My Last Year of College . . . at 50

Congratulations! As a perpetual student myself, I understand the joys and challenges of pursuing a college degree while balancing a full-time job, family and personal identity. I've gotten a degree a decade, more or less. In my twenties, due to a lack of commitment, I decided to pursue an A.A. I returned to school after moving to New York and received my B.A. at 30. In my forties I got an M.L.S. and in my fifties, I just finished a 30 credit certificate program. Now I just want to take a dance class and learn Spanish!

WOW, this is so awesome! I am leaving my full time job in august with serious doubts about how I am going to make it work...going back to school and now you have given me that extra push to get through. I am only going on 40 in the fall and I have quite a few credits but I am still very nervous about returning. If I could just get over this ping in my belly.

Congratulations. I know how you feel. I finally went back to college in 2003 when my son was a senior in college, and graduated at 48 in 2006.

I'm now also 50 and returning to the master's program after taking two years off.

I admire you and everyone like you. You have done a great thing by finishing college.

Congratulations! I know what you went through; I graduated college at the age of 49. I needed to go to college in order to be eligible to progress further in the workplace. In my case I had no previous college experience because my parents were very old fashioned, they sent my twin brother to college but thought that being a girl I should take up a vocation instead. I decided to get married at 19, became divorced at 27 with two children. On that high school diploma I was able to progress quite high in a major corporation. Through the years I tried conventional on-ground campus environments a couple of times but this was difficult raising two children and working full time. In 2001, I decided to go to an online school and never looked back - graduating in 2005 at age 49. I had set a goal of achieving my degree by age 50 and beat that goal by one year. Three months after graduating with my Bachelors degree in Business Management, I started on my Masters program. Today I am 2 courses away from completing that Masters program and I am now 51. I am the last child in my family to get a college degree and my father expressed that his one regret was prohibiting me from attending college, but he lived just long enough to know that I had my Bachelor's degree. Once again to "Been There Done That" CONGRATULATIONS!!

Congratulations! Many people don't understand how much courage it takes sometimes to persue a degree at an older age. I was 51 when I went back to school for my MFA degree (I'm an artist)--thirty years after I deferred to my husband who wanted me to work so we could buy a house while he got his PhD. Natch, before he graduated, I was pregnant. I figured I'd still go back, but my kids turned out to be very bright and educating them beyond the public school cirriculum was something I couldn't leave to minimum-wage daycare. So I was a professional mom for 20 years.

The week my daughter went off to college, my husband declared he wanted a divorce and I hit menopause with its raging ups and downs. So I went from a mature woman who was beginning to see the possiblity of returning to school once her kids were through college to suddenly being faced with getting myself educated to reenter the work force, mom identity and sexual identy (now a hag) permanently changed, and homeless (our state laws allowed my husband to walk off with almost everything). I didn't know who I was anymore or what I wanted in life. As a practicing artist, I was blocked.

Returning to school for a Master in Fine Arts gave me a couple of years to reintegrate my identity, no mean feat when my hormones were frying my brain. But I did it, came out stronger, more focused and more empowered.

Now I'm an Adjunct professor at age 62--might have gotten tenure if I had done this in my 20's like I wanted to! But I'm happy even without benefits or vacations or to have summer semesters when I'm not hired. Who said life was easy or fair, right?

Congratulations...if seeking a degree was your only goal, then bravo, you've done what you wanted and given all the other things going on in your life, this is a real plus. You never know, your present employer may reward you thusly. I guess you can't count on it, but you never know. I had an associates degree in 1974, then went back to school and graduated with a B.A. when I was 40 in 94. It was a long term goal I had set and was thrilled with myself when I finished plus all kinds of wonderful things happened career wise at age 43 foward, it is hard to describe. I've done things I'd only imagined as possible, launching some 5 companies into some of the largest retailers in the world. It's been a significant trip. At age 55 now things are a little less happening if you know what I mean. I can't tell if it's from my age and being female or if I myself am just going through some kind of mental change that requires a thorough sole searching. I've lost my most favorite people on earth (they've passed away, 7 deaths including a dog and cat whom I adored) and now my only child, I have been a single mother for the last 12 years, is all grown up...19 years old and I've made significant sacrifices to be able to be there for her which have paid off tremendously, so now I am looking at another phase of my life which is calling for another kind of reinvention. Do I go back to school, do I continue what I am doing, do I go a more traditional route? All of these things only I can answer. But, what I can say, is that as a consequence of going back to school at an older age, 40, I have lived a life that was actually a dream at one point even though I had to sacrifice to raise a daughter, so go for it. My suggestion to all is to go for the brass ring. As a rule, it works: damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!

