Foo - Going back to college / university and not being 20

Is there anyone else that is no longer a kid that's going back to college / university? I'm going back in the Fall, to study Anthropology (yep, I know that's a bad idea blah blah.) I'm 35.

How old are you and what are you going to study?

i went back for my BS at 25, and my MLS at 39. you feel a bit awkward on occasion, but no biggie. I remember going for my associate's degree at 17 and I liked having older students in class - I learned as much from them as I did from some of my professors

pgoat is over 39? amazing. you don't look a day over 38.

I'm typical college age (20) but getting my associates for Fire Protection there are MANY people over the age of 25. I would say 90% of my class mates are older than 25 and then maybe 50% of them are over 30.

It really is interesting to go to school with people who have actually "lived life" rather than a bunch of kids who think they are "independent" because they moved out.

I won't be finished school until I'm approximately 40.

Should have done this years ago but no time like the present. I'm dreading taking English but Latin, Sociology and Human Origins is going to be SO FUN. :D

I'm 31 and going to community colleges to get an Associate degree and then I'll start in a geology program. I like the idea of community colleges because class sizes are small for the entry level classes. I don't need to learn with 500 18 year olds. :P

Yeah, the Anthro program at the college I'm going to be attending doesn't have gigantic class sizes, either. I already registered my classes, no conflicts. My Sociology class is about animals in human societies or something like that, totally up my alley! I'm excited to learn about human ancestors, too, I spent a couple hours on wikipedia looking at various pre-human species etc. Some of them could kick our butts!

Did you know some of us may be running around with Neanderthal DNA?!? Could explain a lot. :P

Geology is fun, my BF studied some Geology. He was teaching me about sedimentary rock and um, the other kind. I find it all terribly fascinating.

I'm thinking about going back to college for a physical therapy degree. Tried college once 10 years ago and only lasted a few months.

Doooooooooooooooooooo eeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

I would have sucked at college pre-25, I did go to college when I was 27 or so, to become an Admin Assistant, I did ok, I passed everything, but it's not what I really wanted to do with my life. I *hate* what I do for a living now, I gotta make a big change.

I'm used to working everyday so I will put a lot of work into school. I am starting off with 4 classes instead of 5 so I don't overwhelm myself.

I would have liked to study Ornithology or Veterinary medicine but it wasn't in the cards.

I started school at 30 and got my Masters at 38, have been taking classes for fun almost ever since, and am now 53. Most of my professors loved me because I was more mature and actually listened to what they said and I asked great questions.

At the Jr College level, I have never been the oldest student either, even at 53!

Piece of cake. You'll have a blast!

At least I won't be older than the professors...I hope. :eek:

I've walked around the college a time or two, checking the place out. It's pretty. It's also really close to where I live now. A bit over 20 blocks (that's close IMO.)

After college I'm going to (try to) go to a local University that is renown for it's Anthro department, I have to have high grades and a bunch of prerequisites to get in there though.

Good old anthropithecus africanus and or lithics. My second degree was in anthropology.

I'm 34 and in college. Could not have handled it when I was 20.

ORLY. Do tell. :)

33 and currently working on my MAT. After that is finished, I'll be looking into a Marketing degree. There are a lot more non-traditional students now. You get to be the one that destroys the grading curve for the 20 somethings that like to skip class. :lol:

Yeah, the Anthro program at the college I'm going to be attending doesn't have gigantic class sizes, either. I already registered my classes, no conflicts. My Sociology class is about animals in human societies or something like that, totally up my alley! I'm excited to learn about human ancestors, too, I spent a couple hours on wikipedia looking at various pre-human species etc. Some of them could kick our butts!

Did you know some of us may be running around with Neanderthal DNA?!? Could explain a lot. :P

Geology is fun, my BF studied some Geology. He was teaching me about sedimentary rock and um, the other kind. I find it all terribly fascinating.

The latest I've read is that scientists can't find DNA evidence of a Neanderthal-Sapiens link.

Igneous and Metamorphic. Igneous comes from magma. Sedimentary is broken down Igneous or Metamorphic. Metamorphic is changed igneous or sedimentary. :) I like rocks.

We went to this place on Vancouver Island that had a BLACK beach full of the weirdest rock I've ever seen...:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3438669854_f850f5aff3_b.jpg

I think he was telling me that rock was composed of stuff deposited there, it was very bumpy and fragile and super cool to crawl on, we spent hours exploring that crazy beach.

eta: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiregional_origin_of_modern_humans scroll down to "Neanderthals."

I'm a Senior Undergrad and 49. I'm studying Psychology...

