Well, here is my opinion. I haven't been to school in almost 22 years but I am going to go back. Ive been wanting to but health wouldn't permit it. I worked in 3 sick fedl bldgs for over 17 yrs retired at age 50 because too ill to keep it up any longer. I had gastric bypass, huge medical bills/rx's doctors co pays even w/good health coverage, 2 mortgages due to refinancing. I was married almost 19 yrs to my best friend. He lost his mind -depression runs in his family. He killed himself. I am losing condo. in fanancial ruin, have to move out of state w/no one to help me. I'm lucky I have a federal pension. With Jesus' help & psychotherapy/suicide survivor group therapy, I will have to go back to school. I will have to try and learn again. I will get nursing degree and become a traveling nurse. I've lost 100 lbs but still have tsietze syndrome (sternum) pain, numbness in hands/feet from carpal tunnel & occasional tendonitis. No one is helping me but that's ok. I WILL SURVIVE.

U CAN DO IT. If u tell yourself u can, u will.

You may want to take on just a few courses and make up your mind u can do it. Don't listen to anyone's negative remarks or comments. They don't matter. U have to do it for urself. My husband was never ever intimidated by my being smart and having an opinion. His mother raised him by herself and she was very smart, also.

Have confidence in yourself. You will feel better when U go back. Talk to different people at college. Even younger people, older or same age. People usually are helpful and will respond to you. GOOD Luck!

Just go and start taking basic classes. That's what I did and the rest will fall into place for you.

This is a good time of the year to visit your local community college. Take to an advisor. They can help you find a basic class to take this fall and won't set you up for failure. Or, review the local college brochure and see what adult life-learning class they are offering, even it it doesn't offer any "credits". Those classes are much more fun and you should be able to find something you are interested in.

There are many benefits for the family when one parent attends some sort of learning. At least in my family, we saw the benefit. When our children were still home and in school, we noticed their grades were actually higher when we were taking a college class. Maybe it was the fact that we shared study time with them, besides being role-models.

You can do this and it can be fun for you. Gee, I'm getting excited, for you!

Don't put any demands or expectations on yourself. Enough people do that to you. LOL! Just do it. Have fun. And yes, do it for you!

Go for it. my mother will be graduating this summer and she is in her late 70's. Took her a few years to get there but she did it. This will be her second degree she has earned since going back to school for the first time since HS. You can do it. Take the steps. Go to the college you want to go to and talk with them. They will be a big help I am sure

I returned to college full-time in 2003 after retiring from a 32-yr high-tech career. I wanted to finish the music degree I'd started in 1969. I was VERY nervous -- I had only had one year of college when I dropped out in 1970 to get married, so I had a lot of "general requirements" courses to take on top of the music courses I needed for the degree.

I decided to just do the best I could. I knew I did best if I stayed on top of things -- working ahead as much as possible on papers so I didn't have to stay up all night the night before something was due -- and I was able to apply some of the time management skills I'd developed from working to help me manage multiple overlapping projects and assignments.

I graduated in June 2006 with a BA in Music (triple emphasis in Conducting, Composition, and Vocal Performance), summa cum laude with a 3.99 GPA. So it CAN be done! :-)

I'm now in grad school, finishing my thesis for a M. Mus. in Music History & Literature.

I'm doing all of this for ME -- I have no desire to start a new career; I just wanted to continue to challenge myself intellectually. I love being a student, although I'll probably take a year off after I finish my Masters before I start another degree. I've been in classes steadily since September 2003, and I kinda need a break.

Anyway -- go for it. Talk to a counselor at your university or college -- they'll help get you set up to succeed.

Most of all -- have fun!

Go for it! Your determination and enthusiasm will make you so much more prone to success than many of today's undergrads who are there for social reasons. Start slow and test the waters- and then jump in!