I finished my doctoral degree in 2012 at age 62. I went back to get my BA when I was 50 and then got a Master's and finished with a PsyD. However, I owe so much money that my head spins. I had to go back because I was too unhappy with virtually every job I had that did not care about me having a degree. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!!
9
Anne,
You have a bigger advantage than you seem to know: you probably received a better education than most in your class. Just stay calm when you hear "me and her went to town" the 10th time in class -- and gently correct them. Zone defense.
9
Congratulations Anne!! You are a NYT published writer!! Bravo!!
10
Oh, wear your fur-collared coat!
7
You may have more to teach them than they have to teach you.
5
Dear Anne:
I find your piece inspiring. Next month I turn 67.
I am formulating my application to Harvard School of Education's Masters' program as we speak. Why, when most of my contemporaries are retired, grandparents, and planting a tomato patch?
Because, rather late in life, I decided to give back to society that has enriched me so much. After a 40-something years' career, then six months of semi-retirement (the Nº 1 cause of an early demise after 60) I was bored out of my gourd. I was not ready to hang up my spurs and drift silently into senescence. I shot my CV around a few local schools, and beyond my belief, I got an interview and, then, a teaching position. To be honest I have faced down — with great aplomb and success — numerous boardrooms full of exceedingly important/expensive bankers, attorneys and accountants; but nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for a classroom full of 7th graders!
After a few years at that thankless, overworked, underpaid, vocation I now work with highly motivated students who aspire to better themselves and apply to American universities. I must tell you that educating bright young minds is the most rewarding, and satisfying, of all of my charmed life's endeavors.
Now, I want to start my own school for said students. Harvard's program is a perfect fit for my intellectual and experiential itch that needs scratching. Not to mention, I already have my Stanford alumni hoodies and Harvard's would be cool!
You go get it, girl!
Steve
7
In 2016 I was one of 16 chosen to partake in a pilot program through The Screen Actors Guild called, Becoming an Entrepreneur. At 65, my credentials were questioned by the 20 somethings in the class. Ageism is alive and well. How ironic. That is what my business is all about.
6
I'm at the Jr. College now, age 67. They wanted to know if I was there for fun. "No, I want to get better." Goal: To get into UCLA.
12
what a remarkable piece of marketing for Columbia: it's my understanding that top tier MFA programs actively seek to keep their cohorts below 35 yo. It would be interesting to see how many people (not "adult learners" - the implication being that those under 30 yo are children?) over 40 yo are admitted to places like Iowa, Hunter, and The Michener Center. I would guess, very, very few.
I think going back to school is great at any age, but I wouldn't pay for it after 35. If you get a scholarship, go for it. If you are middle-aged and financially challenged and you are gonna miss that money, don't do it. Depending on the major and your current career status, you will never earn it back.
1
Best person in my whole law school class was already retired from a career as a school superintendent and coming back in his late 60’s!
Two hundred dollars on the bar at our last goodbye party didn’t hurt his reputation either.
4
Anne—a complete treat to read. Thank you! A few years ago in my fifties, and after getting past a bout with cancer, I found myself a floor or two below you at Dodge Hall at the CU School of the Arts—but for film; screenwriting, directing and producing. Your experience lit up great similarities to mine: terrifically self-conscious at first, but it all went away as we all struggled (alone and together) to put something decent on the page and up on the screen. After 30 years of corporate life, getting an MFA at Columbia was far and away the most collaborative, creative, and most satisfying experiences of my life. Your capturing of that essence so beautifully is much appreciated. I’d love to read more of your work; I’ll send you a link to my thesis short film in exchange.
4
I can completely relate to your story.
Finding myself at loose ends after retiring and casting about for something to do, I decided to go to community college to pick up another language. I have two B.A.s, so it wasn't to get a degree, but mostly to see if I could keep my brain active and flexible.
I'm now in my second semester there and enjoying every second of it. Being older than nearly everyone else has afforded me the confidence to speak out in class without worrying about what my classmates might think of me (or caring what they think).
To have this routine in my life is just wonderful. My husband says he's married to a 'college girl'. Well, he is. Even though said 'girl' will be 70 on her next birthday,
13
I'm a 64 year old writing instructor, and this quarter my students range in age from 18 to 75. The mutual respect in the room has nothing to do with age and frankly, I find that my older students have more nuanced stories to tell, born of a lifetime of experiences the younger students have yet to know. Keep writing your stories!
9
Thanks Anne for a great message. I too was an experienced student, 58 years old graduating from college.
I loved all of school, even the tough parts.
7
I recently returned to college to pursue degrees in Spanish and French. I love every minute of it. It has been a long time since I studied at UC Berkeley and UC Davis, so I found that my French needed some work. Still, at 69, I am doing fine. I thoroughly enjoy my 20 year-old classmates, and, I think, they regard me as something of a novelty. At the end of May, I will be going to France as part of a study abroad progam where I can pick up some extra credits for my French degree. My friends and family think that I have gone off the deep end, but that is ok by me. I think everyone should be so lucky.
14
I began a law practice at age 64. I worried about being older, but my clients didn’t seem to care. I enjoyed the opportunity to represent my clients without having to do defer to male bosses whom I did not respect. The stress is mine, but so are the successes.
One caveat – I would not have put my coat in the closet. The hood of my parka is trimmed with coyote fur. It cuts the wind and it’s very warm. Any young person who objects – vegan or not – will have to learn tolerance, because the Goose goes with me, whether they like it or not.
10
I did this at 40 and sat in classrooms with people in their teens and early 20s. It was hard.
Keep going. It's worth it.
You know more than you think you do and the older you are, the more you value learning. I had lots of evidence I was working harder than the people younger than I was.
The great thing about going back when you're older is you make it count!
7
At age 55, my father went to college to retrain in digital photography, video, and internet publishing. He also went to UCLA for a degree past his Masters in Literature.
Now he travels the world. And he makes documentaries for US TV.
At 64, he videoed a documentary of a Kilimanjaro climb. Then to Malaysia, Ethiopia, Turkey. Now, at 68, he's negotiating for a documentary in the Himalayas.
When he stays in other countries, he tries classes at the universities. He is oldest student in the classes. And then he goes to other classes to stand in front, as the professor. He teaches writing to English-literate students in those countries.
And a degree in writing unlikely to make money? The money from his novels paid for his education in digital media.
8
"I’ve been warned by my professors that a degree in writing is unlikely to bring riches. That’s okay. I’ve been enriched beyond measure. And like my peers, I’ve got some stories to tell. A lifetime of them."
Well, Anne Rudig, you read like a writer to me. And your cat/coat story made me laugh. Priceless.
12
Decided to complete undergrad in my 50s with kids done grad school. My decision was sealed when a colleague told me I was “too old”. O graduated two years later with a 4.0. Only regret that I wasn’t bold enough to pursue a degree in the arts and to follow my passion. The coursework that enriched my life were those I may have never had taken. I guess it’s time to pursue a grad degree!
5
I began my undergraduate degree at age 53 for the same reasons Anne Rudig cites. I was too young (and broke for retirement) and too exhausted to do the kind of work one must accept with only a high school diploma. Like Ms. Rudig I worried about my appearance and age in contrast to my much younger classmates. But like Ms. Rudig I had no distractions and was an excellent student throwing myself body and soul into my studies, earning scholarships and eventually a master's degree. Unfortunately, now in my 60s I have student debt despite my scholarships. Was it worth it? Yes! It put my life on a path that is more rewarding, although not necessarily in the financial sense. Some of the friends I met in college (a professor and a peer, an older woman who began college in her 40s) are still in my life. I hope that college will become more affordable for a wider range of people, old and young. If college is undertaken with a view of improving one's life (not necessarily just a job mill) it can be elevating spiritually and intellectually. The best thing I learned is that learning is a lifelong process.
11
I'm happy for you and every mature soul who finds there is still so much more to do in the arts - at our age, we have a head start in so many ways and not merely in the mileage department. While I'm a writer, it was my musical experience that genuinely improved my writing skills and the theory I have may apply to others. After a 15-year hiatus and a broken hand, I returned to playing the cello - I was essentially starting over from scratch. Yet what remained was more than muscle memory and the ability to read. So much of what had passed through my ears over the years now found the outlet primed for expression and excising wasteful efforts. I'm playing far better and far more musically than I did 40 years ago. I think the same about writing - the accumulation of hard-won answers and well-distilled ideas is rather out-of-reach for many still balancing youthful enthusiasm and early onset arrogance. The writing life never ends. Bonne chance!
7
I'm a couple years older and still working, but I can relate a bit. I often take short courses in my line of work to stay updated and have long realized that learning is a continuous process. I took up piano at age 40 and, while it's a struggle (I seem to lack any semblance of a musical talent gene), the last two years have concentrated on music theory and it's rewarding to keep learning new insights that are helping me to play better and to enjoy it more.
