Over-the-Hill and Back to School

When we are little we drink milk for nourishment (well, some of us drank other things too - like water from the doggy dish) - but when we are adult-plus (over-the-hill), we need meat! Knowledge is the "meat" of life - not only after our milk days of youth but also when we're over-the-hill!

Getting a good education has always been an excellent idea. Education, training, degrees and licenses can make the difference of a life filled with hours of drudgery or a life filled with joy and fulfillment.

But not everyone is in a position to get a higher education when they are young; finances, family responsibility, and other life-altering scenarios sometimes send us in directions in which we had not planned.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an oceanographer? A botanist? An entomologist? How about a geologist? Or maybe even a preacher? Or a physical therapist? A masseuse? Motorcycle mechanic? Architect? Engineer? Teacher? The options are endless!

Usually, the goal of higher education is to obtain a degree in a certain subject so that you can have a head start on your lifetime occupation. Most everyone can agree that better pay usually comes with degrees - not always - but this has been the case in the past. Today, vocational schools are very popular and offer degrees as well. Actually getting a degree or not is really not the point of going back to school.

Thoughts on getting a degree vary when we get to be over-the-hill. Is actually holding a degree in our hands something that we have just always wanted to do? Or will it help in today's economy when so many older folks are looking to supplement their retirement? Is our goal to increase our knowledge-bank or do we want to use our new education to teach others - elementary education, family education or missions?

One does not HAVE to be looking for a new career in order to attend school. Because schools are places of learning new things, and learning keeps our minds sharp and fresh, attending makes sense. New input equals new thought patterns that keep us in tune with the world around us. It helps build character as well as influences our friends to continue improving their minds as well. We can learn things that we just want to know - and if we get an opportunity, we can even teach others. Continued learning is excellent role modeling for the generations that follow us. When they see us improving our minds they can see the amazing options that are available to them.

This marvelous country of ours has an abundance of higher education opportunities: there are on-line learning, distance education, community colleges, vocational colleges, universities and private schools that are actively searching after new students - even students with gray hair. One only has to type the words "education" along with the location desired into your favorite browser and a plethora of opportunities magically appear.

Being over the hill often means being on a fixed income: retirement, social security, or part-time work. That's where our super-duper U.S. government comes in (as well as some other helpful offerings.) You could quality for Federal Student Aid. These grants are for students who are going for a degree but have limited income. Just type in "Pell Grant" or "FAFSA" in your web browser and get started! You can fill in the questionnaire and find out right away if you qualify.

Student loans are usually available for students and some of them do not have to be returned until after graduation. Making regular payments on them while attending school can keep one out of getting into too much debt and helps avoid the shock of repayment when you're done.

Check with the school where you might like to attend. Many schools have President's scholarships for transferring in good grades. Most schools also have Alumni Scholarships available as well if you plan to attend a school a parent or relative has attended previously.

If you don't quality for a scholarship and you have the energy, working part-time might be a good option. Many businesses near the college I attend make a solid attempt to offer part-time work to students when they can.

It may be that you will need to save up before taking educational courses. Believe me! It will be worth the sacrifice.

There are other opportunities as well. Search for education scholarships in your browser where you'll find a plethora of results - or be sure to order one of the Amazon offerings below!

Owning your own home near the school is the ideal situation but sometimes the school you want to attend is not near your hometown. If you are planning on completing a four year degree (or six if this is an option), then buying a home near the school might be a smart option. Especially in today's economy. A mortgage payment could even be less than rent.

Small, medium and large colleges and universities usually have some sort of student housing available - some even have dorms for married couples. As a non-traditional student, you can ask for a private dorm room, or a room to share with another non-traditional student. Being right on campus is a plus as you can more readily participate in school activities - building stronger bonds with other students and having more opportunities to have the "full college experience."

If the "full college experience" is not for you, then living off campus might be your best option. If this is the case, or if the school does not have dorms on campus, it is possible that they have made arrangements with nearby apartment complexes to rent apartments to their students. You might want to be aware that these rooms may be subject to "dorm room inspections" and "curfew rules". Sometimes you can find large home owners in the area who are willing to rent a room to college students.

The college I attend has a room and board charge of around $2000 a semester. My daughter and I went together and rented an apartment that is walking distance to the school. Sharing expenses is a plus for both of us and is less than the cost of a dorm room. We have no room inspections and curfew for me is moot - I can hardly stay awake after 10pm anyway. : )

If you are counting on scholarships in order to afford to attend school, I have found that most of them are available only to full-time students pursuing a degree. But college courses are available no matter how many you take at once.

