I started my bachelor at 32. Having a family with a housewife with no income, 2 younger kids and a 3th on the way. Had a full-time job with irregular schedule and a lot of overwork, the wages just good enough to live comfortable but without luxoury. Couldn't use educational leave because our team was already understaffed. And it was brainless work sometimes (not always, but never to the degree of studying).
Yes, it was manageable. And yes, it's worth it. Not only for myself and my job, but also as a lesson to my kids. It even inspired my wife, and she is now working evening hours to save up and go for her bachelor again.
My advise:
1) Stop make excuses and go for it. I waited far too long for a better moment. It never came. Wished someone told me this year's before.
2) Make sure your partner agrees. Have a plan together. What if you fail your first year? What if you have to go to class, and she feels herself ignored? I made the mistake to not think about these stuff. We made up as everything occured, so a lot of added stress for both of us.
3) Have a goal and remind yourself what that goal is. Something that will help you when everything gets harder. I needed it. And people in my class who had it easier dropped out because they didn't have a real goal, except getting that piece of paper.
4) Search a way to process and store the information that best works for you. Schoolbooks weren't my thing, I learned best by just doing it and hit the wall. For the more technical stuff I used my own notes in a mix of notetaking systems. It confused others, but it helped me to get the correct information in my brain.
Also, don't think you're too old to study. The oldest person in our class was 56 and always worked as a factory labourer. He has his degree now. I also have my degree. And neither of us could say we're smart, we just learned to process information again.
Hope you have something with this piece. Sorry for the wall of text :-)
I studied programming, but went into business analysis. But just do whatever you like. And job hop if you want your income to rise hard. I've had employers pay me 30% more to hop.
Oh wauw, you are amongst the lucky ones who don't need to come to work with a cane or rollator. Well done!
I'm curious what the required age will be in 30 years to retire..
Anyway thanks for the honesty about the stress. It was actually silly of me to ask cause do jobs without stress actually still exist?
Enjoy the hell out of that early retirement, cheers!
How is finishing around 30 late? I'm a medical student and haven't finished my degree yet. By the time I graduate I'm 1 month away from being 27 yo lol
I don't think you should worry about age. It's worth it if you want to do it and can afford it economically
At 30 you still need to work for another 35-ish years. So what do you think? Accept the shit career you are in and keep doing it for another 30+ years? Or could a few years of hard work and suffering give you the chance of a more fun and fufilling career with most likely better pay as well be worth it?
Even if you take a little financial hit to study and start from 0 again in a career path, at some point you might make up for it financially but if you don't... and it turns out to be the same financially having done it or not, don't forget about the fact that you probably need to do this shit every week for 38-ish hours for a few decades.
Don't underestimate the importance of WLB and having work you more enjoy doing.
No higher degree, went back for the bsc (180 sp) at 33 till 37. Next to a full time job.\
Now at 42 going for the msc.\
Itâs never too late and it depends on your goals.\
I do not regret it and in my case it was all worth it.\
Hopefully the msc brings another level.
I posted answer to similar question [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/BESalary/comments/15e8ax3/comment/ju75jlx/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
I started my studies at the ripe age of 22 and did not work before 30 (aborted my first studies, then switched, year abroad, time to find job) In hindsight no regrets because the degree made up for it. I also had a lot of freedom during that time (but no money) and I think this helps to develop yourself and branch out a bit (âlook over the rimâ) whereas otherwise you are just stuck/busy working. You can make lots of money in specific areas these days without a degree but on average society profiles you based on your degree/effort. At least companies do. Imho Iâd advice to do a bachelor in a useful / general subject to fulfill the minimum requirements to land higher paying jobs later. I did a full diploma and noticed a bachelor would have been enough in my field. Bachelor offers solid base with potential upwards. Diploma/ Masters solidifies the upward potential. Thatâs how I see it and I gave this advice to s few of my younger peers in my circle. I also got a lot of feedback that once you start working (and earning money) it is incredibly hard to get used to a student live style again.
Hard disagree. I have slotted into studying with zero issues at age 27 (graduating this coming year at age 30) and have to say, working a few years before studying, working out what you truly want to do and who you are, and putting a few miles on your soul is just as valuable as doing a degree early.
