For people in a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset, it’s common knowledge that learning should never stop.
Some people believe that their education is over when they leave school, but continuing to learn and grow as a person should never stop if you want to live the most fulfilling life. You don’t need to have higher education and a bunch of degrees to your name. You can just learn for the sake of learning, because you’re interested in something and you enjoy it.
However, if it’s a degree you want, that’s great too! You’re never too old to go back into higher education and realize your potential. You could make a change in your career, progress in your current career by building on your skillset, and even just explore a subject that you find rewarding for fun.
With that in mind, here’s what to do if you believe you could be too old for higher education.
Find Older Students and Talk To Them
It might ease your mind to find older students and talk to them, to get a feel for how they handled education in their later years. You can use student forums to put the feelers out and see if anybody is in a similar situation to you.
If you find people, you can then ask for their hints and tips and pick their brains so you can make up your mind. Many will tell you that going into higher education is one of the best things they did, as they were finally able to advance further up the career ladder.
Explore Online Learning
Online learning is always a possibility if you worry about roaming the halls looking lost in a physical school. Online learning can be just as legitimate as in person learning, with webinars and live classes to go alongside written workbooks and materials.
Of course, this may not suit some people, but it could be just perfect for others. If you have a computer or laptop and a good space where you can focus, you could find learning at home quite enjoyable.
Before you sign up to learn at home, just make sure you check what accreditations the course has and whether you will receive a certificate for your qualification afterwards. There’s an abundance of resources online where you can learn just about anything, sometimes even for free.
However, not all of these resources leave you with a qualification.
If it’s a qualification that you want/need, make sure you pick the right course and educational body.
Figure Out What Your Goals Are
Knowing what your goals are will help you to figure out which course you should be taking. Ask yourself questions and try to answer them in as much detail as possible. For instance:
- Where do you want to be in 5 – 10 years?
- What sort of lifestyle do you want to lead?
- Will this help you to progress in your current career or land a new job role in a different industry?
- Do you have the time to dedicate to this?
If you need an advanced degree to get to where you want to be, having your goals in place should also help you to stay motivated and on course. It might not be easy, but you know it will be worth it.
Chat To Your Chosen University Or Educational Body
If you’re still in two minds about whether this is the right thing for you to do, you can chat to your chosen university or educational body. Find out how you apply, and ask them about their mature students. They should be happy to help you and give you advice based on any concerns that you raise. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it!
Don’t Worry About Other People’s Opinions
Worrying about the opinions of other students, or even your family and friends, will only stop you from being who you really want to be, and achieving what you want to achieve. Authenticity can be hard, but it can also lead to the most purposeful, fulfilling life.
The people around you should support you, not bring you down. If they do, it’s time to spend less time with them so you can focus on yourself. Chances are, they are jealous that you’re still growing while they are stagnant!
Carve Out A Schedule That Suits You
Having a schedule that suits you can help you make time for studying at home – tough when you have a family, for instance, but not impossible. If you want it, you can find a way!