What's a Senior Undergrad? Like a regular Undergrad only more bad@$$? :)

Nope, no college ever.

Nope, no collage evar.

Fixed it for me.

I'm 35 and have been working on an M.Ed for a bit. I might have one semester left, but put it off when I found my current job. It's not supposed to last forever, so I'll pick school back up sooner or later.

The masters program is interesting due to the wide range of ages in its students. I was in classes with people who were as young as 22 and some who were much closer to 60.

I think about some of the really dumb stuff I did as an undergrad and wonder if I would have been better off to have waited a bit before going to the university, or if I'd taken some of the core curriculum at the community college instead of at the university. Trouble was that my parents had a real problem with the idea of a gap year even if I'd worked full time. My first uni semester was really good, but the second was awful and it took me a long time to get beyond that.

Fixed it for me.

College =/= Intelligence. ;)

If I do decide to go to college...it'll be for the college chicks. :innocent:

What's a Senior Undergrad? Like a regular Undergrad only more bad@$$? :)

Senior, in my Undergrad level, aka Senior Year. (Of which I still have a few requirements to get done, so it'l be 2 years as a Senior). :(

Although, I'm almost a Senior in the citizen dept as well, with a lot of "Senior Discounts" now starting at 50! I can even join AARP, in 6 months. :p

If you find a program with a stipend, stay there as long as possible.

I'm 37 and will (hopefully, maybe) be starting on my Sophomore yr in CC in the Fall. Started out on a Psychology track, switched after the first semester to Sociology, then on to a Rehabilitation Management degree.

I now realize why I didn't stick with college right out of high school, or again in my 20's. It sucks. I don't like having to study subjects that have no revelance on the intended occupation.

I won't be finished school until I'm approximately 40.

Should have done this years ago but no time like the present. I'm dreading taking English but Latin, Sociology and Human Origins is going to be SO FUN. :D

Since your'e into Anthro, have you checked this (https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html) out yet? I had to do paper over this as part of this semester Intro. to Cultural Anthropology class.

No matter what your age more education is always a good thing.. Just be prepared for the 1st day when you show up and 10 students come up to you about the class, thinking you are the professor.. Happened to me when I went back for my Masters..

Haahahah socal, that would suck.

I've heard of the project...aren't they checking mitochonridal (sp) DNA?

pgoat is over 39? amazing. you don't look an inch over 38.

fify. :innocent:

Good luck with it Luddite. From your picture in the other thread, you're a young looking 35. I imagine you'll fit right in, even if you do type your papers on an Underwood. ;)

The latest I've read is that scientists can't find DNA evidence of a Neanderthal-Sapiens link.

Igneous and Metamorphic. Igneous comes from magma. Sedimentary is broken down Igneous or Metamorphic. Metamorphic is changed igneous or sedimentary. :) I like rocks.

Rocks rock!:D

Got a BA in Art History from the University of Nebraska in '96. Stayed in construction mostly because I was making pretty decent money. In 2008, at 40, I decided to start taking classes again. I'm going full time at the local community college with the goal of transferring to CSU to get a BS and MS in geology. I did a summer archaeology course in Greece in '94 where I came to the realization that I liked rocks more than classical archaeology. It just took some time before things worked out to where I could go back.

In all honesty, I'm getting more out of college and the course work now than I did 10 years ago. It is weird sometimes, being the oldest one in class. I had one instructor ask me in class how old I was, and I said "old enough to have watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, and Richard Nixon resign from office." That garnered some chuckles from youngsters in class. So far, no regrets at all.

no worries luddite, you won't be the oldest and not the youngest...I went back to school at 40 and it was so much more fun then when I was younger. Oh btw, you going to UBC? or is SF closer?

Got a BA in Art History from the University of Nebraska in '96. Stayed in construction mostly because I was making pretty decent money. In 2008, at 40, I decided to start taking classes again. I'm going full time at the local community college with the goal of transferring to CSU to get a BS and MS in geology. I did a summer archaeology course in Greece in '94 where I came to the realization that I liked rocks more than classical archaeology. It just took some time before things worked out to where I could go back.

In all honesty, I'm getting more out of college and the course work now than I did 10 years ago. It is weird sometimes, being the oldest one in class. I had one instructor ask me in class how old I was, and I said "old enough to have watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, and Richard Nixon resign from office." That garnered some chuckles from youngsters in class. So far, no regrets at all.

Another geology student in FoCo? How far along are you?

Is there anyone else that is no longer a kid that's going back to college / university? I'm going back in the Fall, to study Anthropology (yep, I know that's a bad idea blah blah.) I'm 35.

How old are you and what are you going to study?

