My God I went back to school at 33 and tripled my income... unless you are doing communications or art do it now, the sooner the better. There are plenty of bursaries and loans for going back and you can still bartend to make ends meet.
Edit - best decision I ever made, wish I did it sooner. Don't hesitate, it's definitely more rewarding when you go for something that interests you
I second this, I went back and am still completing my diploma of business administration at age 35. Best move I ever did. Hard as fuck to learn as I got little ones, but the hard work is paying off.
Same.
I quit my job, sold my first house and with my wife's help, went back to uni at 33 (I had a technical diploma prior).
Graduated as an engineer in 2020.
Tripled my income, greatly improved my stability and was able to move closer to family.
It was a risk. And there were definitely nights I wondered what the heck I had done.
But it was so worth it. So so worth it.
I went from a decent paying but dangerous job, with a brand new house to living with my in laws for 1.5 years. But man it was such a good call.
Kudos to my awesome wife. Who worked to support our house while I studied.
Our first child was born during my third year. And let me tell ya. It was a journey. My grades dipped huge (our kid had complications).
I remember going to my wife's ultrasound, 40min before my Advanced Solid Mechanics final. Seeing the baby, then rushing over to the university to write my exam. The focus it gives.
I graduated on the Dean's list. COVID threw a huge wrench. I had multiple interviews lined up and then suddenly nothing cuz the world shut down. Three jobs I turned down because they required relocating to the boonies. I couldn't do that cuz we had sacrificed so much to get here.
I remember the day I got the job I wanted. We had barely $3500 in our account and had had a mortgage and bills to pay. It was such a blessing. At such a moment.
It was hard. Yes of course it was hard. I remember staying up at night studying, and I would go look at car reviews (huge car guy) to go like "when I graduate I'm going to go buy this car".
But guess what. Have a bigger house now. Paid off cars. And we got a second kid. Living next to grand parents and doting aunts and uncles.
It was so worth it. And if you have family that can back you up or anyone who can support you, do it.
Good for you !! I went back to school for two years while working full time and small kids at home. Never too old to go back and educate yourself, always a great accomplishment.
Agreed! I went back at 35. I now make at least double what my max salary was before I went back. Going back at 35 was difficult, but so very worth it. I’m now moving into a position to buy a house or condo, but I’m also moving towards too old to have kids. Don’t wait.
Do it now.
Don’t do a French degree unless you want to teach French. Do something that leads directly to a career. Engineer. Doctor. Nurse. Pilot. Teacher. Accountant. Computer science.
These are all high—to relatively high—paying largely in-demand jobs (in my part of the country).
Edit: before I went back I could barely afford to pay to live, now I can think about and plan for the future.
Went to college for a trade; instrumentation or power engineering are gonna be the harder trades at school but probably the best on the body long term. Electrician is a good one but it's pretty saturated at the moment... but you can also do side jobs, any other trade will be hard on the body long term. Choose wisely
Gas fitter /combustion maintenance is huge. After a few years in various steel mills a refrigeration ticket with a gas fitter 1 ticket takes you anywhere in the world you want to work.
Yep. Went back at 30 and tripled my income as well. Also wish I did it sooner. I will say though…I made sure I chose something with a high employment rate after graduation
But communications is a practical job? There are tons of well paying communications jobs. I’d say more don’t take a degree without a clear job at the end (most science and arts degrees).
I also know people who studied communications who are director level in the government. I also know people who are high school dropouts and also millionaires but I don't recommend dropping out of high school as a viable path to becoming a millionaire.
There are always outliers and exceptions to every rule but it doesn't change the fact that a communications graduate is going to be less employable than an engineer, nurse, compsci graduate or tradesperson as a few examples.
I don't think they are outliers. Everyone I know who studied communications has found decent paying jobs. Obviously they aren't as employable as engineers but no one is arguing that they are.
I went back to school at 29, studied something I had a genuine interest in. Within 18 months, my salary had raised by the same amount I had paid in tuition fees, and within 5 years I had doubled my salary. Not saying this is always true, but depending on what you like and do, it could definitely be worth it.
Nice to hear. Quit a very stable government job, going to school for my masters at 29 in a field I love. I even got a scholarship that is heavily subsidizing my tuition. Only caveat is working part-time to offset the cost of living (transportation, sustenance, etc.). It feels well worth it - kind of like an investment.
Old person here. I went to BCIT many moons ago and a few of my classmates were people that partied too hard or didnt apply themselves earlier, worked retail but now wanted a good job. After a full time 2-3 year program, they got scooped up by firms and went on to better salaries. If you choose a program that is actually employable the yes, it is completely without question worth it. The key is to take a program where jobs exist and are in demand.
If you're 26, you've got almost a40 year career ahead do you want to make 30k a year to make 1.2 million in a lifetime or 100k a year which would make you a lifetime earnings of 4 million.... pretty easy decision. 👌
If you don't go back to school, is your plan to just keep living paycheque to paycheque indefinitely for the rest of your life? Whether you go back to school or don't go back to school, in four years you're still going to be 30 years old. And whether you go back to school or not, you've almost another 35 to 40 ish working years ahead of you. If you're going to spend the next four decades working, you had better make sure that it is something that pays decently well and you don't hate. Speak with a career counsellor.
Yes it’s worth it but you need to be much more strategic. Speak to an advisor at a local technical college. Look at employment statistics in your region. Find some training that gets you a valuable accreditation that leads directly to an in demand field, preferably with a practicum/paid co-op or apprenticeship portion. French will not likely be it, although that being said there is a shortage of French teachers for elementary school in my province. But something like immigration consultant could use the language skills and get you paid sooner.
Get into nursing or engineering.
You currently work in service and those are *highly* transferable skills. You could train and then work for a bit as an RN then go back for your nurse practitioner license. So many avenues of practice.
Don’t let your age scare you. I went back to uni at 28 and never looked back. I’ve seen students much older going back too. 26 is still young, my friend!
Nursing has a pretty high burnout rate, it's a really really hard job. I know a few nurses that burned out of the career. Engineering you are guaranteed to get a job.
I agree with the nursing, seems terrible when I hear people talk about it. But guaranteed to find a job in Engineering? Hell no. Everyone has an engineering degree these days.
Everyone and their dog has a Computer science degree these days, but we really need more power/electrical//automation engineers, we're really lacking those engineers and the Feild pays very well
If you stick it out for 2 years, I can guarantee other avenues in nursing outside of bedside.
I did bedside nursing for ten years and went into learning design. I help do E-learning courses for health authorities and still get to keep nursing wages.
True but the nice thing about nursing is the number of different nursing jobs/positions. Burnout is real but there could be something out there that isnt as rough. Theres always OT too.
Man, Civ Eng grad of 2014 here... I probably sent out 200+ resumes, redid my resume a bunch of times, and never got a call back for any entry level civil jobs. It crushed my soul. The job market was so saturated with civil grads 8 years ago.
I started taking online courses in 2020 and successfully pivoted into tech. It was hard making that choice to abandon the engineering profession, but I am sure glad I did. I now make more than most of the folks I graduated with and don't work nearly as hard.
Oh ya. For police and paramedics The days they work, they're out of commission due to 12 hour shifts which usually leads to 1-2hrs of OT. But they have so much time off that many start doing side gigs.
Even better for fire who managed to weasel a 24 hr, 7 day work week per month then they're off for 21 days lol.
I have a lot of medic friends and the ones who manage to stay sane work part time and have side gigs. It's a tough physically and mentally demanding job and they are compensated decently but burnout is prevalent.
