Returning to college in your forties is a challenge, but doable. I can’t tell you how many peers mentioned to me, they wished they could go back to college, and finish college. For me, these challenges include, registration/financial aid, study time and time with family. If you have made the decision to go back to college and want to know what I learned, then today I want to share with you what you need to know.
Attending College in Your Forties: What You Need to Know.
Let’s begin, once you made the decision to go back to school, you must get familiarized with your College or University’s requirements. Since I made the decision to attend the same college where I earned my Associates Degree from, I was quite familiar with its requirements. The first thing I did was filled an FAFSA online application for financial aid. If you going to apply for a student loan, find out about interest and if you need a co-signer. Second thing I did was to speak to a guidance counselor for my degree and I registered for two course. There were a few other forms to fill out, however, those can be filled out during the semester. My suggestion to you is, if you haven’t been to school in over 10 years, take one course; this way you can ease back into the swing of things.
Once your schedule is validated, it’s time to purchase books. Honestly, I saved a lot of money by purchasing my books online. Every college or university has books printed specifically for them and trust me when I say this, the books are EXPENSIVE, almost as much as half of the course itself. I am on a very tight budget, and need to stretch every penny as much as possible; therefore, my suggestion is to look online to stretch your money to the max. If you have a tight budget, you should know that the beginning and the end of each semester are the busiest times at the bookstore, inquire about working there for a few weeks and this way you might be able to earn the money for next semester’s books. Also, if your bookstore doesn’t want to buy-back your old textbooks, look online and sale them there.
Going back to college is not only going to class, it’s also about making the time to study on your own time. I use a simple advise provided by my guidance counselor, study two hours for every hour of class. Setting time aside to study is not easy, but it can be done. Since I’ve been out of school for over twelve years, it will take me a bit more time to get accustomed to this studying routine. Unfortunately, I do not have a photographic memory, therefore, it takes me longer to focus, study and learn the material. The great aspect of going back to school at 40 plus, is I am determined to finish my bachelor’s degree, this time around. Once you have a successful routine in place, you can take more than one course per semester. One last thing about studying, you should definitely, take advantage of your professor’s reviews and extra homework those are very helpful comes test time.
Last but not least, Family time is equally important to college study time. It took me a while to figure out at what time of the day to study. I attempted to study early in the morning, while the kids were in school and after dinner. This helped me determine that I am the sharpest at night after the kids are in bed. I study more effectively late at night and got more done during that time of day. After studying, I take a five minute break and recap what I have learned. Don’t forget to spend time with your kids and your wife, you must find the balance that works for you.
I am interested in hearing your path in going back to school. Kindly drop me a note in the comment section below.