education - at my age

I wonder how many in this community have gone back to school after many years. And how you went about it ,and weather it was worth the struggle and reorientation to a classroom. Mental illness interrupts every aspect of our lives and in my case I never was able to go to college. I work at a museum thats on a college campus and I feel so pulled to the classroom and being a part of the academic community. The students are my kids age so I'd be a misfit- but I always have been anyway. Im bright enough and although I'm well-read I remain uneducated as I rediscover books in my home that are worn but I have no memory of reading. Still I'm relentlessly curious about so many things and want to persue an education now while Im still physically able to go to a campus and interact with the people.
Also does anyone know about "testing out" of some credits for life-experience?
Also its necessary to improve my earning potential if I can by having some formal education on my resume.
Thank you in advance.

it's an excellent idea to get some education no matter what age you are......i did it and have never regretted it.....make an appointment with a counselor at the college.....they can help you with any "lfe experiences" that may count towards credit......and please don't be put off by the ages of the students.........so many folks especially women are returning to school....i found the students totally accepting of the "older" students...you obviously have a thirst for knowledghe.....go for it!

Do they also help with financial advice? I'd have to go slowly and part time so I can keep my 2 jobs and keep my disability. Obviously one job is under the table or I would lose disability and I can't let that go yet- in case I don't last at work. This job has been the longest stretch of working w/o hospitalization interrupting and causing me to be fired. I know there are online classes but I want to be with people and talk to teachers. And walk around the campus and the library.
I guess I want it all dammit! I mean, its about time I have at least- most of it. . ?

from what i remember..you have to take a certain amt of credits to qualify for financial aide although there are probably ways around that....also there are programs for women returning to school, etc......and yes...you deserve all of it!

thanks for those replies-
Ive got to go to work now and I would so love to come home and see all sorts of replys and creative solutions or just plain you-can-do-its when i come back. Thanks all

Hi kathy, I went back to school at a later age. I don't remember..... most of it, but I did get a degree. Some part got an education either way. It's totally worth it. You can get financial aid for part time too, doesn't have to be full time. And part time can include like one online class and one inclass kind of thing or whateever. Good luck in your decision on it.

Kathy, I went back to school after being out for many years and got my degree in Social Work. Many of the students in my degree program were somewhat older then average college students. I know what helped me at my university was a program the school had called "Women in Transition". It's a program they had there that was like a support group for women over the age of 25 who had gone back to school. Might want to check if they have a program like that at the school you would attend. I also used the schools counseling services while there to help me make it through when I had trouble dealing with my MPD/ED. So see what kind of services are offered along those lines as well. It's more then likely on their website for the school. Good Luck, I believe you can do this if you want it.
Monty

I just turned 39 in February. I started college in January.

I did not graduate highschool - I was manipulated into leaving in my junior year (1983 I think). I got my GED in 1990. I started technical college in 1991 and never completed the course.

It was not easy coming to the decision to try college again. My first step was to find out what programs they had for people with mental illnesses. There are a number of programs that I can make use of to help me get through college. For my circumstances I have a mentor and I do all my testing through the disabilities office. Testing outside of the classroom is a huge help for me. Because I dissociate I am allowed to record lectures if needed. I was not able to get a tutor for this semester and apparently I don't need one, but it's something I keep in mind for down the road. There's also a writing center to help with writing papers.

I will not deny that it's a major struggle for me and I have days where I wonder if it's worth it to continue. I have considered quitting. Is it worth it to at least try though? Absolutely.

Either pick up the college catalog to review available programs of check their website.

As for testing out for life experience I believe the experience must be related to the degree you are seeking. You should be able to get specific information about that on the college website.

I try to tell myself that failure is in not trying - rather than in trying and not doing as well as I wish.

I went back to school to complete my BA at age 40, after a 22-year hiatus.

I received scholarships for my undegraduate years from American Association of University Women as part of a women-in-transition type program.

I went onto get my MA and PhD, so I didn't graduate until I was 47. Teaching and research assistantships and student loans paid for this.

Education changed my life. It wasn't just a matter of learning new things, but of doors opening different ways of being. The "collegial" atmosphere completely changed by ability to accept criticism of my writing. I can still be stubborn, but at least I see that every input need not be interpreted in a solely negative light, and growth is possible.

