Man took 58 years to get his college degree

[Ideas]

From last year but it's a good story. He found out about an online school that was free for seniors.

https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/13/us/88-yea...index.html

[rachel83az]

That's an amazing story.

[davewill]

I wonder who's got the longest time here? I started in 1980 and finished in 2016, a 36 year journey.

[dfrecore]

I started in 1988 and will finish in 2018. Just in time for my 30-yr HS reunion in August!

[burbuja0512]

I started in 1993 and got my BS in 2011, then the Master's in 2013.

I never thought I would do it and I owe it all to this site and the amazing people (Cookderosa, Shotojuku, Rebel100, and many more) that were here to help guide and/or commiserate. I consider the forum people from 2010-11 my alumni just as much as I would at a B&M school. I have ended up with a successful career in international business that would have never been possible without the education I have. 60 countries visited for business = THANK YOU CLEP/DSST!!!!!!

[Muldoon]

I love stories like this! I am telling myself that if I end up with more degrees than most people I know have (which may happen!) it won't matter how long I took to get there.

[Nodaclu]

I started in 1988 and will finish in 2018.  Just in time for my 30-yr HS reunion in August!

Amazing...I'm on the exact same timeline! Started in 1988, and will finish at the end of 2018. 

[xjarhead1999]

Y'all are an inspiration for me along with the dude in the story. I'm 41 now and trying to get a degree. I tried about 14 years ago but didn't finish. I sometimes feel, and hear from others, that I'm too old for a degree now. That it's too late to try and better my life. Sometimes I feel stupid but I'm trying.
I just hate that I've really been learning stuff the last 20 years with nothing to show for it. I mean I like that I've learned, it would just be great if I had something.

[dfrecore]

Y'all are an inspiration for me along with the dude in the story. I'm 41 now and trying to get a degree. I tried about 14 years ago but didn't finish. I sometimes feel, and hear from others, that I'm too old for a degree now. That it's too late to try and better my life. Sometimes I feel stupid but I'm trying.
I just hate that I've really been learning stuff the last 20 years with nothing to show for it. I mean I like that I've learned, it would just be great if I had something.

You are NEVER too old to get a degree!

Luckily for me, my mom went back and got her degree after I graduated from HS, so I never saw it as something only "young" people can do.  I also went to a 4yr school right off the bat, and there were lots of people in their late 20's going there.

[Nodaclu]

In *every* way but one, I'm finding it easier to get through classes at age 48 than I did at age 20, largely because I have more life experience (and being able to do this online, where I'm not in a classroom full of people young enough to be my children, helps too).

Whether we realize it or not, we pick up numerous random things as we move through life, and I'm always fascinated by how often a learning concept will appear that seems to click with me almost instantly - because somewhere along they way I picked up a similar concept just by living my life.

The only area where this doesn't seem to apply is math. Ugh. When you haven't taken a math class since 1987, even the simple stuff seems hard. But this is literally the only one like this. Get through math, and it's honestly smooth sailing from there.