I have a couple of friends who started to write late in their careers, driven by a passion they didn't exercise when they were younger. They discover the more they write, the better they get. You're building your skills (like adding music theory to "just playing music") along with years of experience. I look forward to seeing your first book.
8
Congratulations, Anne, and thank you for writing this piece which brings encouragement to so many others. My Mother went back to school and got her AA degree in her later 40's. She was 73 when my Dad died. Shortly thereafter she returned to college and graduated with her BA at age 80! Age is no barrier. I found the perfect plaque for her (and all of us): "Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures".
14
You are my age - younger, actually - and you inspire me with what you have done and the courage to do it. No matter the difficulty you have experienced, I would say that getting published in The New York Times should be validation that you have succeeded.
Continue to improve. And let us know what the title of your first best selling novel is!
11
All the coursework one desires is available online, in your living room, through EdX, the MIT online school. Not pricey, excellent.
4
And we cannot wait to read them.
1
And MeToo...to the engineers; 30 years in the energy/environmental business - back to school (nights) for a MEd to teach high school Physics (an engineer w/model trains, rockets, photography hobbies to share - 7 years)...1.5 yr sabbatical...now back at 63 yes old for an Env Science Masters...outcome? field education to get students outdoors ...”Wonder is the desire for knowledge” St Thomas Aquinas ...has been a good journey.
6
To fail is to stop learning.
4
To stop learning is to fail.
3
Thank you for writing about your college experience. I finished my bachelor's degree at the age of 59. I studied online from University of Massachusetts at Amherst. I loved learning and discussing issues with younger students. If I had the money for graduate school, I'd sign up today. How did you get the scholarship.?
6
"If I had the money for graduate school, I'd sign up today. How did you get the scholarship.?"
Have you asked? I've found that the worst possible outcome of asking is to be told "no" in which case one is no worse off than before. Following up a "no" with "what do I need to strengthen to gain a scholarship" is often very helpful.
6
I sooo needed to read this today. Although I am not aspiring to be a writer, I am aspiring to get my MBA in my 50's. Our kids are still in college and we don't have enough saved for retirement. I need more mental stimulation than my job provides. I am warned that it might now pay off. Your story gives me inspiration. In the words of Tim Gun from Project Runway-- Make it work!
6
Mary -- earning an MBA later in the career will pay off in more ways than a salary bump. Whenever someone in business or otherwise thinks for one second that I'm not as astute as they are because I have grey hair, I have no trouble touting my late-earned MBA and spouting the financials faster and better than they expected. It also makes you more confident in your personal as well as professional life: cost-cutting and negotiating services for your family, having a more informed Q/A with a financial planner, analyzing ways to do odious tasks faster and cheaper - PLUS signaling to an employer or client that you have the guts and grit to do one of the most difficult degrees in higher ed. Go for it!
7
An essay with so much wit and charm, loved it. Please erase any faint of a doubt: will I make it as a writer at this age? Your style of writing boldly speaks otherwise.
Enjoy and have fun on this journey! Good Luck!
10
This is wonderful...and I can relate to being tired of hitting the glass ceiling. I've let the idea of going back to school roll around in my brain, but have been fearful of the age difference, and the possibility of starting over career-wise (even though I'm miserable where I am). Thank you for giving me hope!
6
Went back to graduate school at 60, halfway through now with a 4.0 average, love your piece.
11
Congrats on publishing in the Times! Well done!
5
"I learn by going where I have to go," wrote Theodore Roethke, and you are doing the same. Keep writing no matter what.
7
Thank you for this, Anne! I was 30 when I returned to school to finish my bachelor's degree and found myself applying to and graduating from a MFA program. I loved being back in the classroom and experienced the same "they are so much smarter than me" feeling. This time around college was so much easier and more fun and frankly exhilarating. I was hungry to learn for learning's sake, but it was strange to be in freshman composition with a bunch of 18 year olds! Now after 29 years of teaching writing and literature at the college level, I love having nontraditional- aged students in my classes. They raise the level of discussion, and they provide a much needed different perspective. GOOD FOR YOU!
7
congratulations.
when i got my Masters in Special Ed, my son was kind enough to point out that according to the program, i was the graduate with the longest gap between my Bachelors degree (1969) and my Masters (2008).
9
To Ms. Rudig and others who posted worries that they are "too old" to pursue other paths for fulfillment, careers, self-expression, etc., consider the following: 1) "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" was written by (former) housewife Betty Smith in her forties after she had helped put all of her children through college and her husband through law school; 2) Maggie Kuhn was 66 when she founded the elders' activist group, The Grey Panthers, after she was fired as a church administrator because she was "too old"; 3) Gaugin was well into middle age when he painted his most beautiful work - Grandma Moses was older than that; 4) Juliette Gordon Low was in her late fifties when she founded the Girl Scouts; 5) Roget created his Thesaurus after a career as a physician and theologian; 6) Roy Kroc was in his late fifties when he launched McDonald's. (His publicist founded one of the most successful marketing firms in the world, where he worked until his eighth decade.)
We boomers who survived the "me decade" seem to think we are not entitled to create new identities for ourselves in middle age and beyond --WHY? For the record, I earned my MBA at NYU in my fifties after a successful marketing career (working for the guy I referenced above) and have been an instructor and marketer in higher education for the past nine years. I am learning new things every day from students of all ages as well as from my young colleagues. Never stop learning!
11
I'm working on my second Master's degree in U.S. history, after a 30+years career in public history. I wanted the intellectual rigor and structure that another graduate degree would provide and the program I'm in certainly provides that. I've found that I'm a far better student at age 58 than I was forty years ago, or even 35 years ago when I entered graduate school the first time. I may not be as quick with technology but my life and work experiences adds a dimension that younger students don't have.
I am still working (that's the hard part -- working and going to school is really hard) but I can retire anytime if I'd like. For several years I considered returning to school for something "practical," but I've been practical all my life. I felt I owed it to myself just to jump in, for once, and have faith that my new, and hard-won, knowledge will lead me down paths I can't anticipate. I find the unknown to be incredibly exciting.
As for being the oldest student in my program, and older than most of the professors, I've loved it. I love it when we find common ground, like when a young man rolls his eyes and grins at me when our professor bears down a little too hard. I love it when they kindly explain something technological that I've never heard of, and I love it when I share a perspective that only experience has given me. We learn from each other and it's been incredibly rewarding.
13
After many years in banking, my wife and I decided to follow our dreams. We quit our careers and went back to graduate school - and we thank our banking careers for making this possible. I was granted a PhD in Pure Math at age 60! My wife was awarded her second masters in her 50's. The first one was an MBA back in her 20's, her second degree an MFA in Creative Writing. I write academic papers, she is at work on her second novel. We look back at our time back at university as being among the happiest in our lives.
21
My experience was similar and I wholly recommend it. I went back to school at 50, Baruch College for a masters in Mental Health Counseling. I was a good 20 years older than the next oldest, and more than twice the age of the youngest. I was, at first, self-conscious of my age, and wondered whether I remembered how to study. I'm happy to say I was accepted by my classmates, and learned that their youth did not equal inexperience. I had a lot to learn from them. I also was never a better student; every class was fascinating - very different than the college student I used to be whose social life competed with learning. Six years after graduating, I am well into my career. Every day brings new discoveries and challenges. I look forward to decades of learning.
8
Do you realize that you are taking a seat from someone who could make use of those courses for a much longer period of time?
1
What a wonderful story! Your writing is lovely, as are you.
9
I went back to school in my 50s, received a master's in Women's and Gender Studies at 60, and earned my PhD in American Culture Studies at the grand old age of 66. Like the author, I also had an advertising past, some of which was spent writing car commercials. I called upon that experience - as well as my Motor City upbringing - to focus my research on the relationship between women and cars, a subject, I discovered, that had received little attention in scholarship. It turned out to be an auspicious choice: I've been published in academic journals, and have a book coming out this spring. Going back to school was the hardest thing I've done in my life, but also the most rewarding. The faculty was supportive, the work engaging, and each day I was blessed to be around brilliant, funny, and hardworking young people. My cohorts included me in their study groups, invited me to their parties, and shared their lives with me. They even got me back into running by convincing me to join them in a local marathon relay. Whoever thought that at the age of 69 I would be running half marathons and creating scholarship about women and their automobiles. I am forever grateful to the professors, students, and my husband who encouraged, inspired, and supported me on this, the great adventure of my life.
12
The Great Recession decimated my life, or so I thought, losing my home, my kitchen remodeling business, and, for a period, my self respect. After some serious introspection, I enrolled in college, not having been to school since the age of 16, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the age of 60 (Magna Cum Laude). I now work in oncology as an RN at a local hospital and embrace every minute of my new and rewarding journey in life. The biggest lesson learned? We can accomplish any goal we strive for with hard work and dedication, limitations be damned. Life is good!