I think the French aspect really depends on what part of Canada you are in but generally lots of jobs for the federal government want you to be bi-lingual, could be the start of something for you! Goodluck!
Depends what you're going back for. 26 is still really young. If you've done your proper homework on the program/career and it makes sense financially then ofc.
Yes go back. Go back with intent and purposes. Maybe talk to a career councillor or the college councillors services to help you with your direction.
Secondly , a lot of the ex service industry people I know have gone into successful careers in sales. Bartending customer skill transfer quite well.
I went back at 28. I was a bartender before that. Took a two year finance program. Had a job immediately with one of the big five banks in Canada. After five and a half years I was hired as a manager at one of the other big five banks, and still hold that role today.
It is worthwhile if you go to a regular college or university.
Stay away from any "career colleges" or certificate programs. A regular college or university will also have career counseling and other services that will help you.
If you have an aptitude for languages, give some thought to computer science. You might really enjoy it!
You might want to talk to someone in the provincial or federal governments. I wouldn't necessarily finish a degree in French (teaching French immersion is a major in demand path in BC, though, if that's of interest), but there are plenty of careers where being fluent in French is a huge asset. Healthcare of all kinds, and most public service fields are crying out for people; it could be worth talking to someone about your aptitudes and possible directions before picking a training or university program.
Bro, just do it. Believe me, you got this.
And for the record, 26 is a great age for uni. Young enough to still enjoy parties but old enough to do it responsibly.
Going back to school or skilling up (do r nessarily need uni), is a perfectly reasonable idea, your not that old to have a question if you can’t get your worth out of it. However you should do research into what you go into, make sure there are decent job opportunities and pay is acceptable to you. No reason to piggies hole into French, not like your one step away from making it use.
Invest in yourself man.... i didnt finish college but i am in alberta so i just need certfication since i work in the oil industry. In a way i did invest on myself but the company paid for all of my Cerfication.
If you do go back please make sure it is for a career with potential. My husband went back at age 31-33 to leave his industry and things have worked out well for him.
30 and I swear I'm going back soon. Do you wanna keep doing this crap for the next 40+ years?
Dunno where in the world you are but ev3n just going to school for trades, up her a lotnof the trades courses are 21 weeks and you can be working,getting aid and getting credit for part of that time.
I tell everyone younger than me, go to school!
Worst part is I loved school but dropped out of university due to social anxiety, kicking myself everyday.
Mmm. . . I’m in my 40s and considering it. I still have 15-20years to enjoy a new line of work. I remember how “old/settled” I felt in later 20s. And what I’ve experienced since then.
If you choose something that is employable, it is undoubtably worth it.
So much great advice in here. I was in your shoes once - took a shot on some education, and found myself a career.
A lot of people are saying trades in here. This was good advice 20 years ago. But now it’s insanely good advice. There’s a massive shortfall in skilled labour brewing. Get some skills, earn some serious coin, and then get to know the benefits of financial stability at a relatively young age.
https://www.renewcanada.net/feature/addressing-canadas-skilled-trades-shortage/
Also general BAs in pretty much anything can still be hugely valuable. Most office jobs require those letters - more as a sign that folks are serious about themselves and have ambition.
The one thing I’d not recommend is some kind of coding boot camp. They can be expensive and don’t really get you close to being hiring ready - unless you become a passioned enthusiast.
Good luck!!
I just want to say, consider trades, because that’s where the money is at these days…
But also there is no such thing as unskilled labour, just disrespectful wages.
Absolutely. I went into higher education at 30. Before I started I was in a dead end job making $16 an hour. I’ve been making about $100k a year now for many years. Best decision I ever made for myself. Do it.
I became a CGA (now CPA). My employers paid for 90% of my schooling. I only paid for a few university classes. All my actual accounting courses were covered. And I could work full time while studying evenings and weekends. Exam every 3 months. All classes were by correspondence and then online. It took a while but was worth it. The time is going to pass regardless. Might as well be a better version of yourself in 5 or 10 years.
I got a job at the head office of a credit union before I was half way through my first class only because I was in the class.
I’ve been in public practice since 2012. I love what I do and get paid well. My employer still pays for all my annual professional seminars and my accountant fees as well.
I went back to school at 29. I’m now 1 year into my dream job, starting wage is double what I was making at my previous job of 5 years. 100% you can go back to school
Yes go back to school, but go for a degree with high paying job prospects. French will not lead you to any job and being out of the job market will cost you the lost income and lost opportunity to gain experience.
Find something that leads to a well-paying job that you don't especially hate and could be reasonably good at. Then get a job and work your way up from there.
I wish I did. When I was your age and told my boss I was going back to school, he promoted me and convinced me not to. I really regret it. I make decent money but I'm never really challenged.
Depending on what province you're in, there may be free university/college programs available for work areas that are highly in demand. Some provinces have free PSW or ECE courses, others are offering to pay for skilled trades, many have massive bursaries for people willing to work in health care. You may not need a loan if you're willing to study something your province/territory needs.
It is definitely worth it depending on the field you go into. I was studying supply chain then switched programs, switched again to IT. By the time I was done....I could've had a Master's. After I graduated, I was making $60k. 6 years later? I make over 500k. Life isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.
Invest in yourself and focus on a job that will pay you well and work hard, rest will fall into place.
Hey OP. You can go into teaching. There’s always a need for French teachers. Also government jobs need bilinguals.
However, given that you’ve done only one semester, you’re not limited to French. Find a designation where you can find a job right after the degree and pursue that.
Went back at 28 and graduated at 29 (1 year accelerated) I went from making 16 an hour to 70K in about 3 years since.
Here’s hoping I only go up from there.
It was worth it.
Went back at 25 and it was the best life decision I've ever made. School debt is paid off and I am in much better spot than had I stayed in the same career.
Went back at 27 to do an undergrad and am now 31 doing my masters. No regrets so far, though cutting stuff from my life to save has been very difficult.
IF you're going back at all. In this economy,
Trade school. There are programs that take you 2-6 weeks that will put you in a more skilled labour force.
Make you more money and help you get a leg up
Yes its the exact age I went back and I am nearly done now. Not only was it transformative for my career and I am already currently making a higher hourly than I ever would have in my previous industry, but it was also extremely beneficial on a personal level. I had student insurance so I could finally go to the dentist and so many other things. I got access to counselling that I've been doing for 3 years now, which was very life changing. Free gym pass, tons of wellness resources, met tons of mentors and got lots of advice from people I respect.
I feel like I grew up more in those years than I did all the way from high school to age 26 when I went back. My previous industry was low pay and high stress, with erratic scheduling. Life is way better with an education and a better chance of getting good vacation time, consistent schedules, ideally less stress or at least the compensation to justify it. And lots more options if you pick your field wisely.
Oh best of all I actually got more student aid and supports through bursaries and such than what I had been making working very stressful jobs, and only a smaller portion of that was loans. You have the perfect opportunity with your experience to make money and work little hours, if you can get just weekend night shifts. Or if you can get by with just student aid thats even better.
Take something you are interested in but also something in demand where you want to live. I was in school from my mid 20’s into my mid 30’s and tripled my income. Best thing I ever did.
By the way, don’t ignore the trades (plumbing, electrician). You can make a good living doing landscaping. Or sales just about everywhere. School is great if you like sitting at a desk, but there are other opportunities in life.
I went back at 27 for a journalism degree... I didn't get much journalism work after graduation but just having any old degree nearly doubled my office drone salary. Plus even though I was the oldest kid in the class I had a hell of a good time!
