Current Events > Anyone here gone to college, or back to college, later in life?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like age 24+

I'm 28 and want to leave my career. I was thinking about going back to college for computer science. Do any of you have experience going back to school and what was it like for you?

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Nothin wrong with it. Computer Science can get ya a good payin job. Just make sure you like, because that shit can get complicated real fast.

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i started university when i was 25. everybody was just talking about beyonce and gaga before class started

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I actually went back to school for comp sci at 31 years old and this semester marks my 3rd year. It definitely can be difficult at times but I have a positive attitude and some confidence about my decision. Youd be surprised how many people are making major moves a bit later in life. Especially nowadays.

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31 feels too old to attend University but there's only one degree I'm interested in which is for Cedar Fair

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I got a GED then just worked until I was like 28 and started going to Community College. Transferred to a major university and am getting a Bachelor's in Computer Science after this Spring semester. I feel like the field is getting way too crowded, by the time you are done it could be hard to find good jobs.

I would for sure recommend some field of engineering or mathematics. There are basically none of those students and the businesses are desperate for them. Id say there is probably like 25 computer science majors per 1 math major. I am wishing I majored in math instead.

If you really want to do Computer Science I would say at least take as many high level math classes as you can as well to make your resume stand out. Employers are really looking for those high level math skills. Or double major math and computer science.

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I just started last year at age 31, doing an online program, I have been thoroughly enjoying it.

There were a few advantages for me personally starting later:

I had a better understanding of how the world works and what sort of a degree I should realistically strive for if I wanted to expand my career opportunities. If I were younger I probably would have chosen something like "psychologically" which would have been interesting from an enlightenment perspective but which wouldn't have done much for me professionally... So waiting, I was able to find a decent program that encompasses hard and soft sciences and a lot of actual application of principles using real world tools, all of which should help get a serious job later. Plus it's really fascinating, too!

I have a better understanding of what it means to be responsible and how to do research and how to find information and how to get work done in a timely manner. Not that I don't procrastinate from time to time, but I know if I went to uni right after high school I probably would be failing left and right because I didn't have a more open mindset, the organization skills, the study skills, or the positive attitude that I have now.

I get a *lot* out of other peoples' experiences when they share them in the online forums, or like in this class I've been engaging with people on Discord and we've been helping each other work through homework problems and figure stuff out, it's been a really rewarding experience.

PS: A *ton* of people in my classes are older, even older than me. In fact I feel like one of the youngest people in one of my current classes - everyone was introducing themselves and there's like a millennia of experience between all of them, it was actually a bit intimidating lol.

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I'm 31 in community college.
Only one more semester after the current one and I'll have an associates!

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sutree posted...

Like age 24+

I'm 28 and want to leave my career. I was thinking about going back to college for computer science. Do any of you have experience going back to school and what was it like for you?

I did. I went back when I was 26 to a CC to get some courses and a certificate in bio manufacturing so I could get into biotech industry. It was definitely worth it of course. I went full time for a year and my boss was cool enough to let me work part time with benefits to get it.

Thinking about getting a master's part time.

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Do you guys live on campus? Are there dorms specifically for older students?
Dakimakura posted...

I feel like the field is getting way too crowded, by the time you are done it could be hard to find good jobs.

Yeah, I have heard this before. I may consider mathematics. I'm really not dead set on CS, of course I'm attracted by possible lucrative software dev positions but I imagine those are ultra-competitive.

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Doing 100% online program - the university has one of the highest ranked ecampuses in the country though.

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sutree posted...

Are there dorms specifically for older students?

One of the schools I'm thinking of attending has mature student dorms. So that might exist.

Unfortunately I really want to do an online program, and they suck in Canada lol

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CoasterFan1990 posted...

31 feels too old to attend University but there's only one degree I'm interested in which is for Cedar Fair

Why?

I've got a friend who started going to University in her 30s.

