A College Degree After I’m Fifty?

By: George Wallace

Why the Heck, not? The only limitation you face is that which you impose upon yourself. After crossing that bridge, you have many choices. Start with the basics. You can attend classes in person, or there are many college programs available on-line. And there are programs that mix the two versions.

If your choice is to attend in person, follow that dream. I believe that you will enjoy yourself, and you do not have to take a full load. One or two classes will add plenty of spice to your life. One of the most enjoyable parts of the on campus experience is just being around young minds. Don’t miss out on the most important parts of the campus experience, the discussion groups in the cafeteria, and dozens of other locations on and off the actual campus grounds.

On-line classes are a modern extension of the older version of long-distance learning, the correspondence course. Obviously there exists today with technology and interactive programs more contact with the instructor and other students than was possible with a postage stamp. Some students report that on-line coursework is more challenging than a walk-through-the-door class. Correspondence courses were also, I will personally attest to that. It might require more self-discipline and may be more closely related to a traditional graduate level conversational seminar where active participation via a chat room is a major course requirement.

Why do this? For the joy and fun of it. For the mental exercise and interest in life and living. This might be a start of a new career. You new retirees have thirty or forty years of living yet to do. You are not incarcerated, nor tied to a block of stone. Do something with your second childhood.

You do not need to be a computer whiz kid. If you send e-mails to your grandkids, or surf the net, you already have nearly everything you actually need to be a success at connecting and performing as an on-line college student.

The first concern you face is about the accreditation of the college and the coursework. If all you want is a sheepskin to hang on the wall, find a diploma mill and for usually less than $50, you can be a PhD. If you want courses and a degree that actually means something, and where you actually are engaged in learning something valuable, you should begin your program by looking through the U.S. Dept. of Education website at http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp to reassure yourself that you are on the right path. Another step is at www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html?src=qc

After the accreditation question is answered to your satisfaction, your next concern should be finding the best match between yourself and the studies you want to pursue. Start with looking at www.online-degree-search.net/tips.html and www.guidetoonlineschools.com

If at this point you would like the reassurance of print-in-hand media, go to the library, or pull out the stack by your recliner, your own copy of the October 16, 2006 magazine U.S. News and World Report . This edition of the magazine ran a cover story on e-learning, listing hundreds of graduate level programs. If you would rather stay at home, or don’t take the magazine, your next web location to check out is www.usnews.com Here you will find initial information on how long the program has been in existence, the number of students using that system, tech resources, class size, charges (You didn’t think all this was going to be free, did you?), and most importantly the web address of each school.

And what if you didn’t finish college when you were younger? Many college programs have provisions for accepting new older students with life experience. Check it out. Write and send a few e-mails. Make a few phone calls. Now that you have all that computer and keyboard experience, use it. Look for a college program that fits your personal needs. Undergraduate programs are more limited, but that is to be expected.

The important thing is that you want to stretch you mind and experiences to stay as young in spirit as long as possible. So what if your joints creak when you stand up, you too can be Joe College, or Sally Coed.

Article Source: http://www.retirementlivingarticledirectory.com

(c) Copyright 2006: George Wallace recently published a book on religion which lashes out at nearly all of the comfortable ideas about God, the trappings of organized religion, and the priesthood. His pithy comments and suggestions for a return to a God-centered personal religion will interest everyone. This article may be freely reprinted so long as all copyright attributions, and the full content of this resource box are included. www.OhGodIsThatYou.com

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