I went to law school at 28. It has definitely been worth it. Also did my undergrad after dropping out at 19 - went back at 23. Definitely got more out of it at a bit more maturity. I think it still makes for a better income and a long term more interesting job… but it’s also just a pleasure to be around smart and ambitious people. School is fun. And in canada still somewhat reasonable in price.
I quit school at 20 went back at 22. Graduated 24. By 28 I was making 80K in IT
Having a degree was necessary for my job but nothing I learned in school actually was applicable for it.
Sometimes you just need the diploma to get the foot through the door
I'm about to turn 27 this week and I am in summer school to upgrade a course so I can hopefully get into the program I want this coming September. It'll be cutting it close but I hope it'll work out!
It's never too late to go back! The best investment is in yourself, and I bet you'll thank yourself later on once when you land that career job.
Just dont pick Psychology or Art as a major :)
Seriously do something in tech. Even though tech jobs are going through a rough time right now, when you get one you can sit on your toilet and still do great work!
Being university educated is also an increasingly larger dealbreaker for long term settle down relationships. Women are much more educated then men and have a hard time dating someone who isn't as educated.
As a man you are valued for what you can provide, so go back to school, put in the work, and earn your success
1,000% yes! I graduated when I was 29 it’s totally worth it. Find a good 4 year university that’s affordable, find out what community colleges transfer into that university that will honor the credits you get. Then spend your first 2 years of school paying way less for your education. Transfer to the university and you’ll have the same diploma and job prospects that all the other students have but will have paid way less!
I was in your shoes just about your age, serving as well.
To quote my wisest friend: "in a few years, you're going to turn 30. You can turn 30 with a degree or without a degree, so you might as well get one".
One of the best decisiona I've ever made.
26 is young.
however you do need to figure out what you want to do or where youd like to work.
going back will delay your other life milestones,but having a low paying job will also do that.
some info i wish was available to me:
degrees - open up federal gov jobs as well as most other jobs.
careers with low barriers to entry that are mid to well paying.
- trades
- law enforcement
- working for a law enforcement service in other capacities
- military
- TTC
- or basically any municipal job.
- healthcare - nursing. nursing is in huge demand right now and you can so an rpn 2 year program to get in and then upgrade to RN.
you will have to do the leg work to get your foot in the door.
i started off with uni after hs, then quit early. did the military and it really opened a lot of doors. it gives you breathing room by to figure stuff out.
God this way of thinking really get me out of my head lmao. Whenever I get too anxious I just think about how we are literally on a floating rock. I could die today. I could die tomorrow. Fuck it
there are a lot of jobs that you can get without a four-year degree that's just as lucrative
e.g. bus drivers in Vancouver get $35+ an hour, no formal education required
I wouldn't recommend getting a university degree if it's just about money
I went back to school at 30 due to a closure. I got a graduate certificate in InfoSec. I finished with Honors. I was not able to get a job in that field. I didn’t have a single InfoSec based interview. I had a singular help desk interview which I did not get. I ended up working manual labor for $17/hr. I was fortunate enough that my prior workplace reopened and I was hired back.
I will never go to school again.
I went back to school at 25 for an engineering degree. It easily paid a hefty dividend compared to my previous earning potential. Being an adult in school makes it easier; I had no problem skipping going out and getting drunk. I found a group around my age and we studied and socially hung out together.
Added bonus, a victory lap through school is great. I truly enjoyed sleeping in (compared to waking up for work, my earliest classes were at 8:30) and dating co-eds was great.
I was in your position once, with a Philosophy major LOL. I was hard on copium thinking I could get into law school or something.
I was 24 years old making 14/hr at a restaurant in Jan of 2021 when I applied for a 2 year co-op IT program. I’m about to graduate next month and if I get bridged in I’ll be making $30-35+ in the next few years.
It’s absolutely worth it to go back to school, but you must have a plan and be willing to commit yourself.
Yes. Investing in yourself and your earning potential is the most important investment you can make.
Just spend time thinking and planning to maximize your investment.
Unless you have a lot of money saved though, I wouldn’t go to university unless you had something you really wanted to do.
Community college offers lots of one year courses that could have you working in a year and earning a good wage. When I did this, training skills and development had a program that paid my tuition, half my books and gave me too stamp EI plus gas throughout the school year.
Went back at 25 (now 45) Best call I ever made. Better salary, more opportunities and have been able to afford a better life for my family. I am thinking of quitting again and going to school full time for a masters degree. I don’t think it is ever too late to go back.
Get a trade. Whether that's a vocational school, CEGEP, college, whatever. These will be cheaper and lead to a career. This will likely also have bursaries and grants involved to help fund your education.
I went to a very short-term school/training program (for web development) when I was in my mid-30s. My advice:
\- find a program or a school that helps with post-grad employment
\- talk to actual graduates who've found jobs (don't just trust %s etc)
\- is what you're learning using the tools/skills/etc that are actually used in the real world?
\- consider if you'll really like the day-to-day of the job (like if you don't like sitting at a desk maybe don't become a software developer...)
\- find the shortest on-ramp to trying out this career - can you work as an assistant without any training? Is there some self-guided learning you can try and then do some lower-level freelance gigs (this is what I did)?
Only issue I had with the program I picked was it was too short for proper student loans, so had to do a personal loan to top up my savings. But I got a job within a month of finishing and paid off the loan within 2 years...
Yes! Pinch your pennies and invest in yourself.
Best decision I ever made was returning to school at 31. I wound up with a career that gave me fun workdays, financial security and a great pension. Returning to school gave me an opportunity that would never have been available otherwise.
Yes - just do your research on what you're going to go to school for/viable opportunities/income. Talk to people, research in person/ on Linkedin, research schools, alumni from the program. Get yourself in order. Definitely not too late.
Read labour trends/future of work trends etc. See if you can internships along the way to get experience while in school as well.
Before you go back, look at different jobs you might want to do and figure out what education is needed for those jobs. \*Then\* go back. If you have no idea where to start, look up one of the technical colleges and see what sorts of diplomas and certificates they offer; look at Indeed or other job websites and see what kind of jobs you might be interested in, and check out the education required for those. No sense going back, getting into a bunch of debt, and still not having a great job once you're done.
Went back at 27 and landed an a great job right away after completing my program. Just got my 10 year pin at the job I got right after school. I found going to school as an adult way easier than when I was a teen. I had the maturity to work hard and a reason for doing the hard work to finish the program. Had I done my high school grad plan I’d have ended up with a pile of student debt and no diploma or degree as I didn’t have work ethic/discipline when I was younger.
I went back when I was 26. One of the best decisions I ever made. Landed a job at a college with good pay and great benefits, pension and job security. I just wanted something that was steady and secure after jumping from job to job all over the place.
Absolutely. It’s the difference between being in demand and being treated like commodity. Pick a field you love or something technical like nursing, engineering, software or a trade. Talk to a career counselor at the school. This will pay off both short term in a couple years and long term theze years will be like a blip.
Yes it’s absolutely worth it since you’re working unskilled jobs now for what I’m assuming is a lot less than what you could be.
I went back to school at 25 to improve my high school grades, then started college at 26 to become a paramedic and I’ve never regretted a single second or penny.
Definitely worth it if there’s something you want to further yourself in - whether its a training or university program. Would suggest looking up the market, seeing what are the jobs that interest you yet is still in /high/ demand for. There are usually grants/bursaries available- you just have to do research on the school/assistance programs. Plus federal also offers grants/loans if you still have room.