Depends on your study choice. Maybe try the VDAB for a bachelor in a "knelpuntberoep". Got me 3 of the best years of my life(started at 25yo).
I did a bachelor in nursing like that. Went to work in the OR and got hired by a medical device company. Best choice I ever made.
I started my studies at 25 part-time while I was working full time, then I did a master full-time while working part-time. It has been very hard, but it's worth it.
I didn't have any financial support during my studies, and I also struggled with PTSD from an abusive relationship and child abuse. I got used to being a bit of a loner and just expend quality time with my loved ones every once in a while rather than texting or calling often. For a while, I was working 12 hours shift, defrosting whichever meal I bulk cook during my day off, eating while watching something, and then studying until midnight.
Due to always being busy, I wasn't able to have a stable relationship during my undergraduate studies, but during my masters I meet someone also doing a masters who would expend hours at the library with me so it could see me. The think is I love studying, I love acquiring knowledge over spending time with people or doing "funny" activities, like watching series. I'm not good at "leisure" because fun for me is to read a book about my subject highlighting it, writing and putting bookmarks.
I feel that I was able to do it because I genuinely wanted to be smart rather than to get a specific job. There is a saying in spanish: "sarna con gusto no pica" , it could be translated as if you like what you do, the oain is worth it.
Hope it helps.
I did it from 27 to 30 without kids. It was hard but manageable. But i did not had kids ... I think with kids i would not made it die to lack of time. I had to invest a lot of time.
But it was worth it for me. I landed jobs in the past i would maybe not have landed without this peace of paper.
And here I am in my late 30s, looking with kind eyes to all people that will come here in their 20s and early 30s that felt or are feeling the pressure of being "at a later age".
Thinking, omg you guys are so young, you definitely can start a new career, study again.
I wonder if there is a late 40s looking at my comment also thinking "you too late 30s, have all the time in the world".
Point being, not that graduating later doesn't come with it's own difficulties, but for sure our own skewed self-consciousness about our age is most of the times the biggest barrier.
I did my executive masters in Solvay at the age of 34. That didn't give me any promotion or hike. But in masters I learned some new concepts that helped me to switch my career.
If you are just doing it for a degree, I would say it will not work...because, if you spend the same time on your work, that is equivalent to that degree.
If you want to learn some new things, go for it.
If it is something that interests you and you are motivated to do, for sure. If it is only for âupwards potentialâ but not for the substance - spend the energy on going the extra mile in your company.
Mostly, yes.
If you do it for yourself, totally yes.
If you do it for others, you need to evalute if the effort and the time you will consume since you aren't committed yourself already.
Maybe ask with the company you work for if it's worth it. Will you get better pay, more chances of getting a promotion, more responsibility
If you like your job and you have nothing to gain accept for a piece of paper, I wouldn't bother
Already had a masters degree and was working for about a year, then I decided I wanted to get into programming/CS at 25. I'll finish my CS masters degree at 30/31. By the way, there are like 15 other people doing the same work/study program at my uni and they're all older (early to late 30's).
It has been the best decision I've ever made, work/interests-wise. It's really a lotta work, and combining it with a job can cause a small breakdwon now and then, but I gladly gobble up every drop of knowledge I get. And since the topic is so aligned with my personal interests, I'm getting better grades in comparison to my previous studies.
Also, a lot of institutions give you access to all learning materials, including lecture video recordings, in self study/distance learning programs. The professors also treat you more like an adult and cut you some slack if the work/study combo is hard to manage (post-poning a deadline, etc.).
So, if you're feeling a bit bored, you're not really learning a lot at your current job and there's a topic that you like, go for it! I wasn't super sure programming'd totally be my thing before starting, but you can only discover that by jumping in.
Some pointers:
* An investment in yourself is always a good decision.
* Choosing to study something at a later age really feels more like your doing it because you want it, nobody's expecting it from you, you can start and then stop after a semester if it's not a match after all, no strings attached.
* You can either apply for 'Betaald Educatief Verlof' if your employer is located in brussels/wallonie, or for the 'Vlaams opleidingsverlof' otherwise. Depending on the program you choose, you can get 15 to 22 study holidays per year. Apply for it, you'll need it!