I learned to be more patient. I'd been used to working in the fast-paced environment of newsrooms where everyone is really smart and thinks quickly. I grew to have enormous respect for students who are not on that wavelength and have to work very, very hard to grasp things that others take for granted.

Unfortunately, my education did not bring the job stability I'd hoped for. This is a huge disappointment.

I cant do much too quickly because I'm living paycheck to paycheck in a rented house. So I might have time and energy at night I guess. I dont really want to have to ask for help based on a mental dx- and I'm very awkward in person anyway- and self-conscious also due to social ineptness of being on the autism continuum. This also runs in my family I found out when I found my father. It's said to pass on from the fathers side to mostly males in the family. Its not the 1970s anymore but I think I can still pull off "passing" as an eccentric because there are no more hippies. Just trying to cheer myself up with self-effacing humor.
Thanks to all of you who came up with ideas. This being April Fools I know there were other things to attend to.

i'm going to nursing school in August. i'm 61.

I went back to school after a 13 year gap. I had my bachelors degree finished in the standard 4 years after high school, but the last year things were falling apart pretty badly. I was trying to do too much at once - 2 majors, a minor, departmental honors program, plus I was a newlywed, working on starting a goat dairy, and pregnant. I had always wanted to go into psychology, but gave that up in my first year because a professor said you shouldn't go into psychology if you have your own problems. I liked psychology though, and kept taking psych classes, and wound up with a dual major. My other major was communicative disorders, and throughout that program they emphasized that you can't do anything with a bachelor's degree. When I didn't get into graduate school in speech pathology, I gave up on anything, and didn't finish one of my classes, so even though I walked across the stage, my degree didn't get awarded. I had always counted on a professional career, and I was completely lost.

Twelve years later, things had generally just been getting worse for me (mentally, anyway) and I had a particularly bad depressive episode, and felt guilty for not being able to just handle it myself, especially since I had the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in psychology, and I thought I ought to be able to handle it. That was when I read a book (or two) that both reminded me that I had wanted to be a psychologist, and also gave me hope tha maybe I wouldn't be automatically disqualified.

The next fall, I went back to school. In order to get into graduate school I needed current references, and current experience - basically some evidence that I could still do it. I wasn't close enough to the main campus to have the experience of attending classes and interacting with other students much - I took classes online and one that was broadcast by satellite, but I was the only one who attended at my location. In the Spring I had a bit more interaction with other students. I'm envious of those of you who are having an on-campus experience, because I feel that I missed out last year. Through the entire fall semester, and part of spring, I still couldn't concentrate well enough to read books, but I forced myself anyway, and even got A's.

I had such a rotten attitude about college right up until I decided to go back. I was continuously telling people that it wasn't worth it - didn't do me any good - all I had to show for it was more student loan debt after 12 years out of school than my lifetime earnings. But I'm glad that I went back and finished, and I can't wait until I can try graduate school. I applied that first year that I was back in school, and didn't get in, but didn't apply this year because I'm back in therapy again, and T said I should work on my own stuff first. I'm hoping for next year though. Right now I'm working in my field, at jobs that don't require a bachelors degree, and don't pay any more for having it, but it's good experience and I am learning a lot.

As for testing out of some of the requirements, there are ways you can get some credits that way, like by taking CLEP or Advanced Placement exams, or by passing an upper division class in a subject, sometimes you will be allowed to buy the credit for the lower division classes that are relevant (particularly in languages, and math I think). That will all vary depending on your school's policies, so ask an advisor or enrollment counselor there.

Good luck! You can do it!
Rap

I went back to school when I had been out for 7 years and got a degree the returned years later and changed careers. I was scared as he....well you know how scared I was. I can honestly say it was the absolutely the best thing I have ever done for myself. Even if I had never worked a day in the field (which I do) I would never regret it.

You can test out of classes. I did a couple gen eds. It is not very expensive and counts for credits. I figured what the heck and went for it. I got 6 credits for $35.00 How is that for a deal!!??

The school I went to also helped a lot with financial aid.

I say go for it if that is your dream. You can always pm if you want. Anytime.

Take great care of you.

place

kathyanita - You may already be aware of this but many colleges and universities now offer courses by mail or even online. You may have to go there in person to take a few tests/exams but most everything else is done right there in the privacy of your own home where you can study, do research on the internet, etc. What course were you thinking about taking?. You might want to check out MIT.