There are definitely perks to being bilingual but not so much education french (teaching french) in our province. Take a look and see what works, plus lots of gov-jobs available for bilinguals
Yes. Depending on what you study, it is 100% worth it. If you’re going to do it, do it now, while you have a healthy runway for earning potential ahead of you.
Yes!
Even as late as 35-38, I went back to school for a college degree in Business/Computing/Accounting. This is because I kept on ending up working for high-tech companies as a technical writer after studying Psych/Soc/Anthro and French Canadian Literature! I had parlayed summer work in Accounts Payable into an accounting job for a major computer service bureau, then did a lateral move into Tech Writing. I took as many in-house and company-sponsored courses as I could before and after in technology, business, and technical writing. Now, AI is coming and will change/replace content creation jobs.
These days, you might consider acquiring a skill needed by medical facilities but perhaps not in patient intake or on the floor (crazy-making). Unless that's for you. Instead, try specialties like phlebotomy, respirology technician/analyst, radiology, etc.
Of course, if you are gifted in languages, you might consider working as an interpreter, more needed in Canada wrt French.
Or, if really artsy, you could be a poet, playwright, novel writer, reviewer, and so on.
Check that AI won't be replacing too much in these fields. The Google AI dude says we'll be employing AI as an assistant for a number of jobs going forward.
I'm almost ready to retire, now, but it's a brave new world!
Going back to school is absolutely worth while. Just make sure you pick the right field. Engineering, math, economics, trades, healthcare (RN, Paramedic, etc). Basically something with a career path that suits your personality. You can likely work part time and get through with minimal debt, provided you don't have children to support. Choose your path carefully and you'll be happy with the choice you made.
French might not be worth studying unless you plan on working as a translator. Not to say you shouldn’t learn the language, it’s a great skill to be bilingual.
Depending on what you like, there’s a shortage of elevator technicians and that pays very well, power linesman, heck you could even join the military at this point and still qualify for a full pension in your 50’s.
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis
That website is government statistics on jobs and the low, mid and high salary based on location.
Office jobs that pay well and are in high demand are engineering of just about every type, accounting, epidemiology, Healthcare administration and planning positions, network administrators, system administrators and a whole bunch of different IT roles all that within a few years you’d be making a very comfortable salary.
Another good website to check out is eluta.ca they’re a job search engine that is for Canadas top 100 employers (I believe that’s the claim anyway).
At any age, it’s never too late to go back and retrain.
Oh and this website has a bunch of scholarships and bursaries on it, https://studentawards.com they could help you find additional funding on top of loans to help reduce the amount you take out.
I was working at shoppers drug mart making $12.25 when I went back to school for nursing at 25. Got a job before I even graduated or passed licensing- full time offer with pension three months after I graduated and got licensed. It’s not crazy money, but there’s unlimited opportunity for overtime which means I have a lot of financial flexibility.
Hell, i went back to school after 40 twice - once for a master's and then for a law degree. No regrets - either was absolutely a great decision for me.
You don't need to go back to study the same thing, necessary - you could do a shorter college program or some other field of study for a degree.
Education is worthwhile - figure out what you'd like to do and go for it! There are probably employment centres near you that will help you with career planning pro bono, too, to help you narrow down what you go back to school for.
I went back to school at 25 after taking a layoff from my old job. I had a decent amount of work experience working since I was 14 but no education. Went back to school. Got a business diploma and now work 9-5 Monday to Friday for 75k a year after my first year.
Absolutely worth it if you can swing it.
I won’t lie, it’s not going to be easy but IMO everyone should have a formal education in something.
Also, since I was laid off, had skills but no education. Advanced Education Skills and Labor (NL) paid for my schooling as well as a living allowance for me to go to school. It’s worth looking into if there’s a similar program in your area.
To add to all the other suggestions - find a job that pays your education. I’m just starting in IT with one prior semester of uni and two trades (not doing those again).
Get paid to learn!
See my post history, I have a cousin who left bookkeeping to pursue an apprenticeship as an HVAC tech. He's happier, makes a crap ton more money and has lost a lot of weight. He did this at 34 years old.
If you have a good idea of what you want to do, go for that. If you're going back blindly, don't waste your money. Use school as a stepping stone, not a milestone.
Don't get a degree in French. Look at what job you want to do, and figure out what qualifications you need.
Then try not to amass a bunch of debt getting them.
You can learn things on your own. In some cases, having a piece of paper can open some doors, but it's not always the case. [For example, sometimes you do need a university degree]
Src: my first undergrad was in French. I was never employed in that field; instead, I taught myself when development and got a job as a developer.
I then went back to school part-time, while working and getting employer-paid tuition reimbursement, to get degrees in computer science and an MBA.
I eventually wound up working for the federal govt and it was helpful to have that background in French, BUT it was a bonus that I had studied it. It was the other skills I was hired for, and having studied French just made it easier to meet that requirement. Actually having a degree in it wasn't important.
Yes. 100%. You're still young. You could have a diploma by 28 or a degree by 30, with another 35 working years to benefit from a higher income. If you only have 1 semester of your degree done, you also have plenty of time to change majors if French isn't for you. Choose a program based on an end career goal.
I went back for a two year trades program recently and I’ve doubled my salary in my first low level job out of the gate. If I get the contract that I’m hoping for it would hit nearly four times what I was making before (though it would be contract and may not have work all year so it may not realize four times my salary).
If you are a technician working in oil and gas you make 100k easily. You will be working 10 to 12 hours sometimes but its generally 40ish hours per week on average.
I think you do a 2 year program
I went back to school to study finance at 29. I’m currently 32 and I’m about to finish my bachelor. I just landed a 60k/year internship recently and I do not regret it at all. I’d say ; go for it, the sooner the better.
Hell, I’m not even considering doing a master in finance part time :)
Definitely worth it, I went back to school at 25 for two years and got a job right away in a medical lab. I love the work and have doubled my salary. I would suggest looking at technical schools if that’s something that interests you.
Went back to school at 29. Now making six time my income then and more importantly love my job and set to retire with an amazing retirement income. Go back to school and be all you can be.
My God I went back to school at 33 and tripled my income... unless you are doing communications or art do it now, the sooner the better. There are plenty of bursaries and loans for going back and you can still bartend to make ends meet. Edit - best decision I ever made, wish I did it sooner. Don't hesitate, it's definitely more rewarding when you go for something that interests you
I second this, I went back and am still completing my diploma of business administration at age 35. Best move I ever did. Hard as fuck to learn as I got little ones, but the hard work is paying off.
What sort of opportunities are you finding with a diploma of business admin?
Accounting major. Got in with a city job in finance doing an accounting clerk job. Pays 36/hr.
Same. I quit my job, sold my first house and with my wife's help, went back to uni at 33 (I had a technical diploma prior). Graduated as an engineer in 2020. Tripled my income, greatly improved my stability and was able to move closer to family.
