Am I Too Old to Go Back to School? Success Stories and Tips

Key Insights:

• Going back to school later in life can be scary. Hear how some Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) grads pushed past this fear to earn their healthcare degree.
• Success in returning to school can start with preparation. Back-to-school tips for adult learners, including learning about academic support that’s available in case you need it, remembering why going back to school is important to you, and developing a plan can help address potential challenges.
• UMA offers academic student and career support services to adult learners enrolled in our healthcare programs, regardless of their age. Let us know your fears about going back to school, and let’s create strategies to address them together.

Whether you’re thinking about going back to school at 30, 40, 50, or beyond, the idea of returning to a classroom can be scary. You might worry that your study skills are rusty, be intimidated by technology, have limited time because you also work and take care of a family, lack support at home, or have another concern holding you back. These feelings are normal — but they also don’t have to stop you from going back to school.

Success Stories for Going Back to School

At Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA), we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming students from a variety of age groups into our healthcare degree programs. We’d like to share what a few of them had to say about their experience:

• “I was very scared to start back to school at 36,” says Erin D. However, she wanted to show her two children that you can do anything you put your mind to. So, she decided that “it was time to do more.” For her, this meant going back to school to pursue a degree in healthcare management. “It’s unlocked a level of confidence I never had in myself before,” Erin says, “and I love it. It’s wonderful.”
• Shiquin H. graduated from UMA 20 years after graduating from high school and recounts a time when her son was sick for about a week, causing her to focus more on motherhood than on her schoolwork. Her advisor encouraged her not to give up, and she didn’t. “Going back to school really taught me to understand that I can achieve anything,” Shiquin says. “This was the best thing I ever could have done for myself.”
• Ronie F. had just lost her job and was looking for work. “It took a minute for me to decide that school was really the thing I wanted to go back into,” she says, especially after trying to take this step in the past and never being able to make it work. She has now accomplished this goal — with honors. “It’s like I’m dreaming,” Ronie says, adding that waking up to see her honor chords and cap and gown help her know that it’s a reality.“
• I’ve been wanting to go back to school,” says Whitley N, “and I wanted to do it for my kids.” She was motivated to show them that it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been out of school, you can go back and finish. She also strived to do well in her courses. “I wanted all A’s,” Whitley says, “and I got it. That was a big thing for me.”

Success stories like these show that going back to school is not only possible, but also attainable and these students did it at various stages in their lives. Now can be your time to shine and your time to pursue education in the healthcare field.

Back to School Tips for Adult Learners

If you’ve been away from a learning environment for a while, you may wonder how to get back into one. To help with this, here are a few strategies for success in school as an adult learner.

#1: Familiarize yourself with support services available

Challenges can arise when going back to school. A family member gets sick. Work suddenly mandates overtime. Your car breaks down. Understanding how your school may be able to help during times like these can help ease your mind. You may be able to relax a little knowing that you don’t have to go through your educational journey alone because you have someone to go to for support or assistance.

#2: Keep your motivators in sight

Working, taking care of a family, and going back to school all at the same time can feel overwhelming. Keeping your motivations for pursuing a degree front and center can help you push through if things get tough. Maybe you want to set a positive example for your kids, like Erin and Whitley above. Or perhaps you’ve always been drawn to the healthcare field but have never taken the next step. Whatever your “why,” remembering it on your tough days can help you stay motivated.

#3: Set yourself up for success

If you want to eat better, you’ll have greater success if you fill your fridge and cupboards with healthy foods. Take the same approach to school by helping to set yourself up for success before you begin. Get your back-to-school supplies in advance and write out a plan for when you’ll do your studies. It can also help to have a Plan B if a challenge suddenly pops up. If you have children and plan to put them in childcare so you can study for a big test, for instance, have a backup childcare source ready to go in case your primary one cancels.

UMA Offers Adult Learners Both Academic and Career Support Services

Only you can decide whether going back to school is right for you. If it is, UMA is here to help guide you through your career journey.

Our Student Services teams can help you navigate the financial aid if you qualify, assist with answering questions about your program or courses, and guide you toward potential resources to help support you in other areas while pursuing your education.

Once you’re ready to begin working in healthcare, our Career Services team can help you prepare to pursue entry-level roles. Whether you need help creating a solid resume, want to build your confidence with mock interviews, or are interested in potentially being connected with one of our employer partners, we’re here to help you move forward.

Contact us to learn how we can help you go back to school, regardless of your age, so you can finally pursue an education in the healthcare field aligned with your goals.

FAQs

• Is it too late to go to school? At UMA, we believe that it’s never too late to go back to school. If you have a desire to work in healthcare and are willing to put in the work, contact us, and let’s chat. We’d love to help you pursue your healthcare career dreams, regardless of how many birthdays you’ve had.
• Is it too late to get a degree at 30? Not at all. Erin D. is a great example of this. She was 36 when she started at UMA, proving that it’s possible to get a degree in your 30s if you put your mind to it.
• What kind of support does UMA offer adult learners? Ultimate Medical Academy offers a variety of academic support and career services to help you throughout your healthcare education journey. They include 1-on-1 academic assistance, financial aid guidance, resume creation, and job search assistance. Reach out and let us know the type of support you need so we can talk about ways to receive it.