26
Seniors interested in returning to school should check out their local universities and community colleges: many public ones offered discounted credits or allowed people over 65 to attend/ audit classes for free.
When I was in college, my Latin language and Chinese history classes had a few seniors. They contributed a lot to the class discussion and we young 'uns appreciated what they had to say. At the same time, they didn't condescend to us and treated us as equals.
Now, in my 40s, I am part of a Toastmaster club with members ranging from their early 20s to their late 70s. It's a joy to see people learning from each other.
7
You got me with enriched beyond measure. Now run for public office.
7
ever so cute...
The University of Maine offers regular classes (to audit) for people over 65. I excitedly signed up for a one time Bob Dylan class through the English Dept. I was so excited and ready to listen to young people talk and write about someone I love to talk about. But I was so disappointed. They didn't talk. They looked at their phones. I talked too much and had to cut back and worked with the prof, actually, to get THEM to talk. He told me that their 400 level seminars (this was a 100 level course) had to be changed to accommodate the students not wanting to talk. It really made me not care about doing another.
Also, the first time the prof asked about an assigned reading (On The Road) several said "Oh, I didn't like it. I didn't read it." !!! My jaw dropped. I would never have gotten away with that when I was in college at OSU. But they did.
Something was wrong with the whole picture. And it saddened me, actually.
16
I learn much from interactions with fellow classmates and older students are no exception. I find they have a different and valuable perspective, honed through decades of life experiences. For anyone beyond the traditional college age considering a return to academics, I encourage you to take the leap! It will benefit you and your classmates.
6
I’ve always been fascinated by the history and culture of Ancient Greece. At age 61 I enrolled at a university in the Dept of Classics. Finally at age 67 I earned an MA in ancient Greek poetry and subsequently taught the literature for six years to people my age. Now I’m 77 and back at the Classics Dept as an auditor, concentrating on Latin. These have been some of the best years of my life. I love associating with brilliant young people and reading some of the greatest literature ever created in the original languages as well as enjoying the wonderful teaching of great professors. Don’t hesitate to go back to school as an older person.
11
Thanks for sharing your story Anne! I've found myself feeling like the older person who didn't belong in many classroom situations. It's almost always what I'm telling myself and not what others think. We all have a lot to learn from each other. Bravo for putting yourself out there!
7
Good for you!
6
What a luxury to head back into the classroom. I did at 46, and that graduate experience remains with me because of the professors, students, and exploration. Plus, I was a TA so I didn't have to pay for it. I can't wait to be able to audit classes when I reach 65! Perhaps I'll get another degree. This Opinion shows what good it is to live your life, go for it, and enjoy.
Thank you, Anne. We desperately needed your essay.
10
Definitely! Go back and audit - or get another degree! Universities love older students who want to move forward - in their minds, hearts and souls!
5
At 60 - and still working 50 hours a week with a very long commute - I want nothing more than to go to grad school. I've realized it won't give me a career option, just as Anne Rudig did, so all options are open - an MFA in painting, maybe. Thank you for inspiring me. My experience, at least in the very young company I work in, is that some people do care that you're old, but you have to learn not to care that they care; you have a right to be here, wrinkles and grey hair and all, and be a creative, experienced force of change and wisdom. Thank you for this essay and good luck with your writing future, Anne!
12
Elaine -- not only do you have a "right" to be in a classroom but a responsibility to lead by example for all the younger students who think college is something to "check off" a list. One of the best books that inspired me when I went to graduate school in my 50s is "A Whole New Mind" by Daniel Pink; hundreds of suggestions for pursuing new knowledge in the arts. Although I pursued an MBA, Pink's assertion (well-argued) is that the best pursuit is an MFA. Whatever you do, don't feel you have to apologize for being in the classroom. Professors really up their game when there are older students in their classrooms. Degree or not, just do it!
6
You went to Cal! Why worry about the Ivy League? Cal goes head to head with the Ivy League or better. You know that. Go Bears.
9
At 50, not long after my mother died and left me a small inheritance, I used some of the money to attend graduate writing classes in the English Department at City College of New York, known as the Harvard for the proletariat. Fell in love with my first professor for 2 semesters who explained in vivid detail how to develop a sense of place in fiction and the "riddle of character." He was so inspiring I even wrote a newspaper piece about him. Philip Roth showed up one night as a visiting lecturer for a class in memoir writing taught by the elegant Francine du Plessix Gray. None of these classes explained how to sell stories or novels. I'm still trying to find out years later.
5
Mary, re: how to sell stories or novels, check out Writer's Digest magazine or the thousands of citations on its website about marketing your work. Roth is happily retired because he had aggressive agents. Today, publishers look for how many followers you have for your writing. Start writing, blog religiously, get over 5,000 people to follow you, and get away from the laptop to meet others who have sold their work.
2
Having taught college for over four decades, I confirm that young people now, just like young people of all the ages, have much to learn from mature students, including patience, sticktoitiveness, and an understanding that anything in life that is worth having takes work, lots of hard work. Of course, it is also true that mature people now, like mature people of all the ages--and I include instructors in this group--have much to learn from the young as well.
12
Thank you as well, Anne. My story aligns with so many others who commented, and with yours, that I think we should start an online support group!
7
I wondered about the value of awarding a scholarship to a 64 year old applicant (not age discrimination but a legitimate concern about younger students to whom such support would not be available). But reading your piece, I see the value of Columbia admitting "seasoned" students. "Diversity" incorporates many facets and clearly age is one of them.
23
So very encouraging a story for people over 60. Choosing a Writing MA was a good one, because not all the learning comes from discussion, but also from sharing each other's writing. A writer's dream, really. So, good on 'ya as they say in Australia. (Note: At 75, my non-credit class discussions in a class of senior alumni only is fascinating and enriching too, also non-competitive for the most part, candid certainly, and may actually go deeper.)
4
Kant was 57 or 58 when he wrote his first book, Critique of Pure Reason.
10
Not quite. His first book was "Allgemeine Naturgeschichte und Theorie des Himmels" published at the tender young age of 31.
1
Anne
I envy your experience, which I have day dreamed about doing myself so often and seems like a fantasy. I am not sure how you were able to connect so well with your inner self and find humor in your foibles, but obviously the scholarship has been well used. I hope that you find a way to use your "new" skills in a constructive, valuable, and prominent way in the years to come.
4
Nice piece of writing!
Pity about those vegan sneers - learning to tolerate differences can take a lifetime.
9
Thank you for this article. At 62, I find myself back in college enrolled in a Masters program in history. While I am early in program, I have enjoyed some of the same experiences you describe. Age is no barrier and I have truly enjoyed getting to know my classmates and have been inspired by their stories. I found your OpEd while working to finish a project for the class -- due tomorrow -- and your thoughts have given me the fuel to power through.
7
At 54 I quit my job, rented my house and cats to a woman I had met for 20 minutes and packed my bags to move to Paris to earn a master's degree in public health. My greatest fear was that I would be the oldest student in an international class of brilliant minds. I was the oldest student in the class, my vintage leather boots that I wore daily were older than some of my classmates. The boots survived and so did I, with a patina that only comes with age and time. You captured how I felt and how enriching the experience was and continues to be two years post. Thank you!
21
This made me smile!
4
My grandfather was a retired firefighter when he received his bachelor's from umass-amherst in the 70's; he was around 63 or so. he had also been an accomplished piano player in area bands throughout the 50's and 60's and his classmates at umass loved to hear him play. He pushed all of his daughters to go as far as they could in school ( rare in that era). He believed in the power of an education. God bless him.
10
Fantastic piece. I’m happy for you and wish you the best of luck. You’ve given me lots to think about for myself at 63.
9
I returned to school at 50 to earn a master's degree at Columbia. My husband had recently died, my son had just started college, and I wanted to make a fresh start at a new life and career. It has been a difficult transition. It was fun competing with my son to see who could earn the most "A"s (I won). But starting over in midlife ain't for the weak of heart. A diverse classroom offers different insights and experiences, benefitting everyone. It's a shame that businesses don't realize these same advantages.
21
I attended a college that had a specific academic program for students over 60. I loved having these students in my classes! They had great insight, worked hard, were earnest about the work, and were great to have in class. I'm glad you got that call Anne as you stirred that pot of soup. I'm even happier that you went back to school, not just for you, but for your classmates. Best of luck!!
10
I went to community college at 52, having lost a job in the middle of the recession. It was a mixed experience. Some of it made me laugh, like the young students who asked, "Ma'am? Can you watch my laptop?" Some of it made me cringe, like the 20-something sociology instructor who announced, "I'm going to teach you to think critically about your society!", which I was doing when he was in diapers. Some of it made me smug - a person with 30 years' experience as a secretary hardly needs to learn "study skills". And, as this author notes, I learned so much from the other students, who came from extremely varied backgrounds. In fact, I learned far more from them than from most of the instructors. And although I got a degree, I went right back to admin work when the economy picked up.
