Nice to see you too, @BunsenBurner ! I was just thinking how… I think I was a teenager when I first joined here, and now I’m mid thirties! Yikes! Not only have I worked at my company for 14 years, but I have owned my house for a decade as well. How time flies!!! How have you been?
Update - talked to my boss today and she thought it was a great idea. I also reached out to a school online for more information.
Absolutely, do it. I know many who have, much older than you. I started a newish job that will require online courses and certification tests now that the tuition train for us has ended.
Hi fendergirl!
I took Calculus after a three year hiatus and wondered how hard it would be - it came back pretty quickly. I also had to study for my structures exam after 10 years away from a structures course and again, it all came back pretty quickly. I think you’ll be fine, though I can’t speeak to IT specifically.
No advice, but maybe a little inspiration: My mother went back for a MA in the field where she had been teaching high school when she was in her mid-40s. She did it part-time while continuing to teach, and she loved it. She had great relationships with the various faculty, most of whom were 5-10 years younger than she. Then, a few years later, she quit her job (long story) and started a PhD program in Philosophy of Education. That was a little rockier, but ultimately very satisfying. She got her PhD at 61, and she basically had a second career as a college professor for 16 years.
Ask the programs you are considering to put you in touch with a few current students and ask them. Often they also have information sessions each semester for prospective students.
As an anecdote I know someone with an undergrad engineering degree(he is a recent college grad) who is doing a part-time MS in engineering online thru USC that is a class a semester and he says it pretty much soaks up all his time outside of work.
Yeah, that’s my worry. I’m just as likely to put in a 50-60 hour week at work as I am a 40 hour week. My schedule is all over the place, though it’s been better lately. I talked about this with my team and they said I should go for it, so hopefully they’ll step up and help if it gets to be too much. They’re pretty awesome.
It is certainly worth doing if you are able to devote the time to it. I offer 3 cases:
- I went back to school at age 29 and earned a PhD. I finished my degree in my mid-30s. I have never regretted it and having the advanced degree has made a big difference in my career in biotech.
- My father-in-law joined the army as a HS drop-out at age 18. He retired after 20 years at age 38. He took the GED and then went to college. After getting his BS he liked the schooling enough that he kept on going and eventually earned his PhD in Microbiology. He then went on to have a 2nd career as a microbiologist.
- A friend is currently successfully earning her PhD in Molecular Biology after retiring from a successful career as an attorney. When she finishes her degree she will be in her early 60s and hopes to have a second carer in biotech.
However, one thing that gives me pause is your reference to working a lot. In all three of these cases the person stopped working and devoted full time to graduate study. I don’t know how successful one could be while working a lot of hours too. STEM graduate study tends to be a full time undertaking.
Maybe take a CC call class to get a feel for returning to academics and see how well it comes back?
I’m heading into a challenging full time post grad program at age 60. If I can do it anyone can.
To be fair, I did typically take 18 credits during most semesters of my undergrad and I worked 15-30 hours a week back then as well. The semester that I did the best was actually the one that I worked at my jobs the most. I think it really made me buckle down and focus. I remember my one professor lecturing me on working too much that semester. - haha. Difference is, that was mindless work in comparison to today and obviously a different level of courses. 
I applied yesterday. We’ll see if I get accepted. I haven’t taken the GRE, so if they don’t waive it then I guess there goes my chances.