Going back to Uni at 40!

Red0desert

Hi everyone, I'm one of those who has made the choice to return to school at an older age, and would like to chat to others who may have had a crack at it too. 

My course is a 2 year MSc for 2 days a week. I work the other three days, rent a flat, own no property, no debt or dependents. My ambition is increase my employability and challenge myself academically ie put my grey matter to use. 

Here are my observations about this endeavour thus far:

1. Unfortunately I am the oldest one and other students are not very advanced in critical thinking. That's not to say they're stupid - there is a significant "life experience" gap however, it makes me feel very self conscious. 

2. My job is skeptical if this will work out, so has gracefully offered to trial this - with no guarantees. Whether or not it works for me, they get the final say if it works for them. 

3. This is a Master's level course and even though there is a huge amount of supply, the sheer amount of reading could get seriously on top of me, whilst juggling work. 

4. Surviving on a part time income is the toughest part. My rent and bills are cheap but my salary is awful. This is the main reason for going to school - seems impossible to get anything decent otherwise. I've worked all my life and have never found the mystical ladder which others appear to have worked their way up, so a degree is my main motivation. 

Based on that, does this seem like a wise idea after all!? I know there are success stories out there but I don't want to be buying into a fad or my own rubbish if you catch my drift. And again it would be great to hear from other old timers🙂

Emmia

I'm doing an MA at the moment, part time with the OU - alongside a full time job, although work has allowed me to do compressed hours, so a 5 day week in 4 days.

I'm lucky, in that I can afford to pay for the course out of my income, and I'm 60% doing it for my own enjoyment, rather than for career purposes specifically. 

I have dedicated study time on 1 day per week, but usually also study at the weekends too, do reading on my lunch breaks and generally ponder the subject. It's tough going, and you really need to be motivated. I personally prefer the OU approach as I'm committing module by module, building to the final MA rather than taking on a specific commitment to do X amount of days over a fixed period.

What career do you hope to move to, once you've finished the course?

Red0desert

Emmia said:

I'm doing an MA at the moment, part time with the OU - alongside a full time job, although work has allowed me to do compressed hours, so a 5 day week in 4 days.

I'm lucky, in that I can afford to pay for the course out of my income, and I'm 60% doing it for my own enjoyment, rather than for career purposes specifically. 

I have dedicated study time on 1 day per week, but usually also study at the weekends too, do reading on my lunch breaks and generally ponder the subject. It's tough going, and you really need to be motivated. I personally prefer the OU approach as I'm committing module by module, building to the final MA rather than taking on a specific commitment to do X amount of days over a fixed period.

What career do you hope to move to, once you've finished the course?

Thanks for your insight Emmia. Heard a lot of good things about the OU. Sounds very tough to work full time and study part time too, the self-motivation part is what really attracts me as well. Scheduling and timetabling are key,

To be frank I don't have a clear goal - I do have ideas, but they are admittedly hazy. I'd like a more senior role in my current industry, which isn't very glamorous, or a graduate opportunity in a new one. My interests are working with data and/or digital media. My industry roles have dealt with this area but only minimally. 

Emmia

Red0desert said:

Emmia said:

I'm doing an MA at the moment, part time with the OU - alongside a full time job, although work has allowed me to do compressed hours, so a 5 day week in 4 days.

I'm lucky, in that I can afford to pay for the course out of my income, and I'm 60% doing it for my own enjoyment, rather than for career purposes specifically. 

I have dedicated study time on 1 day per week, but usually also study at the weekends too, do reading on my lunch breaks and generally ponder the subject. It's tough going, and you really need to be motivated. I personally prefer the OU approach as I'm committing module by module, building to the final MA rather than taking on a specific commitment to do X amount of days over a fixed period.

What career do you hope to move to, once you've finished the course?

Thanks for your insight Emmia. Heard a lot of good things about the OU. Sounds very tough to work full time and study part time too, the self-motivation part is what really attracts me as well. Scheduling and timetabling are key,

To be frank I don't have a clear goal - I do have ideas, but they are admittedly hazy. I'd like a more senior role in my current industry, which isn't very glamorous, or a graduate opportunity in a new one. My interests are working with data and/or digital media. My industry roles have dealt with this area but only minimally. 

I think if you're doing this to earn more money/advance your career, then you probably need to think carefully about the specific course you're choosing, (why "that" course?) what career/qualification outcomes do you want and really focus in on those - it will definitely help with the motivation when you're burning the midnight oil.

Edit: Personally I've worked my way up with a degree only, and this MA will enable me to apply for / do some jobs that I can't do otherwise - but I'm also aware it won't necessarily directly  improve my earnings as a result of having this qualification 

tealady

Hi. Have you thought about taking careers advice. Or if you want to "move up" with your employer have you asked them what skills/ qualifications would they require.

Emmia

Red0desert said:

Hi everyone, I'm one of those who has made the choice to return to school at an older age, and would like to chat to others who may have had a crack at it too. 