27
Inspiring. I have thought about applying for a program like Columbia's because I love to write, but figured I was "too old." I remember my mother being rejected from a graduate program in the late 70's because, in her 40's she was deemed "too old." They admitted her only after she received A's in classes she audited.
You have inspired me to reconsider my assumptions. Thanks
15
Consider enrolling in one of the strong on-line writing programs that use a live workshop: The Writers Studio at Simon Fraser and the Sarah Lawrence writing program. You'll find terrific instructors and talented writers of all ages and backgrounds.
3
The author is in her final semester of her MFA program from Columbia. Why in the world would she want to enroll (or even have time) in an online writers workshop?
When I was 17, I decided I wanted to dedicate my life to the study of psychology and .... contemplative philosophy.
At a time when it was considered "verboten" to even mention "mind" or "consciousness" in the field of psychology, there was no room to do what I wanted. Having played music since I was 4, I spent 20 delightful years as a professional composer/pianist.
At 38, I started my masters program in psychology, and at 40, my doctoral program.
Having taught psychology, done (minimal) psychotherapy and conducted several thousand psychological evaluations, I am on the verge (at age 65) of having enough time to dedicate myself to what I envisioned for myself 48 years ago.
It feels like a second adolescence, only this time with much more wisdom, and I have more energy than I've had in years. I've made contacts in various countries with people who have spent their lives working in the areas of psychology I'm interested in, and I expect to spend at least another 25 years working (playing!) in this area.
These connections would never have happened without the Internet, and I am deeply, deeply grateful to be living at a time such things are possible.
If only the ultra-nationalists who are bent on creating divisions and dragging us back one, two or more centuries could appreciate the wonders of living at a time when we can truly "be" together on this small, extraordinary planet we all share.
10
This story is fine but the NY Times has missed the mark on the subject.
The real stories of going back to school over 50, 60, 70 are stories of people trying to survive.
They are stories of people pushed out of careers who are either too young to retire or with no financial means to do it.
The Ivy League focus is way off. The more relatable stories are people learning a new trade or attending a city or state college to become a medical assistant, dental tech, or similar. The pay might start at $10 an hour.
Inspiration for older students? Great. Realistic stories? Better.
23
Again, kudos to Anne Rudig and others who worked in advertising (as did I) and realized it is not a country for old men (or older women), and set out to learn more about the world. To "Baba" and others who noted the "real story" is about people in their 50s and 60s pushed out of their careers and driven reluctantly back into the classroom, the real story is that there are no guarantees in any career or job, whatever your age. (Just look at all the 20-somethings crammed like sardines at places like WeWork and other communal spaces. They're there because they can't hack the expectation of 24/7 total submission to a boomer.).
Re-read the best-seller "What Color is Your Parachute" - revised every year so as to be current - which notes in every edition that a job is not a life contract. The lessons we pick up in the classroom can be applied to life and work: Treat every new position as if it is a course, seminar, workshop or consulting agreement, where you are there to observe, take notes, learn and advise. Sniff out the culture, do a 90day plan, revise accordingly, and make sure you know when and how to implement your exit strategy. Smile sweetly when asked why you left, as you assert: "They taught me everything they know, but not everything I know. So it's time to go and learn elsewhere."
As a re-entry student, your piece echoed my experience as well. Enduring those grueling days where your work had been read the night before and now faced peer criticism in class was both frightening but also exhilarating. I told the younger students that my yearly pelvic exam made me feel less exposed!
Sharing our writing at any age took more courage than we imagined and this united us all.
5
Giving a schoralship to pay for tuition to a 64 year old retiree wishing to indulge themselves seems such a cruel waste in today’s overpriced mandatory higher educational system.
5
Wow - the last thing I hear in this wonderful piece is "indulgence." To the contrary, I hear the strong and earnest voice of someone who at this stage of life is gearing up to make even greater contributions, which she already has by bonding and collaborating with her fellow students, who I'm sure are greatly enriched by her presence in their program.
24
Go, Anne!! You're a darn good writer! Keep on!
8
NEVER. TOO. LATE.
So happy and thrilled by your experience, Mrs. Rudig!
I was 27, and I felt I needed to broaden my skill set, so I went and attended evening classes in accounting. It led to a better job.
When I decided to move to the USA, my career opportunities were slim, as most of my diplomas and experience was from France. I went to a culinary school and became a chef at 37, working consistently for the last 17 years in the business.
Now it is again time for a change. My new field is coding, actually more like a return to something I was doing, and doing well, some 25 years earlier. I am knee deep in JavaScript, HTML, CSS, a touch of Python, preparing for the admission to a well established coding bootcamp in NYC. I want to be a software engineer.
And I will.
15
Thank you so much for this, Anne! I just turned 64 yesterday, and after 33 years in private one-on-one integrative health care, I feel increasingly called to make a larger difference in the public health arena, especially related to the effects of environmental (agrochemical and other) toxins on children's developmental health. I have assumed I'd be laughed out of any application to an MPH program because of my age and having last taken GRE's in the 70's. Thank you for giving me the thought of...well...why not?! You made my day!
13
Anne, Mazeltov!
I went back to the University of Chicago for grad school in mathematics at 43 - most of my classmates were half my age. I finished at 46 and now I'm 53.
I guess I was the diversity candidate - an old white dude with a degree in music! lol!
Soldier on - it's worth it!
11
Good luck Anne, my advice is to lose the political correctness fast. It's on its way out, like free speech at Berkley and respect for the American political process.
5
As a former superannuated grad student, I applaud you. Your life experiences prepare you well for writing. I finally got the ph.d. my generation of male authoritarians denied me unjustly at age 54. A 20 year career ensued, which shows that older students still have substantial time to enjoy their interests and skills.
I went to grad school still managing a household of 5 kids and a sick father-in-law. Husband worked all the time and I had a part time housekeeper, but was raising teens. So it can be done. Go for it!
8
Thanks for this post. I am in the middle of a PhD in education (age 53) and wondering if its worth it in terms of the money spent and my future years working/earning potential. Wondering if I can find a job at 56 or 57. I am a career teacher, so not exactly switching fields but worry about age discrimination and possibly needing to take a lower paying job. But, good to hear you found a lengthy and meaningful career after getting your PhD in your fifties.
1
I too went back to University, graduating oldest (at 65) in my class...with a 4.0! (part of being a roll model for 2 college grandboys) After years of running companies and doing international business, I felt the call to complete my education. It was work. It was struggle. It was one of the best things I ever did! I published two books and set out on a completely new path as an author...and college graduate.
7
I’ve been warned by my professors that a degree in writing is unlikely to bring riches. That’s okay. I’ve been enriched beyond measure. And like my peers, I’ve got some stories to tell. A lifetime of them.
BRILLIANT!
13
Good for you, Anne! Well written. Continue to enjoy.
6
I began university when I was 26, had been in the army, had worked, had my own apartment, and I felt old compared to 17 year kids who had just left their parents home. It shows that it never to late to go to college.
7
I am in my late 40's and decided to go back to school - law school of all things.
I want to share some my experience with those who may have fears about whether they have what it takes to succeed.
Perhaps the best news is that your fellow students will welcome you. Yeah, you may get a few odd looks but I have found that millenials do not carry the baggage that older generations do. They are much more accepting of people from all walks of life: gay, straight, black, brown, white, old and young.
Second, assuming you have paid attention at least a little, you have learned important things that will transfer into your studies. Anybody that is a parent knows what hard work and dedication is. The demands of school are slight by comparison.
Research has documented that older brains do change. Some skills deteriorate but older people simply adapt to their changed circumstances and develop new learning techniques. Other skills become stronger with age or suffer minimal deterioration. I was pleasantly surprised. I am not what a once was but I am still very capable. I sometimes have to put in a little additional time but not much more.
I hope more people will realize that a lot of the cultural myths we ingest about age and learning have the origins in obsolete ideas we have about age in general derived from outdated beliefs regarding life-expectancy. Average life expectancy and quality of life are much better now. We can do more for longer.
Go for it!
15
Anne's piece resonates with my experience as a non-traditonal student -- that's the category I was placed in. At 65 I returned to school to pursue a Master of Public Health degree. Despite my anxiety that my non-traditional status would isolate me, I plunged ahead. My goal was to get the degree (my fourth; the first three were earned over 35 years earlier) to complement humanitarian trips to regions struck by disaster. I wanted eventually to teach at a graduate school and not just rely on my field experience alone to gain this position. I knew that I would face occasional setbacks and even barriers. That expectation turned out to be accurate, but a long life taught me that I would be able to get through it all. I found my professors and classmates curious about me -- why was I there? -- but ultimately very supportive. (As were my adult children and wife. They knew that sitting still was not in my DNA.) Old-timer's day turned out to be a two-year launch into the next phase of my life: my satisfying 70's. I felt good that I was able to establish a goal, persist, and make my own opportunities. What could be better in the second-half of life? Next September, I'll be teaching a public health for the fifth time. I hope to see several "non-traditional" students in my class.
