Going Back to School at Age 30 and Up: Is It Too Late?

If you're over the age of 30 and reading this, you might be asking yourself: should I go back to school, or is it too late?

The short answer is that it's never too late to start! But before committing to more years of education, read on to weigh your options.

Whether you're completing your bachelor's degree, or taking the leap to grad school, here are some questions to ask yourself before becoming a student again.

Good time management is essential for college success. You’ll need to manage your lecture schedule, individual study time, and group projects — on top of tracking and meeting multiple deadlines at the bare minimum.

This can be a real challenge for older students who often have other responsibilities and commitments to take care of as well. As such, you’ll need to carefully manage your time to maintain a healthy balance that keeps all the different aspects of your life on course.

Speaking of other commitments and responsibilities, what else do you have going on outside your scholarly journey? Are you in a relationship? Do you have children or any other dependents? Are you employed? Is there a mortgage to pay?

Studying has a considerable financial impact that you need to consider carefully. So, be sure to evaluate your entire range of responsibilities first. After that, you can comfortably decide on the feasibility of taking a college course while meeting all your other commitments.

The proliferation of teleconferencing technology has opened up a range of options that were not available to would-be learners even a decade ago. Online courses can give you more latitude to fit your studies in with other aspects of your life.

But if you prefer in-person classes, you need to consider which universities you can physically attend while considering your other responsibilities as outlined above. If you’re not limited by location or commitments, more power to you and the greater selection of choices at your disposal.

Consider how your chosen course of study will impact your preferred future career before committing. Since attending university is a significant time and financial investment, only look to make your final decision after a careful cost-benefit analysis.

Is there any evidence of pronounced career progression from previous course graduates? What does that path look like? Can course leaders clearly outline how you’ll develop the relevant knowledge, skills, and experience for your future field of work?

Think long and hard about these points to maximize the chances of further education and delivering an excellent return on investment long into your future.

By taking these key considerations into account, you’ll be better placed to take up your studies with a clear mind. Here are five important benefits of deciding to return to school.

The first benefit of going back to school is to enjoy an experience you’ve chosen for yourself — not because someone else wants you to or because it is expected of you. Many students entering tertiary education straight out of high school do so because of parental and peer pressure. It can result in students taking courses they are not interested in, leading to a poor university experience or diminished performance.

As a mature student, you’re better equipped to fully appreciate your learning journey. You’ll be doing a course you’ve chosen with a good understanding of how it will benefit you in the future. The extra miles under your belt also puts you in a better position to excel, thanks to greater maturity and more refined skills in many complementary areas of your life.

The right qualification can help you boost your earning potential. Indeed, college graduates receive higher salaries on average than those who have not earned a degree. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that the median salary of people with master’s degrees is around twice as high as the median salary of non-graduates.

There are several reasons for this. First, completing university studies equips you with a range of specialist skills and training that employers are keen to tap into. In addition to this, finishing a college course conclusively demonstrates the following:

• You are capable of undertaking high-level analytic work
• You have excellent time management skills
• You can organize your work schedule and successfully meet multiple competing deadlines

Furthermore, many organizations have specific educational requirements for progression to more senior positions. Therefore, acquiring a college degree can directly impact your earning potential and career opportunities.

When you return to school as an adult, you’re more likely to take up a course that you’re passionate about. Chances are, you’ve considered whether the course will deepen your skills in an area that genuinely interests you. The process of gaining additional mastery in a field you love is incomparably rewarding.

Contrary to the experience of many students, you may find yourself looking forward to the lectures and coursework. As a result, the process of refining your skills can become a lot more efficient and a lot more enjoyable.

In addition to enhancing your knowledge and skills, going back to school provides an excellent opportunity to extend your network of professional contacts. Throughout your course, you will meet numerous professors and like-minded students. Not only are people with shared interests more likely to turn into friends and companions, but they are also better placed to offer help and guidance as you progress through your career.

You can also make great connections outside the classroom. Whether it’s through shared accommodations, a shared passion for sports, or meeting through mutual friends, many successful relationships and careers have been built on university networks.