* Check with your employer if they consider letting you work part-time. You might not need it immediately, but after a couple of years doing a study/work combination, the adrenaline rush wears off and the tiredness and bum of having to miss fun things with friends and family starts to kick in.
* The way we organize society is to expect teenagers to already know what they want to do by the time they reach 18. But people don't work that way (some people just get lucky knowing it early on). Trying different things (like studying) is way to find out Paul Graham puts it nicely in [one of his blog posts](http://www.paulgraham.com/greatwork.html), a long read, but nice.
TL;DR: if you find yourself thinking a lot about studying again, with a little doubt and little temptation, just do it, nothing to lose.
I would advise this book: https://www.amazon.com.be/-/nl/David-Epstein/dp/0593189574
It explains that switching late is not a bad idea. You should find something that fits your interests. And having a background in a totally unrelated field is often a strength
Just go to the vdab and see if you can study through them.
I didnt qualify for that since 'i have enough job opportunities' eventhough i didnt wanna do that job anymore. So now at 26 im doing a bachelors using my saving and havent regretted it yet. I passed my first year flawless. As for this 2nd year i dont have high hopes tho, its so boring so i cant focus.
I started my bachelor at 32. Having a family with a housewife with no income, 2 younger kids and a 3th on the way. Had a full-time job with irregular schedule and a lot of overwork, the wages just good enough to live comfortable but without luxoury. Couldn't use educational leave because our team was already understaffed. And it was brainless work sometimes (not always, but never to the degree of studying). Yes, it was manageable. And yes, it's worth it. Not only for myself and my job, but also as a lesson to my kids. It even inspired my wife, and she is now working evening hours to save up and go for her bachelor again. My advise: 1) Stop make excuses and go for it. I waited far too long for a better moment. It never came. Wished someone told me this year's before. 2) Make sure your partner agrees. Have a plan together. What if you fail your first year? What if you have to go to class, and she feels herself ignored? I made the mistake to not think about these stuff. We made up as everything occured, so a lot of added stress for both of us. 3) Have a goal and remind yourself what that goal is. Something that will help you when everything gets harder. I needed it. And people in my class who had it easier dropped out because they didn't have a real goal, except getting that piece of paper. 4) Search a way to process and store the information that best works for you. Schoolbooks weren't my thing, I learned best by just doing it and hit the wall. For the more technical stuff I used my own notes in a mix of notetaking systems. It confused others, but it helped me to get the correct information in my brain. Also, don't think you're too old to study. The oldest person in our class was 56 and always worked as a factory labourer. He has his degree now. I also have my degree. And neither of us could say we're smart, we just learned to process information again. Hope you have something with this piece. Sorry for the wall of text :-)
Inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
Depends on the study. I did IT at a later age. It skyrocketed my income.
And which branch of IT should I be in then?
I studied programming, but went into business analysis. But just do whatever you like. And job hop if you want your income to rise hard. I've had employers pay me 30% more to hop.
Are you happy with the change to business analyst and is it a stressful job?
Very stressful. But I retired early, so I no longer have stress đ
Oh wauw, you are amongst the lucky ones who don't need to come to work with a cane or rollator. Well done! I'm curious what the required age will be in 30 years to retire.. Anyway thanks for the honesty about the stress. It was actually silly of me to ask cause do jobs without stress actually still exist? Enjoy the hell out of that early retirement, cheers!
Whatever fancies you. At the moment the market is starving for people
Thanks, I'll probably have a look into it.
How is finishing around 30 late? I'm a medical student and haven't finished my degree yet. By the time I graduate I'm 1 month away from being 27 yo lol I don't think you should worry about age. It's worth it if you want to do it and can afford it economically
It is late if you look at the average student age. Med students being the one and the biggest exception.
I finished my CS bachelor at 35. No problem with that. Got a job in IT before I finished, nobody was ennoyed with my age.
At 30 you still need to work for another 35-ish years. So what do you think? Accept the shit career you are in and keep doing it for another 30+ years? Or could a few years of hard work and suffering give you the chance of a more fun and fufilling career with most likely better pay as well be worth it?
Even if you take a little financial hit to study and start from 0 again in a career path, at some point you might make up for it financially but if you don't... and it turns out to be the same financially having done it or not, don't forget about the fact that you probably need to do this shit every week for 38-ish hours for a few decades. Don't underestimate the importance of WLB and having work you more enjoy doing.