If you want to take fewer than the full-time level of college courses for credit, you can find out how much the individual classes are at your registrar's office or in the school catalog. When you take a college course for credit you are subject to all the homework and tests that full-time students are subject to.

Or you can audit classes - usually as many or as few as you would like. Colleges can offer classes on an audit basis, which are usually less expensive and it is entirely up to you if you want to do the homework and take the tests. Of course, you don't get any college credit toward a degree by auditing classes. But what you DO get is some EXCELLENT information about the subject you are interested in!

Whether you go to school full-time, part-time or by auditing, depending on your finances, time and level of energy, don't just sit in the yard and rust!

I have no idea whether you will fit into a traditionally young higher-education culture. Do you have patience with youthful behavior? Can you learn from and respect professors who are probably half your age? It takes a humble heart and an open mind to do these things without argument or disdain.

We - as the over-the-hill bunch - are attached to a bucket load of life experiences. We can chose to unload our baggage on a culture that have not yet had the opportunity to learn from their mistakes - or we can encourage others and advise them with what CAN be ancient wisdom, when they ask. The choice is ours.

Currently I am attending a Bible College. I believe that the Bible is God's Word - true, inspired and applicable. My desire is to learn all I can from theologians who have studied God's Word, first century culture, historical writings, and in the original Greek to a point where I am confident that I know what it is God has written. I hope to pass that knowledge along to my grandsons and to anyone else who is willing and eager to learn as well.

I am in a Christian culture - which is usually a "family" atmosphere (for the most part), and fitting in and loving each other is something we are called to do. To me, I fit in. But this is not to say that I am liked by everyone here. Nor does it mean that I participate in every activity offered at the college. I know that some of these "kids" are away from home for the first time and that the last thing they probably want is a "parent-figure" hanging out when they are stretching their wings.

There are other "non-traditional" students here and we have a great time watching - with eyes full of memories - how the students are growing and learning.

When I have absorbed as much as I can here I plan to continue my education at other institutions of higher learning. My interests range from learning how to weld to promoting environmental issues - and much more! I don't worry about fitting in - only about making sure that I accept others and help them feel like they fit it.

To that extent, I would say the answer to the question "Will I Fit In?" depends totally upon you. I have found that if you really have the desire to be a part of higher education, the "basket" will stretch to include you.

I cannot imagine how some of these students work full time while attending school full time. Most of them take several credits over full time and a few are taking WAY over what I consider to be humanly possible. Here, the norm is 2 hours of homework for every hour of class. That means for a 3 hour class you will probably have 6 more hours of studying - over and above the hours you attend class.

My first semester I took 17 credits (12 is considered full-time where I attend). It almost killed me. I asked my adviser how in the world he could let me do such a thing. He replied "well, we must have thought you were capable!" The only thing I remember about that semester is attending school, studying and throwing in a little sleeping and eating somewhere in between. Whew! I like to think that working steady is better than working hard.

For my second semester I decided to take 15 credits so that I could "input" the great stuff I was learning a little slower. It would have been nice to truly grasp the information and retain it longer than five minutes after the final test. : ) I found that 15 credits was somewhat easier.

"Easier" does not mean a "breeze". It means I did find the opportunity to go to two movies and three concerts during that semester; something I could never have done the first semester.

By my third semester of 15 credits I think I finally had the routine down pat. Homework is still work, but the process is making more sense and I've learned more about the professors and what they want. This is a big plus when it comes to studying and doing major papers. Now, I even enjoy studying and can remember a lot of the things I've learned.

So, the bottom line is, if you are planning to go to school for a degree, my advice (depending on far over-the-hill you are) is to start at the full-time level and then add credits each semester until you are comfortable with the amount of homework hours required from you.

Right now I can hear young college students laughing at me through the internet airwaves. Just wait - someday you too will be over-the-hill - then see if you laugh!! : )

I never thought I'd reach the age of 30, let alone 62. Sitting in school was not my favorite thing to do. I loved the outdoors and would rather have been out riding my horse or playing softball than be sitting at a desk and learning. I am ashamed to say that I wasted an opportunity to attend college in my youth but I feel a very true saying is, "You haven't failed until you quit trying." I could wallow in my sorrow for missing out or I could do something about it.

Today, I am like a sponge. I just can't get enough learning. For me, having this opportunity to learn is quenching an urgent thirst for knowledge. I never would have imagined that I would be inspired, while over-the-hill, to find out the who, what, why, when, and where of things - LOTS of things. There are people out there just waiting to impart this information to others and I plan on getting all of it I can.

Over-the-hill doesn't mean sitting down on life - it means it is time for new adventures! The sky is the limit. Get as little or as much learning as you want. Don't get discouraged. Be steadfast in your goal and JUST GO FOR IT!