Op again- I plan to pay as I go, so I think it will take awhile!

Op here, thanks so much. I'm a preschool teacher, but I'm at the top of the pay scale- no room to go higher. Got in with a school many years ago and was hired without a degree because I knew the owner. I would like to study child psychology, focusing on kids with special needs. I just feel like a college degree is something I need to accomplish.

Anonymous wrote:My mom went back to college in her early 40s. She got her bachelor's, then her master's, and totally switched fields. She said it was the best thing she ever did.

Same here. Totally glad I did it although a lot of people thought I was crazy. Life is short. Live it to the fullest doing what you love.

My mom went back to college in her early 40s. She got her bachelor's, then her master's, and totally switched fields. She said it was the best thing she ever did.

It helps if the degree you choose to take is somehow related to the field you've been working in already. If you have been working in retail and you take a degree in film - you're going to be hard pushed to compete with your fellow graduates in the market place.

If however, you've been a legal assistant and you take a law degree, well then things are different and its possible to connect the dots better and for you to seek promotion within your field.

I don't say this to put you off, just to focus you on where you want to spend your time and money studying - for optimum effect when you graduate.

Good luck it sounds like an adventure!

Anonymous wrote:If you have the money and don't need to take out loans, go for it.

I was going to add this. In my grad program, we have a number of people who take one course a semester (occasionally two) just to stay out of student loans and self pay. Sure, tuition goes up 4%/year but for that $ amount, the piece of mind not to have to worry about paying loans back is worth it. In terms of having the money, people generally do not but cut back on other things to fund.

Anonymous wrote:My friend just completed her medical residency at 52 after 25 years of "time off" to have kids/SAH with them (youngest was finishing HS when she started). I don't know exactly the specifics of how she got approval from (top tier) med school but what I remember is she had finished first year before first born - but it was so inspiring despite my initial thoughts of WTF.

Wow! I am truly impressed! Good for her and a 'you go girl' from me!!

If you have the money and don't need to take out loans, go for it.

My friend just completed her medical residency at 52 after 25 years of "time off" to have kids/SAH with them (youngest was finishing HS when she started). I don't know exactly the specifics of how she got approval from (top tier) med school but what I remember is she had finished first year before first born - but it was so inspiring despite my initial thoughts of WTF.