Should I Go Back to College in My 30’s?

The short answer is “Heck, no!” But let’s talk about why.

Let’s say you’re in your 30’s. You’re probably married. You might have kids under the age of 10, and you’re working an okay job, but you want more.

The only problem is, the jobs or promotions you want all require bachelors degrees.

So you’ve asked yourself, “Should I go back to college?”

However, the problem is that you really didn’t like high school. You either skipped college entirely, or you went to college and dropped out. You were young or you had other priorities– whatever the reason, it didn’t work, so you started a career instead.

You’re afraid to try school again; what if you fail, waste money, or waste time? 

Or–perhaps worst of all–feel awkward alone in a classroom full of 18-year-olds?

You’re in a tough situation: stuck between fear, obligations, and ambition. I have so much respect for you because you care about bettering yourself, taking care of your family, and making a difference.

So let me break down five lies you might be telling yourself about going back to college.

1. I failed at school before, and I’m going to fail again. 

This is a ridiculous argument. Sure, maybe you goofed around in high school or in college. Maybe you didn’t find it interesting, so you blew off classes or didn’t study. Maybe you just wanted to have fun or cared more about your after-school job. 

So what? 

That was who you were then. Who are you now? 

You’ve successfully worked jobs for over a decade. You’ve raised kids. You’ve stayed in a relationship. You put in the work, committed, and were successful. 

Are you honestly going to say that because you weren’t capable when you were 18, you aren’t capable at 30? There are lots of things you’ve accomplished in your 30’s that you never could’ve done at 18.

Don’t let the ghost of your immature past haunt you. You’re a different person, and who you were has nothing on who you are now. 

2. I’m too old for college. 

This is one of the craziest arguments. Do you think that once you get older, you lose the ability to learn? 

The truth is you’re even more prepared to learn now than you were back then.

Why is that? 

Well, you have more of an understanding of and context for life, so you’ll be able to apply what you learn more easily. Not to mention you’re more responsible, so you’re more likely to take it seriously. 

I honestly don’t know why people think 18-year-olds are the best equipped to go to college. I’m a professor, and my in-class older students almost always do better on homework than my young students. They have a greater understanding of responsibility, a more developed work ethic, and a little more wisdom. They also know how to follow directions and ask good questions.

Sometimes I think everyone should wait at least 10 years after high school to go to college. I think the relative IQ of the college classroom would go up. 

Not to mention I’ve taught 80-year-old students who passed my class and graduated. If they can do it, you’re not too old either.

3. I don’t have time to go to college.

This excuse stems from picturing a traditional model of college. College has evolved. Nowadays you don’t have to sign up for five courses a semester, sit in classrooms, or listen to long lectures. 

There are so many different ways to do college, it’s insane. 

You can take online courses. 

You can test out of courses. 

You can get credit for life experience. 

You can take night classes. 

You can take self-paced courses. 

You can take courses where you study as long as you want and then pass a single test.

Keep in mind: college progresses. In fact, at one point college didn’t even exist, and it has changed so much in the last 200 years. At some colleges back in the 1800’s, students would attend classes for a few years until they felt like they knew enough, and leave! There wasn’t even a graduation.

One of the best changes college has made so far is that it’s way easier for people with busy schedules to do courses. If you’re really busy, imagine taking a few CLEP exams (which you can learn about here) and one college course at a time. You could take six years to graduate, or you could speed it up and graduate in under a year. All that matters is you’re moving forward. No matter how long it takes, there is a college out there that will fit your schedule. In fact, here’s a video about 7 of them that might be the perfect fit for you. 

4. I’m not smart enough for college. 

This argument makes no sense. If a bunch of 18-year-olds are passing college courses, what makes you think you can’t do it?

I’m not saying 18-year-olds are dumb, but they’re dealing with a lot of things: hormones, distractions, dating, socializing, sports, campus activities, and…well…being a little dumb. 

In your 30’s, you’ve developed focus. You’re obviously driven if you’re thinking about leveling up your career. And you know what it means to put your head down and get to work.

Plus, college is getting easier every year. Back in 1983, the average college GPA was about 2.8. These days, it’s closer to 3.2. Not only are professors more lenient, but college is more of a business. Colleges realize that failing students means losing out on money, so they’re more likely to provide support to get you graduated.

I’m not saying it won’t be frustrating at times or that you’ll get perfect grades, but please don’t worry about college being so difficult that you’ll fail. But as long as you put the work in, ask questions, and follow instructions, you’ll do just fine.

5. It will be too awkward to be the only 30-year-old at college if I take in-person classes.

Okay, this one is the most likely to be true, but only in your head. I’ve taught at least three different classes where it was all 18-year-olds and one 30+ year-old–and the only person who can make it awkward is you.

I’ll tell you how three of my older students handled it.

Nathan was a pretty chill guy. All the other students liked him because he was funny, charismatic, and didn’t take himself seriously. He asked the questions everyone else was afraid to ask, and he encouraged his classmates. Everyone looked up to him.

Burt was another of my students. He was a 30-year-old former soldier and had a bit of a gruff personality. Being in a class with younger students made him feel awkward, so he didn’t talk much. But he was a thoughtful person. When he did say something, everyone would quiet down immediately and listen to every word he said because they respected his experience.

And finally, a bad example. Martha was in her late 40’s, and she made the class awkward. She regularly referred to her age and talked down to the younger students in a patronizing way. Because of that, she never really fit in.

The secret to not being awkward is to be confident in who you are—a 30-something-year-old in a college classroom. Don’t go in with anything to prove. Learn, meet people, have fun, and don’t take yourself too seriously. When you’re feeling awkward, ask someone else a question about themselves. You’ll defeat the discomfort and make friends.

Please don’t let your age keep you from a better life. If you want to find a college, a major or build a degree plan, set up a consultation with us. We regularly save our clients over $40,000 and 3 years of college courses in just a 45-minute session, and we’d love to help you too.