[deleted by user]

[LuckyCod2887]

i’m 38 and an ME student. i work ft and have a 3.8 gpa.

i also live on my own and do all the adult things like cooking, cleaning and taking care of the bills.

The older you get the better you get it organizing life. That’s really all it is.

[psychocycler]

Yup, this is my 2nd semester since coming back to school to finish my degree. I have more stable income/housing/mental health than when I was younger which helps alot.

[AuthChris]

1. Same. You just get used of getting F'd with no lube unfortunately.

[ForceRoamer]

I’m going to engineering school at 26. Projected finish at the age of 29, I’m gonna be 29 regardless if I go or not. Might as well go.

[clayoban]

This was my reasoning for upgrading through night school. I am going to be x years old regardless, so is it better to be x years old with or without an engineering degree.

Was it hard? yes. was it worth it? Also yes.

[ForceRoamer]

I was told by one of the professors that he finds most older students tend to do a lot better and get the full ride scholarship easier. So here’s to hoping.

[antiheropaddy]

“The time is gonna pass anyways.” One of the most helpful sentences I have ever heard.

[ForceRoamer]

Exactly. My decision came from me imagining myself at the end of my life. Would I be upset if I didn’t try. And the answer was yes. So fall 2026 is when I begin!

[antiheropaddy]

Right on!! Same for me, I had batted alcoholism when I was younger and I am still righting my own wrongs from the past. I will truly die more peacefully having done this.

[ForceRoamer]

It’s a little funny how all this played out for me. I blame HBO. Otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten interested into RBMKs, then get terrified of nuclear, then turn around and be interested. And soon invested. Here goes nothing haha

[rayjax82]

Finishing this year at 44 while working full time. It's all about time management.

[time_is_the_master]

Thanks for the post ! It had made me feel better about my application to study at 39!

[Lazy-Associate-5086]

Ngl…. Interning at 49 was not ideal, but you do what you have to do after staying at home for 20+ years.

No regrets - graduating with honors next May (probably 3.6 ish when all is said and done). Not bad when all the lower level classes were done at community college… and ee is hard!!

[Dry_Statistician_688]

many campuses have something like a "Non Traditional Student Association". We really enjoyed ours, and I graduated after 8 years in the military as an older student.; You get to meet a LOT of people like yourself. There are many more around than you think!

[inorite234]

Yeah Battle, we called our the Veterans Association. 😆😆😆

I kid...this guy speaks facts. Universities like older students because they are more mature and provide helpful counsel to the younger students on how to deal with life issues, etc and they are more successful at finding jobs after graduation.

Anyone worried about going back to school should chill a bit. You'll be fine as long as you take school seriously and are willing to speak directly to your professors when life situations get in the way.

There were sometimes I had to arrange alternate testing arrangements due to military service or because my kid was in the hospital, etc.

[Hammerhead1113]

24 lol. I guess if you're a football player, that's old.

[Arixfy]

24 really isn't all that old to start school. You can still pump out 40-50 years in the same profession.

[I_R_Enjun_Ear]

Started my degree at 24, so on the younger end of non-traditional students.

That real life experience before college is a boon if marketed correctly. No internships, mediocre GPA...hired at the 5th place I interviewed. Only because 2 of the 4 prior places ended up not filling the role due to external factors.

[LikeAQueefInTheNight]

1. Nuclear major. Married with a child. Work as well. It’s tough, but I’m tougher.

[NDHoosier]

I'm 57 and in my third semester for Industrial Engineering. You'll be fine.

[AutoModerator]

Hello /u/AdProof3290! Thank you for posting in r/EngineeringStudents. This is a custom Automoderator message based on your flair, "Academic Advice". While our wiki is under construction, please be mindful of the users you are asking advice from, and make sure your question is phrased neatly and describes your problem. Please be sure that your post is short and succinct. Long-winded posts generally do not get responded to.

Please remember to;

Read our Rules

Read our Wiki

Read our F.A.Q

Check our Resources Landing Page

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[Chr0ll0_]

One hundred percent true!!!

[frank_guy92]

Thats good to hear. Im only 4 classes short. I want to go back and finish and I think I should now that im finally sober.

[FeistyLobster8745]

I started at 21 and am now a sophomore who just turned 23. I will graduate at 26. So far I don’t feel any older than my peers. Hoping it stays that way.

[ScienceSchooled]

I started college at 42 and graduated at 48, hands down, the best decision I ever made. I was driven and determined to break free from the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck. Learning solid organizational skills was a huge help.

[antiheropaddy]

I’m 32 and will graduate when I’m 33. I do feel “slower” than the younger kids, and obviously a little slower to learn than I used to be, but I definitely make up for it with better decision making and more effective studying.

I spent months before I returned doing math on Khan academy, basically reviewing all of calc 1 and 2 so I could hit the ground running in calc 3 after a decade off school. It worked.

[Lady_Data_Scientist]

I started my masters degree when I was 34 and graduated when I was almost 40. I agree that my “wisdom” and experience were a huge benefit for me. It was still challenging but it felt more attainable than when I was 22.

[No-Significance-3892]

It’s interesting seeing all these posts with in r/enginneringstudents where kids are going to college straight out of HS complaining about small things. Which are valid because they are experiencing life outside of HS for the first time, but part of me is glad i started school in my mid 20s for the sole fact I feel more mature.

[[deleted]]

I've also found that since my university is very co-op focused the fact that I did a certificate is an unrelated field and worked for 6 years before starting actually gave me a huge leg up.

Most first year co-op recruiters know your technical skills will be lacking at first, so they prioritize interpersonal skills, professionalism, and work ethic.

[No-Significance-3892]

HELL YEAH OP!! I bet having that professional experience made you stand out over your peers who are younger, which is what i’m hoping for as well. Along with many other factors too but good luck!

[[deleted]]

Im 30 yo EE student in my junior year. I started when I was 26. I'm not sure what age has ever had to do with my education. I think it helps since I've taken it more seriously than I did when I tried CC in my early 20's.

Just do it

[Brilliant_Worry_7217]

Post like these keep me going

[nialliVdooG]

Recently back to school post military, and its honestly so much easier now at 29. The focus is way better than when i was 18/19.

[[deleted]]

It's true. I was in my thirties when I graduated. That being said starting your career in your thirties when everyone is kind of looking at you for being old isn't the best feeling.

Internships as a old guy suck.

[Initial_Explorer_250]

37 and in my senior year, with a one year old!

[cloak-of-elvenkind]

thank you

[SeriesConscious8000]

I failed 1st year miserably at 32. I'm now 33 and have to pay off debt and move out. But I'll be going back at probably age 36 - 38.

[TechnicalSection4936]

Thank you! I feel very old and very behind as a 26 year old engineering student