When Are You Too Old to Go to College?
At some point in life, we all start to think we may be too old to take on a new endeavor in life. For some, it may be when preparing to run a marathon or other physically challenging project. Are you worried about being too old to go to college?
Others may first have those doubts when they are considering a new career choice. This is especially true if they need further education to make a career change. They make ask themselves if they are too old to go to college.
Whether mentally or physically based, virtually every one of us will have this thought at one time or another. Being too old to go to college is one of the more common concerns for people over 50 wishing to make a career change.
It Is About More Than Earning A Degree!
Even when you have no interest whatsoever in going to college, maintaining a lifelong love of learning is in your best interest. But, if you do wish to pursue a college degree, loving to learn would be especially helpful. You are not too old to go to college at any particular age!
The desire to learn is a much more important determinant of success than is your age. Understanding your motivation for pursuing a college degree after 50 is critical.
Any time we take on a challenge, we are more successful if we have a solid reason for doing so. The bigger or more difficult the problem, the more important our reasons for doing so become.
What Are Some of the Reasons for Seniors Going to College?
FYI, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) defines employees over 55 as senior workers. If you have no degree and are planning to change your career at 50, going to college may be necessary.
The first step of your chosen career path should be to research the best potential jobs for those who are retraining in middle age. Once you have selected a career to pursue, you will then need to choose an educational experience that will best prepare you for doing so.
Almost every time you are on social media, there is an inspirational story of a chronologically enhanced person who went to college at some advanced age. They most often have recently earned the degree they had always wanted, proving you are never too old to go to college!
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Age Is Only A Number
Of course, this does mean that you should wait that long to go to school. Doing so sooner gives you longer to enjoy the benefits of the degree you will earn. One of the fastest-growing groups of nontraditional students is made of those in their 50’s and older.
There are many reasons for people in this age bracket desiring to return to school. Americans are, out of sheer necessity, having to work longer. With the loss of pensions, dwindling retirement benefits, and entitlement programs, workers have less money on which to live.
People are also living longer but necessarily healthier. Many of them consider retirement the last step before death and are not eager to retire for that reason alone.
Regardless of your reasoning, if you are thinking about going back to school, don’t wait too long to decide. You do not want to miss the many excellent benefits associated with obtaining that degree. Furthermore, the college experience itself can be enjoyable.
Are There Any Benefits to Going to College as a Senior?
Not only are seniors not too old to go to school, but there are also many good reasons for doing so. While some students need a degree for promotion within their current field, some wish to change careers altogether and need the supporting education to do so. There are also many non-career related reasons to want to go to college.
What If I Don’t Need A Degree For My Job, Are There Other Benefits to Consider?
There are reasons for going to college as a senior other than those associated with employment. Some seniors wish to keep their brains active by learning new things.
Cognitive stimulus and social contact optimize memory function and critical thinking. They also help to minimize the risk of dementia. Besides, meeting new people and trying new things can be fun!
Keeping Sharp!
Medical research has revealed that seniors who read regularly and problem-solve for fun, have higher levels of cognition and a lower risk of dementia. Using Sudoko and Crossword puzzles as a form of mental gymnastics, keep your mind active and working more effectively.
College courses require both reading and problem-solving. Thankfully, most Seniors have a lifetime of experiences upon which to draw. In general, they run circles around their younger classmates when it comes to problem-solving and analysis. After all, they have had a lot more experience in these areas.
Following or Extending Your Interests
Many Baby Boomers did not have the privilege of attending college directly out of high school. Some started, but, for various reasons, were not able to complete their degrees. Of course, some had no desire to attend college at that time but do so now.
They may need to make a career change requiring more education or wish to make a dream come true. If so, it may be the right time for them to go to college.
Many of the reportedly “best degrees “for senior students were earned to fulfill a lifelong dream. Some of these might surprise you. Those seniors who now have more time on their hands as they approach retirement often discover a new interest and wish to learn more.
