anyone here gone back to college later in life?

bravenewworld

I am about to give up the rat race and head back to college full time. Even though I'm really looking forward to using the brain again, after working in the most mind numbing job imaginable for the last eight years, I have of late started remembering all the crap times I had in college...euch!

have any of you headed back and hated it? :eek:

Victor

I tried it once but it didn't work out because I concentrated too much on work and not enough on study & projects.

BrianD3

I would consider going back full time but I do see a few pitfalls. From an academic point of view, it can be very tough. It is a big change for people to go back to using their brains again. I know a few who went back and they all found the study very difficult. Also when I was in college I knew a few mature students and they all had to put in much more work than the rest of us of work to cope with the course.

From a social POV - I think people tend to have a rose tinted view of their college years. I have a bit of this. I was young, relaxed, had some good times and some good friends. If I were to go back now it would feel very different. First of all I wouldn't have my friends with me and college would be a very cold and lonely place without friends. People may say that you'll meet new friends but IMO this may not happen. I did a taught postgrad after my degree and the class was mainly composed of mature students coming back to college. The atmosphere in the class was not sociable or friendly at all and people had a very "businesslike" approach to the course. It is understandable though as I think people are a lot less open to meeting new people when they're aged 30 compared to age 20, they are more mature, have more worries and adult reposnsibilities, have different interests and priorities, are probably married or in a LTR and are not interestsed in meeting a b/f or g/f at college.

I'm rambling on a bit now but another thing is that peopel can have regrets that they wasted ther college years eg they spent too much time on studying and not enough on socialising. They then get this idea that by going back they'll somehow put things right. But it may not work out - for the reasons given above.

is_that_so

I chose the evening route which while hard at least meant not completely changing my life. Going back a little bit more mature you will get more out of it because you understand why you're there. My first college years are a mystery to me. :rolleyes:

LegacyUser

I did a taught postgraduate since I had nothing better to do, having no job. I'd promised myself I wouldn't return to university because it was such a disappointment the first time round but I just did it because I felt I needed to do something.

But, I couldn't get a part-time job so I hadn't enough money, so I couldn't live where I wanted to, so I had to commute from a place far far away. I'll just say that it gave me something to do, it didn't kill me with study aside from exam month and I should get a Masters from it, but it was very different to what I'd hoped it would be. I met hardly anybody, let alone anybody I could get on with, and spent the whole time on my own. It was a disappointment.

Money is everything. In fact my undergraduate time in college was all wrong due to lack of money. College, like most things, is alright for the rich.

bravenewworld

Will know soon enough I suppose, if I either love it or hate it

The mates thing is'nt really a worry, but I know what you mean. I think the workload is my main concern. I have been remembering mature students from the college days and recall how they juggled jobs, families and study. I am kinda set in my ways but dont have a family to worry about. Just being practical, I suppose a worry is being surrounded by teens getting smashed and p*ssing me off by just being teens!! what kind of an old fart do I sound like?? an irrational fear...maybe I'll find myself with a bucket bong on some grotty flat floor in Ranelagh in a few months and laugh at my present fears...God forbid :eek:

tirl

Hi Bravenewworld,
Well done, you will be fine. I went back as a mature student and I found the difference as a MS was that I wanted to be there this time, so the work wasn't a problem. I found that the young students were brillient and a great help, they helped me and I helped them. The hardest was getting back the disiplne of study, but as I was bringing up kids this wasn't a problem as we all studied together, I even on occassion went on student nights out, but I think I was brought as the sensible "Mammy" type, I found the students had so much respect for me going back that when I was feeling under pressure and having doubts, they dragged me along and visa versa, so go for it and good luck

T

DublinWriter

bravenewworld wrote:

have any of you headed back and hated it? :eek:

Yes, hell on a stick.

I'm 35, and just about to start year 2 of 2 of an evening MSc programme in TCD.

The exams this year were nightmarish.

The older you get, the more the auld learning valves start to seize up.

