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Anyone here taking college classes?

Ultradog MN

Ultradog MN

Well-known Member
Location
Twin Cities
Was chatting with the lady I'm working for today and somehow got onto the subject of continuing ed. She told me the Univ of Minn has a program for seniors - over 62 where you can take regular classes for $10/credit. That's really cheap!
I went to school there for 3 years back in the 70s and UAA for another year but dropped out after that and never went back.
Going back to finish is a notion I've had many times over the years. Might-should put it on my bucket list.
Is anyone else here doing something like this?
I'll bet many states have similar programs for seniors.
I'd be interested in hearing people's reasons for doing it. Also your goals and your experiences there.
It would have to be interesting to mix it up with a bunch of students our grandkids' ages and yet, just be another student.
Any seniors here taking classes towards something, a degree, or whatever? - maybe online? I do think it would be more fun to do it on campus, one night a week or one day even.
I, and maybe others here, would like to hear from you.
Thanks
 
education at any age is good, however, seniors going to college for entertainment or out of boredom should pay the same as anyone else. too many younger families are struggling financially to get/keep kids in college.
 
I could go to a tech college here free if there is room in the classes. You must be at least 60 years old.
I have paid enough taxes in my life till I would not feel bad about it.
But 5 years of college is enough for me at nearly 65.
Richard in NW SC
 

It’s to slow for me... Looks like they have ran out of folks to plug up the system on the GI bill so going for those that are there for nuttin else other than to slow the system down so they can take Daddy's money from those that have know were else to go...

My time on my dime is to valuable to tinker...If you had to pay full price out of your pocket would you do it if KNOW then its just to tinker...

Local collage use to be called CCTC I called it tinker tech... I lasted a whole whopping one night sitting on the board of reviews :) They did not like my view of get'er done and work for daddy's money...
 
FYI, If you work for some colleges, you could get free tuition. Some employers pay for college classes.
As for me, I recently got two PhD's from TSC. A 9 & 12 inch Post Hold Digger from Tractor Supply Company. Is that considered continuing education at age 68?
 
St Cloud State offers classes to seniors for $10 or less. I have had 70 year olds in Manufacturing and woods technology classes. A treat and always fun. Jim
 
From what I hear in Louisiana you can go to school for free and get half off for any books and such you need.

There was a discussion on a local forum of guys joking around about signing up just for the ID so they could get the student discounts.
That led to signing up just so they could have first crack at the ball game tickets.
 
Free education usually amounts to nothing more than a tax payer drain. I went to college at night in Las Angles back in the early 60's. Free tuition for all. Was nothing but a joke. A lot like the GI schools after WWII.
 
You get out of college what you put into it, if you make it a joke, it will turn out that way, or if you treat it like an investment and really work at it, then you can make something of it.
 
I agree, Oldsters really put effort into my classes. They get no special dispensation and do the required written and project work equally (often better) to 20 somethings. Jim
 
Thanks Jim,
Nearing retirement after about 40 years of engineering, I think I would like one of your classes. (during the winter - when the fish aren't biting much) !!!!
A future Grumpy Old Man,
Jim 2
 
When I got out of the Navy in 68 I could have used the GI Bill, and go back to school. I didn't, if I had I doubt I would be any better off than I am now. Stan
 
Seems to me that by the time you qualify for the senior rates you've more than paid for it through your taxes. Good for you for continuing your education.
 
Doggy.......I was a Flt Test Engr fer the Boeing Co in Seattle and the bean counters in Chicago Hdqtr said ya gott too many Engrs. I was competeting fer this slot with 'nutter guy who was just waiting fer his 20-yrs so he could retire. He had about 4-mos seniority on me and Union Rules, "last hired, first fired". So guess what? Boeing paid me more in lay-off money than they would have keep me working. So I squandered my lay-off money and went back to college and worked on my 4th degree (IT) I did alright until I hit the requirement of "apprenticeship"; nobody wants to apprentice a 65-yo student. (frown) So I said ferqittaboutitt and really retired to my 5-acres of starvation grass at the foot 14K Mt Rainier where I trained my Australian Shepherd dog to compete against Border Collies in sheep herding competions. (ittza doggy world thing) I don't win ...but... gotta couple of ribbons. More important, my dog pleases me........Dell
 
I know way more about how to do things than the wife wants to hear about now(LOL)
When I got out of college I was then enrolled without my consent into the School of Hard Knocks and have spent a lifetime there.
If I were going back to college it'd be in the Summer when the scenery is at its best.
 
