Who Has Gone Back to School FT as an Adult?

WittneeT29
WittneeT29 Posts: 47 Member
in Chit-Chat
Has anyone gone back to school F/T for additional degrees? I want my masters, but I will have to retake a substantial amount of undergraduate courses because my undergrad was a B.A., and I want a masters with a science concentration.

I need success stories from adult learners who made it work financially. Did you work part time? Was it harder than when you went to school the first time? I received my bachelors degree just under 10 years ago, so it has been a while! (I turn 30 this year).

I want to actually have a career (even though I love my current job, I don't find it fulfilling, and I worry that it isn't setting me up for future job opportunities).

So, I need to hear from those who went back to school and came out alive. Are you glad you did it? Have you been able to find work? Was it harder as an adult?

Replies

  • cabaray
    cabaray Posts: 971 Member
    I went back for my BA when I was 28. I had a 3 year old, a 9 month old and a full-time job. Three weeks after graduation I started an MBA program. It was tough, but it was so worth it. I have been able to find work...a promotion at the company I was working for and am now able to teach part-time at the local community college. I am still paying off student loans, but it has been worth it.
  • mtmom
    mtmom Posts: 13
    I got my BS as an adult, and I am getting ready to go back for a masters. I have three children, and I contribute equally to the income in our house, so it is going to be rough. I want to go back for Physician Assistant, and it is going to be full-time for 2 years.
    What are you going back for? There are numerous programs to help, depending on what your focus is going to be.
  • Nutrition1st
    Nutrition1st Posts: 216 Member
    I was an engineer for 20 years. So when I got in to fitness, I had to pursue my BS in Nutrition Science then Masters. I was going to school fulltime. Now I go part time.
  • pk6868
    pk6868 Posts: 16
    I was 40 when I went back for my Masters Degree in Nursing Education. At that time I worked 32 hours/week and had a 10 and 13 year old. My Master's degree took me 18 months and it went really well. It went so well that I immediately went on for my Post-Masters to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. That was a 2 year program, because I needed 800 clinical hours in the last year then I dropped down to 20 hours/week. At 20 hours I could still get health insurance and other benefits, so that was really helpful.

    We did make some cuts in our budget, for that last year we also stopped putting money in 401K and increased our deductions on our W-2's--not ideal, but it was only one year. It all really worked out very well. When I graduated I we consolidated my school loans into our mortgage loan--at 3% interest it was a good deal.

    It is alot of hard work, but so worth it .I didn't think I could do it, but it did work out. I also had a very supportive family which was extremely important.

    I say go for it and good luck!!! :smile:
  • brimarie95
    brimarie95 Posts: 81 Member
    I am starting college for the first time now at the age of 35. I made bad choices as a teen and very young adult. I got sidetracked with working full time and having a family. I was laid off in March and have been working things out to go back to school. I will be starting on Aug. 1st, working towards my BS in Accounting. I am scared and excited all at the same time. It's the start of a whole new life with getting both my education and health in order over the last few months.
  • SouthernSweetie74
    SouthernSweetie74 Posts: 844
    I went back to school to finish my Bachelor's program when I was 28. I had three kids, ages 4, 1, and 3 months.

    It was one of the HARDEST things I've ever done in my life.

    A lot went on in my life during this time including a separation, divorce, restraining order, and the death of my first husband. I had three kids to care for by myself. I was poor and broke all of the time. I worked part-time for a while, until school got to be too much. Then, I relied on the kids' benefits and student loans to take care of our financial needs. There were days when I didn't even have gas money, so I loaded up the two smallest into a stroller, and we walked one mile for my oldest to go to elementary school. I, then, would turn around walk back that mile and three miles in another direction to take my youngest two to daycare, leave the stroller there, and then walk about four miles to the university with a backpack on my back. There were days when I thought I just wouldn't be able to do it anymore. There were many sleepless nights working on projects and papers. There were lots of days in which we ate Ramen noodles. (Can I just say that I HATE Ramen noodles now?!?!) And there were days (when I did have gas money) that I would drive to school, sit in the parking lot, look at the buildings, and just cry, thinking that I just couldn't go on... It was only by the grace of God that I got through all of which I did.

    The day I received my college diploma was one of the happiest days of my life. I did a happy dance in my living room! (You know... even though I had already walked... they sent my real diploma in the mail later... I just couldn't get it through my head that it was real until I held it in my hand!)

    I don't regret it for a minute.

    A couple of years later, I decided to work toward my Master's. I did most of that online.... it was a little easier that time because I had a full time job to pay the bills and the kids were older. But it was still very stressful to take care of the kids and my household, work full time as a teacher and do a GOOD job, and be a good student. I still haven't finished my Master's... but I will...one day.

    You can do anything you put your mind to. If you really want to get your Master's, you will. You will find a way. :smile:
  • kinghavok
    kinghavok Posts: 104
    I went to college for the first time @46. Makes me wonder where i would be right now if I would have done this many years ago.:noway:
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    I was 26 when I went back to school to become a nurse. My twins were about 8 months old when I started getting some additional courses needed to get in!

    Forunately for me, becuase I had been on mat leave (EI --- for those in Canada and know what I mean) They paid for me to go back to school. But I would have gotten a loan. The financial benefit I have made, especially now being a single mother, was worth all the hard work with little kids.

    I now want to further my nursing and get a bachlor's of science degree in nursing. For this I will have to seek out a student loan, but the financial reward over the long career I have left is well worth it.

    So I say go for it, you can do anything you put your mind too :) Good luck.

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