Thinking about returning to school - found out something ironic

[STEM_Dad]

I've been wanting to return to college and finish my bachelor's degree for many years. I haven't been able to afford it, and can't get federal student loans because I maxed them out before (and haven't been able to afford to repay them).

So, I was talking to my 30 year old daughter the other day (who started back to college recently).

I was searching yet again through scholarships. I'm a white male who graduated from high school in the 1990s. All the scholarships that I was finding were for recent highschool graduates, women or people of certain racial minority groups. I think it's great that those exist to help people to meet those criteria, but I just wasn't finding any that I qualify to apply for.

So, then I got Google's Gemini AI involved, and asked for some examples of scholarships that I would qualify for...

The very first one in the response was from AARP. It requires applicants to be at least 50 years old.

... dismayed again, I don't qualify, I'm only 49. Oh, wait, that means I'll qualify next year! 🤣

I've been procrastinating going back to school so long that I'll qualify AARP (the American Association of Retired People) before I can actually go back to school!

Maybe there's a bright side to turning 50 on my next birthday...I was just anticipating a barrage of "over the hill" jokes.

<Sigh> No response needed. I just had to post about this revelation somewhere.

[Mamamichl]

that’s an interesting notion!

[FifthWheel]

Go for it! I finished my BS when I was 55. I’m now 72 and still proud of that achievement. I had lots of support from my kids who were in college at the same time.

[NotAChevy]

comgrats on finding that! Its never too late to finish a degree.. Good luck and should you ever need anything, know we’re here to help

[SunniM]

I started my PhD in 2010 and quickly decided that it was going to be way too much. I had undiagnosed ADHD and was a single mom, working full-time. I’ve always wanted to finish it, but am worried about starting that now that I’m 54. You’ve inspired me to start looking at programs again. Thank you!

[STEM_Dad in reply to SunniM]

I'm glad you're inspired.

I believe it's never too late. That's why I haven't given up my dream of earning a college degree.

I know that one of the issues that I had in college was that I kept changing majors. I find so many things to be interesting, so it's hard to settle on one.

I plan to pursue a bachelor's related to Information Technology, since I've been working in that field for 13 years since I found it to be my niche.

Might I ask, how did you decide what you wanted to pursue a PhD in?