I knew of at least two people at my college that did this. It's only awkward if you try to act like the undergrads...
If you're commuting, you'll probably be detached from the student body anyway, so no need to worry about social networking. Don't feel condescended from younger people helping you, as you might probably have to deal with that often.

BTW, it's not a bad idea at all. Careers change and finances float, but education will always be there.

fify. :innocent:

Originally Posted by coasting
pgoat is over 39? amazing. you don't look an inch over 38.

Maybe cause I am still ingesting sorely needed caffeine , but I have no idea whether this is good or bad ....:twitchy:

no one ever thought I was the professor but I did get mistaken for an attorney (several times) when I went to court to fight my cycling summons last year. But I think that was cause I was the only one who showed up in a suit and tie.

Maybe cause I am still ingesting sorely needed caffeine , but I have no idea whether this is good or bad ....:twitchy:...

You went and switched avatars and ruined my post. :o

I'm 28, and I'll be going back this fall to study environmental science. Thinking about veterinary medicine also. The bad thing about vet med is that my in-state school is $33K+ per year, so a move may be in order for me and the boyfriend in a few years...

In the past, I've always put work ahead of college, and while I still did really well, I'm not doing that this time around. I'm taking organic chemistry, calculus, biology, and history this semester. I can't wait. :D

I'm 35 and just earned my bachelors 4 months ago. It was fun, and many of my classes were comprised mostly of returning students 25+.

I took a creative writing course comprised of mostly early 20 somethings as my last class as a prize to myself... I whipped their butts in grading and had several of em asking me about wanting to write together, or if I could proofread/offer tips. Felt like a pro. ;)

I didn't get out of school until I was 26. I took a year off here and there, and the transition from work back into school was always welcome, but difficult at the same time. It's easy to go home from work and forget about it. You can't do that in school - you have to spent a lot more of your "free" time focused on your studies.

Of course, you have to have your "down" time too, but there's no set 8 hour block of the day where you think about school.

universities should be full of oldies now. I hear that's very popular in the current job market.

Cool - and Great for you!

We have a huge varied age differential in our student population!

Right now there are several groups touring through college - looks like most are fresh out of High School - and then there are many older people in other groups or with those groups - whose ages run from 20's to 60's - they are getting ready for the Fall semester to begin. Just had a student at my desk this morning, taking one of our Summer courses - who is most likely in their 50's.

Good for them (and you!)

You went and switched avatars and ruined my post. :o

:lol: Ah.

I didn't get out of school until I was 26. I took a year off here and there, and the transition from work back into school was always welcome, but difficult at the same time. It's easy to go home from work and forget about it. You can't do that in school - you have to spent a lot more of your "free" time focused on your studies.

Of course, you have to have your "down" time too, but there's no set 8 hour block of the day where you think about school.

excellent point - and this is more difficult as you get older, generally, as you usually have more on your plate than when you're 18-25 or so.

When I was last in school I spent nearly every waking moment doing coursework, or feeling guilty about not doing coursework.

Is there anyone else that is no longer a kid that's going back to college / university? I'm going back in the Fall, to study Anthropology (yep, I know that's a bad idea blah blah.) I'm 35.

How old are you and what are you going to study?

I started college at age 26, finished at 31.
Only caution would be to be careful how much you borrow. If you must.
I did, and borrowed a substantial amount. I did engineering, so I was reasonably sure I could cover it.

I do not regret it, but I would be a little more frugal about it.

Another geology student in FoCo? How far along are you?

Not as far as I would like. Right now I'm filling in some gaps by taking some refresher math courses. Historical and environmental geology in the fall, along with a GIS course. I'm shooting for a BS in about 2.5 years, going full time, year-round. After 20 + years in construction, I'm pretty motivated to get the fark out of that industry.

Not as far as I would like. Right now I'm filling in some gaps by taking some refresher math courses. Historical and environmental geology in the fall, along with a GIS course. I'm shooting for a BS in about 2.5 years, going full time, year-round. After 20 + years in construction, I'm pretty motivated to get the fark out of that industry.

Sounds like where I am. I just finished my first year at Front Range. Physical and historical and math.

Geology is awesome. The field trips rock hard. ;)

No doubt. The field trip for my physical geology class was in April, in a snowstorm. I was having a blast but I don't think the youngsters were too happy about it.

No doubt. The field trip for my physical geology class was in April, in a snowstorm. I was having a blast but I don't think the youngsters were too happy about it.

Nice. Where did you go for it?

Started out at Horsetooth Res., at the top of the south dam. From there we went to private property south of Masonville, then 2 stops between Masonville and Loveland, not too far from the commune/church camp on the west side of the quarry that's down there.