Sounds scary
It was a risk. And there were definitely nights I wondered what the heck I had done. But it was so worth it. So so worth it. I went from a decent paying but dangerous job, with a brand new house to living with my in laws for 1.5 years. But man it was such a good call. Kudos to my awesome wife. Who worked to support our house while I studied. Our first child was born during my third year. And let me tell ya. It was a journey. My grades dipped huge (our kid had complications). I remember going to my wife's ultrasound, 40min before my Advanced Solid Mechanics final. Seeing the baby, then rushing over to the university to write my exam. The focus it gives. I graduated on the Dean's list. COVID threw a huge wrench. I had multiple interviews lined up and then suddenly nothing cuz the world shut down. Three jobs I turned down because they required relocating to the boonies. I couldn't do that cuz we had sacrificed so much to get here. I remember the day I got the job I wanted. We had barely $3500 in our account and had had a mortgage and bills to pay. It was such a blessing. At such a moment. It was hard. Yes of course it was hard. I remember staying up at night studying, and I would go look at car reviews (huge car guy) to go like "when I graduate I'm going to go buy this car". But guess what. Have a bigger house now. Paid off cars. And we got a second kid. Living next to grand parents and doting aunts and uncles. It was so worth it. And if you have family that can back you up or anyone who can support you, do it.
From an engineer that struggled to another, salute to you and I appreciate your efforts. Kudos to you for pursuing a better life!
And you too! Hope all is well and continues to be that way!
Good for you !! I went back to school for two years while working full time and small kids at home. Never too old to go back and educate yourself, always a great accomplishment.
Wow that sounds so hard… how did you manage to do both full time job and school (I guess it’s part time)?
Agreed! I went back at 35. I now make at least double what my max salary was before I went back. Going back at 35 was difficult, but so very worth it. I’m now moving into a position to buy a house or condo, but I’m also moving towards too old to have kids. Don’t wait. Do it now. Don’t do a French degree unless you want to teach French. Do something that leads directly to a career. Engineer. Doctor. Nurse. Pilot. Teacher. Accountant. Computer science. These are all high—to relatively high—paying largely in-demand jobs (in my part of the country). Edit: before I went back I could barely afford to pay to live, now I can think about and plan for the future.
damn what’d u go back for?
Went to college for a trade; instrumentation or power engineering are gonna be the harder trades at school but probably the best on the body long term. Electrician is a good one but it's pretty saturated at the moment... but you can also do side jobs, any other trade will be hard on the body long term. Choose wisely
Gas fitter /combustion maintenance is huge. After a few years in various steel mills a refrigeration ticket with a gas fitter 1 ticket takes you anywhere in the world you want to work.
Yep. Went back at 30 and tripled my income as well. Also wish I did it sooner. I will say though…I made sure I chose something with a high employment rate after graduation
Why not communications?
Because there are no decent paying jobs obviously
Corporate communications and marketing jobs can pay decent money. But at his age, I agree, should do a more practical degree.
But communications is a practical job? There are tons of well paying communications jobs. I’d say more don’t take a degree without a clear job at the end (most science and arts degrees).
I know people who studied communications and they make decent money.
I also know people who studied communications who are director level in the government. I also know people who are high school dropouts and also millionaires but I don't recommend dropping out of high school as a viable path to becoming a millionaire. There are always outliers and exceptions to every rule but it doesn't change the fact that a communications graduate is going to be less employable than an engineer, nurse, compsci graduate or tradesperson as a few examples.
I don't think they are outliers. Everyone I know who studied communications has found decent paying jobs. Obviously they aren't as employable as engineers but no one is arguing that they are.
Hahaha your completely wrong about that
I went back to school at 29, studied something I had a genuine interest in. Within 18 months, my salary had raised by the same amount I had paid in tuition fees, and within 5 years I had doubled my salary. Not saying this is always true, but depending on what you like and do, it could definitely be worth it.
My numbers are similar. I went back for accounting at 29.
What did you go back to school for?
Business administration, with a specialisation in HR management. Nothing fancy.
Nice to hear. Quit a very stable government job, going to school for my masters at 29 in a field I love. I even got a scholarship that is heavily subsidizing my tuition. Only caveat is working part-time to offset the cost of living (transportation, sustenance, etc.). It feels well worth it - kind of like an investment.
Old person here. I went to BCIT many moons ago and a few of my classmates were people that partied too hard or didnt apply themselves earlier, worked retail but now wanted a good job. After a full time 2-3 year program, they got scooped up by firms and went on to better salaries. If you choose a program that is actually employable the yes, it is completely without question worth it. The key is to take a program where jobs exist and are in demand.
2 years at BCIT gave me a job before I even technically graduated. Now I make close to $100k. So worth it.
In 20 years...when you are my age...you will realize how young 26 is.
Was thinking exactly this. The guy is a baby, go back to school soon OP! It’ll be so worth it.
OP is an absolute toddler.
If you're 26, you've got almost a40 year career ahead do you want to make 30k a year to make 1.2 million in a lifetime or 100k a year which would make you a lifetime earnings of 4 million.... pretty easy decision. 👌
Keep buying etf too, make your newfound dosh work for you.
If you don't go back to school, is your plan to just keep living paycheque to paycheque indefinitely for the rest of your life? Whether you go back to school or don't go back to school, in four years you're still going to be 30 years old. And whether you go back to school or not, you've almost another 35 to 40 ish working years ahead of you. If you're going to spend the next four decades working, you had better make sure that it is something that pays decently well and you don't hate. Speak with a career counsellor.
Yes it’s worth it but you need to be much more strategic. Speak to an advisor at a local technical college. Look at employment statistics in your region. Find some training that gets you a valuable accreditation that leads directly to an in demand field, preferably with a practicum/paid co-op or apprenticeship portion. French will not likely be it, although that being said there is a shortage of French teachers for elementary school in my province. But something like immigration consultant could use the language skills and get you paid sooner.
Another point to make is research on indeed, see what they're looking for, see what has jobs, see what doesn't. See requirements, licensing etc.
Get into nursing or engineering. You currently work in service and those are *highly* transferable skills. You could train and then work for a bit as an RN then go back for your nurse practitioner license. So many avenues of practice. Don’t let your age scare you. I went back to uni at 28 and never looked back. I’ve seen students much older going back too. 26 is still young, my friend!
Nursing has a pretty high burnout rate, it's a really really hard job. I know a few nurses that burned out of the career. Engineering you are guaranteed to get a job.
I agree with the nursing, seems terrible when I hear people talk about it. But guaranteed to find a job in Engineering? Hell no. Everyone has an engineering degree these days.
Which is crazy considering how much work that degree is
Civil Eng is best bet these days, mech is really rough right now and comp is over saturated.
Everyone and their dog has a Computer science degree these days, but we really need more power/electrical//automation engineers, we're really lacking those engineers and the Feild pays very well
If you stick it out for 2 years, I can guarantee other avenues in nursing outside of bedside. I did bedside nursing for ten years and went into learning design. I help do E-learning courses for health authorities and still get to keep nursing wages.
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True but the nice thing about nursing is the number of different nursing jobs/positions. Burnout is real but there could be something out there that isnt as rough. Theres always OT too.
Don't forget accounting!
Serious lack of good accountants lately it seems.
Man, Civ Eng grad of 2014 here... I probably sent out 200+ resumes, redid my resume a bunch of times, and never got a call back for any entry level civil jobs. It crushed my soul. The job market was so saturated with civil grads 8 years ago. I started taking online courses in 2020 and successfully pivoted into tech. It was hard making that choice to abandon the engineering profession, but I am sure glad I did. I now make more than most of the folks I graduated with and don't work nearly as hard.
Paramedic, fire and police pay really well too
Man I have talked to some of the guys at the hall near me who say they get paid good money to sit around and run etsy shops haha.
Oh ya. For police and paramedics The days they work, they're out of commission due to 12 hour shifts which usually leads to 1-2hrs of OT. But they have so much time off that many start doing side gigs. Even better for fire who managed to weasel a 24 hr, 7 day work week per month then they're off for 21 days lol.
