This is similar to a thread I started about co-housing but has new information, so I figured I’d start a new thread.
DH and I would love to be able to audit classes in our retirement. The only problem is that we retired while still young (currently 54 and 58). We don’t know where we’d ultimately like to settle, so I looked into “adult learner” possibilities in a few geographic areas that interested us. It seems that almost every state offers free or greatly reduced-priced courses at various schools, however, they all start at 60, 62 or 65. EXCEPT Colorado State. They start at 55. And, it just so happens to be where S23 attends school and we really love the area. (https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/free-college-courses-for-senior-citizens/)
I also found an organization called OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) that offers non-credit courses to those over 50. The Bernard Osher Foundation | List of Institutes While they are non-credit courses, each site is connected to a university.
I did compare sites and some offer better courses than others. I’d love to hear of anyone’s experiences with OLLI. It seems they also offer travel opportunities.
And if you’ve ever been jealous of students that do Semester at Sea, I just found that adult learners can do it as well. But it’s REALLY pricey. Adult Travel on Semester at Sea
We have many through CCs and voc schools, however, they have become much more geared to those seeking continuing education units in the trades or the type of classes you’d take at a community center.
I’d love to audit education classes and see how they’ve changed, learn about the Middle East conflict from a historical perspective or take a course in medical anthropology. Of course, it’s so much more appealing without the thought of having to write papers or take tests. I’d also love to hear current college students’ perspectives on social issues, history, etc.
We have an OLLI at UCSD which is within walking distance of our house. I am not yet retired, but have looked into this as something to do when I am retired. They have classes you can attend and many guest lectures. The cost is $190 per quarter which I thought was not bad.
If I had to pick one option it would be Coursera courses! H and I have taken them for years all for free. Excellent professors online offer them and truly amazing. Some working people take them for certificates- we audit them for free. I took writing classes and H has taken all kinds of science classes some of which were with D’s profs from Caltech. The classes are taught by profs all over the world. Take a look at it online.
We have taken the Colorado University system courses in person for 3 years. While it was inexpensive $25 per credit there was no certificate- it was audit at age I believe 60 +. We did it for 3 years and it was great on campus. You could only do this if there was room in the class and it at times was full. When covid hit- it stopped? for a while, not sure what the status is now. There was some interaction with others but not as much as we would have liked as frequently we were the only ones that were on a golden passport. I took tap & several art classes, H took geology & business upper level (not have to have prerequisites) and art classes and we both took French. No tests were required. Wish we could have had more student interaction but didn’t. It certainly may be more active on the main campuses.
I have a friend who does OLLI classes in the Cal State system. They are not offered here. She loves them- but I don’t know much about them.
I could just imagine my son’s face if I showed up in one of his classes at CSU.
I’ve thought about Coursera and will probably check them out. I think it would be great for now, but as we get older and might be in a new area, I think I will want some face-to-face interaction. (Olli would serve that purpose).
I really enjoy OLLI classes! I have taken history, art and photography classes. The instructors are local volunteers, so the quality can vary, but I have found the classes to be very interesting and fun. Many instructors are retired teachers or people with an interest they want to share.
Our local school district offers adult classes during the day and in the evenings. You just have to be over 18.
I have a six week class (that I just signed up for) at $45 for the session. I’ve taken courses on Makeup application by a professional make-up artist who has worked in film and TV in Hollywood studios. I’ve taken courses in French, tennis, swim, etc.
It’s so convenient because it’s just within the neighborhood and it’s very well organized. They use community center halls and spaces. It’s also short term and inexpensive. I think they use a combination of funding from the local school district, state, lottery funding, and private donations. They keep the costs cheap to encourage the local community to take courses.
If you live outside of their city, you pay an extra $10 for the course. Which is what I pay to take the courses and are less than 10 miles away.
Another source of recorded courses is the Great Courses company. Their older courses were flat-out college level short classes of 24-36 30-minute lectures on a whole gamut of subjects (Psychology, Religion, Science, History, etc). They’d bring a college prof into their studio and film. They are expensive if bought at full price but every course goes on sale at least once a year, and it’s worth checking your local library. Ours has an extensive collection, some on DVD and some via streaming.
I’m less enamored with their current releases. The company was sold a few years ago and now they still produce some interesting courses but many more of their newer offerings have a pop-science feel instead of being a version of what you would have learned in a college class.
I have taken several courses from my local OLLI offerings. Some over Zoom and some in person. All enjoyable. They have a number of offerings on repeat that fill immediately - steel drum classes and writing a memoir. Neither of those interest me, but usually there are 1 or 2 that interest me and could fit my schedule. My current class is Great Decisions which is affiliated with the Foreign Policy Association. It is evidently a common OLLI offering across colleges and I have found it very interesting.
It’s been a while since I took an Olli class. There are 2 locations here (maybe more now- haven’t checked). Our state U system offers free auditing of courses to seniors over 62 and my DH takes several in the graduate school. But the school has wanted transcripts from undergrad and health inoculation info which makes it harder for us old geezers to be able to get into the classes