Any Inspirational Stories About Non-traditional Students?

I graduated with my Master's Degree last June (2011), turned 40 in August and relocated to work for IBM. Had I not gone back to school I, for sure, would not have this job. I would be stuck working in retail - nights and weekends.... 60 hours a week, more at holidays, for inconsistent commission/bonus pay.

My Master's Degree enabled me to get a good job with decent hours. I wish it paid more, but I LOVE what I do and I love the people I do it with.

If you are going into healthcare.... you should seriously consider Health Informatics. It's basically digitalizing medical records and/or enabling easier access to medical records and history in a fluid manner - both from the provider point of view as well as the patient.

It's also about upgrading the technology so that those records and tests are available..... think the commercial where the Dr can do an ultrasound in the grocery store on that little boy who they think has appendicitis.

This is a BOOMING field. Had I not gone straight MSCIS, I would have done the Master's in Medical Informatics degree.
Northwestern University's MMI program is mostly online. You can check out their website.... I think you have to physically be present 2 weekends and then for graduation.

Plus - in technology if you are a mom, then you're a girl..... and the technology field REALLY wants diversity. Since it's primarily a male dominated field (in some of my classes of 30 students, I was the ONLY female....or 1 of 2 or 3 females), your gender will give you a leg up. and actually your age will help too - they won't see you as a bimbo.

Also - another perspective..... I'm from a family that really just values education.... for the sake of education. Yes, money doesn't grow on trees and sometimes it does seem frivolous to spend money on a degree if you aren't going to apply that degree specifically. but I met a lot of contacts in school and made a ton of networking strides that will be helpful to me professionally forever.

So, I say DO IT!

Good Luck.

I have a friend who graduated nursing school two years ago and got a job almost immediately. She was 42 at the time.
I think you need to actually contact the employers in your area and speak to them directly. Talk to the HR people, ask them to be honest about what it is they are looking for. You can't really know what the local job market is like based on vague assumptions.

My uncle decided to be a police officer in his 40s. Graduated top of his class at the academy and now works in the profession.

My mom earned her master's degree when I was in high school and became a librarian, which she'd always wanted to do. She loved it and had a fulfilling career until she retired.

Good luck! Pursue your dream!

Well, I was the class of 2010. I have a job but not one that really uses, or better yet compensates me for, my degree. Thing is my current job gives me tons of flexibility so I am rather picky if I am going to change.

I guess I am saying I would be in public accounting if I chose to be in public accounting right now. I am here by choice. Granted it would have been a year before I could have secured another job but that was the curse of 2010.

I wish I could be more upbeat. The fact is you won't know until you do it.

Oh if you go back a little advice from my daughter don't answer all the questions unless you actually know the answers. Apparently this annoys the youngins. :p

My Husband, recently got his degree. He returned to school, after we had our kids.
He graduated. He THEN, was able to get a better job and better pay and got more offers.
Due to his having a degree now.
His field, is full of "young" kids too. Versus he was a non-traditional student.
There are MANY non-traditional students nowadays.
It is common.

In the field you are interested in, you do need a degree. In order to get the jobs you want.
But are there jobs, in that field, in your city? Because, that is a factor too. Not just the age of the graduates. Being employed also means, being in a field that has jobs.

Being a non-traditional student is common.
But, it is hard work. Because non-traditional students typically have kids. So you will need to toggle that along with studying and attending classes.

I don't have quite the same story but I still want to say something to encourage you to go back to school. I am preparing to apply for a doctorate and I have taken some courses at the university to refresh. I can not tell you how rewarding it has been. When I talk about it, I cry and I'm not a crier. The end goal is important but even just going to school and further developing yourself is worth all the thousands of dollars. Plus I have learned that admission boards and employers highly regard non-traditional students. Life experience is recognized. When you start taking classes it may be rocky at first, but soon you will see you are worlds apart from the youngsters. Do it!!!