Congratulations! Going back to school is difficult in general. Add this to the daily lives of students who have children and jobs, and you have all the chaos on your hands. The pros outweigh the cons when you’re 40 and back in school. I want to list the professionals first because I think they are motivating to be motivating factors when you contemplate going back to school in your 40s.
Advantages of going back to school at 40
1. Completing your title can help you professionally.
2. Even though you are 40 years old and your future younger colleagues will consider it obsolete, you are contributing something to the academic field that they cannot. WORK EXPERIENCE! Your experiences will help you enormously, especially if you want to specialize in Business.
3. At age 40, you show wisdom. You will find that it contains patience and an increased desire to learn. You will find that you will be more enthusiastic as you complete the task and ask the instructors for help if necessary.
4. If you have a family and a career, you already have the skills to manage time, which will help you tremendously while you attend college.
5. You will find that the initiative to please your family while improving your family’s life can be a motivating factor. When others give up, you know that failure is not an option.
6. You will not have the difficulty of obtaining a social life through college. You already have family and friends. You will be able to fully concentrate on the academic tasks before you.
7. You will be able to relate to your instructors because you are most likely the same age or older.
8. Your confidence will rise to the tops of the mountains and why not? As you graduate with your college degree, you will be pleased to know that you achieved this tremendous achievement while raising your children and maintaining your personal life.
9. You will show everyone around you that you are an “entrepreneur”.
10. You will be a fantastic role model for your children and your family.
Cons of going back to school at 40:
1. You will feel alienated at first because let’s face the facts here; you are older than most of the people in your classes, especially if you attend day classes at your university.
2. You will have to juggle your college classes with your already busy life.
3. Your boss at your current job may not support your college schedule. If this happens, you may find yourself changing jobs that will result in support or leaving the workforce altogether, at least until after school. This could possibly create financial hardship for your family.
4. You will find that your energy level is not what it used to be when you were younger. Younger students don’t have kids to take care of, a house to clean, a job to work, and they don’t have the daily chores that you have. I would recommend energy drinks while increasing your daily exercise; of course, you will have to find time to exercise in a gym or more walks during the day.
5. If you have children and are a single parent, you will need to make arrangements for your children while you are in school.
6. You may need to complete an internship for your degree program before graduating from college. This can be a nightmare, especially if you already work. Imagine having to work your regular job to help support your family plus an unpaid internship. More times or not, if you already have a job, the university might give up the internship because let’s face it; you already have work experience at 40 years old. Be sure to ask your academic advisor about this.
7. If you are a parent, you will miss things with your children. Most students in their 40s are forced to go to school at night. This will eliminate momentous time with your children at night and before bed.
As you can see, the pros far outweigh the cons of going back to school in your 40s. The best advice I can give anyone attempting this monumental feat is never to give up. It becomes very desirable to give up when you are tired from your long day at work, dealing with your kids, and knowing you have to sit in class for 3 hours at night.
You must focus on the future. What’s a year or so of your life sacrificing when you will benefit immensely from your sacrifice with a better financial future? Hang in there and keep reaching your goals. You will find that at age 40 you will appreciate the sacrifices and opportunities that come your way more than your younger peers. In time, you will be able to remember this ordeal as a major milestone not only in your own life, but also in your family’s. Your family depends on you and you cannot let them down. Keep going and good luck!