Is 30 to old to go back to college?

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Feldenak

Lifer
Jan 31, 2003
14,090
2
81
I went back and finished up my BS when I was 28. I dropped out, wasted several years, went back, changed majors (from Political Science to MIS), and graduated(age 31). It's never too late to go back.

Edit: I'm thinking about doing an EMBA program in the next couple years too. :)
 

jmcoreymv

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,264
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I always like to be lab partners with the older guys (~30) because they were more reliable and not total dumb@sses.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
I take some classes at the local CC for fun. you would be surprised how many older people there are. I'm talking people like 50+.
 

chambersc

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2005
6,247
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Absolutely not too old. I was working with a woman who went back at that age after her job got axed in the .com bust and she graduated with a 4.0. Really puts me to shame :)
 

archiloco

Golden Member
Dec 10, 2004
1,826
0
71
not old at all, had some guys in my classes 36+ and they fit in just fine :) one was annoying though, but i think that was his personality not age.
 

gsellis

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2003
6,061
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Originally posted by: ramirez
I have a Computer & Info Science degree already, but I am interested in going back and earning an Electrical Engineering degree.

Is 30 years old too old to do this? i.e. will I get weird looks from the 18-22 yr olds?
It might make you a target for those working on their Masters in Residental Science, which is a non-specific degree generally awarded by a priest or justice of the peace. But that tends to happen at big campuses and not engineering schools.
 

cheapgoose

Diamond Member
May 13, 2002
3,877
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no. one of my friend went back at about 30-31. He's almost done, and is having a great time. As he would say, "soo many freshmeat, I mean freshmens"
 

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
14,637
2
0
I'm 30 and I just started up again. I had about 30 credits from previous collegiate dablings :eek:
I found an 'Adult Fast Track' program at a community college. I'll get my Associates and then that feeds directly into numerous public and private 4 year school's Adult education programs.

Right now I'm taking a 200 equivalent course which combines Sociology\Eng. Composition and Speech. The instructors are well aware that none of the students have time to fvck around and get right to business.
I should bet my Baccalaureate in just over 3 years, going one night a week.

I sought out this type of program because I knew the obligation of signing up and having to show up in the classroom would compel me to complete the work. Everyone is different though.
My associate program

I'm not going for a technical degree though. I'm changing careers. I'm done with computers, except as a user.

 

NanoStuff

Banned
Mar 23, 2006
2,981
1
0
I'd say it depends what you're taking. If it's math, you could damn well be the oldest there. If it's a biotechnology course you're easily gonna find people over 50.
 

daveymark

Lifer
Sep 15, 2003
10,573
1
0
Just don't dress like you did when you were 18 to try and fit in. We had a guy who would wear nut huggers and penny loafers, and he'd pull up to campus in his 80's camaro playing Journey songs...I think I have a pic somewhere actually
 

daveymark

Lifer
Sep 15, 2003
10,573
1
0
Originally posted by: jmcoreymv
I always like to be lab partners with the older guys (~30) because they were more reliable and not total dumb@sses.

yep, that's the best thing about working with them. definitely not slackers.
 

Strk

Lifer
Nov 23, 2003
10,197
4
76
Originally posted by: daveymark
Originally posted by: jmcoreymv
I always like to be lab partners with the older guys (~30) because they were more reliable and not total dumb@sses.

yep, that's the best thing about working with them. definitely not slackers.

Yeah, the older students tend to be much more dependable.
 

tomt4535

Golden Member
Jan 4, 2004
1,758
0
76
My mom just turned 50 in June, and shes going back to college in the fall. 30 isnt too old.
 

AyashiKaibutsu

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2004
9,306
3
81
If you were staying in the dorms, people would probably think it's alittle creepy. Other than that, there's no reason to factor age into it. There was a 40+ person and even a 60+ person in some of my classes noone thought they were weird.
 

JohnCU

Banned
Dec 9, 2000
16,528
4
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do it dude, a few guys in my class are upper 20s low 30s.

plenty of people around here to help out with EE homework too.
 

jdini76

Platinum Member
Mar 16, 2001
2,468
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0
Its not weird unless you choose to live in the Dorms.


Also, haven't you ever seen Rodney Dangerfield's Back to School?
 

ebaycj

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2002
5,418
0
0
DO NOT GO BACK FOR ANOTHER BACHELOR'S DEGREE, IT WILL BE WORTHLESS.

If you are going back to get a master's in EE, that is fine.

That is all.
 

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
14,637
2
0
Originally posted by: Strk
Originally posted by: daveymark
Originally posted by: jmcoreymv
I always like to be lab partners with the older guys (~30) because they were more reliable and not total dumb@sses.

yep, that's the best thing about working with them. definitely not slackers.

Yeah, the older students tend to be much more dependable.


Kind of a disadvantage of going to adult education format classes. You get a bunch of post-menopausal women and late middle aged men in there, and it's High School all over again. They whine and complain about every little thing. Seriously irritates the fvck out of me. I'm thinking that as the courses become more difficult a lot of them will quit... I mean fvck if a Ten page paper on a sociology topic with presentation is to hard for you what's going to happen when we hit the hard stuff?
 

ZOOYUKA

Platinum Member
Jan 24, 2005
2,460
0
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Originally posted by: tomt4535
My mom just turned 50 in June, and shes going back to college in the fall. 30 isnt too old.

LOL Your mom goes to college!