Groucho Marx once said, “Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.” With all of the advances in medicine, many people are indeed living long enough to get old. Many of these “older” people have found themselves at a place in their lives where they would like to go back to college, or for some begin that college education. Older Adults going to college is becoming more commonplace as time goes on. It is not uncommon to see people in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, or older enrolled in various college courses. Additionally there are many programs available to help older students pay for a college education.
Adults Going Back To College
Not that many years ago, I found myself in a position where I felt it was time to begin working on a college degree. I had always wanted to get a college education, but life seemed to have a different set of plans for me. Things such as having the need to work full time in order to support our family took priority over any higher educational aspirations I might have had. These are common reasons that many people have for putting off starting work on a degree, or for completing the degree that they had started years ago.
In my case, I had never attended college, so I had no knowledge about what I could expect. I did know that due to the length of time since I had been in high school I would probably have some catching up to do. My assumptions were correct because, I found that I did indeed need to brush up on a few subjects such as writing and math to name a couple.
Even the folks that started working on a college degree years ago, stopped going, and then decide that going back to college was the thing to do, may find that they need a few refresher courses in order to hone necessary college skills. The old saying, “If you don’t use it you will lose it”, applies to going back to college as much as with anything else you might attempt.
Whether you are an older adult going to college for the first time or an older adult returning to school to finish up on that degree there are ample resources available to assist you in the process. Many colleges provide classes that will help you to build or rebuild skills in subjects like math and writing, if you have the need.
Going Back to College at 30, 40, 50, or Older
For many adults returning to school is a major decision that is not made lightly. Each one has their own reasons for not completing their degree, or for going to college in the first place, but feels the need to work on that degree now. Some of us are forced into making the move to going back to college due to the ever-changing employment conditions where we live.
I will let a secret out of the bag. I was 53 years old when I began taking college classes. I had my doubts about how well I could do, but I wanted to try anyway. Once I found a college that met my needs I completed the application process, once accepted I enrolled in a couple of long distance learning classes, and began my quest for a college degree as an older college student. I found this process to be not very difficult. If you have questions about the application or enrolment process, there are usually people from your school that are made available to assist you along the way.
I chose to take my classes online because like many other working adults going back to college I needed to do the assignments after working all day at the full time job. Many people are simply terrified of online college courses. They doubt that they have the technical skills that are required to use this system of acquiring an education. Rest assured that most folks have more than enough online knowhow to function very well in online college classes. I am truly thankful that the technology exists that makes distance learning in this way possible.
I have taken several college classes online, surprisingly, at least to me; I am not the oldest student in the class. Furthermore, there seems to be an ever-increasing amount of what at one time may have been considered as older students that are now becoming the majority in these classes. Adult education online has indeed opened the door to college, for many older students that would otherwise not be able to attend.
Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Grants for Adults Returning to College
One area that holds many people back from taking college classes is the amount of money that they cost. Even though this money may be well spent, it can be an unmanageable amount for many individuals. I know that in the beginning, I was stunned by how much a class or two actually costs to take. Not to mention the amount of money that college textbooks cost.
Never fear there are financial aid programs for the older adults that are enrolled in college. The financial aid program does not take in consideration the age of the individual. Practically all people who apply for this aid are given a loan to pay for many college expenses. Of course, there are rules that must be followed to receive and keep the loans. The financial aid office at your institution can provide information about these programs.
Additionally you many find that you will qualify for various grants for adults returning to college. These college grants for adults can be found with the assistance of your chosen school. There are also scholarships for adults returning to school to help pay for going to college.
I began my studies at a community college and then transferred to a university after a period. The university I chose has a transfer student scholarship, which I immediately applied for and received. This generous program gives students like me a $1500.00 per year award for two years, if I maintain a certain grade point average. Which I might add I have been able to maintain. Be sure to check with your school for any of the many programs that are available to help you pay for the costs associated with getting that college degree.
Make no mistake now is the time to start or restart your college education. I waited several years until the time seemed right for me to start earning a college degree. I wished that I could have started sooner, but life has a way of dictating how and when we do things. Take the time to investigate the possibilities that are out there for the older adults going to college. Now would be a good time to start.