When are you too old?

SapphireStar

SapphireStar

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This is about univeristy. Ive been thinking about going back and doing maybe a part time course and working as well. But Im in my early 20s now and my family frown upon those who wish to go on to higher education. But my aunt has gone back to college and still works. I envy her as she has 4 children, a prison job and yet she still manages to go and get a degree.

I want to go, but I think it maybe be too late. My current job is well, crap and I know if I wanted to go to uni, work would not be supportive if I wanted to do both. I want a degree in my back pocket as frineds who have have great jobs and are bringing money in. I want to be able to move into a home with my boyfriend and have a great job to help support us.

I was tempted to go to Manchester Uni this September, but Im terrified to ask for a loan again as I have to start paying back my student loan ack this April. Will they allow me to use them again if I want to go back to uni???

Any advice guys and is anyone here doing a course and working??
 
My friend is doing a college course and working & is also a single mum, I know it's not uni but Im sure you could work around it?

I actually want to go to college myself but Iv hit abit of a rut, not sure what I want to do plus I also quit my job so Im kind of at a loose end at the moment. My daughter takes up alot of my time but if theres an opportunity that comes along to better myself Im sure as hell gunna take it so I think you should go for it
 
There was a women at the lovely age of 55 in my last College course and is now attending Uni the last I heard.

Which reminds me I have to get back in touch with her, she was a right laugh on nights out haha^_^
 
I'm doing a course, with a weekend job if that counts.
But you're certainly not too old. Someone on my course is 23 and is the manager at a major bar in town. There's also other people at the university who are in their 30s too. I wouldn't let your families views on it try and stop you from doing what you really want either.
 
It is never too late to go to a University. The main issue is the means. It would help if your employer was more supportive. You should never give up on a dream. I worked and attended University. I struggled working 30 hours a week and holding a full time study roster. I primarily supported myself on this. I did not need to borrow money. Fortunately, it was a state University, meaning the tuition was much lower than a private University. I managed to just about complete my education, with that schedule. But fortunately, a friend found me a better job. The job I carried did give me valuable experience. So I was able to obtain the better job. The employer also had a program where I did not have to pay for my education on my own anymore, as long as I maintained a 3.0 average. So for my last few courses, I went to night classes, so I could work fulltime with my new employer. So things do work out in the end. I eventually obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering.
 
Wow, well done Koloth! m currently doing 30 hours a week, but what annoys me as I was employed for a Monday-Friday position with them, but they said I cant do that, it has to be spred throughout the week as younger members of staff will complain I do only Monday-Friday. So yeah, I want a proper Monday-Friday job. Im sick of the managers there.

I do really want to do something with my life. I hate my current job and want to get a much better one that can help me and my future. Im not going to be in this job forever.

I wont need to move into student accomadation as I'll stay at home and travel to uni via bus or tram links. Thats a huge relief as homing in Bradford was ridic and took 90% of my loan!

But will the loan people take me on again?
 
I do not know the situation in your area. But some Universities around here have a job placement programs. Where they have contacts with employers that will give you the experience related to your course of study. I guess you would call it an intern program. Basically that was how I got my 30+ hour a week job. By the way, I did a lot of weekends on that job.
 
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You can't be denied a loan, but depending on your age and financial status, it probably won't be under normal student conditions. Ie, there'll likely be interest to pay back too. You'll have to get in touch with your bank or whoever you lend off.
 
Ha! Too old?! HA! My mom went to college in her 30's. Now she's sitting pretty teaching sophomores in High School.
 
You are never too old! If you want to go back to University, you should definitely do it. It will, to use a horrible cliche, open so many doors of opportunity. I don't know much about financial aid (especially in the UK), but you could apply for loans or try for a scholarship of some sort if you're eligible. I say go for it. Screw what your family thinks! It's your life, not theirs.
 