Education is education. It doesn't matter how old you are.
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How did you guys get started with figuring out your track and applications? I mean did you contact an advisor first?

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i lived in an apartment across the street from campus

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sutree posted...

How did you guys get started with figuring out your track and applications? I mean did you contact an advisor first?

I don't think an advisor has ever given me advice that wasn't on the website tbh. Maybe something, but really nothing comes to mind

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sutree posted...

How did you guys get started with figuring out your track and applications? I mean did you contact an advisor first?

What do you mean by track?

For the application I just filled out the paperwork and submitted everything they needed. There was a hiccough getting one of my transcripts (I think from my high school) submitted on time because of the pandemic so I did have to push my start term back by one :( If I had any questions I just called the admissions office up, the people there were friendly af.

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Hexenherz posted...

What do you mean by track?

I mean meant laying out the classes you need for your major and seeing which credits would transfer from previous classes


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Oh. So after being accepted, the school articulated my submitted transcripts and test records, and then after that I met with the advisor before registering to come up with the first steps. And my advisor is badass and even submitted a petition on my behalf to get some of my previous coursework accepted for certain requirements that the articulation office didn't consider.

Everyone's school is probably different. But at mine, we have a program called MyDegrees which shows you which requirements you already fulfilled and which you still need to meet to finish your program. It's pretty awesome--for every single requirement (degree specific and general university requirements), the system tells you what you've done, and what you still need to do, and it will tell you which courses will satisfy those requirements so you know what to look for when it's coming time to register.

I am also required to meet with the advisor each term to get a registration PIN for the upcoming term but I don't know if that's a university requirement or college-specific requirement. But we have a friendly catch up conversation and then she helps make sure I'm registering for the right stuff/answers any questions or doubts I have. We also sat down one day and came up with a comprehensive degree plan to take out most of the guess work about what I needed/when I would take it, which helps a lot, since it means I don't waste time in one term missing a class because I didn't take the prerequisite course for it first.

(I would show a picture but I guess half the systems are down for the Thanksgiving weekend...).

Honestly I had a similar experience when I signed up at community college before this. I had to register an account at the school, take a couple placement tests, then meet with an advisor to get my first course registered. After that I just registered myself for the other class I needed lmao. So yeah - acceptance -> articulation -> advisor and planning -> registration seems common.

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I had tons of classmates in undergrads who were 30-50, and in grad school ive had them up into the 60s.

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I first went to uni when I was 20. It was a film school, and I dropped out after a semester. Then I worked for a few years and went back to uni aged 27 to study zoology and genetics. Aced the whole thing and now I lead research team.

Another dude I studied with went back to uni aged 48 and now he's a chair on the government's conservation advisory board.

For academia, age is almost meaningless, as long as you're not interested in one of the very specific fields that requires decades of research to get new results, like particle physics or some shit.

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Xavier_On_High posted... I first went to uni when I was 20. It was a film school, and I dropped out after a semester. Then I worked for a few years and went back to uni aged 27 to study zoology and genetics. Aced the whole thing and now I lead research team.

Another dude I studied with went back to uni aged 48 and now he's a chair on the government's conservation advisory board.

For academia, age is almost meaningless, as long as you're not interested in one of the very specific fields that requires decades of research to get new results, like particle physics or some shit.

Congrats dude. I guess one of my main worries is social. I'm not great socially anyway and I'm wondering if I'll feel like an outcast being older than others.

With applications, do they look at your highschool transcript or moreso your college GPA? I flunked out of HS but I got a 4.0 in college. My major didn't have much intensive science though.

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Wait do you already have a degree or did you start one and then not complete it? Different universities might have different requirements for attending for a *second* Bachelor's, so you might need to do some research on that. Also have you considered exploring certifcations specifically if you *do* have a degree? Generally require a lot less course work.

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sutree posted...

Congrats dude. I guess one of my main worries is social. I'm not great socially anyway and I'm wondering if I'll feel like an outcast being older than others.

