist attitudes from employers. On balance, however, I've encountered far more generous and open-minded bosses who consider my "seasoning" as asset to the workplace.

[Anonymous]

Is your undergrad very different than what you want to go into? You may not need to get another undergraduate degree. I would look at State Universities in the mid-West. It is much cheaper to live there and you can probably get through quickly since you have alimony and child support taken care of for 5 years. Find a program you like and contact a professor that you want to work with.

Graduate school is often free if you get are a teaching assistant. MPH and Nutrition aren't law school, most larger universities have funding for graduate students. You need to decide what you want to study specifically. Investigate which schools have it. Find the professors you want to work with. Contact them and apply.

Don't listen to people here. They are probably all lawyers, which is a different world. I had all of my Masters paid for in computer science. I also got a paycheck from the university as a graduate teaching assistant. (I was also in my early 30s!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with the PPs. If you want to start over, do it. Yes, you will be borrowing money and yes, you will be making up time compared to peers in your new field. That said, you need to go back to work and if your past profession is not viable for you, there is nothing wrong with starting over. As a PP noted, there are a lot of years left in your work life.

.

Her new peers will be 20 years younger. Dont you think employers would notice that? Even if they are open-minded its hard to have a 25 yo attitude when you are 50.

I went back to school at 43 and graduated at 49 with my PhD in another profession. The fact that my peers are 20 years younger doesn't bother me much; in fact, most of the time I think it is a bonus because it enriches my life and keeps me young! I have NO REGRETS. Life is short. Assuming you're not neglecting your responsibilities, I say do what makes you happy!

Are you the ex lawyer with a PhD in clinical psych?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An MPH is not a ticket to making money at all. It tends to be an expensive degree that is fun and interesting to study but most graduates get very entry level jobs making significantly less than 50k with very slow advancement. Those that do better have significant professional experience or also have an MD.

+1

I knew MPHs at Hopkins. You would be the absolute oldest in the program by 10 years. The program really does not prepare graduates for a job, its a "spring board." Usually for medical school.

[Anonymous]

Graduate schools typically don't provide financial assistance at all. Especially with a generous alimony, you woouldn't qualify. I agree with PPs you might be able to get a research assistant position, but it will pay basically minimum wage. So it might be more worth while to have a real job on top of school anyway. Doubling up your bets in this economy is the best way to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with the PPs. If you want to start over, do it. Yes, you will be borrowing money and yes, you will be making up time compared to peers in your new field. That said, you need to go back to work and if your past profession is not viable for you, there is nothing wrong with starting over. As a PP noted, there are a lot of years left in your work life.

.

Her new peers will be 20 years younger. Dont you think employers would notice that? Even if they are open-minded its hard to have a 25 yo attitude when you are 50.

I went back to school at 43 and graduated at 49 with my PhD in another profession. The fact that my peers are 20 years younger doesn't bother me much; in fact, most of the time I think it is a bonus because it enriches my life and keeps me young! I have NO REGRETS. Life is short. Assuming you're not neglecting your responsibilities, I say do what makes you happy!

Are you the ex lawyer with a PhD in clinical psych?

Yup. That's me.

[Anonymous]

Op here - Unfortunately, the school I am interested in doesn't have graduate tuition grants for employees unless you work at the Director level (shucks!). Next up, I will explore the graduate research/teacher assistant option. I went to undergraduate school in the Midwest, so that's an option. I really don't expect that I would be able to work full time and pursue graduate school since my soon to be ex H and I live in different states now. I wouldn't have help caring for our children.

I don't mind being the oldest in a program, lots of people still think I'm a college student anyway

[Anonymous]

In my experience, teaching/graduate assistantships at the master's level pay very little and mine didn't include tuition remission. The PhD was different, but that was awhile ago and it varies by field. I usually think of an MPH as a secondary degree, an adjunct to an MD or PhD, as other posters have mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, teaching/graduate assistantships at the master's level pay very little and mine didn't include tuition remission. The PhD was different, but that was awhile ago and it varies by field. I usually think of an MPH as a secondary degree, an adjunct to an MD or PhD, as other posters have mentioned.

At large state schools, GTAs get tuition waivers. Not sure how public health schools handle it. My MA was free. I had a tuition waiver and an assistantship.