The retired schoolteacher who finds she loves to paint might go to art school. A semi-retired attorney who always wanted to be a pilot may decide to learn to fly. The stay at home Mom who always wanted to be a teacher may get a degree in education. Your options are endless!
Avoiding Isolation
Can you imagine staying at home and having minimal interaction with others after a lifetime of being in the workplace with many people? Extensive national studies have discovered that people must avoid isolation.
Human beings are social animals and, if we do not have adequate social interaction, are likely to become depressed. This risk is higher when people retire or become unable to remain in the workforce for any reason.
Avoiding loneliness is a strong motivation to return to college for many seniors. For those of you who do not need an actual degree, consider the many classes that universities offer senior citizens just for fun.
Interacting With New and Interesting People
Taking an online or on-campus class enhances one’s life in many ways. This enhancement is due to the exchange of ideas from the vastly differing students in the class.
With a diverse background and varied life experiences, each student beings much to the class. The more mature students, however, offer more practical knowledge and expertise to the mix.
Each of us has a unique background and a lifetime of diverse experiences. There is much you can learn from interacting with new people. But, perhaps even more importantly, you also have much to give others.
Your experience and knowledge can be a practical guide for your younger classmates. It is gratifying to still be able to help others and to have them respect your expertise.
Returning to college for the cognitive stimulus and social contact are important considerations for seniors. Through easily accessible and, sometimes, free, university classes for seniors, one can determine which career choices are the best fit for the more senior students.
Are There Free University Classes for Seniors?
Seniors wanting to change careers can test the waters fairly easily. If you are not completely convinced about a specific path, you can try more than one. There are courses available in many subject areas and some of them are even free.
Consider the following options:
Apply for a Tuition Waiver for Seniors –
Many colleges and universities will waive tuition costs for seniors who meet certain age requirements. There may or may not be other requirements and restrictions, so be sure to check their websites for details.
Not only do the schools do this for financial reasons, but they also wish to enhance the quality of their student body as well. The experience and wisdom a senior student brings to class benefits all the students in the class.
Scholarships for Senior Citizens –
Most colleges actively attempt to attract older adults. Quite a few schools have established scholarship programs. Further, senior organizations at the national, regional, and local levels often sponsor scholarship programs for their members.
The Fastweb scholarship database includes scholarship opportunities for students of all ages. Some scholarship options specifically target older students. A certain class of scholarships even have minimum age requirements for application to support that goal.
Some States Offer Scholarships and Other Kinds of Support
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For Those Not Needing Nor Desiring an Actual Degree
Audit Classes at No Charge – This is a great option for those only interested in expanding their knowledge and experience. If you have no need to earn course credits or a certificate of completion, most colleges allow students to attend lectures without charge. If they wish, they may also complete projects voluntarily.
One important caveat, however, is that any students paying fees take precedence. If the degree course is full of fee-paying students, you may not be admitted this term. This is more likely to happen with courses taken on campus than online.
The above-described options take the financial sting out of your worry about being too old to go to college. You can give college a try without risking your retirement fund. Any risk is minimal and the potential benefits are great!
Online Education Makes Sense for Seniors
Online courses provide the needed flexibility and convenience of a college course or degree program for those not at liberty to move across the country. Now, you can earn a degree from the finest universities in the country from the comfort of your own home.
Whether the lack of flexibility is due to family and work or mobility restrictions due to age or disability, it is no longer an issue. Further, not everyone likes to drive long-distance, in traffic or at night.
Traffic concerns can easily be avoided. Just log in to a home computer, and you can be “in class.”
Many seniors have hearing impairments or visual impairment. Either of these challenges can make learning more difficult in a traditional on-campus environment.
Many of the online courses are easier to adapt to meet those needs. Be sure to verify what options are available to you if this is a concern.
Just What Is Asynchronous Learning?
Asynchronous Learning is a student-centric educational technique. This technique allows students to take a class after it has physically taken place.
This learning technique is the basic premise of online learning. Students of all ages appreciate that it offers them the freedom to attend classes on their particular schedule.