Congratulations! You should be VERY proud of yourself! I too started college (night school) in 1974, took many breaks in between to concentrate on our family, received my Associates Degree in 2000 and am now working on my BA. I have two more semesters to finish, depending on how many courses I take.
I can't tell you how much I love school!! It is so stimulating and fulfilling. I know I would not have appreciated it so much had I gone right out of high school in 1969!
I have found most of the traditional students to be nice and welcoming. Some talk to me as they wish they could talk to their Moms and I enjoy our conversations.
I was just recently laid off from my part time job of 20 years, so now I am in the position of deciding what I want to be when I grow up. I love it!! At 56 I feel like the sky is the limit.
My advice to others considering this.....you go girl!!!

Congratulations! Education is something no one can take away. I started my undergrad in 1999 at age 53, graduated Phi Beta Kappa and finished my Masters degree in 2007. What I gained was priceless. What I am finding in the job market is that the age of 61 is not a plus. So kudos to you for returning and finishing your education and having the time to use your education for contributing to this world.

You go Girl!!! I am so happy for you. After years of moving around the country and living overseas, because of my husband's career, I will finally complete my Associates Degree in Business at 55 years old. You frame that degree and look at it every day to remind yourself of your accomplishment. God bless you.

Where there is a will there is a way! Congratulations on your accomplishment and on finishing what you started some years ago. Never know, maybe the "itch" to get back into a classroom will get you to register for part-time grad classes. Good luck and enjoy the graduation party.

You Go Girl!! You did it, well done!! But remember, your journey has just begun. Enjoy your accomplishments and most of all enjoy your life.

I found your entry today and wanted to make a post as I, too, am heading back to college in the fall at the age of 53. My son is finishing his freshman year at college and my husband is approaching retirement so what better time for me to start a new adventure, I think. I have an Associates Degree from 1988 and am now seeking a B.S. & M.S.in Psychology. I am looking forward to the challenge and hopefully, having some fun along the way.

You are to be congratulated! I understand only too well the sacrifices a non-traditional student makes! I will be graduating in May with a graduate degree at age 51! It is never too late to follow your dreams! Enjoy your success!
And, when you get to the top of the mountain keep climbing!

Congratulations!!!! After leaving college in 1973 having completed 3 years, I returned to school a few years and Finally graduated in 2004. After sitting home with too much time on my hands, I entered graduate school.

Hats off to you...I know that it is not an easy task to juggle your life with attending class and
doing paper, after paper, after paper!!!!!

Job well done!!!!

Congratulations on a wonderful accomplishment. You are truly an inspiration in showing others it's never too late to finish college or achieve your life long goals.

I went back to school while working full time and raising three daughters. I started in 1972 finished two full years and went off and on several times over the next 25 years. In 1999 I started an Adult cohort at Trinity Christian College. I graduated in 2000.

Hello -

I, too, am graduating this year - at 48! I started my degree in 1981 and wondered if this day would ever arrive. And the first thing that really crossed my mind was that I can now take classes for FUN!!!

Congratulations to you on this grand accomplishment!

Linda Ledford
Toledo, Ohio

Congratulations to you. I'm also trying to finish my college education at the age of 39. As my mother always said it's never to late to start and complete your education; she is working on her high school diploma. Good Luck in the future and I know others will be inspired by your story.

Congratulations to you on your fine accomplishment! I began college at age 42 and completed my B.S. in Bus. Admin. with a minor in Computer Info. Science (suma cum laude) at age 46. Much to my surprise, I've had NO LUCK finding employment, and I'm now age 49. I am grateful for the education and treasure the experience, but I am highly disappointed that the education has not been helpful in my acquisition of a decent job. Best wishes to you for future success!

