Your answers will determine my decision (college, degree, high school, economy)
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I have a Pell Grant form in my notebook. At the age of 42 should I even bother? I would pursue journalism-media related fields. In this economy and at my age should I just let it go, or finally do it?
You're never too old to get an education. There are 80 year olds who get degrees.
If you pass it up now, in a couple of years you will be saying "Damn, if I only went for it I'd be finished now." Always remember: the time is going to pass by anyway so make it count.
Pretty sure pell grant is based upon your income not your age. It takes what, 5 minutes tops to fill out the form? What is the worst thing to happen if you turn in the form? Get a letter a month later stating you didn't qualify? Or maybe you'll get a letter a month later stating you did qualify.
I applied for every single I could possibly do when I went to college. I was in a ROP class which was closed many days compared to my high school. So, I was forced to sit in the school library for 2 hours on those days. I ended up spending alot of time in the career center and the lady working there helped me a out alot. She told me the same thing I'm telling you, apply for everything. Told me there are only like 5 people who even apply for it and all of them get approved because they can approve alot more than 5 people.
In all honesty, I MADE money going to junior college and broke even when I transferred to Uni. I got a 5k loan just cause I wanted some money, paid it off in 1 month so I really didn't use. In fact, I made money on that too. I pretty much left it in my bank account back when ING direct was giving like 3% on savings account.
I urge you to go for it. I started back to school at about that age, got into my second year and had major *MAJOR* medical problems and pretty much dropped out -- finishing with an associates. My goal when I started (at 42) was to graduate from engineering school at 45. The medical problems set me back a year or two, and I just kissed it off. Now, at 64, I ask myself why I didn't continue.
Instead, I would ask myself the following questions:
(1) how much will you have to go into debt to get this degree? (Are we talking about $30,000 or what?)
(2) what jobs are available for someone with zero industry experience coming out of school with that degree?
(3) how much is the pay for the job that you might be able to land?
(4) Can you afford to repay the loans on that salary? How much would the loan repayment cost per month?
(5) Do you have a family to support?
I would be very careful pursing a dream of mine if I had to go into major debt to do so and if the pay for that job was going to be low (you have to start at the bottom).
Do you have any experience in that field? Can you try to job shadow someone before jumping into this? Often times we think a certain field is going to be glamorous or fun, but the day to day reality is nothing like that.
I have a Pell Grant form in my notebook. At the age of 42 should I even bother? I would pursue journalism-media related fields. In this economy and at my age should I just let it go, or finally do it?
Go for it. 42 is not old. You'll still have 20 years to work after you finish college.
In a bad economy, sometimes a new degree is just what the doctor ordered. Start now and you'll be finishing as the economy is turning the corner.
quote: "You'll still have 20 years to work after you finish college. "
At 42, you may easily have a 30 year career. People are working longer now.
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