Think You're Too Old for School? Think Again
Think you’re too old for higher education? Think again.
With the economy in decline and job listings scarce, more and more adults are choosing to go back to school to gain a competitive advantage. But it’s not always easy.
As an adult, you’ve probably got a lot more non-scholastic responsibilities to juggle – financial and otherwise – than the average college freshman. And when you’re 43 years old, sharing the classroom with late teens can be a little intimidating. Don’t fret. Here are some tips to help you cope:
Stay connected to your peer group. Like most of life’s unsettling experiences, it’s great to have a support network that understands what you’re going through. So make friends with other mature students – unlike your 18-year-old counterparts, they’re likely to understand the pressure of juggling school, work and children. Some schools even make it easy by hosting mature student orientations and welcome days.
Get tech-savvy (or at least, tech-literate). Depending on your age, a lot may have changed since you were last in school. Being prepared for a computer- and internet-based curriculum will help reduce your stress level, save you valuable time, and allow you to focus on the work itself.
Be confident. It’s natural to feel insecure when you’re going back to school after so much time away. But don’t let your insecurity stop you from fulfilling your potential. You’ve earned your place on the course just as much as anyone else. Keep in mind that your real-world experience is an asset in the classroom.
You’re not superman (or superwoman). You can’t do it all. Things like housework might have to take a backseat right now. And that’s okay. No one ever died from an unmade bed.
Be realistic. When you’re in school, there’s no such thing as paid time off – you’re responsible for keeping up with your work load. If you don’t think you can handle full-time study, cut back on your course load or consider an online degree.
Don’t let money worries get in the way. Take advantage of some of the tax breaks the new administration is offering students. As a mature returning student, you may be eligible for Financial Aid. If you’ve got some spare time during your school day, look into working on campus: you may even be able to waive some of your tuition by doing so. And remember that your current expenses will result in a better, higher-paying job down the line – the return on investment is immeasurable.