Returning to college as an adult

brian12 · September 14th, 2015, 11:34 AM

I've been trying to go back to school recently to finish a degree I started years ago. I went by the campus today to talk to an admissions adviser and it was a really uncomfortable experience. I got quite a few looks like I had two heads or something. I even had what looked like a professor do a double take. Now I know I didn't have a duck on my head while I was walking around earlier today so the only thing I can think is they are wondering why this old man is on campus.

It's really disheartening as I haven't been able to get any of the colleges I've spoken to to work with me on my schedule and then being on campus with a bunch of kids half my age is really intimidating as well. Has anyone else attended college as an adult?

allanoue · September 14th, 2015, 11:37 AM

I did it at 35. You get used to all the kids quick.
DO IT!

VaFish · September 14th, 2015, 11:43 AM

I'm 51, I did my undergraduate degree starting at age 27 after getting out of the Army I did the night school thing taking one semester at a time. Went overseas for a contract job for 6 years and finally finished 11 years after starting. At 38 I was definitely the old man in most of my classes.

3 years ago I started a Masters Degree program through my office. Just finished getting my Masters Degree this spring. That one wasn't as bad because it was through work and there were30 or 40 of us in the program and all were working adults. Also majority of the classes were on-line.

Anyhow you may feel a little odd starting out, but go for it the paper is worth it. The uncomfortable part is in your head.

dcj13 · September 14th, 2015, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian12

I've been trying to go back to school recently to finish a degree I started years ago.

Good for you! What are you majoring in?

brian12 · September 14th, 2015, 12:17 PM

I don't have a major. I'm just trying to get an AA degree I already earned 15 or so years ago while studying for a bachelors. When I originally went to school I studied Computer Science.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcj13

Good for you! What are you majoring in?

VaFish · September 14th, 2015, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian12

I don't have a major. I'm just trying to get an AA degree I already earned 15 or so years ago while studying for a bachelors. When I originally went to school I studied Computer Science.

If you are still thinking computer field, go computer security/information assurance instead of computer science.

brian12 · September 14th, 2015, 12:59 PM

If I go back for a bachelors it will most likely be mathematics or maybe engineering. My family pushed me into the computer science thing and I didn't like it all that much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaFish

If you are still thinking computer field, go computer security/information assurance instead of computer science.

VaFish · September 14th, 2015, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian12

If I go back for a bachelors it will most likely be mathematics or maybe engineering. My family pushed me into the computer science thing and I didn't like it all that much.

Go with something you want to do.

allanoue · September 14th, 2015, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaFish

Go with something you want to do.

required

dcj13 · September 14th, 2015, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaFish

Go with something you want to do.

One word. Just one word!

Link to original page on YouTube.

snot · September 14th, 2015, 04:25 PM

I am 40. I did not go back to college... I started college last year. I am older than most of my Professors and most of the students. I don't care what they think, it is what I am doing that matters.

I do attend a local community college...

choneofakind · September 14th, 2015, 07:51 PM

FWIW,

traditional aged college senior chiming in:

We've got one classmate who's 28, ex-military, married, recent first time father, he's a great addition to the class. We welcomed him in sophomore year when he started without issue. He even did a year long co-op term, and now he invites a bunch of us to his house regularly for homework and grilling. His wife is a doll, his daughter is the cutest baby ever, and his dogs won't leave us alone. I don't see the age difference as an issue at all.

We're just a bunch of rowdy idiots who haven't grown up yet but insist on claiming we're independent; you're a full grown adult. Tell 'em who's boss.

verboten1 · September 14th, 2015, 08:06 PM

I went back to finish 3 degrees in a full time 2 year stint. I was 33 or so at the time. I had a blast, made a bunch of new younger friends.

MrAtom · September 14th, 2015, 08:13 PM

I convinced an older lady to not fix her car radiator with JB weld. There's a lady with gray hair in my math class. I asked her questions, answered some of hers. Talked engineering with this one dude in my autocad class. The only older guy I knew that I didn't treat with the same respect as a young person was this known pervert. I don't like that creep. Just be a decent human being and people will respect you back.

xXecuterXx2 · September 14th, 2015, 11:31 PM

Im 16 in college, started when i was 15. Trust me you get used to being the oddball, tho because i go to a Christian college, they're pretty accepting of me. But make sure you do what you wanna do, else many years of your short life will be meaninglessly consumed. BTW Organizational Leadership is pretty fun here at TFC

choneofakind · September 15th, 2015, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXecuterXx2

I'm 16 in college, started when I was 15.

Being 15-16 in classes, how does that work... socially? I feel like you'd miss out on all the non-textbook sides of college due to the age difference.

