Recession drives some older adults to enroll in college

Twenty percent of employers plan to increase full-time hires this year, but most of those new jobs will not be created in shrinking industries like heavy manufacturing, according to a CareerBuilder survey.

That’s leading many unemployed workers to head back to college in pursuit of a new degree.

Higher education can be intimidating for older students who have never been to college, but it doesn’t have to be, said Jessica Smith, admissions representative at Goldey-Beacom College.

The first thing non-traditional students need to do is research colleges and specific programs that meet their needs and goals, she said.

“Once you do your research, you’ve got a lot of information you’ve taken in, but you don’t know how it all comes together,” she said.

That’s why it’s so important to meet face to face with an admissions representative who can answer any questions Google can’t, she said.

Another thing to consider is past college credit, she said. Many middle-aged people may have started at a university 25 years ago, taken a few credits, but left school because it didn’t fit, she said.

But many colleges will transfer credits – even if they were taken more than 20 years ago, she said. Things like English or basic composition are more likely to transfer than a math or computer course, she said, but it never hurts to ask.

There are also many types of aid available to students returning to school, whether it is through a university or the federal government, she said. Many veteran students can also take advantage of the post-9/11 G.I. Bill, she said. For example, Goldey-Beacom is a yellow ribbon school, which means G.I. students pay no out-of-pocket costs.

Employers are also a great source for college funding, she said. Though fewer are publicizing their tuition reimbursement programs to try and save money, many still offer some sort of assistance, she said.

For Ken Banaszak, his employer’s tuition reimbursement program was a major impetus in his decision to enroll at Goldy-Beacom.

The 53-year-old Hockessin resident had never been to college – he took a job at the phone company right out of high school and has worked there 36 years, he said.

Being a student again was a bit of an adjustment, he said,

“The biggest challenge is the unknown,” he said. “I still get nervous in every class, not knowing what’s next.”

He was a bit apprehensive at first about being an older student in a classroom full of 20-year-olds, but Banaszak said he’s found that everyone is there to get a degree, and that gives them all at least one thing in common.

A new degree means career advancement for Faustino Aguilar, 41, of Pike Creek, who is attending Goldey-Beacom for finance.

He’s worked for DuPont’s hospitality branch for 20 years, but is now doing accounting work for the company, he said, and a new degree could help boost him up the ladder.

He was a bit nervous when he started classes, he said, and what helped him the most was taking time to find a comfort zone by starting with easier and fewer classes.

Flexibility is also an important thing to consider when picking a school, he said, and family support is vital.

“You have to remember that you’re not the only one who is going to be affected by it,” he said.

But Banaszak said the hardest step of all may be the first one – deciding to take the plunge and enroll. Remember, he said, you’re never too old to learn something new.