Has anyone gone back into education as a mature adult?

[Kevinburrow]

I started studying for an (eventual) degree in History on the Open Uni, which I can't recommend enough. I absolutely loved it - I was capable at school but never took it seriously. Getting psotive feedback as an adult felt so much better, and I actually enjoyed studying.

 

[fraserbooks]

I did a nursing diploma when I was in my 40's. I did get a bursary and also worked part time so no massive debt at the end. I had teenage children so I could relate quite well to the other students. I enjoyed it much more than working full time and was able to get a better paid more interesting.job at the end so no regrets.

 

[Jon]

I did a nursing diploma when I was in my 40's. I did get a bursary and also worked part time so no massive debt at the end. I had teenage children so I could relate quite well to the other students. I enjoyed it much more than working full time and was able to get a better paid more interesting.job at the end so no regrets.

Sounds like you got much out of life (both in terms of a happy career and more money) then before you did the nursing diploma perhaps?

 

[DigitalSheppard]

Yeah. My partner has gone on to do a masters and a PHD in her 30s and - eventually - I'd like to learn a new skill/hobby. Personally, I'd love to do carpentry.

 

[Kimilsung]

Yeah. I study and I'm 20 years old.

 

[An-na]

This one. How could I forget this one

It is the classic place to go for pretty much anything.
Also, if you are at university the Khan Academy has it all.
Fantastic site.

Khan Academy | Free Online Courses, Lessons & Practice

Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more. Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.

www.khanacademy.org

 

[RedAlix]

I guess my firefighter training counts, 2 years in and almost at the stage of my final exams (theory and practical)

Learning a trade would be great. I do labouring so have picked up a fair amount but would like to learn how to plaster, do electrics and plumbing.

 

[Peaches]

Another free short course one to check out: https://www.coursera.org/collections/popular-free-courses

I'm a postgrad student (29) anyway but I'm forever signing up for the free OU courses etc. I save the ones I'm interested in and go through them one at a time. My lists a little long at the moment!

 

[rninja]

I want to do some maths/stats style courses such as regression analysis - so that I can utilise sports knowledge for advantage play techniques and develop stats models.

 

[homie]

I want to do some maths/stats style courses such as regression analysis - so that I can utilise sports knowledge for advantage play techniques and develop stats models.

I don't know what regression analysis is but it sounds like something Ole Gunnar Solskjær needs to do.

 

[rninja]

Lol. It's stats and examining how different factors interact across a data set. Could be useful to identify trends and possible value markets.

 

[Jon]

Well, I've revisited this issue recently.

I've been wanted to learn some web development skills for some things I am working on (Javascript,Bootstrap etc.) and looked at all the universities and college in Leeds and even then the cheapest way to do this would have cost around £400-£500 so, for now, I've decided to go down the Udemy route and have purchased this course

The Web Developer Bootcamp: Learn HTML, CSS, Node, and More!

COMPLETELY REDONE - The only course you need to learn web development - HTML, CSS, JS, Node, and More!

www.udemy.com

So far I'm a handful of modules in and it's VERY good. I do like on Udemy how you can preview some of the course / see the videos so you can see if their teaching style would work for you.

Maybe the reality is that financially 'going back to school' to learn new skills just isn't always economically viable! But when you want to learn the stuff what do you do??!?

 

[GloriaJones]

This might be helpful for anyone wanting to go down the code route

 

[EdibleDormouse]

I went to work for five years after music college before I went back for two years at opera school (and I'm bloody glad I did, as if I'd gone at 22 I wouldn't still be a musician now).

I'm just about to start a PhD because...well, why not? That's largely why I want to ditch the more stressful client-facing aspects of PPH and find bits and bobs of work where I'm functionally anonymous.

I've always been an education for education's sake sort, though. I think it's healthy to always have a new skill or field of knowledge on the go.