An older-than-traditional student has already gone through the learning curve of the traditional college age kid and isn't going to miss out on anything by being so young that they get ignored. I can't imagine being at school at 15. I'm pretty sure that I'd hate it.

EDIT: also, wow your college is tiny. 750 enrolled as of 2008; that makes my school look enormous.

DEFY · September 15th, 2015, 10:51 AM

I had a bunch of older people in my classes when I went. I preferred talking with them than the other college kids, I probably was one of those people who skips over their childhood growing up. Most of them were in my math classes and I taught them during the homework time. Not a big deal, unless you start showing up to parties with you enrolled children lol. Come to think of it, i didn't go to a single party when in college and I wasn't even old.

xXecuterXx2 · September 15th, 2015, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Being 15-16 in classes, how does that work... socially? I feel like you'd miss out on all the non-textbook sides of college due to the age difference.

An older-than-traditional student has already gone through the learning curve of the traditional college age kid and isn't going to miss out on anything by being so young that they get ignored. I can't imagine being at school at 15. I'm pretty sure that I'd hate it.

EDIT: also, wow your college is tiny. 750 enrolled as of 2008; that makes my school look enormous.

Dual-Enrollment then graduation but most of its online, some on-campus, and I'm not a fan, but I'm not against it, i get to start life earlier than most. ( On the plus side, I'm into older women 17-19

)

EDIT Lol yup, you seen the waterfall? Its GORGEOUS

snot · September 15th, 2015, 02:06 PM

I have had 15yr olds in my classes. No issues for them, some of them even help us older folks.

choneofakind · September 15th, 2015, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXecuterXx2

Dual-Enrollment then graduation but most of its online, some on-campus, and I'm not a fan, but I'm not against it, i get to start life earlier than most.

huh, I guess that works. Still not a path I'd like to take, but if you can make it work, more power to you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXecuterXx2

(On the plus side, I'm into older women 17-19

)

oh boy... just... oh boy.

Ahem, Sorry about that.

That's cute dude.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXecuterXx2

EDIT Lol yup, you seen the waterfall? Its GORGEOUS

I did see that online. Looked nice.

adouglas · September 16th, 2015, 09:50 AM

My wife just got her BS in Nursing from Sacred Heart University at age 54. She's now in the Master's program.

All done online. It's a brave new world out there....

We live just a few miles from campus. Nobody has ever given her a funny look. Who knows... maybe they assumed she was a parent or faculty member.

Apex · September 17th, 2015, 08:51 AM

I went to work right after high school (Armed Forces). About 6 years later I decided to go back to school. It felt odd at first but that quickly dissolved.

I still take an occasional course at Rice University. Lucky for me I still look like I'm in my 20's (now 36). So I blend in well, but I do see some older people walking around, with backpacks, that you can tell are not university staff.

xXecuterXx2 · September 17th, 2015, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

oh boy... just... oh boy.

Ahem, Sorry about that.

That's cute dude.

Lol dude, i gotta say no thanks to the 15 and 16 y/o's who obsess over whatever the **** a pumpkin spice frappie is and boys with boxer length shorts rolling in lifted trucks their daddies payed for, hard work isn't respected in this world anymore(Im done ranting now, thanks for reading). Oh and having a motorcycle helps with the older women ordeal

choneofakind · September 17th, 2015, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXecuterXx2

Lol dude, i gotta say no thanks to the 15 and 16 y/o's who obsess over whatever the **** a pumpkin spice frappie is and boys with boxer length shorts rolling in lifted trucks their daddies payed for, hard work isn't respected in this world anymore(Im done ranting now, thanks for reading). Oh and having a motorcycle helps with the older women ordeal

Link to original page on YouTube.

xXecuterXx2 · September 17th, 2015, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Link to original page on YouTube.

Flying · September 17th, 2015, 10:53 PM

Chiming in from a community college. Age range is around 18-40s, nobody gives it a second thought.

Anyone who gives you looks for coming in at a later age is detached from reality or hasn't really lived life or both.

Sliceit · September 18th, 2015, 12:42 PM

I've been the older returning student before and it gets more comfortable. I had the same experience at first--like I was back in high school again, except I had an adult life and job I had to worry about too. It was hectic and frustrating at first, but it did get easier and more manageable.

MrAtom · September 19th, 2015, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXecuterXx2

On the plus side, I'm into older women 17-19

Me too. Ages 40-TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

xXecuterXx2 · September 19th, 2015, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrAtom

Me too. Ages 40-TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

hey dude, what ever floats your boat, or chokes your chicken....

choneofakind · September 19th, 2015, 06:49 PM

Choking??? Wait... choking is on the table now???

