5 reasons Baby Boomers go back to school
I went back to school at age 53 to get a PhD. I thought I was too old, and that I would be learning alongside kids. I was surprised to find that most of the people in the school were baby boomers, just like me. And we aren’t alone. According to the University Continuing Education Association, over 60 percent of the students in public undergraduate institutions and 50 percent at private schools are “non-traditional.”
Why do baby boomers go back to school?
1. They have been “downsized,” a nasty little euphemism that doesn’t tell the whole story of age discrimination. As I mentioned yesterday, during recessions, people go back to school, in part because they need to learn new skills to get back in the job market.
2. Women who haven’t worked in a while (raising kids) decide to get more training to go back to work. Men sometimes do this too.
3. Boomers want to move up, get a promotion, make more money. Although some of us are nearing retirement, others of us are still “climbing the corporate ladder.” Getting an additional degree is a good way to do that. My PhD helped me move up to a Dean position in the college where I work.
4. Some of us want to change careers. After many years in teaching, a friend of mine went back to school to learn how to fly. She is now a private pilot and she’s having a ball.
5. Speaking of having fun, some of us want to go back to school just because…. It’s called, in some circles, “life long learning.” In my case, I want to become a Master Gardener; maybe I’ll start a garden/pond planning business.
Have you considered going back to school? Why? If not, why not?
Tags: baby boomers, non-traditional students, recessionRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Baby Boomer hobbies, Boomer Talk, Jobs, Work
0 opinions for 5 reasons Baby Boomers go back to school
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: