does a degree really have an age?
Posted By: lessMT on 2007-11-16
In Reply to: Mine has a bachelors and applied for MS program (sm) - Having a hard day NC-MT
Well, I have been considering taking some online classes because there are some things that I want out of this life that I deserve. I am 43, 3 years ago I had a son, there is a 17-year old gap between him and my last child...I also changed professions about 4 years prior to that which required me to go back to school). I am still contemplating going back to school and when ever I decide how I am going to handle this situation with my mom (I take care of her, she is bedbound and has cancer among other things) I still want to further my education. Let me die with some dignity/intelligence and peace of mind of satisfying me and living my life to the fullest. Now I am not planning on dying anytime soon but why procrastinate...if you want something you have to make it happen for you....
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Agree unless the 2-year degree is AS (technical) degree
The statement about a 2-year degree is a total waste of money and choosing a 4-year college instead, is not really correct because if you plan on doing 4 years, the first 2 years are the same anywhere. You can actually save money by going to a community college for the first 2 years and transferring to a 4-year university, as long as you be sure to get all the required transfer credits, etc.
I really do think the best way to go for the average person would be AS or technical degree of some sort. The job market is prime for that type of degree. Otherwise, post-graduate for those cut out for the long haul...
AA degree
in order to go into a 4-year program for a BA, you have to have an AA first, so we're talking 6 years here. I am currently in an accelerated program (19 months) for my AA in business administration, and will get it this May. Then I plan to go into a 4-year for my batchelors.
Whether it is worth it or not depends. I am doing it for a personal achievement, and I am 58 years old. So that means when I get my BA I will be about 63.
I don't know if this will be worth anything or not. I say say this because when you aer in this age bracket, there is a lot of age discrimination in the job market. I have heard horror stories of women getting their degrees, and having a very hard time finding a job simply because of the age factor even though they qualify. Then again, when I do look at advertisments in the newspaper, even an administrative secretary II or III, or executive secretary, they ask for a batchelors degree.
I used to feel that way, too, to a degree
I don't know what happened to change it, but yesterday I sat in my comfy chair and knitted and watched movies all afternoon. I didn't cook, the laundry sat, my DH and youngest DS were the only ones home and entertained themselves and I was so relaxed I was afraid I might slip into a coma. I enjoyed every minute of it. I think we all need a day like that every now and then without feeling guilty about it.
Not that I disagree well to a degree
I am sorry, but you are comparing an animal rescue to human babies; no, no, no. Animals can fend for themselves if left alone, but babies cannot.
No, she should not have gone out and did it again, but it goes along the same lines as people who do not believe in abortion. JMHO.
I'm sure the faith board would have a field day with your temperament here.
What is the difference between what this girl did and what other families that have multiple children do? Not a thing. There's a show on called Jon and Kate plus eight or something like that; check it out sometime. That mother works hard.
Another thing is, some people just want to be famous, so this is her style. I'm just not sure I agree with the "what are you thinking?" She wanted children, and now she's got them and if people feel compelled to help her, then so be it.
By the way, I believe in choice as far as abortion goes, so I'm not welcome on the fath board either, I'm sure, since most believe that abortion should be banned.
Believe me, I see where you are coming from to a degree regarding having babies on purpose, but comparing babies to animals just doesn't settle too well with me. 
I have a two year degree, so some of that would transfer, could still do MT (sm)
from home. I am considering just researching and enrolling and just announcing it like he does to me!
What kind of college degree?
I can't believe a degree would be useless!
I do feel for you. You won't hear me giving you the 3rd degree. sm
I do have a dog house outside with 2 outdoor dogs because I have 3 little kids and can't have an indoor dog (one son with severe allergies). We own a lot of land (13 acres) fenced and cross-fenced. They don't want to come in. They are the happiest dogs you've ever seen (Shepherd, Corgi mixes). Anyways, I don't have any advice except to say that I don't know what I'd do in your situation. I run a very neat and clean house and don't want any dog hairs everywhere or a dog who chews, which I've seen.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
My mom raises miniature yorkies. She has dog strollers, the whole nine yards. That IS NOT for me.
I think people fail to realize that dogs are dogs. They are animals (I know this will start a hate thread), but seriously. You cannot allow a dog to rule your entire life. They are dogs. My mom hasn't visited any of her family in years because she can't leave her dogs at home or board ALL of them. To me, she is missing out on a lot of things because of these "animals."
1 degree this morning taking son to school
the entire inside car windows were covered with ice....BRRRR is right! Heat wave coming on thursay, going up to 30...
nothing - it is almost 70 already. Gonna be a nice 80-degree day! I love Arizona!
x
Why I stuck with MT after midlife crisis college degree
Lot of reasons, actually, not the least of which was that I was making some seriously good money as a medical biller at the time--and I hadn't burnt out yet. (I was also doing the transcription for 2 practices locally.) I also had an insane stubborn loyalty to my boss, and didn't want to leave him in the lurch. I got out of billing 2 years ago (well past burnout by then) and came home full time, still doing the transcription for the practice and one other, and still making good money at it.
But one reason I went back to school in the first place was because my boss had been making noises about quitting practice at some point, and he was so good (and I had him so very well-trained) I really couldn't see starting over again with another doctor who might not be so trainable. Not only that, the man is 11 years older than I, and it stood to reason he would retire before I would be ready to, so I would lose him eventually.
Last fall he closed his practice, actually going to work for another practice as an employee, not retiring quite yet, but despite his practically standing on his head on my behalf, the other practice didn't want to hire me. (Their loss.) That was when I had to find my first job with a national. Oh, joy. Welcome to the real world.
But I'll tell you what. There are some positive trade-offs. I don't have kids to stay home with... but I really, REALLY appreciate the mere 15-foot commute (I have a 4-1/2 year old car with still under 30k miles on it), the work wardrobe (pajamas), and best of all, the lack of B.S. and office politics. I get all the human contact I need between church and some other activities I participate in--places I choose to go and people I choose to see, rather than having people I don't get along with forced on me, as in the workplace. (Actually, I got along fine with them. They didn't get along with me. I just wanted them to not make my job harder. Was that too much to ask? Guess so. The last week I worked in the office, I had a sign on my wall that said "Others do not play well with me.")
The money in medical billing was nice, but it was costing me far too much. Meanwhile, I've used some of my info tech skills with a few freelance jobs for friends (website design, database design) but I have discovered that I really, really do NOT want to be responsible for maintaining somebody else's systems.... I also figured out really quickly after my business management classes (and being billing department head) that I am NOT cut out to be a manager. Trouble with management is that you have to . . . manage people. It's like herding cats. No, thank you.
So I haven't completely ruled out doing something else with my life, if I ever figure out what I want to be when I grow up... but for now, despite the massive pay cut I have taken, I am willing to hang in there as an MT because of the positive trade-offs I mentioned above. Plus... I've been doing this for 37 years, and I'm bloody good at it, if I do say so myself. :)
Does that answer the question? Anything else I can expound upon for the hopeful enlightenment of all?
Disclaimer: This has been MY chosen route, and for right now, it's right for ME. Others' mileage may vary. :)
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