With applications, do they look at your highschool transcript or moreso your college GPA? I flunked out of HS but I got a 4.0 in college. My major didn't have much intensive science though.

Socially, it might be awkward, but that really depends on who you hang out with. As a rule, just don't hang out with teenagers and you'll be fine.

I'm from the UK, so I can't really talk about the US GPA system, but I know that universities everywhere assess older applicants differently, for various reasons. Older applicants are more likely to be highly driven, because they've made the affirmative decision to study, rather than just drifting into it like many teenagers. And also, older applicants probably experienced a very different educational system, and so merely looking at their GPA or whatever is less useful than personally assessing them.

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Hexenherz posted... Wait do you already have a degree or did you start one and then not complete it? Different universities might have different requirements for attending for a *second* Bachelor's, so you might need to do some research on that. Also have you considered exploring certifcations specifically if you *do* have a degree? Generally require a lot less course work.

Yes, I already have a degree. Almost none of the coursework is relevant for a science/engineering/math career though.

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sutree posted... Yes, I already have a degree. Almost none of the coursework is relevant for a science/engineering/math career though.

A lot of times it doesn't matter though, especially if you want to get into something like computer sciences which is heavily based on credentialing and certification rather than an individual bachelor's degree. Could just be a more effective use of your time going after the big ticket items imo, especially since you already have a degree with a 4.0 under your belt.

That's a question for the admissions office of the school you're looking to apply to, though. I think if you've completed a program then your coursework is like... set in stone, meaning it won't necessarily transfer over easily in many cases - if it did, people would be knocking out dozens of Bachelor's degrees back-to-back. This could be a university-based policy though.

Otherwise, I'd say the high school diploma doesn't matter much except to prove you graduated high school and maybe meet certain state requirements if applicable. The fact that you have work experience and already have a 4.0 Degree says a lot more about your capacity to succeed for sure.

(personally I had a sub-B GPA in high school and just a lot of random automatic credits from service and they still took me, no SAT/ACT required... don't know if that says anything about their admissions requirements or what lol).

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Hexenherz posted...

Could just be a more effective use of your time going after the big ticket items

What does that mean? What certifications are you referring to? And I don'tnecessarily care about thedegree itself, but rather undergoing the disciplined, rigorous, directed coursework involved in obtaining it that give you the necessary skills to compete in the field. I know there are autodidacts who get into software development and such, but that is extremely difficult and relatively rare.

I was also considering something engineering related. I would think you would actually need a specific degree for that stuff.

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Hexenherz posted...

I think if you've completed a program then your coursework is like... set in stone, meaning it won't necessarily transfer over easily in many cases

I'd have to look into it but that doesn't make sense to me. Like if you had a degree in math I don't think they'd make you re-do entry level math courses if you wanted to get a degree in engineering lol

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i'm 99% sure that a completed BA means those courses do not carry over. There are some exceptions to this, where an institution has specific "second BA" expedited programs, but those are not the norm.

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I have a friend that went back to college in her late 20s. She talks to pretty much no one but that's moreso because of social anxiety. People have tried but she got weird.

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Ysmir posted...

i'm 99% sure that a completed BA means those courses do not carry over. There are some exceptions to this, where an institution has specific "second BA" expedited programs, but those are not the norm.

tinyurl.com/2p8umumf

Sounds like classes/credits sometimes do and sometimes don't transfer when taking another degree, depending on a lot of factors.

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It's never too late to back to school. I went back to school at age 32 in the fall of '18. I attended my local community college pursuing an AA. I earned that in the spring of '20 after two amazing years. Had a lot of really great experiences there.

I transferred to a 4-year university a semester early, took a ton of credits each semester, including the summer semester, and graduated with a bachelor's in Business Administration this past spring. Covid defined my experience there, since the pandemic happened during my first semester. Didn't get an opportunity to spend much time on campus. It worked out well though, with everything being pushed online.