*backs slowly out of thread and closes the door...*

DSomething · September 19th, 2015, 06:55 PM

I was both kinds of college students. Started at 16, graduated at 20 with a BS in Psych. Then went into education and decided I wanted a masters in leadership when I turned 40. Finished that at 41 (which is how old I am now).

Being 16 and in college was no different for me than being 18. I went to UF (Go Gators) and, while I have never been a drinker, most of the drinking was done outside of bars. So, most of the 18 year olds were partaking plenty. And, if I ever wanted to, I could have...just not my thing. Graduated on time with a very respectable GPA.

Grad school was no big deal either. Ironically, the only people that got weird looks there were the youngins, and that's because they were so green in the education field, much of what they said was ridiculous. Having said that, we respected them all the same. Both, however, dropped out of the program. Hopefully they'll decide to return at some point in their career.

Do what you want and don't let anyone stop you. Besides, at the end of the day, you go home to your life, not theirs.

D.

xXecuterXx2 · September 19th, 2015, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Choking??? Wait... choking is on the table now???

*backs slowly out of thread and closes the door...*

September 14th, 2015, 11:34 AM	#1
brian12 ninjette.org member Name: Brian Location: Southeast Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 250 Posts: 19	Returning to college as an adult I've been trying to go back to school recently to finish a degree I started years ago. I went by the campus today to talk to an admissions adviser and it was a really uncomfortable experience. I got quite a few looks like I had two heads or something. I even had what looked like a professor do a double take. Now I know I didn't have a duck on my head while I was walking around earlier today so the only thing I can think is they are wondering why this old man is on campus. It's really disheartening as I haven't been able to get any of the colleges I've spoken to to work with me on my schedule and then being on campus with a bunch of kids half my age is really intimidating as well. Has anyone else attended college as an adult? __________________________________________________ Yellow 2003 Ninja 250

September 14th, 2015, 11:37 AM	#2
allanoue ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Al Location: York, Pa Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300..............2008 Ninja 500-sold...2009 Ninja 250-Crashed Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '14	I did it at 35. You get used to all the kids quick. DO IT! __________________________________________________ Keep calm and ride on -Motofool Never quit on a rainy day -ally99

September 14th, 2015, 04:25 PM	#11
snot sammich maker Name: snot Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '15	I am 40. I did not go back to college... I started college last year. I am older than most of my Professors and most of the students. I don't care what they think, it is what I am doing that matters. I do attend a local community college... __________________________________________________ https://www.brocksperformance.com/VZ...0035+C450.aspx

September 14th, 2015, 08:06 PM	#13
verboten1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Monroe, MI Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '75 CB550:.'82 XV920:.'00 KLR650:.'00 EX250:.'08 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - June '15	I went back to finish 3 degrees in a full time 2 year stint. I was 33 or so at the time. I had a blast, made a bunch of new younger friends. __________________________________________________ '82 XV920: Soon to be tracker--'00 KLR685:adv --'04 DRZ400E--'12 Super Tenere --'13 Versys Ride more, worry less.

September 15th, 2015, 10:51 AM	#17
DEFY ᗧ•••ᗣ•ᗣᗣ•••ᗣ Name: Nick Location: NY Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R and 2014 Triumph 675R Posts: A lot.	I had a bunch of older people in my classes when I went. I preferred talking with them than the other college kids, I probably was one of those people who skips over their childhood growing up. Most of them were in my math classes and I taught them during the homework time. Not a big deal, unless you start showing up to parties with you enrolled children lol. Come to think of it, i didn't go to a single party when in college and I wasn't even old. __________________________________________________ Spoiler for topic: It might just be the [you] tag

September 14th, 2015, 11:43 AM	#3
VaFish ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Tom Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Jul 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250, 2019 Harley Ultra Classic, 2001 Suzuki SV650 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '16	I'm 51, I did my undergraduate degree starting at age 27 after getting out of the Army I did the night school thing taking one semester at a time. Went overseas for a contract job for 6 years and finally finished 11 years after starting. At 38 I was definitely the old man in most of my classes. 3 years ago I started a Masters Degree program through my office. Just finished getting my Masters Degree this spring. That one wasn't as bad because it was through work and there were30 or 40 of us in the program and all were working adults. Also majority of the classes were on-line. Anyhow you may feel a little odd starting out, but go for it the paper is worth it. The uncomfortable part is in your head.

