Going Back to College for a Degree After 50

When my friend's husband, Lee, decided to go back to college when he was well into his 50s, we were all crossing our fingers, wishing him well. It had been more than three decades since he quit college to stop and raise a family. Life hadn't been easy for him--a carpenter working more than one job at a time trying to make ends meet as he supported his wife and three kids. Then, one day on the job his back was severely injured, handicapping him from doing his carpentry work.

Thanks to a generous court settlement, he was able to go back to college.

This older man who was now nearing an age when many folks his age start to retire, decided to continue where he left off as a twenty-year-old. Only this time, he vowed he'd take his studies seriously and do his very best. His efforts paid off as he now gets straight As in all his studies.

How can you go back to school and do well if you're even older than middle age? Many have done it and so can you. Here are a few helpful suggestions to make it work.

*Set priorities. If getting that degree is important to you, you'll need to make it number one on your list of priorities. Often socials and other events came up in our friend, Lee's life, but he would always bow out graciously, saying, "Sorry, but I have to study."

*When in class, take good notes. Or, if you have trouble jotting everything down, take a tape recorder with you.

*Be interested, as well as apply what you're learning in everyday life. When we'd get together with Lee and his wife he'd often bring up interesting facts he was learning in his classes, sharing them with us.

*Check out special program for adult students. For example, find people who can tutor you or search for a support group of older people going back to college. If you don't have one, maybe just by putting a blurb in your local newspaper will bring others to you. More and more adults are returning to college so you're not alone.