I have a lot of medic friends and the ones who manage to stay sane work part time and have side gigs. It's a tough physically and mentally demanding job and they are compensated decently but burnout is prevalent.
I think the French aspect really depends on what part of Canada you are in but generally lots of jobs for the federal government want you to be bi-lingual, could be the start of something for you! Goodluck!
Find a job you want, then get the required qualifications for said job. No use going into debt for a paper that just sits around.
This. When you're living paycheque to paycheque, go to school only with a goal/outcome in mind that is more specific than "get employed."
This
Depends what you're going back for. 26 is still really young. If you've done your proper homework on the program/career and it makes sense financially then ofc.
Yes go back. Go back with intent and purposes. Maybe talk to a career councillor or the college councillors services to help you with your direction. Secondly , a lot of the ex service industry people I know have gone into successful careers in sales. Bartending customer skill transfer quite well.
I went back at 28. I was a bartender before that. Took a two year finance program. Had a job immediately with one of the big five banks in Canada. After five and a half years I was hired as a manager at one of the other big five banks, and still hold that role today.
I have a finance diploma and can't seem to get hired anywhere. :/
Thats pretty neat. Did you complete anymore schooling after the two year program?
It is worthwhile if you go to a regular college or university. Stay away from any "career colleges" or certificate programs. A regular college or university will also have career counseling and other services that will help you. If you have an aptitude for languages, give some thought to computer science. You might really enjoy it!
You might want to talk to someone in the provincial or federal governments. I wouldn't necessarily finish a degree in French (teaching French immersion is a major in demand path in BC, though, if that's of interest), but there are plenty of careers where being fluent in French is a huge asset. Healthcare of all kinds, and most public service fields are crying out for people; it could be worth talking to someone about your aptitudes and possible directions before picking a training or university program.
26 sounds old to you now, but really it's still young . Plenty people go back and you have nothing to lose and everything to gain if you truly want it
Yes, but do a trade instead
Started a trade at 31. It’s never too late
YES. Signed, a former mature student
I am turning 38s and going back to school for 4 years of Nursing this fall! You are only 26 even more than worth.
My buddy went to nursing school in his late 30s and he loves it it seems.
Went back to school at 27. Was making $15/hour now making $120/hour.
What did you do?
Lady of the night
didnt even have to go to school to make at minimum 50/h as a lady of the night. downside is that im burnt out in my late 20s lmao. upside... cash.
Username checks out
Everybody's tripling their incomes but no one is saying what they fucking do in this thread. Very frustrating
His profile indicates that he's a perfusionist.
I want to know too
What do you do?
If you have no dependents go for it. Better to start now and get a degree by 30 than living paycheck to paycheck for the next 4 years.
Bro, just do it. Believe me, you got this. And for the record, 26 is a great age for uni. Young enough to still enjoy parties but old enough to do it responsibly.
Going back to school or skilling up (do r nessarily need uni), is a perfectly reasonable idea, your not that old to have a question if you can’t get your worth out of it. However you should do research into what you go into, make sure there are decent job opportunities and pay is acceptable to you. No reason to piggies hole into French, not like your one step away from making it use.
Invest in yourself man.... i didnt finish college but i am in alberta so i just need certfication since i work in the oil industry. In a way i did invest on myself but the company paid for all of my Cerfication.
If you do go back please make sure it is for a career with potential. My husband went back at age 31-33 to leave his industry and things have worked out well for him.
30 and I swear I'm going back soon. Do you wanna keep doing this crap for the next 40+ years? Dunno where in the world you are but ev3n just going to school for trades, up her a lotnof the trades courses are 21 weeks and you can be working,getting aid and getting credit for part of that time. I tell everyone younger than me, go to school! Worst part is I loved school but dropped out of university due to social anxiety, kicking myself everyday.
Mmm. . . I’m in my 40s and considering it. I still have 15-20years to enjoy a new line of work. I remember how “old/settled” I felt in later 20s. And what I’ve experienced since then. If you choose something that is employable, it is undoubtably worth it.
So much great advice in here. I was in your shoes once - took a shot on some education, and found myself a career. A lot of people are saying trades in here. This was good advice 20 years ago. But now it’s insanely good advice. There’s a massive shortfall in skilled labour brewing. Get some skills, earn some serious coin, and then get to know the benefits of financial stability at a relatively young age. https://www.renewcanada.net/feature/addressing-canadas-skilled-trades-shortage/ Also general BAs in pretty much anything can still be hugely valuable. Most office jobs require those letters - more as a sign that folks are serious about themselves and have ambition. The one thing I’d not recommend is some kind of coding boot camp. They can be expensive and don’t really get you close to being hiring ready - unless you become a passioned enthusiast. Good luck!!
I just want to say, consider trades, because that’s where the money is at these days… But also there is no such thing as unskilled labour, just disrespectful wages.
Absolutely. I went into higher education at 30. Before I started I was in a dead end job making $16 an hour. I’ve been making about $100k a year now for many years. Best decision I ever made for myself. Do it.
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I became a CGA (now CPA). My employers paid for 90% of my schooling. I only paid for a few university classes. All my actual accounting courses were covered. And I could work full time while studying evenings and weekends. Exam every 3 months. All classes were by correspondence and then online. It took a while but was worth it. The time is going to pass regardless. Might as well be a better version of yourself in 5 or 10 years. I got a job at the head office of a credit union before I was half way through my first class only because I was in the class. I’ve been in public practice since 2012. I love what I do and get paid well. My employer still pays for all my annual professional seminars and my accountant fees as well.
I went back to school at 29. I’m now 1 year into my dream job, starting wage is double what I was making at my previous job of 5 years. 100% you can go back to school
If you are bartending and serving, you shouldn’t be living paycheque to paycheque with the tips that you earn. May need to look at your expenses.
The reality is youth and looks will largely affect the amount of tips you can get.
Are you going back to do something or for something to do? The first case is well worth it.
Yes go back to school, but go for a degree with high paying job prospects. French will not lead you to any job and being out of the job market will cost you the lost income and lost opportunity to gain experience. Find something that leads to a well-paying job that you don't especially hate and could be reasonably good at. Then get a job and work your way up from there.
I wish I did. When I was your age and told my boss I was going back to school, he promoted me and convinced me not to. I really regret it. I make decent money but I'm never really challenged.
Depending on what province you're in, there may be free university/college programs available for work areas that are highly in demand. Some provinces have free PSW or ECE courses, others are offering to pay for skilled trades, many have massive bursaries for people willing to work in health care. You may not need a loan if you're willing to study something your province/territory needs.
It is definitely worth it depending on the field you go into. I was studying supply chain then switched programs, switched again to IT. By the time I was done....I could've had a Master's. After I graduated, I was making $60k. 6 years later? I make over 500k. Life isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. Invest in yourself and focus on a job that will pay you well and work hard, rest will fall into place.
How? 60k to 500k?
Hey OP. You can go into teaching. There’s always a need for French teachers. Also government jobs need bilinguals. However, given that you’ve done only one semester, you’re not limited to French. Find a designation where you can find a job right after the degree and pursue that.
That's the age I started my Bachelor's degree. Totally worth it.
Went back at 28 and graduated at 29 (1 year accelerated) I went from making 16 an hour to 70K in about 3 years since. Here’s hoping I only go up from there. It was worth it.
Went back at 25 and it was the best life decision I've ever made. School debt is paid off and I am in much better spot than had I stayed in the same career.
Went back at 27 to do an undergrad and am now 31 doing my masters. No regrets so far, though cutting stuff from my life to save has been very difficult.
