I didn't graduate until I was 26. I was never happy in college, so I quit and started bartending. Since the money was awesome, I didn't think about college much. Then I started to really hate working in the service industry. At that point I wanted college, and I did very well. I would only go to college if YOU want to, not what others want. If you go for you, then you will be motivated, other wise you probably won't. Then you won't make good grades, and it will be a waste of money. But that's just my opinion. For what it is worth, I am now working on my second masters. Went from one extreme to another.

 

BS at 37, MS at 42. Working 50-60 hrs/wk the entire time.

It's NEVER too late.

 

21 is NOT really a late start. In undergrad there were several folks in their 30s and 40s in some of my history classes. (There was a nice lady over 65--tuition at SC state schools was once free if you were over a certain age.) I went to law school with folks in their 50's who were starting a 2nd career. Don't let starting a couple of years late be a factor.

As for tuition. We're in SC! Think lottery! The education lottery is for scholarships for citizens to go to college. My best friend's mom is going to school to get a nursing degree. (She never went to college.) Her tuition is covered by the lottery. You need to pick a school and check with their financial aid office on how to apply for lottery scholarship funds.

[Edit: I'm going on the assumption you're staying in SC! Even if you're not, there are lots of scholarship and grant programs out there. Be sure to get the school's financial aid office involved.]

Good luck.

 

Some of us were late leaving college... I was on the seven year plan to get a BSEE. By the time I left, most of the folks thought I was a grad student

Just a couple of things to keep in mind:

1. Most folks enter college with no clue what to major in.

2. Most students get discouraged after the first two years.
(I did and I was born to be an engineer)

3. Stick with it, no matter how long it takes.
(I got a part time job related to my field which gave me motivation and made me back off the 18-21 credit semesters)

4. The degree will get you in the door. How long it took or how old you were when you started/finished won't matter after the first job.


Good Luck!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tombrew
[B]BS at 37, MS at 42.

 

I was 17 when I graduated HS. I took three years off before college, so I started when I was 20. One word of advice is to spend at least one semester in the dorms. Many of my closest friends to this day I met either in the dorms, or were friends of my dorm mates.

 

Thanks guys for all your comments!! I'm really starting to get motivated towards going back to school. Now I have to figure out how to get accepted!

Greg

 

Im turning 19 in about 2 weeks and i dropped out of high school during my sophomore year.I'm going to be starting college this Fall.

 

I took a lot of classes but never graduated, even have some Graduate credit hours by permission of Instuctor. Never knew what I wanted to do. I have enough credit hours for 5 majors: Philosophy, Psychology, History, Political Science and Sociology, but only the classes for the discipline. Have written papers up the wazoo (whatever that may be) but haven't bothered to try to publish anything yet. The thought is crossing my mind though. I am a Kitchen/Bath remodelor and may end up going back and picking up a degree and see if I can come up with a use for it, after all I am 53, and should know what I want to be when I grow up.

 

I don't think success can be measured on whether you went to college or not.. I know many people who are quite successful, and have not graduated from college... but fulfillment is another story.. you will find yourself regretting that you did not get an education, and may feel a little empty inside.. college is not for everyone, but give it a shot and see if you like it..