If you're in your 30's, or older, I wouldn't fancy going back full-time with a bunch of oiky teens. At least with the evening opition you are generally with your own 'type', and the peer-support is much better.

LegacyUser

Hey Bravenewworld!

I'm 29 and going back to college in September, so I'm in the same boat as you, so it was very interesting reading this thread. There's definitely pros and cons and will be interesting to see how things pan out, but I'm excited about it! I just want to get out of the rat race too. I think the year's break will do me wonders and then, I'll be all rejuvenated and motivated to get back to the slog. My job has been very mundane for the last 2 years and I have not used my brain at all. So, I'm looking forward to getting that working again and I enjoy study, so I think I should be ok on the study/work point of view. And actually, there are loads of mature full-time students. I never thought I'd go back to college, but there you go. I'm looking forward to it anyway.

So, I don't have any answers to your questions, but just thought I'd let you know that there are a few of us in the same boat with the same doubts and thoughts. Good times ahead I reckon!

It will be fun hanging out with the 21 years old too. If they p1ss you off, just leave them off. Join the mature students union or the post-grad society. You'll be sorted! That's what I'm gonna do!

Macbeth

bravenewworld wrote:

I have of late started remembering all the crap times I had in college...euch!

have any of you headed back and hated it? :eek:

It really does depend on how excited and knowledgeable you are about your course. These are major factors to your success. If you have both these ingredients then nothing much really matters apart from having enough space to do your homework and financial support to keep you fed, watered and sheltered. As a lecturer, I see an array of students of all ages and backgrounds, all of whom (well, the majority )have a common goal: to learn and get out asap to apply their knowledge and earn some cash. What made your times in college crap? Maybe you'll have a different perspective now that you're a bit older...

patto_chan

I finished a 2 year part time taught Masters course last year - in my mid 30s.
It was worth it. You need to challenge yourself and extra qualifications are useful.
The biggest challenge with a part time course was balancing work and college. You have to be prepared to plug away at assignments and course work in the evenings when you come home from work and attend lectures in the evenings or at weekends. But if you want to do it, it will be worth it.

the_syco

Do a course where there'll also be "old" people. Did a course in IT Carlow, and 5 of the people were over the 35 mark (one or two were proberly near the 50 mark). There were a few "young" (18-30) students as well.

I don't know. Good luck with getting back into college, though.

ADUB?

OP
Many people go back to college as mature students. I did my degree then went working for few years and went back to college, have just recently finished a 2 year MEng
Its got me a better job now with more money more excitement.
More education is never a bad thing
Best of luck

Pet

The mates thing is'nt really a worry, but I know what you mean. I think the workload is my main concern. I have been remembering mature students from the college days and recall how they juggled jobs, families and study. I am kinda set in my ways but dont have a family to worry about. Just being practical, I suppose a worry is being surrounded by teens getting smashed and p*ssing me off by just being teens!! what kind of an old fart do I sound like?? an irrational fear...maybe I'll find myself with a bucket bong on some grotty flat floor in Ranelagh in a few months and laugh at my present fears...God forbid

I think you'll be okay. Of course it depends on the course and the college...but most colleges have a mature students' union, and anyways, once you're a fairly sociable person, you'll get on fine with the students. I don't know about doing bucket bongs in Rathmines, but I'd say you'll be okay. The hardest part will definitely be applying yourself to academia after all these years, but if you like your course then you'll have no problems doing that. How are you going to support yourself during college though? Don't expect to juggle it with a fulltime job..

roamer

Im thinking of going to college when Im 23. I was immature and never studied for my leaving but now I know how important it is to go. What will this be like?

20 Times 20 Times

is_that_so wrote:

I chose the evening route which while hard at least meant not completely changing my life. Going back a little bit more mature you will get more out of it because you understand why you're there. My first college years are a mystery to me. :rolleyes:

My words exactly , my first time in college was surrounded with drink , messing , acting the man , wasnt mature enough for it no way , that was three years ago , so at the age of 21 im going back this time at evening , after work 2 nights a week 3 hours each night and im focused on what i want to acheive ,

Viscosity

roamer wrote:

Im thinking of going to college when Im 23. I was immature and never studied for my leaving but now I know how important it is to go. What will this be like?