8
Whenever "non-traditional" individuals (i.e. adults) enroll in classes I teach, I smile a little.
Experience tells me that I will hear intelligent voices.
9
I too was often the oldest person in my classes when I went back to college at age 36. At first I also felt intimidated by the young bright students, but soon found that my age, life experience, and maturity far outweighed feelings that I couldn't keep up with the younger students and was selected by my professors for the Student of the Year award in my major when I graduated. Ms. Rudig, I thoroughly enjoyed and could identify with your feelings in your essay. Congratulations and cherish that walk up to the podium to receive your diploma. The sense of pride and accomplishment will overwhelm you. I know it did for me.
7
I started law school in my fifties -- "older than mom and just as smart." Though I was a contemporary of the professors, I was elected vice president of my class.
Now retired, I'm still paying school loans. It's okay. They're credit life.
9
I graduated with a doctorate in Business Management from CRWU in 2009. It changed my life professionally and personally. As a practitioner-scholar I can work until I drop as long as my contributions remain valuable and relevant. Continual learning is an investment in my quality-of-life and ROI beyond any savings portfolio.
1
Thanks for the essay Anne!
I will be entering college on May 29th and a few weeks after that I'll be turning 64. I plan to study bioinformatics and health information technology, putting a career in nursing and some experience creating websites to use. I do this with the intention of not only finishing the program but finding full time employment too!
Good luck to everyone here who is returning college and I hope you achieve your goals.
9
For five years I have taken advantage of the program at most SUNY colleges that allows seniors to audit most any course for a small registration fee. I have taken anthropology, sociology, art, music, and literature courses. I concur with Anne Rudig in that I've been enriched beyond measure, not only by the challenge of the course, but also by my fellow students.
6
Most if not all states allow seniors to enroll and matriculate, not just audit classes, for the same low fee. I believe SUNY is the same.
3
Hooray Anne. I was the oldest grad student in my group at 55 in 1995 and enjoyed it so much. The enrichment you speak of is beyond measure and off you go to a new world. It helps to have a husband and the strength of a Columbia scholarship and MFA, but it's all up to you. It's the journey and although I've had some success, mostly small and not monetarily adequate for living, I'm richer for it all in other ways.
6
Hello "Back to School, at 64"--I'm "Back to School, at 70." I began working on my MFA in creative nonfiction last year, part-time and online, because I am also working full-time at a community college. I couldn't be happier with my busy life and my younger classmates couldn't be more supportive. I never think about my age--otherwise, I might have written an essay about it. Congratulations on yours!
8
I took a language class at a CUNY campus where the instructor treated me and the other senior just like anyone else in the class. You know your brain is active when you engage in such activity. Most of the other students were not nice to us but the ones that were gained from the experience. To all seniors who can I say go for it.
5
I went back to school at age 55 and earned a BSN summa cum laude in nursing. I've been working at a rewarding career for 9 years now. It's the best thing I could have done! Bravo to any middle-aged person who reinvents herself/himself through a new education!
98
At 64 I went back to school and received my assoc. deg in nursing at 67; got my BSN at 71 and certification as an emergency nurse at 72. I've been an emergency dept nurse for 5 years. The only older people in our ED are patients. Still love it. Total change from prior work life.
9
The writer says she and her husband don't have enough money to retire but no matter what words she uses she proceeded to retire. I'm not sure if she expects to make a career of writing but, if so, she apparently didn't look into the economics of it. Most professional writers have trouble scrapping together enough to cover their bills and, if they are lucky, take jobs such as teaching to do so.
1
There is more to life that checking one's 401k balance a hundred times a day from a beige cubicle.
8
Try paying the grocery store, your doctor or the tax assessor with self-written articles.
I taught at a community college for more than twenty years. Some of our best students were what we quaintly termed “non traditional “ students. I think my oldest was in his early 80s. The mixture was a very healthy one.
9
Columbia’s School of General Studies can make for an easier transition back into the academic world. It is meant for students exactly like the author who have a gap in their education. They take the exact same courses as everyone else at Columbia. The only difference is that they do not have to take a full load and can complete their degree at their own pace. Many are working full time and bring years of real life experience to their studies. The student community is strong and cohesive, and their disparate histories actually act as a bond, providing support for older students. My son is in the school and it has allowed him to get an Ivy League degree, with scholarships, that he probably couldn’t have received had he not had a gap of three years in his education that gave him the necessary life experience he needed to not only succeed, but to excel. I would encourage anyone with a similar history to consider applying.
6
When I was in university working toward an English degree, I enrolled in a history of language course. That class was the most difficult and incomprehensible I had ever encountered. There were two much older students, past 70 definitely, and they appeared to be totally comfortable and enlightened, really the only students in the class I can describe that way.
I taught high school for many years and now teach in an adult setting, helping adult immigrants get their GED. My students' ages are between 18 and 60 (so far). Every day I am reminded of that quotation about "education being wasted on the young." At the same time, I have found that retirement has freed me to educate myself again. I've had to teach myself math again, up to advanced algebra, in order to teach the class, and I'm learning how to teach in a totally different manner. Once education is free of credit and tuition worries and normal young-adult problems of all kinds, it is all joy.
4
Thank you for sharing your very interesting experience. It is reassuring to hear that good things can happen after feeling "just tired". Best wishes that you will continue to mine your creativity and get published regularly!
7
I would have no interest in paying the exorbitant tuitions that colleges charge these days but I would (and have) had a great deal of satisfaction working as an adjunct at various colleges (despite the measly) compensation. I stepped off the corporate treadmill at age 50 in order to work in international development which led to opportunities to teach. Colleges really do value real-world experience in certain subjects and are always eager to earn money from semi-slave labor. No matter...it's great working with young people.
5
When I was in my late 40s my husband was transferred and we moved out west with our children to a city where we had no ties and knew hardly anyone. I couldn't get a job and, rather than sit around feeling sorry for myself, enrolled in a course in criminology at a local community college. Why criminology? It sounded interesting, which it was, and somewhat challenging, which it also was. The average age of the other students was 19 and there was one other "mature" student in the class, a man about 10 years my senior. Expecting to be shunned at worst and ignored at best I initially selected a seat in the back row of the classroom. In short order, I was the belle of the ball, with the other students vying for my participation in their project groups - they relied on my life experience (and weird sense of humor) to help them. It was one of the most interesting and rewarding years of my life.
72
Yes, experience.
We were picking plays from the text to report upon in a theatre lit class, and I chose "Machinal"; asked why, I innocently said "I like expressionism".
Pin drop.
4
Research shows that inserting people of varying ages into a group has a calming influence - less a "Lord of the Flies" result, which causes 18-year-olds to compare each other in looks, dress, smarts. (Or a roomful of 60-year-olds, comparing one another in looks, dress, smarts.) So I'm not surprised you became the "belle of the ball" - good for you!
32
I went back to school in my 50s, earning an AS degree unrelated to my BS and then got my state teaching certification (which gave me half a master's degree that I would have finished if I'd found a job). School was very easy. Getting a job, not so much.
4
After several attempts to get my philosophy essays published in "The Stone" I decided to go back to University at 64. Kind of a similar experience to the writer's. The University I'm attending has sixty thousand students. The population is five times the size of the town I live in. I feel a bit like Rip Van Winkle, because I'm now re-reading philosophy from the seventies from a very different perspective. The students are smart, and I find the course-loads insane. At first, I thought I'd found the fountain of youth. My mind got sharper and more analytic. Then I hit the December finals and then I felt my age. I wrote an angry confession on the last page of my metaphysics exam. Oh well!
It was interesting to hear virtually ever professor in every class request that students not use laptops or cell phones in class and cite research on it's negative effects. The internet has made the biggest difference, because of the fantastic availability of everything, but it is also a huge distraction. The stacks are full of books that no one is reading. That feels different.
9
Inspiring. Thirty nine years in on a career in Accounting. This makes me look forward to my retirement and considering the possibility of that BA in Fine Arts I didn't go for at 18.
11
I'm a younger person (early 30s) and can say from my experience that your younger classmates appreciated and valued your contributions to the class. I attended law school with some older adults who were returning to school after having established careers, and my peers and I learned so much from these individuals' past experiences and perspectives.
70
Oh, good grief. Other people don't think about us nearly as much as we think they do; no one cares how old we are. I can't wait for classes to be free when I'm retired. I will be there year round.
4
Been attending Boise State University for 4 years, $5 a credit for over 60 students. Lately been auditing rather than for credit so I don't have to work so hard. Love sitting and listening to lectures on a variety of subjects. Can't understand why more seniors haven't taken advantage of this incredible benefit of old age.
5
Thanks for sharing your story Anne and kudos for having written an opinion piece in the New York Times!