Financial aid in the UK is not that bad actually. I'm 23 and planning to go back part time, 2-3 hours of Uni a week so I can be there for my son. I was told that the current rules say that as long as you don't currently hold a degree then you will get the same funding from the loans company as everyone else. I don't have to pay back my old loan yet because I didn't complete the course and I don't have a job.

Arrange an interview with the Uni, that's the best thing to do, get that one-to-one advice. They will tell you your options very clearly.

And I agree, never mind what your family thinks, do it for you. If you can get the support from your employer, then go for it, it's something really worthwhile.
 
well iam 26. i graduated from school when i was 24.. and i plan on going bakc to further my degree in the arts even more.. so to say your too old to go to school is false.

most college students aren't in thier teens right form high school. you'll be amazed to find out that 30% of college students are actually in thier 30's..

actually teh older you are. teh better chance of getting mroe money and better loans and grants.
 
You are never too old to attend a University. I know many people who are in their late 20s and early 30s who have decided to take classes and such.

Teachers are very common since I think they have to go back after a certain amount of years for classes, some of them actually in the undergraduate program. Heck, I'll be around 27 by the time I'm done, so no matter when you start, I don't think you can be too old for it.

And I know in the US you can get extensions on certain loans if you go back to school, or if you have to take classes, I don't know how they are in the UK though.
 
I work a part-time job while going to school. Obviously, attending school with a full-time job would be more difficult.

But it'd be possible if you attended as a part-time student. It's definitely not too late--it never is (unless you're on your death bed or something)--but finishing school would take awhile...depending on what you're working towards.

In the end, you should go no matter the circumstances. If you're unhappy with your current situation, you should attempt to improve it. Early twenties, you say? Very young. I wouldn't want to live the rest of my life in misery...
 
Age shouldn't be an issue ever. There are ppl who make it their goal to be in school to learn. Age is a thing of the past really.

For financial aid stuff I don't really know very mucha bout all I know of *and only a bit* is fasfa.

If you want a higher education then it's what you want who cares who frowns upon it that's their inadequatcies. I want to go to college when I get older and my family laffs at me all the time about it, I say I don't care I like learning. Age is not an issue it's more of how to get the money.

Their are quite a few jobs you can do that don't require working for 8 hours a day. You may want to think about talking to your family and research ways to get money and jobs sites around your college area.

I would go to college no matter what anyone said cus it's my choice and I don't want to only be at the lvl others at I want to be in college :P
 
I'm not entirely sure how people view University in the UK, but, I know here in America, education is VERY highly valued. The more education you have, the bigger your paycheck will be, so long as you know how to apply your skills.

I recommend you pursue higher education, but, do it because -you- want to, which it seems you do, not for what any others may want.
 
There's really no age limit, both in terms of legality and reality. In my courses we have a mixture of young (just out of school), early 20's, middle aged (30's, 40's I assume) and even a few very old people.

In particular there was this one ancient old chap, he was grey and wrinkled but showed up every time in his old worn out suit and briefcase.

Everyone at varsity has matured enough to get over the age-barrier ridiculousness. If anything, the older folk proved to be the more popular ones! It's just a fantastic environment really.

While it is probably better to get a headstart by starting earlier, it's still better to go back later then never at all.

The last thing you want to do is reach the end of your life and look back with regret, so, I'd say go for it.

It's fun, exciting and of course interesting, your life is your own to do with it what you want so why not give it all you've got and make a real go of it?
 
~SapphireStar~ said:
This is about univeristy. Ive been thinking about going back and doing maybe a part time course and working as well. But Im in my early 20s now and my family frown upon those who wish to go on to higher education. But my aunt has gone back to college and still works. I envy her as she has 4 children, a prison job and yet she still manages to go and get a degree.

I want to go, but I think it maybe be too late. My current job is well, crap and I know if I wanted to go to uni, work would not be supportive if I wanted to do both. I want a degree in my back pocket as frineds who have have great jobs and are bringing money in. I want to be able to move into a home with my boyfriend and have a great job to help support us.

