How practical is it to start grad school at age 53?
353796
I agree w/ asleep.  I just got my MS and PhD, it took me 8 years total.  It's really a stepping stone for a life in research.  At your age, you may not want to consider a research job, considering the very long hours and the mediocre pay.  If you want to get an MS and be a technician, that's probably a good thing to do.  But as far as getting a PhD, unless you have 4-8 years to kill and no need for money, i wouldn't do it.  Also the learning curve will be steep.  Things I learned 8 years ago are already obsolete.  I came into the field (biomedical science) from an ecology background and had a hard time.  Nowadays its all about genomics and huge, complicated molecular pathways.  Honestly I dont' see how students in ten years could get through the coursework because of the explosion in knowledge.  Either the coursework is hopelessly difficult or completely useless.
847741
Basically, the answer to your question is:\n\nA curious and open mind.  Then, schedule and discipline.\n\nIf you have none of these you will probably not succeed in any of your endeavors to further your education.\n\nThis, from a high school drop-out to one that entered college at 38, ended with a Masters Degree and served as a school administrator until retirement.\n\nGood luck.
175810
4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, two year internship.  So, if all goes well, you should be ready by the time you're 28.
91504
Offcourse you are not too old. Firstly 18 or 19 is not too far off from 21. I am 22 and I have friends who are 20 so it's cool...u'd find some really mature 18, 19 yr olds out there. And secondly its never too late to strat a new degree...I had a supervisor who finished her PhD, worked for 2 years and then Sat a Medicine test and got in and now she is studying medicine at the age of 29 with a bunch of 23, 24 year olds...so it's cool don't worry! and good luck.
985928
Hello!  Good luck with your quest for more education. I'd suggest beginning by contacing the university you are interested in attending. Most schools have a program for "continuing students." You can explain your situation and your goals, and find out specifically what is available to you. When I was a graduate student, there was a woman in my graduate-level seminars who was 82 years old!  She was a gem and enriched our experience with her presence.  Best wishes!
539334
There are many people 30+ only beginning their undergraduate education.  It is not too late for you.
454917
It is possible but depends on your age.
549509
It's never too late to start college.  My husband went back to school at age 40.  You have many children to support and you NEED the education to find a professional job with a good salary base in order to do that.\n\nAnd, as an extra bonus to getting your higher education, look at the example you'll be setting for your children!  By your actions, they will see that anything is possible and how much you value education.  Perhaps you'll improve their study habits when they see you buckling down and giving up activities you enjoy in order to study.\n\nYou should definately have confidence in yourself and go for it!\n\nGood luck!!
976389
Only 13 and setting goals! Good for you!\n\nYou need good grades all through school.  They do not have to be perfect, but you want to get into a decent college.  Find a college with a good pre-med program.  You will do four years of undergraduate work in college and get a bachelors degree.\n\nThen you will do post-graduate work at a medical school.... internship, etc.\n\nA well-rounded student is a good thing.  Play a sport, join a club, do community service such as charity work.  It all looks good on a resume and college application.\n\nWith good grades, when you get into high school, you will have opportunities to join honor societies.  These often have scholarships for college and look great on your application and resume.  Join them if you qualify!\n\nStudent government is a good thing too.\n\nNow, everything together may take up too much time.  Choose the things you are interested in and be a leader.... get voted president or at least some position high in the group.  Looks good on an application or resume.\n\nIf this is really your dream, don't let anyone, even your mom dissuade you.\n\nI'm 47 yrs old.  No one in my family ever went to college.  I started in my 30s and it took me 13 yrs to get a bachelor's degree.  I was a single mom by then and did it the hard way.  No one told me HOW to do it, and I had to fight my way through.  But I DID graduate!  And now I am working on a master's degree in business administration.\n\nDon't give up on your dream.  Set goals and plan ahead.  You cannot be lazy and get to be a surgeon.  Study hard all through school, and especially HEALTH and BIOLOGY (any biological science you can take) courses.  That will give you a good start, even before college.\n\nBest Wishes and God Speed!\n\nSue
1119843
You are never too old to go to college
811572
You're not getting any feedback and I can't personally answer, but a friend of mine is a 32 year old, twice married mom of four, working at a clerical, part time, poorly paid job.  Her husband is doing well at a major utility company.  She knows that were she to maintain the status quo, she would live her life quite happily in terms of financial resources; however, she has a itch to get her degree for her own personal edification and education.  Should that transition to a career, wonderful.  But she has no expectation of that.\nHope that's what you are looking for.\n-MM
561111
you are never too old to go back to school.  If you are going for the intent of making more money, you will need to do a cost/benefit analysis including the estimated cost of going to school, including the wages lost while you are in school, offset by the incremental wages you anticipate making based upon having the additional schooling throughout the remainder of your career.  This should not, however, be the only reason for going to school.  If you have a passion that you are interested in, you should consider pursuing it.  I have many friends who have made huge career changes, and who have gone back to school in their 40's and 50's.  Many have taken pay cuts when they first go back into the workforce, but all have been pleased that they made this change.  Remember, if you do what you have a passion for, you will be more happy with less money than if you do what you don't enjoy just to make money.
1118084
I think much after 45 is waiting too long. But it depends on your training before hand. If you don't have any training at all, and are out of shape, the age is obviously going to be lower, but if you are well trained, then you could try to be professional later on.
821799
I came out of service at age 22, with just a GED, got into the University of Chicago on the GI Bill, took courses  summers and nights and three years later had a B.A. and six years after that I had two Master's and a Ph.D.  \n\nNo boasting here, but just to tell that the past is a poor index to the future, and you will get in and never look back.\n\nGo girl, and best to you.
598937
I'm 21 and finally getting tired of living at home. So I'm moving out. I'm going to let them know that I'm pursuing my life in the town I go to college; they would probably eventually give me the boot at around 25, I think, if I didn't.
388516
Both are going to be a bit difficult, although not impossible.\nWork, it depends upon your qualifications and your abilities. It may be tough to find an office job. Corporate america is a bit discriminatory in this nature, as they do not particularly like highering anyone above the age of 50. Generally the stereotypical notion is that they are behind the times and near retirement. I know the government has stepped in to try put an end to this, but how effective they've been is anyone's guess. However, with this in mind, there are still places that you can work. Should you decide to (without wanting to sound like an ass) there are the big grocery chains, drug stores, etc. They're always highering, like i said it just depends on your qualifications.\nI'm not quite sure where you would need to go to find love, keep your eyes open in the town that you move into, look for events in and around your town. Those are the best places to meet people, chances are theres plenty of people in your shoes and you'll find somebody.\nAll things considered, none of what your wanting to accomplish is impossible, will just require some effort and determination. Best of luck to you.
309990
You will only use a tiny bit of what you do in college in the real world, unless you are going to be a lawyer or doctor. The REAL lesson you learn in college is how to work hard and indepenantly, and to solve tough problems. When you get to the real world, you'll have to learn a bunch of completely unrelated skills and acquire new knowledge. It seems pointless, but college is really a weeding out process. In all honesty if there was a way to determine if an 18 year old is a tough, hard working, intelligent, problem solver with leadership skills and self confidence, he would do just as well if not better than a 22 yo college grad. \n\nSo to answer your question, just get good enough grads to graduate, and hit the ground running when you get to the real world.