My course is a 2 year MSc for 2 days a week. I work the other three days, rent a flat, own no property, no debt or dependents. My ambition is increase my employability and challenge myself academically ie put my grey matter to use. 

Here are my observations about this endeavour thus far:

1. Unfortunately I am the oldest one and other students are not very advanced in critical thinking. That's not to say they're stupid - there is a significant "life experience" gap however, it makes me feel very self conscious. 

2. My job is skeptical if this will work out, so has gracefully offered to trial this - with no guarantees. Whether or not it works for me, they get the final say if it works for them. 

3. This is a Master's level course and even though there is a huge amount of supply, the sheer amount of reading could get seriously on top of me, whilst juggling work. 

4. Surviving on a part time income is the toughest part. My rent and bills are cheap but my salary is awful. This is the main reason for going to school - seems impossible to get anything decent otherwise. I've worked all my life and have never found the mystical ladder which others appear to have worked their way up, so a degree is my main motivation. 

Based on that, does this seem like a wise idea after all!? I know there are success stories out there but I don't want to be buying into a fad or my own rubbish if you catch my drift. And again it would be great to hear from other old timers🙂

Having a Masters level qualification / post graduate qualification isn't really a "golden ticket" to anything, unless it's something like Law or Accountancy, or a profession that requires a specific "bit of paper" and even then, at 40 you'll be in competition for jobs with people who are 20 years younger.

Before this MA I did (and quit) a different Master's level course with 20 somethings as my fellow students, and that environment for me wasn't right - but the course did make me reevaluate what I wanted, which is why I'm at the OU now 

Bluntly I do not care whether others on the course can do critical thinking or not.... The OU study which is largely self driven, requires me to do it, and to push myself forward (I don't feel self concious about this). I suspect the age of my counterparts on the course (who I've never met) is probably more like 40 than 20 though

Red0desert

Emmia said:

Having a Masters level qualification / post graduate qualification isn't really a "golden ticket" to anything, unless it's something like Law or Accountancy, or a profession that requires a specific "bit of paper" and even then, at 40 you'll be in competition for jobs with people who are 20 years younger.

Most of the jobs I like when I'm searching online require some form of degree. The MSc is formulated around practical principles and there is a very strong emphasis on employability, which is why I chose it. The alternative is remaining in stagnant jobs.. Which does not seem appealing 

LightFlare

A large proportion of B7 jobs in the NHS now require an MSc 

Jaybee_16

After a series of dead end jobs going nowhere, I managed to get an admin job which looked as though there may be a chance of progression in future although the company never suggested this was possible. At 48 years old I discussed studying support with my manager and put myself on a university Post Graduate degree course followed by a Masters degree top up and pushed myself to do it.  Company support amounted to allowing me Thursday afternoon off so I could attend University 2pm-9pm but the downside was that I had to work alternate Saturdays to make up the time.
At uni I was the oldest by about 20 years but had tons of work experience to relate to and loved the interaction with the younger group and being back in education.

Yes, it was a slog at times, social life disappears as friends give up asking if you are going out because you're studying but the feeling of achievement at the end was something I'd not felt before.

Gavin83

Red0desert said:

Hi everyone, I'm one of those who has made the choice to return to school at an older age, and would like to chat to others who may have had a crack at it too. 

My course is a 2 year MSc for 2 days a week. I work the other three days, rent a flat, own no property, no debt or dependents. My ambition is increase my employability and challenge myself academically ie put my grey matter to use. 

Here are my observations about this endeavour thus far:

1. Unfortunately I am the oldest one and other students are not very advanced in critical thinking. That's not to say they're stupid - there is a significant "life experience" gap however, it makes me feel very self conscious. 

2. My job is skeptical if this will work out, so has gracefully offered to trial this - with no guarantees. Whether or not it works for me, they get the final say if it works for them. 

3. This is a Master's level course and even though there is a huge amount of supply, the sheer amount of reading could get seriously on top of me, whilst juggling work. 

4. Surviving on a part time income is the toughest part. My rent and bills are cheap but my salary is awful. This is the main reason for going to school - seems impossible to get anything decent otherwise. I've worked all my life and have never found the mystical ladder which others appear to have worked their way up, so a degree is my main motivation. 

Based on that, does this seem like a wise idea after all!? I know there are success stories out there but I don't want to be buying into a fad or my own rubbish if you catch my drift. And again it would be great to hear from other old timers🙂

If you don't mind me asking (but it is relevant to the discussion!) how old are you?

How do you find the other students treat you with you being a lot older? Do you find integrating difficult?

cr1mson

I did a MSc part time at 45 and whilst I have ended up doing nothing directly related it has opened a lot of doors. I was working part time at the time aswell. Fortunately employer was flexible and didn't care when work was done just that it was so was able to fit it around studying easily!

There were quite a few other mature students and we did gravitate to each other but I learned a lot from those who were doing it at a more traditional age.

My lecturers were supportive and the type that valued real world experience which was good.

Group work is hell but think that us case regardless of age!!

Definitely glad I did it!