Well I took off a year and worked and before that was going just part time. When I started back I was about 3 to 6 years older than the others in my class. There were some old guys in some of my classes and I mean old as in 70’s. They were all retired and were taking classes together just for fun, they were really nice and believe it or not they fit right in with the rest of us. I think at you age you will be surprised at how many people there are about the same age as you going to college. I had a TA that was younger than me. It was no big deal, he knew about logic and I had no idea so it was not like I felt that he had a lot of nerve telling me what to do. I kind of thought it was neat. I did get into it with a TA in the history department about a historical issue, so she thought she would show me by going to the professor on the issue. The professor said I was right and that my argument was very sound and was well supported by facts while her argument was not. That kinda made me feel good and bad in a way. I was glad that I knew my history that well. I felt bad because the professor gave her a hard time about her not knowing it. You will be kind of lost about the first week, but that is the way everyone is. Then after that it will be no big deal what so ever. I bet you will have fun and enjoy it. The age difference really does not seem to matter much at all. I mean the fact is all the students in that class are there to learn something they do not know. So you will be just like all the others. I wish you the best of luck and if there is anything I can do to help let me know. Just remember I am really more of an expert on history than anything else. =)

I found it very difficult.

There is the way that we do something out in the business world, and it is usually different in the academic world.

I had to focus and separate the two, and not get frustrated.

It also felt that I knew far more than the instructor, as I had real world experience on how to apply the principles, so this made it difficult to not correct the instructor.

In many cases, the business world is more advanced than the academic world, example, textbooks take a while to be written, printed, and then used. This put the information about 2 years old….in some fields, this is an eternity…

try to keep focused and get through it…..

one way I got thru this was to express this to the instructor, and was made a TA in most classes!

good luck

I always worked and went to school concurrently, however I know plenty of people in your position. You will be just fine, you probably have a stronger work ethic than you did 6 years ago. You will be suprised how easily previously learned knowledge comes back. Since you were a straight A student prior, I assume you had a good understanding of the subject material. Also if your switching majors altogether, there may not be alot you have to remember. Also, there are plenty of people in your shoes and professors usually take that into account, at my school (UWM) there are people that have come back to school after 10,20,30+ years in the workforce. If you find that you are having troubles, talk to your professors, and I am sure they will help anyway they can, or you can look into getting a tutor.

Hope this helps.

Plenty of people have gone back to college to advance or change their career. Try to imagine what it’s like going back to college when you’re over 50. Most older students look at their college classes the same why they look at their job. They go to class, do their work and go home.

In many ways it’s better because you won’t live on campus or really socialize with the younger students. And for the most part the students are benign and cool. They tend to keep their distance because they’re interested in an entirely different college experience than yours.

Good luck.

Well, I had to go through this experience 6 months ago when I graduate from polytechnic to serve 2 years of conscription in the military and then undergo advance diploma studies. Those 2 years of seeing jungle and slacking seriously does detoriate your interest in picking up books and have the patience in understanding books again.

Starting wasn’t easy esp when integrating yourself into lectures and tutorial but organising your study time and study materials in a process driven systematic way does help in puting yourself on the right track.

As for exams, darn it was hard as all time seeing green and out of the blue asking you to stare books again. Darn hard! However i still had it through with proper planning. I got a A for most modules. Trust me, it is all about good planning and not so much on intelligence. Heck, thats how government around the world work.

In concise: Hope for the best, Plan for the Worst (That’s how life goes)

I was an above average student and left school before graduating.

I have for a long time wanted to go back, but can’t get myself motivated.

If you are motivated, then try letting go of your anxiety. If you are doing something you are interested in and enjoy, then those are the emotions you can focus on.

You were smart enough then, you are smart enough now. You simply are nervous because it was probably a lot of work and you took it very seriously. After working as much as you have, you will probably find it easier rather than harder.

For me, it was hard at first getting use to doing homework and studying again versus spending my spare time playing games or watching television. Once you get back into that groove, it’s easy. To cope with the transition, I merely got myself focused by isolating myself to study and not be enticed by my peers to join them as they went out and about. After a few weeks, I was back into the mode of school and from there, it was easy. I soon graduated with my Masters and then I could have my spare time back to do what I wanted. In the process, I was able to become more aware of better methods of time management. It can seem daunting, but don’t be frightened. If you did well and enjoyed school like I did, it will be a piece of cake to transition back into the groove of things. It’s a lot like riding a mountain bike after not having the experience for so long. After getting your balance and knowing the limits of your reflexes with the bike, you’re off an going again. Don’t doubt yourself, instead feel excited and know that you will ace this as you did in past attempts. Good luck!

My experience was that the programs for advanced degrees were MUCH more complicated. When you are in high school you are told that college is different and that a C average is the norm, but when you get there you find out that if you apply yourself it isn’t very hard.

I’ve found that sometimes if you make that advanced degree SO hard in your head that it’s hard to really want to try. The first semester I was working on my Master’s I kept a journal. It was tough, but you make it. You think of a goal.

I know sort of how you feel. Im looking into going back to school to get my masters. I have been out of school for 2 years now and even though its not as long as yourself im still wondering whether its a good idea and if i will still be able to do as well as i did in college. Good luck to you.

don’t think about it too much, just go back and be the A student u were. u probably didn’t change, and ur abilities to learn might have improved with u working and all. people usually worry too much about things that they’re unsure about, but once ur actually there, it won’t seem bad at all.

good luck

🙂