Keep in mind that asynchronous learning encourages self-study and student-student collaborations. If this is not something that is supported by your learning style, you may not find it the best fit.
Don’t let this keep you from getting your degree! Many students have found mentors or friends to help them develop better self-study habits.
Good study habits can be developed! There are too many benefits to online learning to write it off too quickly based on prior learning success alone.
Senior Labor Trends
Our federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tells us that the national workforce is changing significantly. It has been doing so for decades. The so-called “baby boomers ” are shifting the median workforce age upwards.
The BLS defines a senior worker as someone older than 55 years old. Also per the BLS, the labor force is anticipated to grow fastest for the older segments of the United States population through 2024.
The projected career outlook report from BLS for this period of time indicates that the segments predicted to see the most growth are for:
- People aged 65 – 74 years old
- People aged 75 and over
This changing workforce for older adults and seniors means that it is not too late for you to go to college. This is an ideal time to take advantage of online learning and for scholarships designed for older adult learners.
What are the Best Degrees for Older Adults?
Many factors decide this for any individual student. If you do not have a degree and wish to earn one, you can begin with an Associate’s Degree.
This degree offers many benefits on its own but also is an excellent foundation upon which to build further degrees.
An Associate’s Degree
An Associate’s Degree is considered a two-year degree but can be completed sooner or take longer, based on your schedule. It is often considered a stepping-stone towards a bachelor’s degree but does stand alone in many ways.
It most commonly requires the completion of about one-half of the credit hours required to complete a bachelor’s degree. Associate’s Degrees fall into two categories: An Associates of Arts degree or An Associates of Science.
Those choosing an Associate’s Degree most commonly select from the following categories (in alphabetical order:
- Accounting
- Art
- Child Development
- Museums Technicians
- Proofreader
- Psychology
- Real Estate Sales
- Tax Preparers
Online Associate’s Degrees for seniors cover more than 125 varied subject areas and offer a pathway to the best job for both men and women over 50.
Many schools actively encourage seniors to choose a second (or more) career by offering scholarships for students 55 and older.
Bachelor’s Degrees for Older Adults
A Bachelor’s Degree can be earned directly or as the next step for those who have already received an Associate’s Degree. In alphabetical order, the most popular Bachelor’s programs designed for older adults are for careers in the following fields:
- Accounting
- Business
- Engineering
- Medical Billing
- Psychology
While some graduate with a degree and choose a self-employment career path, others prefer an entrepreneurial approach. A business degree might help anyone in several entrepreneurial careers. These may include:
- Hair Stylists
- Photographers
- Street Vendors
- Tailors
- Veterinary Technicians or Trainers
- Writers or Authors
Master’s Degree Programs for Seniors
Bachelor’s Degree holders looking for promotion in a primary career or a second career later in life can pursue a more advanced degree. This degree can be in the field in which they hold an undergraduate degree or one that is academically related.
Some Masters degrees often pursued later in life include the following disciplines
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Public Health
- Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner
Think outside of the proverbial box. Be creative in your thinking. There are many graduate degrees available that allow you to build upon a degree you have already earned.
Ph.D. Degree Programs for Older Adults
Based upon your previously having earned a master’s degree, you can pursue a Ph.D. There are many disciplines from which to choose, and most are available online.
Doctoral candidates often seek a refined specialty or pursue research in areas of established interests and expertise. Many senior students earn a doctorate as a way to use their prior experience and knowledge in a non-profit or governmental position.
Others wish to make a positive impact on others or to leave their mark upon the world. More senior adults may be interested in doctoral degrees in areas such as :
- Biology
- Botany
- Conservation
- History
- Law
- Literature and Writing
- Philosophy
In Summary, You Are Not Too Old to Go to College!
If you have the desire to further your education for any reason, some options allow you to do so at virtually any age. Online college courses will enable you to live anywhere and still earn degrees from the finest schools available.
You can do this without disrupting your home life or current career. Take advantage of the articles at https://onlinecollegelife.info for more information on how to select online colleges to fit your personal needs.
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