any college students in their 40's?

[charliemike]

I'm about to change careers and facing the reality that I need to have a degree to have a chance for a decent paying job. But going back to college in my 40's is really intimidating. Meron bang mga 40 something college students diyan? How's campus life for an old fart like me? Thanks for any inputs.

[KuyaDanny]

I am not one of them, but I have come across quite a few fortysomething college students when I was at business school many years ago. Obviously they didn't feel too comfortable with the social scene, but in the classroom they held their own. Maybe their academic skills were a little rusty, but they blew away even the brightest young students with their maturity. Your classmates should feel lucky to have you with them.

[totoolangnaman]

of course it's ideal to finish college earlier in life (late teens or early 20's) but I admire you for putting great value in a college degree even though you'll get it in your 40's. *okay*

It takes great courage and discipline (something a lot of people don't have these days) to do what you're doing. :D

more power to you and God bless!

[kelunji]

I had a classmate in college who was in his early-40s. In fact he was so old, one of our profs was his room-mate in the dorm back then and his adviser was his batchmate. There were rumors that he stopped schooling because he joined the NPAs at the height of Martial Law although while drinking with us he said he stopped because he got his GF pregnant and had to work to support his new family.

[mariadams]

I'm about to change careers and facing the reality that I need to have a degree to have a chance for a decent paying job. But going back to college in my 40's is really intimidating. Meron bang mga 40 something college students diyan? How's campus life for an old fart like me? Thanks for any inputs.

Such idea takes a lot of thinking to do. Just look around you, college graduates, even professionals finding it very hard to find a decent paying job so they go overseas to find their luck.


If you are thinking of taking up nursing and your aim is to go to the US, etc, then you will probably have a good chance for that decent pay. I hear lots of stories that even middle-aged Pinoys in the US, who never even dreamed of becoming nurses someday are now going to nursing schools because that is the booming profession at the moment. Overseas, they don't as much as give a damn if you are 40-50 going back to school. It's only in the Phils that people are very condescending. But why should you care about what people will say. It's your future that is at stake here.

If I were in your shoes, I would most likely go for a teaching career and teach small children. I just realize I really want to play a role in molding children's minds.

It really depends on what you would like to do. Age 40 is supposed to be a critical age where you start to realize that there's more to life than the daily grind. That a good quality of life, where inner happiness prevails over material happiness, or to be in a situation where you feel you are making your mark on earth, and a lot more...start to take precedence.

Just my 5-cents worth....

[jean_grey]

sa UP madaming ganyan.. it's nothing to be ashamed of.. there's this guy in our college na matanda na, pero it was his dream daw when he was young to be ang architect so ngayon, nag-aaral sya. :)

[erap_arroyo99]

loser moms with tax-evading husbands who pursue nursing coz she wants more money. :grrr: :bop: :bop: :grrr:

psychotic

[pumpysworld]

Most people are not aware of this, but college is not a requirement in different parts of the world. That is why it is not surprising to see people from different backgrounds and age groups go to college.

Also, Filipino college students who go to exclusive schools are also not aware that their poorer counterparts are often working students and are sometimes older than the norm.

[kelunji]

Most people are not aware of this, but college is not a requirement in different parts of the world. That is why it is not surprising to see people from different backgrounds and age groups go to college.

Also, Filipino college students who go to exclusive schools are also not aware that their poorer counterparts are often working students and are sometimes older than the norm.


College is not required if the previous secondary education is of good quality (w/c in the Philippines is not). Also there's a Filipino stigma on "vocational education" or "technical schooling" unlike in other countries.

[soulontap]

charliemike: I've meet people who went to college in their 40s. You'll have fun. (and your professors will be more forgivng of you.) You'll learn as much from your younger classmates as they'll learn from you.

[pumpysworld]

That makes such a system illogical because college is generally more expensive than secondary school. It's also an odd view as the college graduate usually ends up doing technical and vocational work.

College is not required if the previous secondary education is of good quality (w/c in the Philippines is not). Also there's a Filipino stigma on "vocational education" or "technical schooling" unlike in other countries.

[orangepink]

I have a 60-year old classmate.

[stepehenyan@12]

during my days in college i saw someone who was in his 40's who did finish his college degree. From what I've heard he was a businessman. If your going back in college it's never too late to pursue a degree. I read somewhere there was this janitor in lasalle high school who was given a chance to study in that same school where he worked I believe he was 60-70 years of age correct me if I am wrong. and from what i understand he graduated. So if you think for one second that your intimidated because of your age?! the janitor's batchmates are old enough to be his grandsons. So good luck on your endeavor.

[conquistador]

I've had a clasmate in college who used to be in the phil constabulary. I think he was in his 60s when he was our clasmate..all of us his clasmates were so proud of him because despite his age he really wants to earn a degree.. :)

[purply_hazy]

My students are between 28-48 years old. Very challenging class, kasi I'm only 25. Pag sa labas ng classroom, ako baby nila.

[ubermensch]

teacher too purply_hazy? *okay*

I've had students in their 40s already. Ang usual fear nila matagal na silang wala sa school. Halimbawa calculus nung course namin, concerned sila na nalimutan na nila ang algebra. Pero they're able to make up for it kasi seryoso sila, at okay ang time management apparently, kahit may mga anak pa sila.

[faux_ph]

when I was in first year college, I had a classmate who was 40+. we used to call him tatang (for obvious reason). i believe he was working with DPWH then. Kwento nya, when he was about to be promoted, they found his records na di pala niya tapos yung engineering degree niya. pinabalik siya na mag-aral, international sya kasi konti lang naman yung subjects na naiwan niya at isa dun ay yung isang major subject (engineering technology subject) na kinukuha na ng first year. I was in my 2nd year in college nung nag-graduate sya.

[purply_hazy]

teacher too purply_hazy? *okay*

I've had students in their 40s already. Ang usual fear nila matagal na silang wala sa school. Halimbawa calculus nung course namin, concerned sila na nalimutan na nila ang algebra. Pero they're able to make up for it kasi seryoso sila, at okay ang time management apparently, kahit may mga anak pa sila.

yep. and loving it. I still can't get it, some of my students are so filthy rich but they still join the bandwagon!