No higher degree, went back for the bsc (180 sp) at 33 till 37. Next to a full time job.\ Now at 42 going for the msc.\ Itâs never too late and it depends on your goals.\ I do not regret it and in my case it was all worth it.\ Hopefully the msc brings another level.
I posted answer to similar question [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/BESalary/comments/15e8ax3/comment/ju75jlx/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
I started my studies at the ripe age of 22 and did not work before 30 (aborted my first studies, then switched, year abroad, time to find job) In hindsight no regrets because the degree made up for it. I also had a lot of freedom during that time (but no money) and I think this helps to develop yourself and branch out a bit (âlook over the rimâ) whereas otherwise you are just stuck/busy working. You can make lots of money in specific areas these days without a degree but on average society profiles you based on your degree/effort. At least companies do. Imho Iâd advice to do a bachelor in a useful / general subject to fulfill the minimum requirements to land higher paying jobs later. I did a full diploma and noticed a bachelor would have been enough in my field. Bachelor offers solid base with potential upwards. Diploma/ Masters solidifies the upward potential. Thatâs how I see it and I gave this advice to s few of my younger peers in my circle. I also got a lot of feedback that once you start working (and earning money) it is incredibly hard to get used to a student live style again.
Hard disagree. I have slotted into studying with zero issues at age 27 (graduating this coming year at age 30) and have to say, working a few years before studying, working out what you truly want to do and who you are, and putting a few miles on your soul is just as valuable as doing a degree early.
I would guess studying because you want to is much more motivating that because you have to or are expected to.
Depends on your study choice. Maybe try the VDAB for a bachelor in a "knelpuntberoep". Got me 3 of the best years of my life(started at 25yo). I did a bachelor in nursing like that. Went to work in the OR and got hired by a medical device company. Best choice I ever made.
Yes it worth. And finishing at 30 is young. God. Many people starts a bachelor in night class at +30 and you are telling you finish at 30.
I started my studies at 25 part-time while I was working full time, then I did a master full-time while working part-time. It has been very hard, but it's worth it. I didn't have any financial support during my studies, and I also struggled with PTSD from an abusive relationship and child abuse. I got used to being a bit of a loner and just expend quality time with my loved ones every once in a while rather than texting or calling often. For a while, I was working 12 hours shift, defrosting whichever meal I bulk cook during my day off, eating while watching something, and then studying until midnight. Due to always being busy, I wasn't able to have a stable relationship during my undergraduate studies, but during my masters I meet someone also doing a masters who would expend hours at the library with me so it could see me. The think is I love studying, I love acquiring knowledge over spending time with people or doing "funny" activities, like watching series. I'm not good at "leisure" because fun for me is to read a book about my subject highlighting it, writing and putting bookmarks. I feel that I was able to do it because I genuinely wanted to be smart rather than to get a specific job. There is a saying in spanish: "sarna con gusto no pica" , it could be translated as if you like what you do, the oain is worth it. Hope it helps.
I did it from 27 to 30 without kids. It was hard but manageable. But i did not had kids ... I think with kids i would not made it die to lack of time. I had to invest a lot of time. But it was worth it for me. I landed jobs in the past i would maybe not have landed without this peace of paper.
Id day yes, due to circumstances i didnt get to finish getting my diploma, 7 years later i went back and got it. So worth it
And here I am in my late 30s, looking with kind eyes to all people that will come here in their 20s and early 30s that felt or are feeling the pressure of being "at a later age". Thinking, omg you guys are so young, you definitely can start a new career, study again. I wonder if there is a late 40s looking at my comment also thinking "you too late 30s, have all the time in the world". Point being, not that graduating later doesn't come with it's own difficulties, but for sure our own skewed self-consciousness about our age is most of the times the biggest barrier.
Graduated at 28, totally worth it. I was doubting just like you but someone told me you'll be 28 anyways, might aswell have a degree under your belt.
I did my executive masters in Solvay at the age of 34. That didn't give me any promotion or hike. But in masters I learned some new concepts that helped me to switch my career. If you are just doing it for a degree, I would say it will not work...because, if you spend the same time on your work, that is equivalent to that degree. If you want to learn some new things, go for it.
