Studying in Later Years

[xelasnave]

Part time was the pits..work like a dog all day, rush off at 5 pm for a peak hour drive to Newtown (Sydney Uni) hope the canteen was still open to get something to eat..two to three hours lecture home to wife and kids ( later on) and try and get some study in before you passed out...three nights a week I recall???
As to keeping on keeping on..my master solicitor had a career as an achedemic and was the Director of Man Power in WW2..but when he retired thought to do law so he would have an interest..when I worked for him he was over ninety...you could ask him a question and he would look over his glasses and say..go to ( say Helmore on Real Property...or whatever the relevant text book and there were a few..."Look on page 146 in paragraph (3) part b that covers it for you...incredible..but such a privilege to have him as my mentor...I learnt so much which set me up for the rest of my life...
Alex

[xelasnave]

So Hans why not do law...and help people.
Alex

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

So Hans why not do law...and help people.
Alex

Interesting suggestion Alex but in reality I don't think my brain is wired for Law nor do I have any passion for this field. My interest and passion has always been towards the Engineering, Science and Technology. I initially applied for the RAAF (out of a love of aircraft and the military) as an Engine Fitter but fate would later push me to become an Aircraft Instrument fitter. In the early 90's I was looking at becoming a Calibration Technician because I found a new field ... Metrology (the Science of Measurement not Weather). I was fascinated by both the Engineering and the Science (Physics and Mathematics) aspects of this field plus I loved that it was precise, not abstract.

But your suggestion of helping other people should be taken on board .. undertake some volunteer work.

[xelasnave]

I see law and science similar ... Both follow clear rules and each doth require evidence in support of a stated proposition.

Each have various areas of specialisation.

Using the law I can help someone buy or sell their house, provide security for borrowed finance, lease property from either the side of the landlord or the side of the tenant, comply with requirements to own and operate a business either as a personal proprietor or via a limited liability company, and to set out agreements and arrangements between parties and provide machinery for resolution of problems, ....and then there is the aspect of matters between citizen and state from crimes to say regulations as to health, road use or building requirements.
But all very clear except where it is not.

Alex

[ChrisD (Chris)]

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

Has anyone completed a University Degree just as a tick on a bucket list rather than a career employment venture. If so what field did you study?
I had a discussion with a friend and mentioned I wouldn't mind going back and studying Mathematics at a Tertiary Level .. his response was why, you are 57 .. bit late for a career change.

I completed a Bachelor of Computer Science at 50. While I was able to use it to improve my employment prospects, it was mostly for myself. You see, I was forced to leave secondary school at year 11 because I failed maths and physics, so it was a personal "Everest" for me, a redemption.

I did several semesters in both the calculus and physics and look back on it with great fondness.

Several people have suggesting that you learn a language.
Mathematics is a language, the language of science.

For example, in primary and secondary school you're learning the basic verbs, nouns and grammar, like mathematical symbols, number sets and trigonometry. At the time they seem unrelated and meaningless. Later you will learn to put them together in subjects like Integral and Differential Calculus, you use mathematics to form "sentences", to make statements.

In your head you will begin by converting English to maths and back, translating as you work. Then eventually, one day, you'll be looking at an equation and realize that you're no longer thinking in English any more, you're just thinking in mathematics. This happens also when you're learning a human language.

It happened for me in 2004 in a café at the university campus while reviewing an assignment before I handed it in. A memorable moment, for me at least.

You'll also find that mathematics has its own "poetry". Take a look at Euler's Identity or Maxwell's Wave Equations. When you know the language you will see the beauty.

Yes, you can learn mathematics from books or youtube, but being immersed in an environment where maths is being "spoken", and with people who also speak to you in this language, you will learn it way faster. Like living in another country.

I hope this helps you decide.

Good luck,
Chris.

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

After a bit of research I found CSU offers an ideal solution .. you can enrol in Single Subject Study with committing to a Degree. Interesting selection of Mathematics subjects as well plus fields. ... and oh look it offers subjects in GIS.

https://study.csu.edu.au/study-optio...subject/search

[Startrek (Martin)]

My wife completed a double degree in Teaching at age 50 as she always wanted to teach but did not do well enough in the HSC back in 1977. Raising a family (5 kids) took up most of her time for the next 15 to 20 years along with some part time work later on in childcare ( She also did a Diploma in Childcare at age 42 )
So it’s never too late to study and pursue a career you love well into your 40’s and early 50’s
Cheers

[Graeme J (Graeme)]

I started a B.Sc (Physics) when I was 43 for something to keep my mind occupied. Was working full time so it took me 8 1/2 years part time to finish. There was lots and lots of very complicated maths but graduated with a 5.8 GPA. Was very happy with that. I also have numerous TAFE qualifications. You never stop learning.

[Hodur (David)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Part time was the pits..work like a dog all day, rush off at 5 pm for a peak hour drive to Newtown (Sydney Uni) hope the canteen was still open to get something to eat..two to three hours lecture home to wife and kids ( later on) and try and get some study in before you passed out...three nights a week I recall???
As to keeping on keeping on..my master solicitor had a career as an achedemic and was the Director of Man Power in WW2..but when he retired thought to do law so he would have an interest..when I worked for him he was over ninety...you could ask him a question and he would look over his glasses and say..go to ( say Helmore on Real Property...or whatever the relevant text book and there were a few..."Look on page 146 in paragraph (3) part b that covers it for you...incredible..but such a privilege to have him as my mentor...I learnt so much which set me up for the rest of my life...
Alex

Alex, I worked with an Old School Account, a true gentleman. He could add a column of figures as quickly as he could run his finger down the page.
Interestingly, he was in London in WWI and came under Zeppelin attack. He was an extraordinary man who lived in extraordinary times.

[RogerLightyear (Roger)]

I've always been interested in studying something other than my current field one day but I have various interests and couldn't pick one!

This site could be useful https://www.khanacademy.org/ along with youtube etc as someone said earlier, to at least get a taste for something and then maybe commit to a course. There seems to be a lot of education in this thread - I feel like an underachiever

[Sunfish (Ray)]

People I know quite well have completed or are completing PHDs in their 60s.
Several of them have also completed undergraduate and masters degrees outside of their field in their 50s. People do.