Has anyone returned to school as a Senior student in their 60’s? If so, wondering what your experiences were like as I am considering this.
Forty years ago I graduated from College with a Computer Programmer/Analyst Diploma. I never became a programmer but have remained in the industry my entire career, now in Management at a high-tech startup. This has served me well and I still look forward to work everyday. I am officially eligible to retire in just over 3 years.
Outside of work, I have long held a fascination for Geography, Anthropology and Archaeology: collecting rocks/fossils as a kid, reading old National Geographic magazines and exploring museums all over the world. Of course, one of my favorite movies is Raiders of the Lost Ark. In my mid-20’s, I took several courses at my local University for personal interest. Then I moved away, started my family and spent many hours doing the “other forum activity”.
It came to my attention recently that Senior Students over 60 can attend any classes at my old University for free - no tuition but paying for books and supplementary material. I checked at the school and requested my transcript that indicates 7 credits remaining to earn my Bachelor of Arts Degree, on the pathway to major in Archaeology. The University has a very interesting Field Study program that includes on-site fieldwork at sites around the world including Crete, Jordan and the North.
I feel the return to University may be a good option for my first few years of retirement but wanted to ask for feedback on anyone has done this. I just can’t stop thinking about Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School, although that looks like fun too!
my husband is going for a masters, started in September. Is loving it and the exposure to young people/systems is great. The volume of reading is intense though – especially for those of us who have gotten used to internet quick bites.
I’ve been sort of thinking about learning Spanish again. I took Spanish from 7-12 grade. The last two years were basically immersive and we weren’t allowed to speak English. I was fluent.
Fast forward 37 years and I can barely read a Taco Bell menu. We travel to Spanish speaking countries quite often and once I’m there I pretty much understand what people are saying but I can only speak back to them in very basic Spanish. I don’t remember words and verb conjugations and all that.
The nearest uni or community college is about a 45 minute drive. I don’t have the patience for that so I’ve been thinking about doing an online program like Babbel, DuoLingo, or Rosetta Stone.
I’d say go for it! Lots of reasons to do so for you…
It’s free.
You’re truly interested in the subject matter.
And you’d be able to apply those credits and officially get a degree and it seems like that would bring some closure. (Unless there’s a “statute of limitations” or some time limit that’s expired. But even if so, that shouldn’t really matter).
Barring a change, I’ve decided to be done with the corp world after this year. But I know I’d still like to feed my brain. Your option sounds like a great next step.
I’m not there yet, but I have looked into either auditing classes or pursuing a formal degree in some fashion. I had several senior classmates in a grad program during the pandemic. They were consistently more reliable and better prepared partners than others (perhaps they had more time on their hands - no childcare responsibilities, etc.
I’m considering retiring early-ish, around 50 +/-, and seeking some sort of degree out of passion vs seeking $.
one thing, I’d confirm with the school that seniors can receive credit for the classes, vs audit or sit in for free.
I’m considering learning welding at my local community college.
re: I’d confirm with the school that seniors can receive credit for the classes, vs audit or sit in for free.
Thanks - When I view the course registration information, it does show the 2 possible methods both of which are available to those 60 for free: one receiving credit, one just auditing the course with no exams/marks.
Prior to getting started, I would arrange a consultation with one of the University’s academic advisors to verify that everything is in order. Thanks for your feedback and good luck on your early retirement. I was also thinking of taking some woodworking courses - with welding I would probably die, whereas woodworking I will just perhaps lose some digits.
Oh and I likely could have retired sooner, but I took a different approach with quite a lengthy break from full-time work between ages 40-55 where I generally worked between 20-30 hours/week.
I am currently in the last few weeks of a class at my local technical college. It’s free because I’m old. I had to wait to make sure it wasn’t going to be filled with paying students before they would accept my application. There are limits on how many classes I can take before I have to pay but I’m only taking a few classes anyway.
The class I’m currently taking is called Fall Flora and fauna. It’s under the natural resources curriculum. I spend a lot of time outdoors and there’s so much that I don’t know so I have learned a lot. No plans to get a degree so I’ll probably take the spring fauna and Flora class as well. After that,if there’s any free classes left I may take a creative writing class
I’m 52 and recently started learning sign language fairly seriously (my 10 month old grandson, Presley, is deaf). It is incredibly challenging. My mind isn’t as nimble or as sponge-like at my age than it was 30+ years ago.
It’s hard, which makes it rewarding. I’m sure it will be the same for you … more difficult than the first time around but also more meaningful.
Not quite in my 60s yet, but as a retired Marine I still have my GI Bill so when I decide to stop working I’m thinking about finally using that GI Bill benefit. Though I a, not sure what I’d like to study yet, maybe something related to gardening.
This is actually one of the things I have thought about doing in retirement.
I changed majors several times in college. I’m 75% of the way to a zoology degree, took all the science classes but none of the teaching classes to be a high school science teacher, got a philosophy degree, a law degree, went back for a computer science degree.
I changed careers in my 30’s, tried the first one again in my 50’s, quickly changed back. At almost 59 I am still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. Kind of wouldn’t mind getting severance from my current job to have 6 months to find a new career.
I went back to school at 38 to finish my degree in mechanical engineering. Even if it did not lead to some great jobs it would have been worth it! Being immersed in the learning environment was challenging and fun and while I did get some questions from the young folks, they were very accepting and helpful. I am 59 now and thinking of getting a masters in engineering.
It is extremely difficult to learn ASL unless you are immersed in the culture. And it is very much a culture.
There should be a deaf community social media group for your area. If you haven’t joined as of yet, search it out and see if they have any meet-ups: up here in New England, people who are deaf will often get together (brewery, restaurant, gallery, etc) so as to network with other people who are deaf. Explain that you are trying to learn and the reasons why, and generally they will be more than happy to have you join them and practice.
I am by no means fluent, but can stumble my way through things. Helps to have a friend who is deaf (and teaches you all the dirty signs first!).
When my wife was in her teens, she was a summer camp counselor at a camp for deaf kids. She learned sign language that way.
I thought it was funny when she told me that the kids said she mumbles when talking with them. As in her signaling wasn’t as clear and crisp as it should be.
(Edit - No, she wasn’t my wife at that time. In fact this was before I met her. In case anyone was wondering)