I obtained a second bachelor's degree in 2006 that I had started in 1998 after a traumatic divorce. I was fifty-six when I started and sixty-five when I finished with a B.F.A. I studied fine art, a total departure from my first degree, which was in English. I got my second degree from a prestigious art school, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I was accepted as a transfer student. I never tried to befriend my classmates, but I was always friendly. In art classes the atmosphere is always informal and conversation is frequent. I did befriend several of my instructors, who were closer to my age. In spite of remaining impartial most of the time, I did make one young (male) friend with whom I'm still in touch. We talk about art, of course, and what to do next, with an eye toward applying for graduate school. I'd like to do this so I could do a little teaching, like for what remains of my so-called life. Finding work at my age, no matter how many degrees I have and no matter how youthful my outlook, has proven quite difficult, so who knows? I loved school and would go back in an instant. I loved it better than any job I've ever had, and I got a greater sense of accomplishment from the art I made and the things I learned than any job has ever given me. And with surprisingly less stress, comparatively speaking. I recommend school for anyone at any age if that's what you've put off doing but think you'd like to do. It's not like the rest of life at all.

Congratulations! I hope your story inspires other women to finish college. My college career began in 1973 and I finally dropped out around 1981 after finding it difficult to juggle full-time work, family and school at night. However, I had a wonderful opportunity to return to school full-time in January 2003, with graduation in December 2004. I purchased a class ring, as well, and did choose to participate in the graduation ceremony. It meant so much to see my parents' pride that all their daughters were now college graduates.

Congratulations! I, too, took on college life as a nontraditional student. A few years ago, after being dignosed with a degenerative eye disease, I began to lose my vision. Instead of allowing the disease to control my life, I decided to take control. While starting college, I had to learn to develop study skills and blind-living skills simultaneously. I graduated last spring at the age of 46. This fall, I'll begin the pursuit of my master's degree.
It's been a tough challenge but that's what makes it all so worth the effort. I excelled in academics and in addition, have learned so many more valuable lessons along the way. I've made some great friends, ranging from twenty-somethings to professors possessing a wealth of knowledge and experience.
I know what a feat it has been to earn your degree. You should be REALLY prould of yourself. By acquiring the skills to become a lifetime learner, you've given yourself a gift that will last forever.
Most Sincere Congratulations!

I totally relate. I am still in school, I am in my mid 50's. It has been a very long time since I started to obtain a degree and the interruption of life has made it longer. I am a senior now with about 3 more semesters to finish. Congratulations!!! Much success in the future. I may steal you idea for my class ring that is a neat idea.

Congratulations to you. I graduated at 50 in 2006 am still looking for a job, actually a total career change. I have been a nurse for almost 29 years and graduated with my B.S. in Accounting. Hopefully this will be my year to find a job. Good Luck with the rest of your education it is so worth it.

Well, let me congratulate you, and thank you at the same time. Unfortunately I have not been following your blog, but now wish I had. I have been a little busy myself. I went back to college in January this year, and am taking a full load with working full time, plus all of the other family responsibilities that are unique to the baby boomer generation. Oh! Did I mention that I am 58 years old? Did I mention that I am majoring in legal studies with the intent of going on to get my law degree? Did I mention that I have a 4.0, and am on the President's list? My classmates range in age from 18 to somewhere in their 40s. I love it, and although wish I had done it much sooner, this is a great place to be now!

Congratulations! I too have a similar story, but I began my degree in 1971. I lost over half my credits when I transferred them to a local University, so I had just over 100 credits to take. It took me six years to complete, working first full time and then part time. There have been a lot of changes in my life during this time including both kids graduating ahead of me. I'm still in search of that new job but the "Women for Hire" site has been an inspiration. Once again, congratulations on your achievement!

Congratulations! I especially like your engraving your ring with 1974 and 2008. A fantastic accomplishment - and congrats on the article as well.

CONGRATS! Make sure that party's a big one! You spoke of your son in your first post, but not this post. Is smart money on him not making it through freshman year? I hope it was merely an intentional oversight that you'll address in the next installment. GOD BLESS YOU.

Awesome! Congratulations on many years of hard work. You are an inspiration to many!