Going back to graduate school?

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any experience or know of others who have gone back to graduate school after 50 or even 60? I did go to a graduate professional-type school and have a good career, but always wanted to get another graduate degree and have the satisfaction of that deeper understanding of a number of things in a number of related social science fields, and my career really doesn't give me the time to do that in evenings while working full time -- or maybe it would but I don't think I am willing to make my entire life full time work and graduate school nights and all weekends.

Time / money didn't permit doubling up grad school degrees when I was young. Seeing that intellectual excitement now in my own kids has rekindled this sense of how much I have missed that and also the contacts that one can make in a new field through formal education. Of course, I realize it would be a financial drain for some time but wondering if anyone has done this? I am musing that if I got into a funded Phd program or had some other fellowship that I wouldn't pay tuition -- just have to pay for room, board, insurance, books, etc. Not sure if my spouse and I would do this as a couple or I would do it alone - we'd have to figure that out (she doesn't have a job for income presently but could get one if we didn't do it together which would make it easier if returned to school near home, or we could rent out the house and do it together somewhere else; maybe try to get a free apartment on campus with jobs in University Residential Life?).

Questions I ask myself -- will I have the patience to really do the reading, write papers, debate etc. at this age? Could I ever get a decent enough score at this age on a GRE ? Anyone know of any well regarded universities that have accepted or welcome such very alternative type students for grad school? Also wondering specifically about what job prospects/ age discrimination they faced on the other end? I am not sure yet toward what career end I would pursue this -- probably something "adjacent" to my existing field which I always thought felt a bit too narrow - but academia / public policy - these are areas of interest. Can someone near 60 years old actually get on a teaching track at a decent university or would they reject out of hand because I may only have a really active career in teaching for 15-17 years (basing that on my parents who were pretty active working into their mid-late 70s).

Probably too many questions for this forum, but welcome comments from anyone who has been down this road or looked into it.

[Anonymous]

Don't borrow for this.

I would rather shoot myself than go back to graduate school ever again.

My bet is you could adjunct at best. No one will give you an assistant prof position.

[Anonymous]

Late 50s and in grad school at a research university generally considered just outside the Ivy Leagues. Did well on the GRE. With in-state, tuition, tax breaks, and a dirt cheap medical plan hundreds less than Obamacare, should cost $30k net for tbe whole thing vs. not going.

I am doing this to take my current career in a different direction while retaining what I have already been trained in. I get a lot of great ideas from the courses that I have already applied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Late 50s and in grad school at a research university generally considered just outside the Ivy Leagues. Did well on the GRE. With in-state, tuition, tax breaks, and a dirt cheap medical plan hundreds less than Obamacare, should cost $30k net for tbe whole thing vs. not going.

I am doing this to take my current career in a different direction while retaining what I have already been trained in. I get a lot of great ideas from the courses that I have already applied.

I don't know what field you are talking about, but "just outside the Ivy League" is meaningless for most of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Late 50s and in grad school at a research university generally considered just outside the Ivy Leagues. Did well on the GRE. With in-state, tuition, tax breaks, and a dirt cheap medical plan hundreds less than Obamacare, should cost $30k net for tbe whole thing vs. not going.

I am doing this to take my current career in a different direction while retaining what I have already been trained in. I get a lot of great ideas from the courses that I have already applied.

I don't know what field you are talking about, but "just outside the Ivy League" is meaningless for most of them.

Where I am attending is Berkeley/Duke/Michigan/Northwestern level. Hope it isn't meaningless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Late 50s and in grad school at a research university generally considered just outside the Ivy Leagues. Did well on the GRE. With in-state, tuition, tax breaks, and a dirt cheap medical plan hundreds less than Obamacare, should cost $30k net for tbe whole thing vs. not going.

I am doing this to take my current career in a different direction while retaining what I have already been trained in. I get a lot of great ideas from the courses that I have already applied.

Thanks. Can you share anything further? Did you take a prep course for the GRE or just study on your own? Have you met any other students like yourself along the way? Do you actually make friends/work with with other grad students who are so much younger than you or are you rather isolated as a student? Do you plan to go back to an old employer in a new position or have another position waiting for you, or will you be starting over looking cold? Is this a funded phd program or are you paying your own way? Any insights welcome. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Late 50s and in grad school at a research university generally considered just outside the Ivy Leagues. Did well on the GRE. With in-state, tuition, tax breaks, and a dirt cheap medical plan hundreds less than Obamacare, should cost $30k net for tbe whole thing vs. not going.