Well, it's nice that they do that, but it doesn't help out the folks who need it most. That is, younger adults who want to get a better job. And I don't see how the state benefits by educating folks who are close to retirement.
 
Hypothetical situation:
Let's say there is a class that has a 30 student max. And there are 25 students enrolled. If I enrolled, how would I be preventing a poor student from taking it?
 
Richard,
After graduating college in 72, I signed up for night class at tech school. I wanted to learn how to auto cars. I had to pay full amount, but wanted to learn how to use a paint gun and got to use a nice paint booth.

I've been retired for 13 years. If I ever have an urge to go back to college or back to work, I'll bang my head against brick wall until the urge goes away. So far I haven't got any blood on the brick.
geo.
 
Jim,
Are your classes once a day or all day or every day?
St. C isn't too far away...
From reading your posts for years I think you'd be a great teacher.
 
I support any person AT ANY AGE who wishes to educate and better themselves. Education is something they cant take away from you. CONGRATULATIONS to those who seek higher education be they young or old. Its THEIR own decision and free choice to pursue education NOT someone elses or a tractor forum lol. If a person does NOT want to learn more I wont hold that against them, and expect the same courtesy in return should I choose to do so. I SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION AT ANY AGE and others are free NOT to do so.

John T
 
I went when in my 50s and got a couple of degrees. In my opinion, it was a huge waste of time and money. I paid cash and full price although I did get an Appalachian scholarship that helped a little. Main thing I learned is that you don't have to be smart to work as a college professor. Granted it was a state school (SUNY). I was also limited with course choices since I was running a construction and repair business at the same time. I also tutored students while there who were freshman and illiterate. I was amazed how many people had graduated high school and could not read or write English. I also tutored a couple of working high school teachers who were there for their required masters degrees. Another joke. All I got out of it was the knowledge that I could do it.
 
Here is my 2cents. Saw article that 42% of students thinks the government should forgo their student loans. Kinda like buying the cow and then cancelling the check.

Went to college 35 years ago (state school)and didn't finish. Not sure if I was in the wrong program/career path, but lost interest and it seemed like the instructors were just buying their time.

Wife went back at age 52, got her Bachelors and Masters. Got a $ .10 per hour raise. I figure she has to work into her 80's to get a financial return. I give her credit for the hard work and effort she put in while also having a full time job. With her 30 plus years in the same industry and now the schooling she has job security which has value.

The programs that offer seniors classes, who pays for the difference in tuition? I can't imagine that the college is doing it out of the goodness of their heart. I can only imagine that there are subsidies or tax breaks. I have a hard time with programs from tax payers that don't have a return on their investment (ie: seniors in the workforce with new knowledge from college). It doesnt have to have an immediate return, but what is the long term goal of the program. It was our decision to use our savings to enhance my wife's schooling, not someone else's hard earned dollars.
 
A few years ago Iowa offered free/discounted continuing education classes to seniors through DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College). Mom was able to take an "Introduction to Computers" class at the satellite campus in her small town. She said most of the class members were retirement age or older. I don't know if Iowa still does that or if it has been discontinued.
 
Can't seniors got to college totally free as long as no official credits are given? It was certainly that way when I went to college in the 90s. Anybody could attend near any class and "audit" with no charge. I even took my 12 year son to college and had him attend two courses with me. I was fully matriculated with an 18 credit per semester load and paid for it. Several old-timers showed up, non-matriculated, and paid nothing. Note I am talking about state colleges and universities, not private.
 
