Quote:
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.
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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.