I'm 23 and I'm starting college next week. I was in college for 2 years before and hated every minute of it. When I decided to go back after a few years in the family business, my biggest fear was that I'd be an awkward age, too old to have something in common with teenagers and the opposite with older students. I've kinda gotten over that now, I'm taking it as a chance to be 18 again.

Having said that I almost fell out with one of my friends last night about it though. He started the old "We'll all be driving X5's and you'll be in a student-bedsit" crap. It was harmless enough though.

My advice to anyone considering going back is to go for it. There was a nice piece in the IT during the week explaining why HEI's value having mature students in the classroom.

RicardoSmith

I'm trying it out part time and I'm finding it much the same as the first time around. Worse in fact because I don't have the patience or the time for the lack of professionalisim in colleges by the lecturers and the adminsitration etc.

Aislinn

Hello there....I am really surprised at some of the responses about older students not enjoying it. Here's my personal experience:

I went to uni and dropped out at 19. I started my own business and built it up over the years. At 36, I went back and I am loving every minute. I also find it to be a breeze, for the most part. I am now in college for the love of my subject and not because it's something I "must do". I do feel that my life experience prepared me for the following as regards college life: a) setting goals and acheiving them. b) time management and c) realistic attitude.

Naturally, I live apart from the students and although we all get on well, we don't exactly run in the same social circle. (I have no problem; can still party with the best of them but to them, I'm old....LOL...if they only knew!) Aside from that, I have found the students to be a great deal of fun to work with on projects. They have fantastic ideas and they have a zest for life that just really INSPIRES me...All my cynicism goes out the window when I study with them....I think younger people today, are helping to keep ME young and I love listening to their ideas on world politics, social change, social injustice....that generation has huge challenges, but I think they just might overcome them!!! LOL

In any case, I am now 38 and will recieve my degree next year...when I do, I loved doing it so much, I'll be going back for a PhD.

Best wishes!

regi

I'm back in TCD as a night student. If you still have an itch to scratch about college, or just want to learn more, I couldn't recommend it enough.

Many of the lecturers, in my course at least, have considerable working experience in the subject they teach, as well as a formal grounding in it. They all have a wonderful enthusiasm for the subject matter, which I don't remember seeing as a regular day-time student. Not only can you ask questions on the course, but I've had some good professional advice too.

You do end up in a class of your peers. I don't know what it would be like for me to be in a class full of eighteen year-olds, but I'm sure I'd feel a little out of place.

Lastly, if you go at night, you can keep career momentum in place. It might feel bad losing three nights a weekend (or however many) to lectures but for the most part, you still keep your weekends.

RicardoSmith

I'd say it depends very much on the course and lecturers you get. The course I'm on seemed to have a very unrealistic workload for a part time course. Even working 4 or 5 nights I found it difficult to keep up. The subject matter wasn't difficult, it was just the sheer volume of stuff to memorise. I have come to the conclusion that its just a bad course.

BTW whats the drop out rate on the part time/evening courses you've been doing. On our diploma course, theres over 50% drop out.

dbnavan

I went back last year, and best thing i ever did, I am 25 and married so it can be tough financially, but have extreamly supportive wife who works full time. being older and 'somewhat wiser' means i know the importance of doing well and dont(cant) party all the time.

Fionn

i'm envious of you all...

would love to give it a go. But time and space and other things wouldn't allow.

I'd say it must be a great experience and once you get in there things will work out!!

best of luck.

Laguna

Well I'm not really responding to the OP's question but I'm 22 and have just finished college, there was plenty of mature students in our class and well got on and had a good laugh. Someone said (earlier in the thread) that older people are unlikely to be looking for new friends/partners in college if they are a mature student, jesus!, you didn't meet some of the 40 year old Van Wilder's in Carlow I.T!