I met the requirements for acceptance into my school's accelerated MBA program and spent the 2020-21 school year taking MBA courses concurrently with my undergrad classes. That cut an entire year off my graduation timeline. After I closed out my bachelor's, I took 3 courses this past summer and another 3 this fall. Now, I'm two weeks away from finishing my final semester and earning my MBA.

So, that's my experience as an older student. I didn't mention any of the amazing and life-changing personal and professional development experiences that I've had because of school. Easily the best decision I've ever made.

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Oh, you said "computer science" so I thought you wanted more IT/cybersecurity stuff - every major player has its own professional certifications to work towards, plus there are programming languages to study and stuff like CompTIA that are kind of expected to land a job. But for engineering you are probably right in pursuing another degree :\

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sutree posted...

tinyurl.com/2p8umumf

Sounds like classes/credits sometimes do and sometimes don't transfer when taking another degree, depending on a lot of factors.

Looking through the UC and CSU systems for example (obviously not emblematic of higher ed in general but as a Californian they're the first things that come to mind), many schools flatout don't accept 2nd BA students, and many others only do for certain programs.

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Some people on reddit are also saying that while they were able to do a 2nd BA, it was a pain in the ass and they had to pay grad-level tuition for it:

SpaceLunchSystem 9 Punktevor 10 MonateI am a second BS student at CSULB.
It's possible, but if the second degree is in anything that it's possible to get a masters in based on the first degree then that's the better route and what schools expect you to do.
Second BS has a ton of weird strings attached. You can use all previous credits to count for your degree requirements but they don't do a "transfer credit evaluation" like they do for all other students. This means your CSULB GPA will not include the transferred classes and you have to manually clear prerequisites using transferred courses for every class every semester by going through the Department for each course. You can't change majors at all the rule is you have to drop out and reapply under different program but I have no clue your odds of getting back in. You don't get grade forgiveness. You pay grad tuition anyways buy at CSULB that is barely different from undergrad.
I'm grateful Long Beach accepts second BS at all, most schools don't anymore, but it's not an easy maze to navigate.

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I did, at 26. Didn't feel particularly weird, easier if anything. No concern about whatever social stuff is going on.

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Ysmir posted...

Luckily I don't live in Cali. Seems kind of fucked up that you are "locked in" if you get a degree in something you don't like.

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You're not necessarily locked in to any one thing, that's why there are certification and non-degree programs out there to get qualifications to switch jobs. Like my wife has a bachelor's in Sociology but wound up getting a business accounting certification from the community college and it's opened up a shit ton of doors.

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Hexenherz posted... You're not necessarily locked in to any one thing, that's why there are certification and non-degree programs out there to get qualifications to switch jobs. Like my wife has a bachelor's in Sociology but wound up getting a business accounting certification from the community college and it's opened up a shit ton of doors.

Yeah, I will have look into non-degree pathways for CS-related careers. Hard to shake the feeling that I've made a huge mistake in life though. The road ahead is going to be very difficult.

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Not as difficult as you think lol, a lot of employers actually sometimes prefer when you *don't* come in with a degree in that one limited specific field, they like to see more well rounded people with other experience and a different way of thinking.

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Hexenherz posted...

Not as difficult as you think lol, a lot of employers actually sometimes prefer when you *don't* come in with a degree in that one limited specific field, they like to see more well rounded people with other experience and a different way of thinking.

This. As an example, a lot of tech companies really value people with backgrounds in stuff like english and communications, because rhetoric and effective communication often arent the purview of the tech crowd

TC, do you mind sharing what your first BA is in out of curiosity?

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Ysmir posted...

This. As an example, a lot of tech companies really value people with backgrounds in stuff like english and communications, because rhetoric and effective communication often arent the purview of the tech crowd

TC, do you mind sharing what your first BA is in out of curiosity?

https://r.umn.edu/academics-research/undergraduate-programs/bshp

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