Below is the policy in Kansas. At Wichita State, where I teach, I have seen only a few cases of seniors taking advantage of this, though I think it is a great idea for a number of reasons. Regarding older students in general, I have taught many returning or non-traditional students in their 30's to 50's and, as was mentioned above, they typically outperform the majority of the traditional 18-22 year old students. This is probably because they are paying for the courses themselves and because they feel an urgency that 20-somethings don't yet have.

[u:c3c6162070]Senior Citizen Fee Waiver[/u:c3c6162070]
In accordance with the Kansas Board of Regents policy, students who are at least 60 years of age may audit (no-credit) regular lecture or certain group activity courses when there is space available and for which they meet the prerequisites, without payment of tuition and student fees, campus infrastructure and support fees, and technology and transportation fees. However, Senior auditors must pay for any applicable workshop fees and lab/special course fees. Prerequisites include admission to graduate school for graduate courses, and program admission for courses in which program admission is required of all students.
 
Some interesting replies here. Thanks to all.
A few more thoughts:
The main reason I would do this is just for something different to do. And I wouldn't have to take a lot of classes to get a degree - just to have it. I never even graduated high school. Flunked out. So I'm behind most of you in that regard.
Some folks say that getting a college education is a waste of time and money.
And you may be right.
The higher ed I did get never made me one thin dime. Not one.
But you know, it did not make me a WORSE carpenter, citizen, neighbor or voter or tractor fixer either. So what is the harm in getting an education?
Another point that people brought up was who is paying to subsidize my cheap credits?
Well, the tax payers of course.
If you don't like it maybe you should bring that up with your legislatures or boards of regents. Or... take some free/cheap classes yourself.
Lastly, I've been paying taxes all these years too. And have paid my share of farm credits, or flood plain insurance or subsidies for running power far out in the country where providing electricity is a money losing proposition and a host of other subsidies that people take for granted. And if you are one of those few who get no subsidies whatsoever, how about your children?
My wife and I neither of us have any children. And yet, we've both been paying taxes all these years to educate yours.
I had kinda hoped to hear some of you were doing this. It would be fun to hear some of your plans and goals. Maybe some of you will. It would sure be more interesting to discuss a class you're taking than talk about another night in front of the tv.
 
I've pretty much been a life-long student at the University of Nebraska.

My wire is an NU retiree, and part of her retirement is she gets free tuition for life. If she doesn't us it, it transfers to me. The only thing is, there are so many other fees and assessments tacked on that the tuition cost is only about half of it.
 
The cost to the tax payer is going to be the same... They need heads to justify suck'N the federal gov. out of more money... Then drag it out as long as they can...

It cheats the guy that is going to apply it it the real world...

If you have free time I would check into teaching a class at night on what you know and get in on the kill...
 
> But as I asked below, how would my enrollment take away from other students?

UD, I have no problem with someone "auditing" a class as long as there are empty seats and they aren't using resources such as labs. I think most public colleges allow this.

But if a class is full (and they tend to be these days), then a person taking the class for free is necessarily bumping out a paying student. Which mean tuition needs to rise for all the paying students to cover the student who is taking the class for free. I can't think of a more obvious example of reverse wealth redistribution: Those who can least afford it (young adults returning to school) are subsidizing those who probably CAN afford tuition (retirees and older workers).
 
Which way the collage is ? I was 27 years old in the 5th grade I am now near 80 and the old woman says I could use more book learning. All joking aside, My biggest regret in life is that I did not get a good education. Back in the 40's the old man said the farm was more important than school.
 
Today...we have it made....no book costs..
Always continuing your education (fancy way of saying learn something new every day) is a good thing.
I 'study', 'take a course', every day drinking my morning coffee.
Researching on the internet (here mostly) for a tractor/model repair I haven't done before.

Formal schooling is fine I guess, but the teacher is limited to the speed of the slowest learner.

I did take a free schooling course back in 1980 or so when I lost my job and got a 're-training allowance'
I took autobody repair at a local BOCES. I knew how to do it already, but it was the middle of winter and I was restoring an old Ford. I removed every body part that I could off the car, and took them there to fix and refinish with their excellent equipment and shop.
(I did learn a few new tricks from the great teacher I had)
 
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