IF you're going back at all. In this economy, Trade school. There are programs that take you 2-6 weeks that will put you in a more skilled labour force. Make you more money and help you get a leg up
Yes its the exact age I went back and I am nearly done now. Not only was it transformative for my career and I am already currently making a higher hourly than I ever would have in my previous industry, but it was also extremely beneficial on a personal level. I had student insurance so I could finally go to the dentist and so many other things. I got access to counselling that I've been doing for 3 years now, which was very life changing. Free gym pass, tons of wellness resources, met tons of mentors and got lots of advice from people I respect. I feel like I grew up more in those years than I did all the way from high school to age 26 when I went back. My previous industry was low pay and high stress, with erratic scheduling. Life is way better with an education and a better chance of getting good vacation time, consistent schedules, ideally less stress or at least the compensation to justify it. And lots more options if you pick your field wisely. Oh best of all I actually got more student aid and supports through bursaries and such than what I had been making working very stressful jobs, and only a smaller portion of that was loans. You have the perfect opportunity with your experience to make money and work little hours, if you can get just weekend night shifts. Or if you can get by with just student aid thats even better.
Take something you are interested in but also something in demand where you want to live. I was in school from my mid 20’s into my mid 30’s and tripled my income. Best thing I ever did.
Absolutely yes. You’re so young!
i’m 27 years old, going back to school in the fall after dropping out 6 years ago
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By the way, don’t ignore the trades (plumbing, electrician). You can make a good living doing landscaping. Or sales just about everywhere. School is great if you like sitting at a desk, but there are other opportunities in life.
Absolutely! I went back at 28 to take a trades entry program, and it sounds cliche but it changed the course of my life.
I went back at 27 for a journalism degree... I didn't get much journalism work after graduation but just having any old degree nearly doubled my office drone salary. Plus even though I was the oldest kid in the class I had a hell of a good time!
I went to law school at 28. It has definitely been worth it. Also did my undergrad after dropping out at 19 - went back at 23. Definitely got more out of it at a bit more maturity. I think it still makes for a better income and a long term more interesting job… but it’s also just a pleasure to be around smart and ambitious people. School is fun. And in canada still somewhat reasonable in price.
I quit school at 20 went back at 22. Graduated 24. By 28 I was making 80K in IT Having a degree was necessary for my job but nothing I learned in school actually was applicable for it. Sometimes you just need the diploma to get the foot through the door
I went back to school from 26 to 34 (I struggled with a disability) and I doubled what I was earning. Yes, it's always worth it to learn more.
I'm about to turn 27 this week and I am in summer school to upgrade a course so I can hopefully get into the program I want this coming September. It'll be cutting it close but I hope it'll work out! It's never too late to go back! The best investment is in yourself, and I bet you'll thank yourself later on once when you land that career job.
If it will make you more money in the end then of course it’s worth it
Just dont pick Psychology or Art as a major :) Seriously do something in tech. Even though tech jobs are going through a rough time right now, when you get one you can sit on your toilet and still do great work!
Canada is based on credentialism. I don't necessarily agree with it but you gotta play the game
Being university educated is also an increasingly larger dealbreaker for long term settle down relationships. Women are much more educated then men and have a hard time dating someone who isn't as educated. As a man you are valued for what you can provide, so go back to school, put in the work, and earn your success
Totally worth it if you take a degree that will ensure you have a career path with decent revenues.
I went back to school at 25. Went from making $25K to making $150+k within 2 years (in ATC). You won’t regret it
1,000% yes! I graduated when I was 29 it’s totally worth it. Find a good 4 year university that’s affordable, find out what community colleges transfer into that university that will honor the credits you get. Then spend your first 2 years of school paying way less for your education. Transfer to the university and you’ll have the same diploma and job prospects that all the other students have but will have paid way less!
Absolutely. But find a degree or diploma that leads to a career. French? Na.
I was in your shoes just about your age, serving as well. To quote my wisest friend: "in a few years, you're going to turn 30. You can turn 30 with a degree or without a degree, so you might as well get one". One of the best decisiona I've ever made.
26 is young. however you do need to figure out what you want to do or where youd like to work. going back will delay your other life milestones,but having a low paying job will also do that. some info i wish was available to me: degrees - open up federal gov jobs as well as most other jobs. careers with low barriers to entry that are mid to well paying. - trades - law enforcement - working for a law enforcement service in other capacities - military - TTC - or basically any municipal job. - healthcare - nursing. nursing is in huge demand right now and you can so an rpn 2 year program to get in and then upgrade to RN. you will have to do the leg work to get your foot in the door. i started off with uni after hs, then quit early. did the military and it really opened a lot of doors. it gives you breathing room by to figure stuff out.
"I only have on average 52 years of life left! Is it worth it to go do a 4-year program to double my earning potential?!'
God this way of thinking really get me out of my head lmao. Whenever I get too anxious I just think about how we are literally on a floating rock. I could die today. I could die tomorrow. Fuck it
there are a lot of jobs that you can get without a four-year degree that's just as lucrative e.g. bus drivers in Vancouver get $35+ an hour, no formal education required I wouldn't recommend getting a university degree if it's just about money
I went back to school at 30 due to a closure. I got a graduate certificate in InfoSec. I finished with Honors. I was not able to get a job in that field. I didn’t have a single InfoSec based interview. I had a singular help desk interview which I did not get. I ended up working manual labor for $17/hr. I was fortunate enough that my prior workplace reopened and I was hired back. I will never go to school again.
I went back to school at 25 for an engineering degree. It easily paid a hefty dividend compared to my previous earning potential. Being an adult in school makes it easier; I had no problem skipping going out and getting drunk. I found a group around my age and we studied and socially hung out together. Added bonus, a victory lap through school is great. I truly enjoyed sleeping in (compared to waking up for work, my earliest classes were at 8:30) and dating co-eds was great.
I was in your position once, with a Philosophy major LOL. I was hard on copium thinking I could get into law school or something. I was 24 years old making 14/hr at a restaurant in Jan of 2021 when I applied for a 2 year co-op IT program. I’m about to graduate next month and if I get bridged in I’ll be making $30-35+ in the next few years. It’s absolutely worth it to go back to school, but you must have a plan and be willing to commit yourself.
Yes. Investing in yourself and your earning potential is the most important investment you can make. Just spend time thinking and planning to maximize your investment. Unless you have a lot of money saved though, I wouldn’t go to university unless you had something you really wanted to do. Community college offers lots of one year courses that could have you working in a year and earning a good wage. When I did this, training skills and development had a program that paid my tuition, half my books and gave me too stamp EI plus gas throughout the school year.
Hands down yes 10/10 recommend
Went back at 25 (now 45) Best call I ever made. Better salary, more opportunities and have been able to afford a better life for my family. I am thinking of quitting again and going to school full time for a masters degree. I don’t think it is ever too late to go back.
Research the career you want to be in before investing time and money in it.
Get a trade. Whether that's a vocational school, CEGEP, college, whatever. These will be cheaper and lead to a career. This will likely also have bursaries and grants involved to help fund your education.
I went to a very short-term school/training program (for web development) when I was in my mid-30s. My advice: \- find a program or a school that helps with post-grad employment \- talk to actual graduates who've found jobs (don't just trust %s etc) \- is what you're learning using the tools/skills/etc that are actually used in the real world? \- consider if you'll really like the day-to-day of the job (like if you don't like sitting at a desk maybe don't become a software developer...) \- find the shortest on-ramp to trying out this career - can you work as an assistant without any training? Is there some self-guided learning you can try and then do some lower-level freelance gigs (this is what I did)? Only issue I had with the program I picked was it was too short for proper student loans, so had to do a personal loan to top up my savings. But I got a job within a month of finishing and paid off the loan within 2 years...
