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College Professors Chatboard

I Want A Math Degree...What's Your Advice?

by Feliz

Jan 18, 2012

At 46 (going to be 47 in April), I have not been able to put aside my passion for earning a math degree. I have a B.A. in Sociology (earned in 1994). However, there is a real yearning in my life for a degree in mathematics that overtakes me everyday. There are two reasons why I do not seek another degree:

1-the age factor 2-my fear of student loans

Pell Grant and TAP will not pay for a second degree. This means, I must take out a student loan. I am afraid of loans. I am also embarrassed to be in a classroom with students much younger than I.

I can't stop going on youtube searching for math video clips and learning as much as possible about calculus, matrix equations, functions, etc. What is your advice? Am I too old to seek another degree? If not, what is the best student loan for me? Some have said the Stafford Loan; others tell me to take out a bank loan. I don't know what to do. Society wants young emplolyees. If I get the degree in math, I'll be in my ea...See More

view previous comments

rw You're definitely not too old to do it!

A degree in math may not get you quite as many jobs as one in something related like accounting.

In any case, I wonder if someone in the financial aid office of a local university can advise you on options for financing your degree...

Go for it!

On 1/18/12, Feliz wrote: >...See More

Jan 31, 2012

Other Options I wold also talk to the college job placement office to get advice on what kind of jobs are in your area for which kind of graduates as it may help shape what kind of classes you take beyond any core ones in your degree. Also discuss career paths with one or more math department profs if they are willing. And do some career research, too, into what...See More

Feb 3, 2012

Feliz On 2/03/12, Other Options wrote: > > I wold also talk to the college job placement office to get advice > on what kind of jobs are in your area for which kind of graduates > as it may help shape what kind of classes you take beyond any core > ones in your degree. Also discuss career paths with one or more > math department profs i...See More

Feb 3, 2012

Other Options I have been thinking about it, and just saw in article that Actuarials are one of the hottest jobs out there today. So I think at your age, what you do will depend a lot on what kind of a job/career you want to use a math degree for AND what are the opportunities to do so where you live. So I would suggest that you start with good career counseling...See MoreI have been thinking about it, and just saw in article that Actuarials are one of the hottest jobs out there today. So I think at your age, what you do will depend a lot on what kind of a job/career you want to use a math degree for AND what are the opportunities to do so where you live. So I would suggest that you start with good career counseling first.

Then I would go to the school where you would want to get your degree - a second bachelors - unless there is a specialized certificate of some sort in a field that is possible to obtain. And I would see exactly what courses you would need to take and if all or how many might be mapped out to be done part-time in the evening so that you could keep your present job on a year-round basis. If you have a job where you can continue to build up a retirement benefit or even just keep your full-time salary and pay as much as possible for the part-time courses for as long as possible this might be a way to go. You need to consider how you can take on as little overall debt as possible and maximize any years and job experience you have. Another suggestion if it the idea of using math in a more technical job of some sort might also be to talk to counselors at the local community college or even vocational training center to see if there is any technical field that might provide you with the interest you seem to lack in your present job and involve math too, but take less time to achieve educational training in and have a real job possibility. So I guess I fall on the side of being realistic in "following one's dream" so you just don't dig yourself into a deep hole with no way out. Job satisfaction is important, but also as you indicate is being able to pay your bills and handle the future, too.

Our youngest daughter has a disability and in many ways because of her we stayed where we have been which did not really give my husband the opportunities that he might have had at other higher education institutions as an educator. But it was a decision based on many factors and not just on what he wanted to do. I commend him for this choice, but it did have an impact on his career.

On 1/18/12, Feliz wrote: > At 46 (going to be 47 in April), I have not been able to > put aside my passion for earning a math degree. I have a > B.A. in Sociology (earned in 1994). However, there is a > real yearning in my life for a degree in mathematics that > overtakes me everyday. There are two reasons why I do not > seek another degree: > > 1-the age factor > 2-my fear of student loans > > Pell Grant and TAP will not pay for a second degree. This > means, I must take out a student loan. I am afraid of > loans. I am also embarrassed to be in a classroom with > students much younger than I. > > I can't stop going on youtube searching for math video > clips and learning as much as possible about calculus, > matrix equations, functions, etc. What is your advice? Am > I too old to seek another degree? If not, what is the best > student loan for me? Some have said the Stafford Loan; > others tell me to take out a bank loan. I don't know what > to do. Society wants young emplolyees. If I get the degree > in math, I'll be in my early 50s. What do you say? >

Feb 7, 2012

Feliz On 2/07/12, Other Options wrote: > I have been thinking about it, and just saw in article that > Actuarials are one of the hottest jobs out there today. So I > think at your age, what you do will depend a lot on what kind > of a job/career you want to use a math degree for AND what are > the opportunities to do so where you live. So ...See MoreOn 2/07/12, Other Options wrote: > I have been thinking about it, and just saw in article that > Actuarials are one of the hottest jobs out there today. So I > think at your age, what you do will depend a lot on what kind > of a job/career you want to use a math degree for AND what are > the opportunities to do so where you live. So I would suggest > that you start with good career counseling first. > > Then I would go to the school where you would want to get your > degree - a second bachelors - unless there is a specialized > certificate of some sort in a field that is possible to obtain. > And I would see exactly what courses you would need to take > and if all or how many might be mapped out to be done part-time > in the evening so that you could keep your present job on a > year-round basis. If you have a job where you can continue to > build up a retirement benefit or even just keep your full-time > salary and pay as much as possible for the part-time courses > for as long as possible this might be a way to go. You need to > consider how you can take on as little overall debt as possible > and maximize any years and job experience you have. Another > suggestion if it the idea of using math in a more technical job > of some sort might also be to talk to counselors at the local > community college or even vocational training center to see if > there is any technical field that might provide you with the > interest you seem to lack in your present job and involve math > too, but take less time to achieve educational training in and > have a real job possibility. So I guess I fall on the side of > being realistic in "following one's dream" so you just don't > dig yourself into a deep hole with no way out. Job > satisfaction is important, but also as you indicate is being > able to pay your bills and handle the future, too. > > Our youngest daughter has a disability and in many ways because > of her we stayed where we have been which did not really give > my husband the opportunities that he might have had at other > higher education institutions as an educator. But it was a > decision based on many factors and not just on what he wanted > to do. I commend him for this choice, but it did have an impact > on his career. >

I thank you very much for your concern.

Feliz > > > > > > > On 1/18/12, Feliz wrote: >> At 46 (going to be 47 in April), I have not been able to >> put aside my passion for earning a math degree. I have a >> B.A. in Sociology (earned in 1994). However, there is a >> real yearning in my life for a degree in mathematics that >> overtakes me everyday. There are two reasons why I do not >> seek another degree: >> >> 1-the age factor >> 2-my fear of student loans >> >> Pell Grant and TAP will not pay for a second degree. This >> means, I must take out a student loan. I am afraid of >> loans. I am also embarrassed to be in a classroom with >> students much younger than I. >> >> I can't stop going on youtube searching for math video >> clips and learning as much as possible about calculus, >> matrix equations, functions, etc. What is your advice? Am >> I too old to seek another degree? If not, what is the best >> student loan for me? Some have said the Stafford Loan; >> others tell me to take out a bank loan. I don't know what >> to do. Society wants young emplolyees. If I get the degree >> in math, I'll be in my early 50s. What do you say? >>

Feb 8, 2012

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