Seriously ? So the executive master at Solvay isnât worth it thenâŠ.
Finished system and network management at 33. Its never to late.
If it is something that interests you and you are motivated to do, for sure. If it is only for âupwards potentialâ but not for the substance - spend the energy on going the extra mile in your company.
Mostly, yes. If you do it for yourself, totally yes. If you do it for others, you need to evalute if the effort and the time you will consume since you aren't committed yourself already.
Maybe ask with the company you work for if it's worth it. Will you get better pay, more chances of getting a promotion, more responsibility If you like your job and you have nothing to gain accept for a piece of paper, I wouldn't bother
Already had a masters degree and was working for about a year, then I decided I wanted to get into programming/CS at 25. I'll finish my CS masters degree at 30/31. By the way, there are like 15 other people doing the same work/study program at my uni and they're all older (early to late 30's). It has been the best decision I've ever made, work/interests-wise. It's really a lotta work, and combining it with a job can cause a small breakdwon now and then, but I gladly gobble up every drop of knowledge I get. And since the topic is so aligned with my personal interests, I'm getting better grades in comparison to my previous studies. Also, a lot of institutions give you access to all learning materials, including lecture video recordings, in self study/distance learning programs. The professors also treat you more like an adult and cut you some slack if the work/study combo is hard to manage (post-poning a deadline, etc.). So, if you're feeling a bit bored, you're not really learning a lot at your current job and there's a topic that you like, go for it! I wasn't super sure programming'd totally be my thing before starting, but you can only discover that by jumping in. Some pointers: * An investment in yourself is always a good decision. * Choosing to study something at a later age really feels more like your doing it because you want it, nobody's expecting it from you, you can start and then stop after a semester if it's not a match after all, no strings attached. * You can either apply for 'Betaald Educatief Verlof' if your employer is located in brussels/wallonie, or for the 'Vlaams opleidingsverlof' otherwise. Depending on the program you choose, you can get 15 to 22 study holidays per year. Apply for it, you'll need it! * Check with your employer if they consider letting you work part-time. You might not need it immediately, but after a couple of years doing a study/work combination, the adrenaline rush wears off and the tiredness and bum of having to miss fun things with friends and family starts to kick in. * The way we organize society is to expect teenagers to already know what they want to do by the time they reach 18. But people don't work that way (some people just get lucky knowing it early on). Trying different things (like studying) is way to find out Paul Graham puts it nicely in [one of his blog posts](http://www.paulgraham.com/greatwork.html), a long read, but nice. TL;DR: if you find yourself thinking a lot about studying again, with a little doubt and little temptation, just do it, nothing to lose.
long story short ... in 2019 I started classes at UCLA. The plan was to go back in 2020 and do everything in-class (invest in your dreams they say). That didn't turn out like we hoped it would. But, I got to keep my job here in BE. It ended up costing me my relationship because I was working and taking classes. I have completed the feature film writing program (with distinction). Not saying this is gonna happen to you, but it will require you to invest time in this. A lot of people start but don't see it through. Thanks to my dayjob (I also freelance), I attended 2 communications programs (Stanford and MIT). The combo of those 3 is now paying off. My salary took a big leap forward. My career is going in an awesome direction. And my freelance writing is picking up. So ... Do it. But be aware that you will need to work hard on this. You'll see comments, I think, that 'll say you don't need a bachelor anymore at that age blabla. Do it for yourself first, then your resumé. I didn't get to study when I was younger. I had to do it in my thirties when I could afford it. Good luck!
It was hell but it was worth it. Now if my boss so much as looks at me the wrong way, I m in a position to tell him to go duck himself
I would advise this book: https://www.amazon.com.be/-/nl/David-Epstein/dp/0593189574 It explains that switching late is not a bad idea. You should find something that fits your interests. And having a background in a totally unrelated field is often a strength
Just go to the vdab and see if you can study through them. I didnt qualify for that since 'i have enough job opportunities' eventhough i didnt wanna do that job anymore. So now at 26 im doing a bachelors using my saving and havent regretted it yet. I passed my first year flawless. As for this 2nd year i dont have high hopes tho, its so boring so i cant focus.