I've been at my company (in the financial services industry) for over 6 years now, and - while I've been promoted 4 times - I've come to the conclusion that this is about as far as I can go in the company (and the industry) with a degree in music. I like my current position and I would be happy to stay here, but now that I'm married and I have a kid on the way, I am looking to broaden my career path and give myself more options. I'm thinking about going back to school and getting an accounting degree. I figure it's a good way to give myself the most options inside or outside the company. I'm just not sure how I can pull this off while still working full time and raising a new born kid. Plus, I'm going to be pushing 40 by the time I'm done. Anyone here have experience going back to school and changing careers after the age of 35?
Wow, I’m exactly where you are right now. I’m tired of the corporate world and am undecided on what I should do. I’m in the IT field right now and am thinking of opening another business.
My sister was basically in the fitness industry (owning, operating, etc) for a number of years. I believe she was 40+ when she went back to school (I do not believe she ever got a degree to being with). She graduated Magna c*m Laude with a Psychology degree and then went on to get her doctorate. She didn't have a family and kids, but she did have to maintain a work schedule to pay her way.
The answer depends on two things: Is your wife going to be working or staying home with the baby? How many hours are you planning on taking at a time? I would say for the first 3 months you get almost no sleep with a new baby, so if your wife is staying up all night with the baby, you can do it.
Don't have experience with it, but I've seen others do it. The person who will be most affected will be your wife, as she will have to pick up the load around the house. If she is supportive of it then I don't see why you would have any problems getting it done.
I don't have first-hand experience with it (yet...though I feel like I will one day).. but I don't think you're even close to too old for it. Shoot, I'd say you should still at least have a shot at it 10 years from now. (Of course, sooner is better in case this one isn't the right one either) G/l! Hope you go for it
I just started back to school at 31 to change careers. You aren't that much older than me. So I am going to say no way are you too old. I am getting my Masters in Teaching to teach middle school kids math, yes I am glutton for punishment. To give you a bit of perspective.. my Bachelors is in Interior Design... and I work as a staff accountant at an Accounting firm. So switching careers isn't new to me at this point. And I feel your pain. If you are unsatisfied with where you are there is nothing to keep you from continuing your education and switching careers. In my classes there is a broad range of ages, so don't feel like you will end up in classes with a bunch of 18 year olds. Check the school before you sign up to see what their adult education courses/classes are, because if you are like me you will have to be working as well as going to school at the same time. If they have a good program its much easier to find night classes and weekend classes that fit your schedule. Edit: Also, you can always do the online classes that you can fit in at night between baby screams. There are a lot of options, especially in accounting which is widely available.
My grandmother did it at 50 or 60 and became an RN. My final career change came in 2000, and I'm 52. Of course I wasn't married, no kids to support and very comfortable living in my 800 sqft apartment at that time. Also, the last change didn't require me going back to school. You on the other hand have a whole lot more to be concerned about than me. Specifically, family. Good luck ima. As an aside, always enjoyed your musical leanings.
Sounds like its somewhat related to your current job/company? Financial - accounting? Check and see if your company will help you out/work with you on that.
I went back to school full time for two years at age 33 to get my MBA to get into marketing (a total career change). While I was in school, my wife and I moved into a new house and had a baby. My wife continued to work full time. What we did was take out private educational loans for about half of my old salary and used that to cover day care while living as cheaply as we could. We’ve since paid off those loans using a home equity line of credit (despite the housing market crash, we’re still slightly ahead). I’ve now been out of b-school for two years and have just about doubled my salary from what it was before I got my MBA. (Not that I’m making so much now – I was in a low-paying industry in my previous career.) Plus, my prospects for advancement and earning potential in my new career are much brighter than before. So, I’d say it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The hardest part was the burden that fell on my wife as being the sole wage earner while also taking care of our daughter on the days that I had night classes. Those were long days for her, but she’d agree that the sacrifice was well worth it.
I went back to school to get my degree (in music, as it happens) at age 32. Best decision I ever made. Earning a paycheck is nice, but you can't put a price on happiness, and my wife and I are both much happier now that I'm doing something that I actually WANT to do. However, it was a big challenge to go back to school. The age thing isn't a big deal. In fact for me, it was a plus: I had a much more mature outlook on my education, and was very focused on completion (especially compared to the 18-21 year-olds in my classes). The challenges were much more logisitical. How do you keep the household running with only one wage-earner and with hubby not available a large portion of the time? That is a question only you can answer. Plus, we don't have kids, so our situation is a wee bit different. Be sure that accounting is something you really WANT to do. Otherwise, you're trading one unsatisfying career for another. If you're going to do it, I highly recommend changing careers NOW, rather than later. It only gets more difficult as time goes by.
i had an uncle that went back to college in his mid 30s and now makes a lot more noney and lives in San Francisco, I dont think it is too late
ima, i must have missed the part about the bun in the oven, congrats!!! question: weren't you gonna leave your job and go into teaching
Its never too old!!! I used to teach at a University for three years and I have had the opportunity to teach to 5 students that were over 50+ range, 8 in the 40 to 49 range and about 13 in the 30 to 39 range. So age is not a factor. The main question that you should be asking yourself is...do you have the dedication to get this accomplished? It does take a lot of work and it may strain your relationship a bit as I saw with a few of my students. In general, my students that were over 30 or so struggled a bit with the tougher concepts; however, most got A's and B's. The ones that didn't is because their jobs or family were too demanding for them to complete the course requirements. Hopefully, this helps... If you have any other questions feel free to contact me through my clutchfans profile.
I went to b-school when I was 30. Worked full-time, with wife and two children. I went to an evening program that took two solid years. My wife was running her own business, but it was a part-time thing and she was able to carry the burden on kids and other household affairs. I did homework during lunch and on weekends. I got less sleep than I was accustomed to and it put some strain on my wife and on the marriage. But, we all came out on the other side alright. I was not able to participate as I would have liked with extracurriculars, my networking suffered, and my attempt at a simultaneous job search was a nonstarter. But, just school, work and kids was doable in a program designed for people who are working and with a wife who was willing and able to pick up the slack.
I have friends in their mid thirties who are still drifting and have never had a career! So you're one up on them. I'm sure you've read posts here from 25 year olds worried they're getting sooooo old. You'll be 40 when you're done? Still 25 years worth of work in you before they put you to pasture. It's not too late to go back to school. It's probably too late to just kind of drift through school, sponge off your parents and party with the frat boys. But if you're pretty sure you know what you want, then clear it with the wife and go for it. If accounting's your thing, your current employer may be able to help you through -- but then you'd owe them...or consider getting job...any job...with a big accounting firm, and they may help you out too. If you're doing the CPA thing, getting your undergrad from comm college or night school is not necessarily a bad thing because your CPA will trump your undergrad degree. If you're already working with the CPA firm, they should be able to assure you you'd get in the program once you're through. They may even help pay. (all they ask in return is 80 hour weeks) All depends on how you want to do it. And congrats on the kid.
