Going Back to College Later in Life

In this video I answer a question I received from a viewer. He is 40 years old and is thinking about going back to college to study mathematics. Do you have any advice? If so, please leave a comment below.

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[adventuresinlaurenland]

I went back to school at the age of 41 and I'm now in my second year. It is possible! Just be prepared to have long conversations with kids half your age and remember, they are still learning also!

[daenerystargaryen]

I've returned to uni at 29 to study research physics and am currently double majoring in physics and math and computer science. It's absolutely the best decision of my life. I'll probably be over 40 when I finish everything and hopefully phd. It has its challenges not gonna lie, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Life doesn't have to be linear and the same for everyone. There are many people my age in some of the classes I'm taking, even older. It's not such a taboo and weird thing as it might appear. And even if other people don't approve (many of my friends where not that supportive and thought I was crazy and should just settle down in mu boring unfulfilling life, do a job I hate, have kids and spend the rest of my life miserable) who cares. It's not their life. I would even argue that it's in a way better to be older - you're more mature, more committed, have better time management skills. When I first started uni at 18, I was all over the place. Slightly been pressured by parents to go study 'something useful I could get a good job with' instead of physics, ended up with a CS degree, became depressed, was failing classes, was not able to cope with all the stress, assignments, keep track of time and all I had to do, homeworks, studying...
Now, 15 years later, I'm able to (not always perfectly but more or less) successfully juggle part time job, 2 majors and even have time to have hobbies, go climbing, diving, caving.. during the weekends. It's not easy and can be very stressful, but when you aquire the right mind set, and you fully realise that THIS is something you really want from your life, you can absolutely do it.
The best advice I've read somewhere is - one day you'll be 40 anyway, but you can be 40 with a degree you want and doing something you love, or just be 40.

[AndreTJones]

I’m 40 as well. I’m going back to school to get a Physics degree with a minor in applied mathematics. I never obtained a bachelors so I have to start almost from scratch. It’s been a challenge. I’ve forgotten a lot of things. I’m facing the challenge head on. I’m comforted that I’m not the only one who is in the same situation as I am.

[jbbentley]

Nothing stops the arrow of time,
live with regret or do it…
there’s no in between.
This is the simplest binary.
don’t give up, don’t ever give up…

[HypatiaK]

I had completed 1 year of college when I married in 1959. Life took me to different locations and I became the mother of 3. But I always kept thinking I would go back to school. When I was 37, I realized that I could give myself a bachelor’s for my 40th birthday. I earned a Bachelor of General Studies, focused on the Americas. That was so enjoyable that I continued, earning a master’s in Archives & Records Management. I worked in my new profession for a couple of years, but found that I wanted to make a change, so I earned my doctorate in history. As a graduate student I was a teaching assistant and part time instructor. This led to full time work, for 15 years. I retired as a tenured associate prof. Of course this was a field that demands another type of research than the STEM fields, but I can’t see any reason why, whatever your preference might be, that if you are truly interested, you would not be able to undertake the effort. I’m 82 now, keeping my mind engaged by trying to learn the math I never got on my way through academia, which has made me a faithful visitor to this site. So go for it!

[ailouros]

I went to college when I was 37 and graduated at 40. I didn't do very well at high school and was thought not intelligent enough to go to university by my peers at the time. But things change, and so does perspective, priorities and career paths. Heck, I even made the Dean's List! So if you want to go to college, and the act of going to college won't present insurmountable issues with other things in your life, then do it.

[lade_edal]

YES absolutely do it.
I started in my late 30s and am about to graduate in my early 40s next summer. It changed my life and my career completely; taking me from unstable low paid employment to a very stable very high earning career just before I have even completed the degree. Best decision I ever made.
My biggest piece of advice is this: Don't skip classes because you feel behind in your life and are in a rush to graduate. Follow a proper progressive pathway. Twice I have had to go back and complete earlier classes because I bit off more than I could chew in a higher class. We have to put our ego aside and remember that it doesn't mean we aren't intelligent, but it takes practice and application to develop mathematical maturity and intuition properly.

Good luck to any of you in a similar situation.