Leading by example is one of the cornerstones of good parenting. If you’re over 30 and have started building a family, you can demonstrate the value of education to your children. Actions often speak louder than words; this is an excellent opportunity for your kids to see it first-hand. Observing you as an engaged student taking your education and future seriously can rub off on your offspring and encourage them to adopt a similar approach to schoolwork.

Now that you have a better understanding of the key benefits of returning to school, here are five important tips that will help you get the most out of your studies.

As previously stated, time management is crucial to successfully completing university. Do you have other commitments that also take up lots of your time? If so, it can quickly start to feel overwhelming. Following these simple steps can make life so much easier for you.

First, look to incorporate a long-term plan. Begin by drawing up a schedule detailing all your college, home, and work deadlines — in addition to any other commitments you may have over the next few months. Be sure to check your course’s curriculum to accurately estimate your workload, including the amount of study time expected for each class. Doing this exercise will enable you to plan the time around your studies more effectively.

Thereafter, address the finer details. Once your long-term planning is complete, your focus can turn to the intricacies of your time management. The most important aspect here is to make the most of your time. Two examples of how you can achieve this are:

• Avoiding perfectionism. When a task is complete and the allocated time is over, move on to the next assignment. Return to it later if necessary, but refrain from eating into the time you’ve set for other tasks.
• Working smart. This includes finding study areas free from distractions so you can make the most of your study time. Additionally, make use of study techniques like SQ3R, retrieval practice, and spaced practice, among others, that may work best for you. On top of all this, take regular breaks. The quality of your work and ability to focus decline over time if you aren’t giving yourself sufficient rest.

As we’ve made clear, choosing your course based on the benefits of your future career is the sensible thing to do. Remember that you’ll be given countless opportunities to acquire new skills, gain knowledge in new areas, and study under different subject experts. Keep your different goals front of mind throughout this process. Are you keen to improve your public speaking skills? If so, consider courses that are graded on class presentations or organize a student conference. Do you want to develop technical skills in a particular area? Pick methodology classes that teach these skills.

Your journey through your degree will, in large part, be determined by you. Therefore, navigate a route that brings you the maximum benefits you seek.

Ensure you do some research to establish what different universities and courses have to offer before sending off your applications. When identifying the right school and program for your needs and goals, there are several critical factors you’ll need to weigh, as outlined below.

• The school’s location. Do you want to leverage the many benefits of in-person classes, including all the additional resources like a library and computer labs that you’ll have available during your studies? In that case, you’ll either need to attend nearby schools or be willing to relocate.
• The school’s reputation. While this certainly isn’t the be-all and end-all of further education, earning certain degrees from certain schools can carry more weight in the real world. Not only can it make your CV stand out, but you can also connect with a different caliber of contacts at certain colleges more than others. When weighing the merits of the school versus the course itself, it’s generally a better idea to opt for a course that better suits your needs at a less prestigious university than vice versa.
• The course itself. Speaking of courses, carefully assess the module overview for each program you are interested in. Does it cover all the areas you need and teach your required skills? At this point, you should already have a clear idea of what you want to get out of your degree. Ensure that the course you choose meets these requirements. The skills and knowledge you develop from the coursework will be critical for most employers when you hit the job market.

As you already know, attending university is a big investment. However, many people are unaware of the numerous scholarships and bursaries available for people from certain backgrounds and demographics. This support can cover all or part of your university fees. You can draw upon a variety of resources to find something you might be eligible for.

As a first step, contact the financial aid office of the college you are applying to. Their role revolves around helping students locate and apply for scholarships, as well as other forms of financial aid. Another useful resource is the free scholarship search tool on the U.S. Department of Labor’s website. It’s an excellent platform that searches through over 8,000 scholarships and allows you to narrow down your search by location, keyword, or even gender. In addition to this, the U.S. Department of Education can also offer some help in your search for a scholarship.

Like any other aspect of life, it’s important to surround yourself with people who support your ambitions and goals. A college course is a considerable undertaking at the best of times, but as a mature student, you are likely to have even more demands on your time and focus due to more responsibilities. Having friends and family in your life who can help shoulder some of that burden, provide encouragement and advice, or lend an ear from time to time can have a huge positive impact. It can be the difference between achieving your lofty university objectives and burning out in the middle.