Is 35 too old to start from Scratch?

LessValuableNinja · Jan 24, 2017

Go to the search box and type "old" and "age." Someone asks some form of this question at least once a week. The short answer is "no." The long answer is also "no."

Shawn91111 · Jan 25, 2017

Nope, I was 35 when I started over. Only in one of my pre reqs was I the oldest in the class.

luvgshepherds88 · Jan 25, 2017

I turn 46 next month and just got accepted into a nursing program. Your never too old!!

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jan 25, 2017

I'll be 40 when I graduate. So, no.

Lightning90 · Jan 25, 2017

In my opinion, yes it is. I could never imagine myself going back to school at that age..

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2017

Absolutely not!! I graduated from my ADN program at 23, and I was one of the young'uns. Most of my class was in their late 20s-mid 40s. Many were making career changes, or had been stay at home moms and then ready to go to work.

Working while in nursing school is doable as long as your employer is willing to be flexible with your schedule. I worked as a CNA 24 hrs/week, and quit before my final practicum. I also had a new baby at the time, otherwise I may have worked more. But you do what you have to do. Traditional 18-22 yr old college students are often single and can live in dorms or with their parents, but the "adult" students often don't have that luxury. You either figure out how to make the job fit into your school life, or you defer school until you have enough saved to live off of. Well I suppose you could get in debt up to your eyeballs taking out loans with no job...but I don't recommend that.

rikki6695 · Jan 25, 2017

I don't think you're too old at all. I'm 26 and am completing my pre-requisites to get into nursing school, so I'll be about 28 by the time I graduate. And I am currently taking all of my pre-reqs online so that I can work while I am in school (I am earning my degree through a community college, as well). That'll at least help me pay the bills until I get into the actual nursing classes. You could try and take as many classes online as you can so that you can still work to support yourself for now.

You should also check into special scholarships, grants, or loans that your state might offer to nursing students, to help pay your bills while you're completing your nursing classes and clinicals. I know my state (Missouri) offers a special loan to nursing students in addition to federal aid.

LessValuableNinja · Jan 25, 2017

In my opinion, yes it is. I could never imagine myself going back to school at that age..

This person feels too old to do it. If you don't feel too old you're not. I know a PA who started PA school at 65, after careers as a fighter pilot and engineer. It's just something he wanted to do, so he did.

FutureNurseInfo · Jan 25, 2017

No, no, and no. I am 30 right now doing my pre-reqs. I will be 32 when I will be applying to nursing programs and 32 when I will start one. So, you are not too old to start the nursing school.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 25, 2017

OP, my advice about this is very simple: Dead is too old. Since we don't have hordes of undead going back to school to learn new things, unless that becomes reality, being dead is pretty much a hard rule for being too old to do something OTHER than decompose.

Now that we've established that you're likely NOT dead yet, only you can truly determine if you're too old to learn new tricks. There is a LOT to learn while in the pre-nursing school phase and even more to learn during nursing school itself. You have to determine for yourself whether or not you have the drive, determination, and focus needed to go through the process. I am NOT the picture of organization. Nowhere close. If you saw my office or my garage, you'd understand... that being said, I kept myself highly focused and organized during school simply because I needed to. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have made it through. Being focused and organized doesn't mean you spend ALL your time with your nose in the books and such. What it means is that you have to figure out how you learn best and most efficiently and organize your study time around that.

To give you and idea what "kind" of student I used to be, when I earned my Bachelors Degree in Sports Med, I was basically a B/C student, with a few A grades sprinkled in for good measure. When I "went back" to school to become an RN, I ended up with basically a 4.0 GPA (3.98 because of a single 1 unit class where I earned a B) and maintained a GPA well over 3.0 during nursing school. I graduated Cum Laude and was a few points shy of Summa Cum Laude. Why did I miss that? Simple: I looked at what I needed to do to graduate, how much time I had available to study, how much sleep time I needed to remain efficient at doing everything I needed to do, and working full time. I also ended up setting myself up decently well (in the end) for going to either a BSN program or an MSN program (because I already have a Bachelors, it's an option)... but I did what I needed to do to balance everything well without going too insane in the process.

I'm an ED nurse with darned close to 2 years experience under my belt now and I'm 43. I started down this path when I was 34 and got into nursing school when I was 38. That's after completing all the prerequisites and turning in applications in 15 consecutive times. I applied to nursing schools 8 consecutive semesters and got accepted to both schools (that I was qualified for) in that 8th semester.

Icooka4u · Jan 25, 2017

No, you are not too old. A nurse I know in her 60's completed her 2nd M.A. degree. It might take a little longer because high school/foundational information in your head is not fresh. That's what transitional courses are for to help you build up to college level. As far as working, you can. It will be more challenging. You could return to school part time, or take out loans covering your cost of living (scale back/downsize) and go full time. Depending on your locations ask your college's Financial Aid office to assist you with grant info.