43 years old and going back to school

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the considerations and challenges faced by individuals contemplating a return to school for physics, particularly later in life. Participants share personal experiences, motivations, and concerns regarding pursuing higher education in STEM fields, including the potential for career changes and the impact of age on academic success.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest starting with community college courses to gauge interest and build foundational skills without major life changes.
  • Others express that age should not deter someone from pursuing education, citing examples of older students successfully engaging in STEM fields.
  • One participant shares their experience of returning to school at an older age and emphasizes the importance of social connections outside of school.
  • Concerns about the relevance of older degrees and the ability to keep up with younger classmates are mentioned, alongside the potential advantages of maturity in learning.
  • Some participants discuss the importance of motivation and personal interest in pursuing a degree, regardless of age or past academic struggles.
  • There are differing opinions on the impact of age on learning complex subjects, with one participant challenging the notion that cognitive abilities decline after a certain age.
  • Suggestions for specific fields of study, such as electrical engineering, are made, highlighting potential career opportunities and practical applications of physics knowledge.
  • Participants share personal anecdotes about overcoming self-doubt and the influence of family and personal experiences on their educational journeys.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that returning to school is a viable option regardless of age, but there are multiple competing views regarding the challenges and advantages associated with being an older student. The discussion remains unresolved on certain aspects, such as the impact of age on learning and career prospects.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express concerns about their past academic performance and the influence of ADHD on their learning experiences. There is also mention of varying levels of support from family and friends regarding the decision to pursue further education.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals considering a return to education in STEM fields, particularly those who are older or have faced challenges in their academic journeys. It may also resonate with those interested in the experiences of non-traditional students in higher education.

  • #31
Well firstly well done for even considering it and i think if you love physics do it! I think physics is a subject that really only those who have a passion for it will succeed as it consumes you and your life. Try not to worry about age bias, you've been a Civil engineer so its not like you've done nothing in those years and those who said life experience is an advantage they are right, a big problem with the graduates these days is they are so naive and have no clue how the world works, you do! The only thing you will have to deal with is the youngsters you'll be studying with, which at times will make you want to scream and scream bloody murder, but as those of us with life experience know they are everywhere and we just have to bite our tongue and move on.

Also i don't think we know enough about the brain on the individual person to know when it starts declining. I am always amazed at my father who has the mind and body of a man in his 20's and he is late 60's has been a sprinter all his life and his intelligence only gets better by constantly reading and learning new things i think the brain is a muscle use or lose it applies here
 
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  • #32
[/QUOTE]Also i don't think we know enough about the brain on the individual person to know when it starts declining. I am always amazed at my father who has the mind and body of a man in his 20's and he is late 60's has been a sprinter all his life and his intelligence only gets better by constantly reading and learning new things i think the brain is a muscle use or lose it applies here[/QUOTE]


Well said and inspiring! I have this personal "theory" that if you keep the body healthy and in the shape of a 20-something, then the brain will play along too. My alterior motive is to also fool people to think that I am actually younger than I am (when I go to interviews and such) ...as an additional tool to fight bias that one may encounter. Gotta try everything.
 
  • #33
william45 said:
Also i don't think we know enough about the brain on the individual person to know when it starts declining. I am always amazed at my father who has the mind and body of a man in his 20's and he is late 60's has been a sprinter all his life and his intelligence only gets better by constantly reading and learning new things i think the brain is a muscle use or lose it applies here


Well said and inspiring! I have this personal "theory" that if you keep the body healthy and in the shape of a 20-something, then the brain will play along too. My alterior motive is to also fool people to think that I am actually younger than I am (when I go to interviews and such) ...as an additional tool to fight bias that one may encounter. Gotta try everything.[/QUOTE]

Good plan! I also think if you keep using the brain it can't get left behind. And yes keep the body healthy and the brain will follow although i don't follow all my advice as I'm terrible at being healthy
 
  • #34
I'm 50 and I completed my MS two years ago, so I can give you a little insight into academic performance after a layoff of almost 30 years... :smile:

I found that in terms of raw computing ability, I was nowhere near as quick as I was the first time around. However, I was *much* better at seeing the big picture and making connections than many of my fellow students.

Your mileage many vary.
 

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