A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Looking for anyone in their 40s who have started back to school (sm)

Posted: Jan 16, 2011

I am considering returning to school but I have no idea what career to pursue. For anyone in their 40s who has started back, can you give me some insight as to how you decided upon your career, how difficult it is for you in general, are you still working while going? I absolutely stink at math so I am terrified in that aspect but otherwise not really worried about it.

Any information, ideas, advice would be greatly, greatly appreciated!

;

I also am looking at going back to school - kidsmom4

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm 42, working at home right now, but wanting to go to school for nursing, not sure if LPN or just go ahead and take the plunge for RN. I've worked at home for the past 10 years and have always had a desire to help people so I feel that nursing is my calling. Just waiting for my youngest, age 4 now, to start school in September, maybe take 6 months to a year to just work and put away my income, then start school. You are not in this boat alone!! :) If we only knew back in our 20's what we know now, huh? LOL!!

Could not agree with you more about our 20s, lol (sm) - TiredMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I have just made this "possible" decision, lol, within the last 24 hours so I have lots of questions and concerns right now. For one thing, I honestly do not know where to start. In the State of Georgia when applying for college you have to provide SAT scores, problem is, it has been close to 30 years since I took the SAT. So, does that mean that I have to take that awful test again????? I certainly hope not because it took all I could do to take it at the age of 16.

Again, this is just something that I have decided within the last 24 hours and who knows, I may change my mind, but I am going to call a counselor on Monday and just chat with them. I was looking at trying the local technical college butI do not really like any of the degrees that they are offering, I cannot see myself as a diesel mechanic and not really interested in nursing.

Oh well, not sure what I will do. I wish you the best of luck and let me know how things go for you!

I'd like to do nursing too, but probably have to wait - sm - metoo

[ In Reply To ..]
until the kids are older, not sure. Have a local teaching hospital that pretty much guarantees a job after graduation there, but it is a condensed program, full BS for 2.5 years straight, no breaks. I have lots of debt so cannot afford it, so another reason to wait, as it will be another 4 years before I am totally out of the hole barring any catastrophes that is. Have thought of financial aid or grants, income only about $22K a year so I think I'd qualify, I guess the only way to find out is to go and talk with someone there. There is also a community college nearby that has a nursing program too, that may be more feasible as at least I could spread it out, then once done there go for a masters at the hospital, kind of a drag to start over in your mid-40s though, but I'd rather do it now then wait another five years.

I have ... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm in an RN program now.

Going back to school in your 40s - Michelle

[ In Reply To ..]
With voice recognition and other computer programs taking the place of MTs, transcription is becoming a dying profession (and is MUCH less lucrative than it used to be). After many years as an MT, I went back to school at 46 to become an MRI technologist. I continued working full time while I went to MRI school. By the way, I stink at math too! If there\'s a will, there\'s a way. Good luck. :)

You mean you became a rad tech? NM - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

No. I became an MRI technologist. nm - Michelle

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Are you doing that now or were you unable to -sm - metoo

[ In Reply To ..]
find a job, or doing both that and MT? What was involved and how long did it take you to complete? TIA.

I am currently working as an MRI tech.... sm - Michelle

[ In Reply To ..]
and I bill and code one day per week. I do miss MT.

I worked as an MT in a busy specialty practice for about 15 years... until they hired the OM from Hell, who convinced the docs that they didn not need an MT (or a transcription department, for that matter). I was already in MRI school (a year-long, full-time program on weekends), when I was laid off. Thankfully, when I went to college for MT, I also concurrently completed a medical billing and coding program. I found a great job as a biller/coder while I finished MRI school. The best part of all is that the employer that I was billing for was putting in a magnet and asked me to be their tech. I was very lucky.

In the MRI program, there is obviously medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, cross-sectional anatomy, MRI principles, patient safety, etc., and lots of physics. Obviously, having taken many of the medical courses in MT school helped a lot.

I am almost 60 - Ann

[ In Reply To ..]
and I returned to school last year. I am in a Physician Assistant/Master's Degree program. I will be over 60 when I finish, and I will have a whole new career to look forward to.

During all the years I transcribed the dictation of PAs in my part-time MT job, I found myself thinking frequently, "I could do that." So, when I retired from my full-time day job (not MT), I researched the physician assistant training programs in my area and chose what seemed to be the best and just decided to go for it.

In about 18 months, I will be on the other side of the dictation equation. I promise to remember what it was like to be an MT and to be the dictator everyone loves to get.

Find something you want to do and just do it. The time required for the training will pass whether you go back to school or not. You might as well have something good to show for it when it does.

Good luck to you!

48-year-old here, thinking about school, or something else, too - but how? - wrkn4pnuts

[ In Reply To ..]
I really feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. My kids at home will be starting college soon, one this fall, one next fall, which equals lots of money coming out of mine and my husband's pockets. Remaining an MT the rest of my working life is out of the question and not a good thing for me anymore. In short it has become an abusive relationship that I seriously need to get out of. I would love to go back to school, but I feel too old, plus how do I come up with money for school for me (not to mention time and incentive)? I also care for my elderly mother, who lives nearby and is pretty frail. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated...thanks.

I got a loan through Sallie Mae for school. sm - Michelle

[ In Reply To ..]
My very needy 88-year-old aunt lives with me. I am divorced and am the only breadwinner.

Regarding time and incentive.... If you want it badly enough, you can do it. Believe me, if *I* can do it, anyone can! I'm 48 now. :)

re: over 40 - Me

[ In Reply To ..]
I am 48 and finished school (BA in education) a year and a half ago. My city apparently has a hiring freeze on teachers positions though, so I'm still plugging away at MT land. I'm not discouraged YET, but wish I would have researched the need for teachers in my city BEFORE I went for the degree.

A lot of schools have closed and consolidated and a lot of teachers were displaced, so if and when openings come about, the displaced teachers have preference and the hundreds of graduates just sign up, interview and hope some openings come available.

In the meantime I sub when I can. That gives me experience and real life hands on exposure, and just wait for my time.

I also was horrible at math. When I was taking my math classes, I made good use of the free tutoring that came with that hefty tuition I spent on this degree.

RESEARCH YOUR FIELD!!! School cost me over 40 thousand bucks and I'm paying on student loans now that I can barely afford! Hopefully you graduate and get into a field that puts you right to work.

Me!!! - Silly Girl

[ In Reply To ..]
At almost 43 years old and 17 years at the same job, management finally told me I couldn't advance anymore in the company until I got a degree soooo back I went (fortunately we have tuition reimbursement where I work). I'm working towards my bachelors in business (made sense since i've dealt with business in my work for years). However, because of my full-time work, married, house, kids, sports, etc it made sense for me to take all online classes through the local college so i'm taking 9 hours each semester and do most of the work after kids have gone to bed. Math is not my favorite either and I dread when that's the only thing I have left to take.

It's hard and sometimes I want to throw in the towel but when I finish, I will be the first college graduate on my side of the family. I also feel like i'm a role model for the 2 kids still living at home and they are already talking about when they go to college.

I SAY GO FOR IT!!!!!!!

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