[carlneedsajob]

Everyone in this comment section is awesome . I love reading all of your stories about returning to school and pursing dream degrees . That is so inspiring . I am returning at 24 to pursue pre and post degrees in biology, and I enjoy studying physics and math on the side .
Happy holidays to you all . This channel is blessed with a lovely community

[ABC-jqve]

I went back to school to do a math degree when I was 32. I already have a degree in political science but I wanted to do something completely new. Honestly, going to uni as an adult is waaaay more fun than as a clueless 18 yo, and when I finish this degree I might go to grad school I’m enjoying it so much. Whether or not you do the degree, you’re still going to be 4 years older in 4 years — might as well do something useful, was my reasoning. It’s paying off well!!

[almost_obsolete]

I turn 29 in February, unfortunately I haven't achieved much in my twenties due to a confluence of factors (mainly untreated mental disorders) and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't daunting thinking about going to college so late. This video is very much appreciated because it's especially easy to feel like you've missed the boat if you don't follow society's expectations of when and how you should achieve your education and career goals.

[steveallen]

I went back in my 40's and got a Master's in Physics in the U.S. One thing I did first, was to take a refresher Calc and General Physics class at the local community college, partly for refresher and partly to test my resolve (at a much lower cost). Being able to commit to a learning schedule and doing well gave me the confidence to take the next step. It was a very strange feeling during the first week or two with so many younger students around me. But persevere through that and it quickly settles down into "routine". I was more of an anomaly at the community college, but in graduate school fellow students and staff were very accepting.

[brandonmanuel]

I have some good advice:
1 Save all your notes
2 Save all your college textbooks
3 DO NOT buy NEW textbooks, get USED textbooks because they are cheaper
4 Get organized with your math notes
5 Start from pre-algebra and work your way up

[dingbat]

General notes for Chris:
1. Start with taking the easier/easist course in the first sem. Do not overload yourself in the first semester if you can help it. Spend the first semester figuring out how you learn (is self-study enough or do you need study groups and/or help from TA, prof, and/or youtube vidoes etc.). This can take a semester or two; to develop study habits that work for you. ALso, in the first sememster you'll be figuring out the ropes of college bureaucracy, i.e. how to submit homeworks, where to pay tuition, registration, virtual collaboration, classrooms, chats etc. These too take up take time.
2. Taking courses does sound like a worthwhile thing to do. I would say start something, and even if circumstances force you to change course later, you still come out ahead i.e. you learnt something new, under a rigorous and structured environment via an instructor-lead course. (self-directed learning is not for everyone, I prefer instructor-lead courses and the formal structure that comes with a university-based course).

[janets.]

It's never too late to learn new things!

[vnever]

Hello Chris,
Apart from what Sorcerer said, if you don't feel getting back to college is alright for you, there is no problem as far as mathematics is concerned. If you work hard enough, study hard enough, stay consistent you can teach yourself some pretty advanced mathematics. Once you think you've come quite further ahead in the game(to the extent that you can create new mathematics), you can start writing to math professors and researchers from over the globe -- especially those who match your interests. They really are very responsive and helpful.
Best wishes!

[hansbaeker]

The first time I ever taught a math class, college algebra, was in 1976. One of my students in that class had taken his previous math class prior to the beginning of World War II before fleeing Nazi Germany along with his family.

[CaptainMarvelEver]

Just went back to school full time at age 31, it was hard, but so far it's been great! big up swing for me in life, and I'm happier where I am now than I was last year.

[jeffreybrauchler]

I'm 66 and a retired NYC Fireman. I am about to start my journey in 7 days towards an online Math degree. 1st up is Discrete Mathematics (The 1st Math course I'm taking). I love your videos Math Sorcerer. You're a Great Inspiration !!! Thanks

[timothyvonclasen]

I graduated high school at age 17, then went to college and got my two-year degree. Then at 35 I went back and finished my four year degree. In my view, the
trade off is that at 17 I still absorbed facts like a sponge, but had no discipline. When I was older, it was harder to absorb the knowledge, but I actually had developed the self-discipline to do the work.Finding the balance is the hard part. I would advise anyone, including my 17-year old self, to take a couple of years and experience the real world life so that you can see the point in doing the work.

[mgberry]

I just finished my 4th semester pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering and recently turned 50. I have a prior bachelor’s degree that provided some background but not all that was needed. This has led to some significant struggles and, at times, made me question my decision. My biggest piece of advice that I can give is that when your feeling exhausted and possibly want to give up, just tell yourself that you need to finish the semester first and then reevaluate that feeling. My experience is that you will look back after the semester and want to stay in the fight!