I'm 61, laid off from my job in December and also toying with going back to school in the fall. My biggest concerns at this point are like you "will I be the oldest person in the class (probably)" and how will I keep up with the technological demands of my program (advanced teaching/eLearning and instructional design)?
I'm encouraged by your story and all the readers who have gone back to school and reinvented themselves.
55
Yes, we have stories to tell. Following my wife's 2007 death from opioid addiction, I applied to and was accepted by a creative nonfiction MFA program at Portland St. University, graduating five years ago at the age of sixty. It was a complete about face resulting in a satisfying ghost writing and freelance editing career. My memoir, a chronicle of my beloved wife's demise and which doubled as my thesis, gathers dust on the shelf above me as I contemplate retirement. Sigh... I should probably do something about that.
4
I want to distinguish between two kinds of "education" -- especially important choices for older folks who have time and curiosity and want to learn about new things, or perfect skills they already have. The two kinds can be called "active" and "passive."
Very many of my older friends and acquaintances choose the passive mode. They attend lectures and very short courses, with no writing or testing or class discussion requirements of even possibilities, and/or take MOOCs but don't submit short essays that get peer-reviewed. This is all fine, but it cannot compare with being enrolled in a real college course, with a professor and some students in the same room, discussion, writing assignments, tests that get graded. As someone who is a fan of both, I can testify that the rewards from the active mode are far, far greater. Until one is forced to think deeply, and more than once, about a topic, and then to put one's views or results out for criticism by others (especially by a professor who really knows the subject), one only scratches the surface (at best) of the topic, and seldom goes beyond it to see its context.
It's said that the way to really understand something is to teach it. I've found this to be true. The next best is to study it in a live class, with writing assignments that get turned in and graded. Third is to actively participate in a MOOC, and last is to just sit in a chair and listen to somebody -- anybody -- talk.
Go back to school!
10
How wonderful that you were accepted to Columbia with a scholarship.
My son was just accepted to a graduate program at Columbia with no money whatsoever, other than a federally funded FAFSA loan.
His acceptance letter included the estimated costs of his first year there, including living expenses, at $96k. So, basically, a 20 something, full-time student is somehow expected to scrape together that amount for the privilege of attending Columbia.
Fortunately, he was accepted to a program at a top public institution where even with the out of state differential, it's vastly cheaper.
6
"... other than a federally funded FAFSA loan...."
That loan will require payback, just like all other loans. It is, or will be real money. Probably still worth it, but don't deceive yourself, or your son.
1
Wonderful story of a fascinating accomplishment Anne. When asked what's new your husband must also enjoy telling people he's been in a relationship with a coed from Columbia University for a couple of years now.
19
Fantastic. I love to read things like this. In all of the encroaching blackness it is a beacon.
16
How nice for the writer and commenters. For each one of you, there are millions of working class, VERY low income seniors who would be thrilled to be able to take even a humble certification or skills updating class at a community college or adult high school, but lack the means. Where is the NYT column about their problems?
5
Please look into free tuition programs at public colleges for senior citizens. Also, some community colleges are very low cost or free.
6
Many community colleges offer free courses to seniors.
4
Also, other than traditional colleges, you can take online classes (EdX, Coursera, Khan Academy, Crash Course, etc.) for fun or for certification. Classes can be free or for a low cost. Not a senior but I learned to utilize a statistical program over several months via a weekly online course. The professor was a renowned statistician from Princeton and the course was FREE. Depending on the the class, these can be quite interactive via Skype or e-forums.
Then there are also community centers and Meetup groups and groups like Toastmasters which are also focused on learning. Also, check out your library - some offer free classes or access to online classes (which would ordinarily cost) via your library card.
Tons of options to learn if one is willing and motivated. Much better than when I was a college student, 2 decades ago.
This article gives me hope. Thank you.
5
As Babette says in Babette's Feast: "An artist is never poor."
8
At 42 I was the oldest student in my college classes. It's never too late to chase your dreams, except when you are dead I suppose.
38
I went back to college at age 42 once I lost a job I held on to for 12 years - graduated with a BS in Music at age 49 two years ago. It was a big struggle to keep up with the work, but once I graduated, I felt a big sense of accomplishment that it finally happened. If you say "I'm too old" or "it's too late", then it is. Not for us!
I enjoyed this article very much. I want to hear more from my peer group; those who have ventured back to the relm of achedemia.
4
... Learning is fascinating, at any age.... and the genius that surrounds us is astounding.... I fully understand the appeal.
5
Thank you for sharing your experience.
4
The author quit her job because of "policies that failed to protect employees from abuse".
Now she is happy to be attending classes with "shivering vegans" who "jeered" at her over her rabbit fur coat trim. How is that a step forward?
9
Like you, I have reached the place in life where criticism no longer scares me. It's such freedom!
7
The answer to a number of problems: boring retirement, remembering and restoring a major purpose of education, personal growth and picking up on old goals, empathy and seeing past artificial categories, co-learning and professors who "get it," declining enrollment at some colleges, maybe even an indirect vehicle for making better contributions to badly needed societal problem-solving.
At 62, I never stopped "back to school," rotating between sides of the podium, and believe it's time to re-define the pejorative "perpetual student" for those whose circumstances allow for it, or could with some stretching, and for those around them.
One thing, though, I believe the brain, and certainly the body, have changed at this point. It is worth exploring the differences, some of which can actually facilitate learning, and, as we see in Anne's piece, for her classmates as well.
Seeing a bigger picture is much easier now, whereas all-nighters are no longer feasible. Could use a little proactive help understanding the class A.V. system and keeping up with a minimum level of cultural references. "Swipe for sex?" Do I want to know that one?
3
As a prof, my best students were the nontrads who had some life under their belts, shared acquired wisdom, and weren't hung over from fraternity parties.
11
I went back to college at age 63 for a BS in Business at Kaplan University online. I graduated Summa Cum Laude. What I liked about the physical anonymity of online was that my work (you write a lot in online programs) would not be subject to ageism that I feel is far more likely in a ground based education.
I went on to achieve K6-12 teacher certification in Social Sciences and Business in Florida.
I never suffered any illusions that completion of my degree would enhance ny odds in career growth. It was largely just a matter of self worth.
At 69 I am happily retired and content to know that I could complete my degree.
8
The recent story about the homeless Nakeesha Williams by Benjamin Weiser and this story by Anne Rudig are calming and uplifting tales in a print world full of turmoil and anxiety. A 'Well done' and 'Thank you' to both the NY Times and the authors.
9
Thanks. I'll be 62 in July. Paying for an MFA is impossible. I'll start working on applications later today.
7
State universities are essentially free for seniors. The nominal fee to register is usually under $100c
I love adult students. They are much more curious, work harder, are deeper thinkers, and share themselves openly with classmates. I prefer an adult learner any day.
In 1994 I began teaching adult learners who enrolled in the "degree completion" program for an undergraduate leadership program. Most students were in their late 30's, but I had many who were much older. At the same time, I taught classes at a university with 18-22-year-olds. Now I only teach adults. The young students are unable to grasp much of what the adult offers. When I finished my MBA just for fun at age 55 at least 3 of my professors suggested that I should be teaching the class I was in. It was great to feel that professors were friends and colleagues rather than authority figures that must be obeyed.
61
Hello "Cheddar Cheese" - like you, the reason I ended up in higher education as a business professor and administrator in my 50s was because of professors who thought I would do well there after graduate school. There are indeed some professors who are as passionate about mentoring the students as they are about teaching the subjects.
1
Good story, and an inspiration to us all.
But it's a shame she felt obliged to closet her fur coat: that does not sound like the "easygoing acceptance" noted in the penultimate paragraph. Trying to get along with one's younger peers should not require caving in to fundamentalist intolerance -- in this case, that of self-righteous vegans.
7
I loved everything about this essay, except for two things:
First, the comment about the jeering vegans--one can stand for and advocate for a position without being obnoxious and judgmental about it.
Second, and perhaps most of all, the writer's concerns that her fellow students would laugh at her flapping upper arms and wrinkly neck. Would that have appeared in an essay written by a 60+ man going back to school? Is there a similar analogy for a senior male writer, who--like Nora Ephron--can be admired for their craft in spite of the fact that gravity and time take their toll on the human body? Nope--sadly, in our culture, this is only a female concern.
I went back to law school at 40, and I was among the oldest in my class. I was the oldest student at the law firm where I was a summer associate. I never gave my upper arms a second thought, and the people evaluating me were concerned only about the quality of my work, not the muscle tone in my triceps.
It's time we stopped obsessing about details like this, and stopped tolerating it from others who do. It's both ageist and sexist.
19
I am a smiling 64-year-old reading this at my computer, where I sat to spend another day drafting a thesis for my second master's degree. There is no reason not to follow one's passions in higher education, or in beginner's piano lessons--next on my list.
