Comments on: Redefining Back to School

By: clarkp

clarkp — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:30:14 +0000

Edith, AAUW offers Career Development Grants that support women who hold a bachelor’s degree and who are preparing to advance their careers, change careers, or re-enter the work force. The application deadline for the 2009-2010 academic year has passed, but more information about the grants is available at http://www.aauw.org/education/fga/fellowships_grants/career_development.cfm. You should also check with the AAUW branch in your area. They may have information about local scholarship and grant opportunities available to you.

By: Edith Peters

Edith Peters — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:23:25 +0000

I was very excited to have come across this website. I am 54 years old and by May I will have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Unlike Barbara’s friend finances have been a problem for me. I truly want to continue on and get my Master’s. Does anyone know have any grant programs that will assist me?

By: Barbara McAlpine

Barbara McAlpine — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:58:19 +0000

Thanks, Mandy. It was your blog that inspired mine, within minutes of joining AAUW. I commend you for returning to school. It truly is never too late.

Barbara

By: tempest

tempest — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:31:56 +0000

A 50-something friend of mine just began her graduate studies in Library and Information Science at Simmons College. She temporarily put her life in D.C. on hold to move to Boston to attend college full-time. While she is blessed that she did not have children to consider in the process, the decision was no less emotionally and financially difficult and painstaking for her to make. She was not deterred by age or finances in pursuit of her goals. Barbara, both of you are truly inspiring!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:57:34 +0000

Barbara,

Congratulations on your progress toward an M.A. in English. Your story is both inspiring and informative. Thanks for passing along this valuable information that I hope is helpful to women reading this blog. Good luck as you continue with your thesis!

Mandy

By: Barbara McAlpine

Barbara McAlpine — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:21:08 +0000

“Older” women returning to school is a valuable quest, no matter the age. The expense, however, of getting a loan when older, and then facing years of payments, is something to consider at a different level than when younger with more years ahead to earn a higher salary and pay off the loan.

For many years I wanted to return to the university after having completed only about a year or so at various community colleges and a short stint at the University of Washington. At age 59, I was surfing the web to see what I could learn about grants or scholarships and such when I came across a site that read, in part: “Some state universities offer free tuition for students over the age of 60.”

I was 59-1/2 when I read this. I logged off and called two California state universities within minutes. The first had a waiting list of students over 60–oh no–the second one–California State University, Los Angeles–said, in effect, come on down.

I received my B.A. in English in 2006 and am currently nearing the thesis stage of an M.A. in English (Creative Writing). Since 2000, I’ve attended the university for evening courses and worked during the day. Each quarter at school has cost me $3 plus the cost of books and parking. I have attended every quarter since 2000 because of the mental stimulation and new friendships.

At CSULA, the program is called “Senior Citizen Program.” It is one that many are still unaware of, even professors, I’ve learned. Perhaps the schools are afraid to advertise it, which is a shame. At CSULA, I understand there are about 50 of us, and some, no doubt, are there for the occasional fun course. Others, like me, are working toward either a bachelor’s or a graduate degree and a potential new career. My particular goal is to teach Writing to incoming freshman who have been underprepared in high school for the demands of college-level writing.

This blog is just to say that there are indeed opportunities out there for older women who don’t want to retire in the traditional sense, and who want to continue their formal education without the expense, and who want to contribute to the society that made it possible. I hope that the prospect of returning to school BECOMES the traditional retirement of choice in the future for the nontraditional student. It’s certainly a win-win situation for more reasons than I can count.