I was tempted to go to Manchester Uni this September, but Im terrified to ask for a loan again as I have to start paying back my student loan ack this April. Will they allow me to use them again if I want to go back to uni???

Any advice guys and is anyone here doing a course and working??
Click to expand...
I'm not sure how loans work in the UK, but here, one could get more student loans. However, all of the loans would be unsubsidized.

I used to stand firmly behind the thought that getting a degree is important no matter what (especially given the bias in my country). However, attending a private school with no help from anyone else in this world has given me a broader opinion. I have over $10,000 worth of loans already... and I'm only in my second year. To make matters worse, I will lose one source of aid after next year. My job is a work/study job... Once my school semester ends, I will be out of a job (though I don't make much money anyway). At this rate, if I continue and get my degree from the school I am currently attending, I would rack up over $50,000 worth of loans... too much money for me to pay back.

Since the purpose of me getting this piece of paper is for me to make more money and to have better "opportunities", I am not keen on racking up loans I can't pay back. However, I can't stop attending college for a while or I'll have to pay back my current loans... something I can't afford to do. When I am jobless in a few months, I will have to find some other college to attend. I would like to transfer to a public school, which requires for me to change my major. (My area of study is rare.) Cost of attendance depends on what state I live in, so if I move out of state, the cost of attending a four-year public college would actually be more than what I'm paying now unless I establish residency... which takes a year. I can only be out of school for six months before I'm expected to start paying my subsidized loans and my interest is added to my loan amount. So... that leaves me with several dilemmas in which I don't want to explain right now.

Now I understand why some people have no desire to go to college. If by attending college one winds up worse off than before, why attend? I do it for a chance at a better paycheck so I don't have to work minimum wage. However, if I pile on too many loans I will still be impoverished when I'm finished. With my work experience, I probably could have just entered into the workforce and made quite a bit of money without a degree. I could've tacked on a few certifications, which sometime have the same result as a degree depending on the field.

I say all that to say this: examine your reasons for attending college well. You mentioned having family. Even if they aren't supportive of your decision to go to college, they may care enough about you to help you by allowing you to have a place to stay. That would cut down on living costs. Also, everyone has different abilities. Not everyone can work full time, go to school full time, and make straight As all at the same time. Also, age is nothing but a number if you have a real goal. I'm probably older than you, since I don't think it's entirely accurate for me to say I'm in my "early twenties". I'm in college. Even though I have some major setbacks (and no one else besides myself who gives a f***), I still press on. (That's mainly because I'm not ready to pay back these loans, though.)

Your best bet... work first. Save enough money so that you don't have to go to school on a loan. Whenever you have breaks, work. Try to put yourself in a situation where you won't have to be in a scenario too difficult for you to handle. Budget well. Make excellent grades so that you can earn scholarships while you're in school (if the UK has such a thing).
 
~SapphireStar~ said:
This is about univeristy. Ive been thinking about going back and doing maybe a part time course and working as well. But Im in my early 20s now and my family frown upon those who wish to go on to higher education. But my aunt has gone back to college and still works. I envy her as she has 4 children, a prison job and yet she still manages to go and get a degree.

I want to go, but I think it maybe be too late. My current job is well, crap and I know if I wanted to go to uni, work would not be supportive if I wanted to do both. I want a degree in my back pocket as frineds who have have great jobs and are bringing money in. I want to be able to move into a home with my boyfriend and have a great job to help support us.

I was tempted to go to Manchester Uni this September, but Im terrified to ask for a loan again as I have to start paying back my student loan ack this April. Will they allow me to use them again if I want to go back to uni???

Any advice guys and is anyone here doing a course and working??
Click to expand...

Early 20's? I was 22 when I started studying agin,I'm a single mom and I had to work as well. I'm still managing. All I can say is, if you really want to do something, put your heart into it, and you can. Age doesn't matter one bit :)
 
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