82
I went back to graduate school at 50 and had the same experience. When I originally got my degrees, my peers were mostly like me. At 50, I went to a public university where I was clearly a minority. Some hated me for my "white privilege" without so much as speaking a word to me. I understood and did feel guilty when I came to understand how easy my life had been compared to theirs. There are no ways to make amends except awareness and helping - which I try to do. The main education was not in the classroom, it was with the kids I went to school with. And, BTW, the education was just as good as the Ivy League schools I attended when younger - and cost the same amount - 30 years later.
8
Thank you for writing this. In 2008, right at the start of the Great Recession, I lost my job. In 2009, at age 50, I went back to school to become a teacher. My kids thought I was nuts. Three years later, I earned my teaching certification, but I couldn't find a job. So I went to graduate school. Three years later, I earned my Masters degree in Education. My son and my daughter were there to see me walk across the stage, in cap and gown, to accept my degree. They were so proud of me! Two months after earning my Masters, I found a job teaching English at a small Catholic high school. Now, at age 58, I'm in my third year of teaching. I love my school, and I love my students. Teaching is truly a calling, and I'm glad I finally listened. You are never too old to go back to school. You are never too old to learn something new. Keep writing, Ms. Rudig. What you do is vital work for the intellectual health of this country. Never give up.
13
I went back to college in my 30s, with 2 young children, a husband who did not cook or clean, and a full-time job, to get my bachelor degree in accounting. The younger students didn't worry or intimidate me; mostly they annoyed me because they didn't seem to care as much about their studies as I did. At my age, I knew how valuable an education was to my career path and my life in general. Most of them had not learned that lesson yet.
Congratulations on continuing your education!
7
In the State of Georgia there is a program for people over 62 to go to any State college for free. Keeping people mentally active helps keep them healthy. The perspective they bring to the classroom can be a valuable Alternative view which enriches discussions. It is a shame that not all States have this type of program. Growing old might be inevitable, but to stop learning should not.
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Anne Rudi, you child. I went back for my MFA last year at age 70. I'm loving it.
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I went back to college for a second master’s at age 59. I had left my demanding full-time job because of illness. At first I tried to take a few courses at a time. I don’t know why I was in a hurry. Then I realized “Slow down! Enjoy this!“
Within a year I was teaching at the college as an adjunct (my professional experience turned out to be valued) This of course helped to pay tuition. More surprising, on graduating I won the department’s highest award. I never thought the oldest person would win an award.
To those who are hesitating: Do it! You will not regret it. I made so many new friends , found new interests, and filled in gaps of my education.
10
Good for you, Anne!
Two coincidences: Columbia is my college alma mater--math and physics, not writing. And at sixty-one, I've just started to write fiction. I enjoy it immensely, without the pressure to actually make a living from it.
I never much thought of writing when I was younger, except to consider that it might be something I'd do after a life spent on more tangible work. For me, that's been a good decision. My favorite writers are those who live(d) very full lives, filled with rich experiences and challenges. Too many younger writers, in my opinion, lack the real-life experiences to make rich stories, though it has to be said that many young people do have great stories to tell. I certainly enjoy reading them.
I guess I've always enjoyed new challenges. I left an academic job in physics in my 30's to go to medical school. Founded my first start-up at age forty, took up photography and became a working photojournalist in my fifties, and now I'm deep into this new project of writing. I sometimes notice that my colleagues are younger--more so nowadays--but it really doesn't much matter. So long as I am earnest and passionate in my pursuits, I find that I'm taken seriously and treated very collegially.
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You are fortunate to be so multi-talented.
How did you manage this financially?
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Lynda: I am just lucky.
Stelladora: Part luck--my work has always paid well, and my wife earns a good income. I also got an academic appointment at the medical school so I didn't have to pay tuition; in fact, I got paid to go to medical school. I also live well below my means, in part to have the luxury of pursuing my interests.
Anne, Thank you for writing this very inspirational article. I'll be 60 next year and have discovered a passion for writing. While I have many doubts about my new path because of my age and have to slough off the chuckles I get from people when I tell them that I have many ideas for books, I just keep plugging along. I am so excited about this new chapter in my life (no pun intended) anyway-all the best to you and thank you again for your inspiration.
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Thank you so much for sharing your story so similar to mine. At 63, after an over-thirty-year career in education, I went back to school for my MFA in creative non-fiction last year. My children's college bills are paid, and they're happily married. In addition to allowing me to travel with my husband, retirement provides an opportunity to pursue another adventure. Thankful.
7
My husband got his master's degree in statistics at the age of 61. He was just offered a full-time position to teach math at a local college at the age of 68, and is delighted. It's never too late to re-invent yourself.
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Advice for the elderly planning a return to university: I recently graduated with an MFA at age 73. When I applied to the program at age 70 the department chair told me she didn't take hobbyists. Be persistent. In the 40 plus years since I first studied it, photography changed from analog to digital. My classmates the oldest of whom was 40 odd years my junior were intimately familiar with digital technology and generous with their time in teaching this old man how to navigate it. My advice to anyone returning to school at an advanced age - pay attention to and learn from your younger classmates. They seemed to enjoy teaching the old man, a sense of role-reversal and power perhaps, and were instrumental in bringing me up to speed. Finally, why not take workshops or audit classes rather than matriculate? You are more likely to be taken seriously if you are on a degree track and the sense of accomplishment will be exponentially greater.
14
I’m bookmarking your essay, Ms. Rudig, as I suspect I will be reading it again and again as I decide at 57 what the next chapter of my life wil be.
Your words give me hope and courage to take that first, big step toward change and new adventures. Carpe diem, indeed.
Best wishes to you.
11
After I retired and moved to Oregon, I began taking classes at the local community college. First, I wanted to learn how to use my computer. Then I branched out to liberal arts classes, such as history, philosophy, political science, anything that interested me. I have earned more than 90 credits and am not done yet. I am always the oldest person in the class and the professors often ask for my comments since I have lived through so many years of history and can remember so much of WWII. I am 81.
I love being in the realm of "ideas."
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Anne, what you say is quite familiar. At 64, I just finished seven years of going back to school at a state university where I earned a second bachelor's and a master's degree. To my relief, the students accepted me as their classmate, even though I could have been their mother. I worked on projects with kids 30 years my junior and had teachers 25 years younger. I experienced the anxiety of the end of the so-called Millennial generation as they worried about finding jobs during early years of the downturn, and at the end, the connectedness of the current crop in college who are breaking new ground in human communications. They taught me to care beyond my horizons during the Occupy movement and touched me by their inclusiveness. In putting my own experience into perspective, there were some funny, humbling moments when I found that I had totally skipped postmodernism while raising children, and realized that the Second wave feminism of my formative years was truly in the past.
In the end, I found my voice, and was able to write a thesis that I couldn't possibly have done when I was younger. Writing is something that can take a lifetime to unfurl. Like you, I don't expect this experience to lead to riches. Still, I would like to make it mean something, find something useful to do that ties it all together while I still am able. Since going back to school, my eyes are now more open, my bucket list is longer, and my world is newer and braver than before.
25
As a 62-year old soon-to-be retiree who is returning to college this fall, I was thrilled to hear that my decision is not so far-fetched. The idea of paying attention things I choose to pay attention (rather than the things I am paid to pay attention to!) is very appealing. I am foregoing a considerable amount of salary by leaving work 3 years before full retirement, but there's more to life than getting up and going to work. Like the author I have far fewer distractions now than when I was 20 years old and feel much more prepared to attend school than back then.
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Anne, I live in the mountains, where the population of the entire county equals that of a city block in New York. Though your essay centers on age (and I'm a decade older than you), I'd point out the benefits of writing with a group of people whom you come to know and appreciate. In addition to being in a writing group that's been meeting for 40 years, I've also been taking university-level classes offered in a tiny town nearby. It is eye and mind opening to come to know life situations and stories and to write my own.
16
Decades ago, I began a second master's program, in elementary education, at age 28, having to start from scratch. I was male. My peers were 18-yr-old young women. I felt like their father! Your story humbles me, creeping up now on 70. You are inspirational, talented (your writing is superb!), and courageous. Please write, write, write -- and let us know about your successes.
26
Me, I hold with the motto of the University of Chicago, a pioneer in adult education since its founding: "Crescat scientia, vita excolatur" -- "Let knowledge grow from more to more, and so be human life enriched."
28
Thank you, Anne, for your inspiring piece. I am a 64-year old woman who retired last year after a series of job rejections that favored younger males, every last one. This despite glowing statements about my professional qualifications from those with insider knowledge of the positions. I have not regretted my decision as it allows me to focus more on my family business and a pursuit of music (piano and guitar). I have also contemplated writing projects and have some specific ideas about topics and audience. But I haven’t managed to take that first step yet. I think you have provided the very nudge I needed.
15
Thank-you so much for the line about your cat and the coat. That was brilliant and will make me smile all day (on a day I really need a laugh). Best of luck with everything and I look forward to reading your first book!