September 14th, 2015, 07:51 PM	#12
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	FWIW, traditional aged college senior chiming in: We've got one classmate who's 28, ex-military, married, recent first time father, he's a great addition to the class. We welcomed him in sophomore year when he started without issue. He even did a year long co-op term, and now he invites a bunch of us to his house regularly for homework and grilling. His wife is a doll, his daughter is the cutest baby ever, and his dogs won't leave us alone. I don't see the age difference as an issue at all. We're just a bunch of rowdy idiots who haven't grown up yet but insist on claiming we're independent; you're a full grown adult. Tell 'em who's boss.

September 14th, 2015, 08:13 PM	#14
MrAtom . Name: . Location: . Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot. MOTM - July '15	I convinced an older lady to not fix her car radiator with JB weld. There's a lady with gray hair in my math class. I asked her questions, answered some of hers. Talked engineering with this one dude in my autocad class. The only older guy I knew that I didn't treat with the same respect as a young person was this known pervert. I don't like that creep. Just be a decent human being and people will respect you back.

September 14th, 2015, 11:31 PM	#15
xXecuterXx2 ChocolateMilk Addict Name: Maurice Location: McDonough Join Date: Mar 2015 Motorcycle(s): '05 EX-250 "Kallie" 85 KLT 110 ATC "Murdock" Posts: 329	Im 16 in college, started when i was 15. Trust me you get used to being the oddball, tho because i go to a Christian college, they're pretty accepting of me. But make sure you do what you wanna do, else many years of your short life will be meaninglessly consumed. BTW Organizational Leadership is pretty fun here at TFC

September 15th, 2015, 02:06 PM	#19
snot sammich maker Name: snot Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '15	I have had 15yr olds in my classes. No issues for them, some of them even help us older folks. __________________________________________________ https://www.brocksperformance.com/VZ...0035+C450.aspx Last futzed with by snot; September 20th, 2015 at 07:38 AM.

September 16th, 2015, 09:50 AM	#21
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	My wife just got her BS in Nursing from Sacred Heart University at age 54. She's now in the Master's program. All done online. It's a brave new world out there.... We live just a few miles from campus. Nobody has ever given her a funny look. Who knows... maybe they assumed she was a parent or faculty member. __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.

September 17th, 2015, 08:51 AM	#22
Apex Livin' the Minimoto Life Name: Mark Location: Riding around in TX Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2022 Honda Navi, 2018 Z-125 Pro Posts: A lot.	I went to work right after high school (Armed Forces). About 6 years later I decided to go back to school. It felt odd at first but that quickly dissolved. I still take an occasional course at Rice University. Lucky for me I still look like I'm in my 20's (now 36). So I blend in well, but I do see some older people walking around, with backpacks, that you can tell are not university staff. __________________________________________________ --- My IG Page --- My FB page! --- 2022 Honda Navi && 2018 Z-125 Pro

September 17th, 2015, 10:53 PM	#26
Flying ninjette.org sage Name: - Location: somewhere cold Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 596 Blog Entries: 1	Chiming in from a community college. Age range is around 18-40s, nobody gives it a second thought. Anyone who gives you looks for coming in at a later age is detached from reality or hasn't really lived life or both.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

September 18th, 2015, 12:42 PM	#27
Sliceit ninjette.org newbie Name: John Location: western us Join Date: Sep 2015 Motorcycle(s): getting started Posts: 7	I've been the older returning student before and it gets more comfortable. I had the same experience at first--like I was back in high school again, except I had an adult life and job I had to worry about too. It was hectic and frustrating at first, but it did get easier and more manageable.

September 19th, 2015, 06:49 PM	#30
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Choking??? Wait... choking is on the table now??? backs slowly out of thread and closes the door...
	2 out of 2 members found this post helpful.

September 19th, 2015, 06:55 PM	#31
DSomething ninjette.org member Name: D. Location: Boca Raton, Florida Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2015 Ninja 300 ABS Posts: 86	I was both kinds of college students. Started at 16, graduated at 20 with a BS in Psych. Then went into education and decided I wanted a masters in leadership when I turned 40. Finished that at 41 (which is how old I am now). Being 16 and in college was no different for me than being 18. I went to UF (Go Gators) and, while I have never been a drinker, most of the drinking was done outside of bars. So, most of the 18 year olds were partaking plenty. And, if I ever wanted to, I could have...just not my thing. Graduated on time with a very respectable GPA. Grad school was no big deal either. Ironically, the only people that got weird looks there were the youngins, and that's because they were so green in the education field, much of what they said was ridiculous. Having said that, we respected them all the same. Both, however, dropped out of the program. Hopefully they'll decide to return at some point in their career. Do what you want and don't let anyone stop you. Besides, at the end of the day, you go home to your life, not theirs. D.

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