Grad School Plunge...Ready to Jump!

[marianne202]

Ok, so I just got accepted into St. Joseph's College of Maine for grad school! I'm really nervous and worried about if this is the right decision and if I can actually get through their Master's in Healthcare Admin. I arrived here 15 months ago with the sole goal of finishing my associates degree. Now I have finished that as well as one bachelors degree and I'm 15 credits and 4 months away from finishing my second bachelors degree. I guess I can blame you all for all your support and encouragement, but have I now gone too far?

Now at 47 I'm actually this close to entering grad school! Am I too old to do this? Is it crazy at my age to plan for 2 more years of school? This program seems a perfect fit for me and it is super reasonable in cost compared to other programs. I'm excited but also very scared. This just seems like a huge commitment compared to what I have done to date. I'm also worried about the expense. The school doesn't offer any scholarships and my employer doesn't do much, so does anyone have any suggestions? Can anyone give me some insight on what I might expect in an online grad program?

Thanks for all the support and encouragement...I think!! LOL!

[motuterry]

Now at 47 I'm actually this close to entering grad school! Am I too old to do this? Is it crazy at my age to plan for 2 more years of school?

In two years you will be 49. You can be 49 without a Masters or you can be 49 with one. At what age were you planning to surrender your obvious love of learning? It's clear from your posting that you want to do this. It's also clear from your considerable accomplishments that you are quite capable!

GO FOR IT!

Best wishes.

[perrik]

Now at 47 I'm actually this close to entering grad school! Am I too old to do this? Is it crazy at my age to plan for 2 more years of school?

As Ann Landers was always fond of pointing out, you'll be the same age in two years whether you enroll in school or not. I'm starting a master's program at age 45. Eventually I intend to pursue a Ph.D - even if I keep aging like a normal human. My boss's boss is 60, and just completing the coursework phase of her Ph.D program, so just set up your study space and get going!

This just seems like a huge commitment compared to what I have done to date. I'm also worried about the expense. The school doesn't offer any scholarships and my employer doesn't do much, so does anyone have any suggestions? Can anyone give me some insight on what I might expect in an online grad program?

Well, student loans aren't fun, but they're hard to avoid. Stafford/Ford Direct Loans have a 6.8% interest rate. Assuming you pay for the entire program through loans (about $15k total), your loan repayment will be about $175/month for ten years. The annual loan limit for independent students in graduate (non-medical school) programs is $20500, so you'll be well below that limit. If you can get a cheaper loan elsewhere, great. If you can find scholarships, even better!

Don't underestimate how much time it will take to do the necessary work for online courses. Budget 3 to 4 hours per credit per week for your reading, online discussions, and writing/researching papers. I took 8 credits this semester while working 32 hours a week... by March, I was exhausted and stressed out! Now I only work 8 hours a week, and have regained my sanity. Sort of. :p

If you've got the discipline and internal direction to complete your undergrad degree through self-study, you've got the discipline and internal direction to pursue that MHA. (handy hint: when you have to do collaborative group projects, Google Docs and Skype will be your new best friends)

[Sunshine]

Congrats on your acceptance! Here's a link for scholarship searches- Graduate School Financial Aid Award Central - Peterson's. Also, remember you can claim the Lifetime Learning Credit on your annual tax return for eligible expenses. It's not much, but every little bit helps!

Sounds great- GO FOR IT!!

[taylor]

47 is the new 37. Using this formula, I tell people I'm 29. I don't care if they call me Pinocchio. What you're doing is awesome. I plan on going for a grad degree too, once I can find an employer who will pay for it:mad: .

[Tasman]

I say go for it.
Go with your gut feeling and do yourself proud

What's in a number anyway?

[marianne202]

I'm actually getting excited about a new adventure! While my experiences at EC have been mixed, I'm ready to move on to something new. Now I just hope I'm prepared for what grad school holds in store for me! Thanks for the helpful info. If anyone has any suggestions to increase my success in grad school, please share!

[P00057870]

You are prepared and will do great! The end result will be worth it and you will be able to move up in your career, make more, and pay back any loans--not to mention the example for your kids.

Another idea -- at least down here, there are various professional organizations that sponsor students directly, such as Business Women of America, etc. They will consider more mature ladies like us, as they know we are already working and will stick with it. They feel their money is actually going to be used to benefit someone's immediate future.

So many others start but do not finish this journey and you have proven that you can do it! They will invest in your future.

It is not much but it will help offset some of the expense. Usually each one is about $1500 to $2500, but would of course depend upon the specific organization.

Start rattling those bushes and see what money will fall out. hilarious

[Lindagerr]

I wouldn't think so or you wouldn't have come this far in your education. I am a few years older then you and I also stated out thinking I would be satisfied with a Associates degree. Now I have 8 credits to go for my BA and I am already thinking well it might be interesting to go further. Why should we stop now. If you enjoy your work there is no reason you couldn't be doing it for another 20 years. Would you rather be stuck for that 20 years in one place or would you rather be able to move up the corporate ladder, because you went on for that advanced degree?

You can do this and you should deffinetly look in to any scholarships or student loans available. Congratulations on being accepted.:hurray: cheersmate