I am doing this to take my current career in a different direction while retaining what I have already been trained in. I get a lot of great ideas from the courses that I have already applied.

I don't know what field you are talking about, but "just outside the Ivy League" is meaningless for most of them.

Where I am attending is Berkeley/Duke/Michigan/Northwestern level. Hope it isn't meaningless.

My point is simple. For most graduate programs, apparently not for your field, the list of the good departments has relatively little to do with the undergrad prestige school/athletic league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Late 50s and in grad school at a research university generally considered just outside the Ivy Leagues. Did well on the GRE. With in-state, tuition, tax breaks, and a dirt cheap medical plan hundreds less than Obamacare, should cost $30k net for tbe whole thing vs. not going.

I am doing this to take my current career in a different direction while retaining what I have already been trained in. I get a lot of great ideas from the courses that I have already applied.

Thanks. Can you share anything further? Did you take a prep course for the GRE or just study on your own? Have you met any other students like yourself along the way? Do you actually make friends/work with with other grad students who are so much younger than you or are you rather isolated as a student? Do you plan to go back to an old employer in a new position or have another position waiting for you, or will you be starting over looking cold? Is this a funded phd program or are you paying your own way? Any insights welcome. Thanks.

Some answers for you:
-- bought a GRE review book and studied vocabulary lists and HS algebra and geometry. Also bought Magoosh to take their practice exams.
-- couple of people are non-traditional but most are half my age.
-- I go part time so don't really have the whole "socialize in the lounge" type of thing. Most of the students are very friendly - I learn from them, they learn from me. But I do utilize career services and academic counseling. Also, know the dean. I am there to meet people as well as learn.
-- I consult for a living. Don't want to "out" myself too much, but I will be utilizing my current skill set and layering what I learn in the program because I believe there is a need in my existing area for someone who can combine these two disciplines as they have become much more intertwined in recent years. I do know that what I have learned so far has helped me with my current client and provided new business ideas. Hard to quantify the return on that.
-- it is a Masters program so I pay my own way. With tax deductions, in-state tuition, and the fact I can get medical coverage as a student way below what I would even get as an employee somewhere, it makes it somewhat reasonable. It's not one of these $100K+ programs you hear about.

Additional thoughts:
-- the internet has many articles about people going back to school late in life and the NY Times had something also. It is happening more and more as people live and work longer.
-- admittedly, there are days where I think going back is a great idea and others where I wonder what I am doing. But with kids out of the house it has made it easier to study.
-- everybody who goes back, does it for a variety of practical and emotional reasons. I do know that since returning I have been much happier and people have noticed.

My one word of advice is to do a ton of research and talk to the school. Do you really want the program and understand the workload?

[Anonymous]

I went back to start a masters at age 50. I wanted the option of improving job prospects after being SAHM but also loved the idea of the challenge and learning again. Kids were older so I had more time. Selfishly, I also felt I needed to show my DH and maybe myself that I could do this. There had been a strain in our marriage, I was feeling stale and unaccomplished while he got all sorts of awards and kept climbing the ladder. Anyway, it was a great decision for me. Ignited a passion, led to new friendships and was empowering

[Anonymous]

And did it have any effect - positive or negative -- on the marriage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And did it have any effect - positive or negative -- on the marriage?

The marriage has improved but many factors involved. But I think my frame of mind had a lot to do with it. Feeling better about myself has had benefits in other ways, and yes, I think DH has increased respect and admiration for me.

[Anonymous]

You will almost certainly not get a full-time job teaching at the university level at your age. It isn't that you don't have many years ahead of you -- it's that there is a glut of people much younger than you who can work for less.

Go get another degree (if you can afford to) for personal fulfillment, not to launch a new career.

[Anonymous]

Can you just take classes or audit, or do online classes like the ones through Harvard for personal enrichment? I started a grad degree in my thirties -- I know, not the same thing -- but even at that point in my life I found it hard to deal with the young 20-somethings who were regarded as the rising stars, the academic bureaucracy, the psychological mindf*** of academic politics, and having to go back to being "entry-level" with no credit for my previous life experience, education, and professional accomplishments. It was really, really tough. Academia will not value anything you've done with your life outside academia...this was hard for me to adjust to.

Teaching jobs are virtually impossible to get in certain fields, and I think your age would not be a help. I would read or post on the Chronicle of Higher Education forums to get more specific advice.

[Anonymous]

My mom did it, OP. She went back for her masters at 50.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And did it have any effect - positive or negative -- on the marriage?

PP here. Missed the follow-up question. My mom finally got the stones to divorce my dad after she went back to school, which was a long time coming.