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I thought the line about the cat and the coat was the most dishonest part of the whole piece. I've lived with cats my whole life, and have never seen them try to have sex with furry inanimate objects around the house. And if the coat is hanging in the back of her closet, then how does she even know? Maybe it was honest, but it had the ring of a writer straining to be funny in a way that didn't have the tone of authenticity. It would have been funnier if it had felt truer.
1
And I thought starting law school at 57 was something. Soon to be 70, I'm toying with the idea of a PhD.
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Jackson, you were a child--I was on Medicare before I started. Now a 3L and wishing it didn't have to end!
3
Go for it!
This is inspiring. Thank you. But go ahead and wear that coat.
19
So, here I am, inspired by your story, but wise enough at almost 67 to have listened to my own heart in a similar way. At 46 I dumped a 25 year career in computers and returned to graduate school to get a master's degree in human development. I spent the last 20 years of my work life developing and delivering programs to corporate executives to help them maximize their potential in their work and life. I am not through. This year I started taking piano lessons. I have always wanted to create music, not only consume it, but to understand it, and to share my stories through song. Clearly I won't ever play in Carnegie Hall. Playing alone just so I can hear it, getting personal satisfaction of putting my fingers on the keyboard reasonably close to the intended sequence may be how I get closer to fulfilling my own potential. But I hope those who have read about your journey will realize that we all continue to grow and develop until we don't. As that great writer Yogi Berra wrote years ago in another context, human development ain't over till it's over.
15
Going back to school—best idea ever! Wearing fur—worst!
All power to you. The day I got fitted for my cap and gown in law school I got my AARP card in the mail. I especially relate to this paragraph:
"I have fewer distractions than my younger classmates. Dating and the insecurity that went with it are memories. Figuring out my sexuality and experimenting with illegal substances no longer consume my weekends"
And I am 100% sure you brought as much or more to the classes than you are getting out of it.
31
You are my hero. Anne. I'm 63, tired but not retired. We finish paying for our kids education this spring. I have been writing pieces of stories for thirty years in spare moments. I may not take the steps you did but you are an inspiration to me.
33
It is great to hear about being able to resume an arts career in late middle age.
24
Education is a life-long journey. Ageism shouldn't exist. I applaud your decision.
I studied history and would love to continue my studies if given the opportunity to do so later in life.
29
Many schools, due to prescient state legislatures or their own generosity, offer admittance to classes at significantly reduced or even no tuition for senior students (60 and over). I have been attending several different universities under these circumstances for over 15 years now. Nothing will keep you more active and engaged with life than these learning situations. And, of course, the beauty is that, unlike my undergraduate sojourn, I can pick and choose what I want to learn rather than being told to take this and this and this.
Of course, it's different. Your fellow students will note that there seems to be something unusual about you — you're old! But they are remarkably respectful and tolerant. And you have insights to offer that they won't experience for years (just don't talk too much!). But a vibrant learning environment is close to that ephemeral fountain of youth. Give it a try.
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The problem with the price reduction in classes is that it can't lead to a degree. At least, that is the problem in Florida.
A few years ago, I began a doctoral program again, ten years after my first try (left when we started a family). I had the Dear Abby conversation with myself: but I'll be 45 when I finish. But I'll be 45 anyhow. I've spent the last twelve years raising my kids and teaching part-time with my master's degree. I've come to see this pursuit as more a matter of honor now. I finish what I start. I keep challenging myself. I'm moving on in statistics, something that would have been unthinkable when I was 20. For sure, I want something more for my career than part-time teaching, but in the final analysis, there's nothing shameful about having been a teacher for many years. Adjuncts are often discouraged from thinking of themselves as teachers, but it's what we are. We need to say it more. I am a teacher.
I promised my older son that if he put in real effort in math and got to calculus, I would go to the community college that year and take it with him, just to prove it could be done. I'll be fifty that year, and I'll probably have to take the remedial class first, but I'll do it. I need my boys to know that the only real option in life is to die trying. It doesn't really matter what you're trying. Just keep going.
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I got a degree in Computer Science from a major University at the age of 40. That was nearly 20 years ago, now. And I am a woman.
Do it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
4
Thanks for this -- I found it more inspiring than almost anything lately! To finish what you start, to die trying - that's a great thing to aim for at all ages.
4
As a lifetime learner, let me point you to the awesome http://www.khanacademy.org...great for learning or reviewing math and many other topics. You can get a head start on the calculus!
1
I applaud your decision to pursue your dream. And envy your ability to stick with it. I find going to a night class tiring after a busy day. But I have always loved the classroom and the mental stimulation of learning. thank you for your story. You have inspired me and I'm sure many others!
8
I'm not quite 60, and went back to school last fall. I'm working towards nothing as lofty as a second Masters (first is in Public Administration) or even a second Bachelors (first in English Literature). Instead, I'm working on an Associates in Accounting. Why? Because it is completely different from what I studied in the past and is closely related to what I actually do for a living--resource manager for an IT Division within a small entity of the Department of Defense. Also, as a retired USAF member, I have the GI Bill that pays for my education.
Last semester I was the oldest in all of my classes, including the professors, except for one. In that class the professor was old enough to be my father! But I enjoyed my fellow students, many of them immigrants. This semester I am taking the core classes for my degree rather than the general education courses so more of the students are closer to my age. I am enjoying all of them. The classes are interesting and so are my fellow students, even if I'm old enough to be their grandmother in some cases.
I am stretching my mind and expanding my interactions with the broader community. And I love it!
25
Thank you for this inspiring story and for all the commenters that have chimed in with theirs. I needed to read this.
15
How about me? I have an age story too.
I entered graduate school at 65, and obtained a Masters degree in Mathematics.
2 months ago I entered CNA school at 79 with the goal of obtaining a state certification for nursing assistant.
Lots of people have this kind of story.
116
As I took my own children on college tours and saw how colleges had changed, and for the better, since the 1970’s, I also decided to apply to a masters program in a subject that had interested me for a long time. I was a part time student, graduating seven years later! Writing my thesis, on a computer, was a daunting task. Not so much for the research and analysis involved, but because I had only used a computer to read newspapers and check email. I had to learn the features of the computer that I never knew I never knew. I loved the return to challenging study, and feel pride that I accomplished the program at 55.
35
Good for you. I'd love to go back for an MFA (visual art), but the time and cost make it prohibitive at this point in life. For one reason though - the ongoing critique. Never fear a good robust (i prefer it harsh) critique - it gets you out of your bubble and forces you to see issues in your own work that you may have overlooked, and to defend or adjust your work as necessary. Without it, it's like floating in space with no anchor. I'm glad that you've gotten past your fear of it.
19
Thank you for sharing. I'm 63 and I can't seem to grasp that my son feels I have many good years ahead of me and wants me to go back to school. My age doesn't bother me; the thought of a classroom, assignments with deadlines and studying do! I'm asking myself if I want to "start all over again" or just sail into retirement. Or can I go ahead and do both? I applaud you for taking the plunge!
79
I am working on my third MA, and hopefully it will give me some options in the workforce besides moving to India or going on social security. I've been off work a year and it feels really good to be doing it. Right choice, right time.
...but after this one there is one more that will be for my personal pleasure.
I fully expect to give every younger student in my classes a run for their money. Interestingly it's only people my age and older who seem to have a problem with it!
16
Take a course! It will make you feel young again and will be good for your brain. Use it or lose it!
5
I am a historian and I teach historical geography of ancient Israel. I began teaching at age 26 and in a few months will celebrate 40 years, making me just a little bit older than Ms. Rudig.
We get a lot of "older students", some after retirement and some through various programs (money makers for the university).
Today I prefer these students. I get doctors, lawyers, engineers, CEOs of various types of companies, former army and police officers. They study because they want to and because they enjoy it. Some of them are brilliant and are already capable of critical thought and many have experience in this.
I no longer take young Ph.D students, but I am about to take my second electrical engineer (+ MBA) as a doctoral student. These students take and relish the courses, learn the languages and don't complain. They quickly make up what they need in my discipline.
I will retire at 68, no choice here, and have for years toyed with the idea of going to law school when I do. Why not.
144
I am puzzled as to why schools take on these older students other than the fact that they are willing to pay full fare. They are unlikely to advance their field, unlikely to use their skills to contribute to society with the few years they have left. Yes, it is good for them to have opportunities other than golf, but what does it do for society, and why are teachers teaching them when younger students could benefit many more other people? Schools are in the business of benefitting society as a whole, not the private amusement of individuals.
3
"Schools are in the business of benefitting society as a whole . . ." Whatever the accuracy of that statement, it would be good to remember that older people are part of society as a whole.
73
Hydra, I was an adjunct at NYU for almost 30 years, and occasionally took a class as a perk. Older students enrich the classroom discussion for everybody. And as an older person now, I see no end to advancing my field or contributing to society due to my age. Perhaps you’ll become older and come to think society includes people of every age. If that happens, you may consider yourself mature.
60