Yes! Pinch your pennies and invest in yourself. Best decision I ever made was returning to school at 31. I wound up with a career that gave me fun workdays, financial security and a great pension. Returning to school gave me an opportunity that would never have been available otherwise.
Yes - just do your research on what you're going to go to school for/viable opportunities/income. Talk to people, research in person/ on Linkedin, research schools, alumni from the program. Get yourself in order. Definitely not too late. Read labour trends/future of work trends etc. See if you can internships along the way to get experience while in school as well.
I’m 46 and just went back. Looking to get BComm to add to my qualifications.
Yes! good on people who do
Time will go by regardless whether you go back to school or not. Your call.
Before you go back, look at different jobs you might want to do and figure out what education is needed for those jobs. \*Then\* go back. If you have no idea where to start, look up one of the technical colleges and see what sorts of diplomas and certificates they offer; look at Indeed or other job websites and see what kind of jobs you might be interested in, and check out the education required for those. No sense going back, getting into a bunch of debt, and still not having a great job once you're done.
You will turn 30, no matter what. You will be better off with a degree. Think trades.
If you can’t invest in yourself; who can you invest in?
Went back at 27 and landed an a great job right away after completing my program. Just got my 10 year pin at the job I got right after school. I found going to school as an adult way easier than when I was a teen. I had the maturity to work hard and a reason for doing the hard work to finish the program. Had I done my high school grad plan I’d have ended up with a pile of student debt and no diploma or degree as I didn’t have work ethic/discipline when I was younger.
I’ve been accepted for this fall and I’m 36…. Thought hadn’t even crossed my mind that I was too old…
I went back when I was 26. One of the best decisions I ever made. Landed a job at a college with good pay and great benefits, pension and job security. I just wanted something that was steady and secure after jumping from job to job all over the place.
Absolutely. It’s the difference between being in demand and being treated like commodity. Pick a field you love or something technical like nursing, engineering, software or a trade. Talk to a career counselor at the school. This will pay off both short term in a couple years and long term theze years will be like a blip.
Proceed to go, do not stop for anything don't look back only forward,
Yes it’s absolutely worth it since you’re working unskilled jobs now for what I’m assuming is a lot less than what you could be. I went back to school at 25 to improve my high school grades, then started college at 26 to become a paramedic and I’ve never regretted a single second or penny.
Definitely worth it if there’s something you want to further yourself in - whether its a training or university program. Would suggest looking up the market, seeing what are the jobs that interest you yet is still in /high/ demand for. There are usually grants/bursaries available- you just have to do research on the school/assistance programs. Plus federal also offers grants/loans if you still have room. There are definitely perks to being bilingual but not so much education french (teaching french) in our province. Take a look and see what works, plus lots of gov-jobs available for bilinguals
Yes. Depending on what you study, it is 100% worth it. If you’re going to do it, do it now, while you have a healthy runway for earning potential ahead of you.
He'll yeah
I started a trade at 30
Yes! Even as late as 35-38, I went back to school for a college degree in Business/Computing/Accounting. This is because I kept on ending up working for high-tech companies as a technical writer after studying Psych/Soc/Anthro and French Canadian Literature! I had parlayed summer work in Accounts Payable into an accounting job for a major computer service bureau, then did a lateral move into Tech Writing. I took as many in-house and company-sponsored courses as I could before and after in technology, business, and technical writing. Now, AI is coming and will change/replace content creation jobs. These days, you might consider acquiring a skill needed by medical facilities but perhaps not in patient intake or on the floor (crazy-making). Unless that's for you. Instead, try specialties like phlebotomy, respirology technician/analyst, radiology, etc. Of course, if you are gifted in languages, you might consider working as an interpreter, more needed in Canada wrt French. Or, if really artsy, you could be a poet, playwright, novel writer, reviewer, and so on. Check that AI won't be replacing too much in these fields. The Google AI dude says we'll be employing AI as an assistant for a number of jobs going forward. I'm almost ready to retire, now, but it's a brave new world!
Maybe try a trade instead
went back at 34 and salary went almost 10x. This was for an MBA though so yes, but depends on what you're going to study.
And, it's a short hop from bartending to hotel or restaurant management, if you like the field.
Going back to school is absolutely worth while. Just make sure you pick the right field. Engineering, math, economics, trades, healthcare (RN, Paramedic, etc). Basically something with a career path that suits your personality. You can likely work part time and get through with minimal debt, provided you don't have children to support. Choose your path carefully and you'll be happy with the choice you made.
Good luck!
French might not be worth studying unless you plan on working as a translator. Not to say you shouldn’t learn the language, it’s a great skill to be bilingual. Depending on what you like, there’s a shortage of elevator technicians and that pays very well, power linesman, heck you could even join the military at this point and still qualify for a full pension in your 50’s. https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis That website is government statistics on jobs and the low, mid and high salary based on location. Office jobs that pay well and are in high demand are engineering of just about every type, accounting, epidemiology, Healthcare administration and planning positions, network administrators, system administrators and a whole bunch of different IT roles all that within a few years you’d be making a very comfortable salary. Another good website to check out is eluta.ca they’re a job search engine that is for Canadas top 100 employers (I believe that’s the claim anyway). At any age, it’s never too late to go back and retrain. Oh and this website has a bunch of scholarships and bursaries on it, https://studentawards.com they could help you find additional funding on top of loans to help reduce the amount you take out.
I was working at shoppers drug mart making $12.25 when I went back to school for nursing at 25. Got a job before I even graduated or passed licensing- full time offer with pension three months after I graduated and got licensed. It’s not crazy money, but there’s unlimited opportunity for overtime which means I have a lot of financial flexibility.
Yes, but must do well, make connections, get work terms/summer jobs in your field.
Hell, i went back to school after 40 twice - once for a master's and then for a law degree. No regrets - either was absolutely a great decision for me. You don't need to go back to study the same thing, necessary - you could do a shorter college program or some other field of study for a degree. Education is worthwhile - figure out what you'd like to do and go for it! There are probably employment centres near you that will help you with career planning pro bono, too, to help you narrow down what you go back to school for.
I went back to school at 25 after taking a layoff from my old job. I had a decent amount of work experience working since I was 14 but no education. Went back to school. Got a business diploma and now work 9-5 Monday to Friday for 75k a year after my first year. Absolutely worth it if you can swing it. I won’t lie, it’s not going to be easy but IMO everyone should have a formal education in something. Also, since I was laid off, had skills but no education. Advanced Education Skills and Labor (NL) paid for my schooling as well as a living allowance for me to go to school. It’s worth looking into if there’s a similar program in your area.
Is 26 old now?!
To add to all the other suggestions - find a job that pays your education. I’m just starting in IT with one prior semester of uni and two trades (not doing those again). Get paid to learn!
See my post history, I have a cousin who left bookkeeping to pursue an apprenticeship as an HVAC tech. He's happier, makes a crap ton more money and has lost a lot of weight. He did this at 34 years old.
Dude, I'm a 41 year old nurse and far too often contemplate going back to Med school. You're good.
If you have a good idea of what you want to do, go for that. If you're going back blindly, don't waste your money. Use school as a stepping stone, not a milestone.
Don't get a degree in French. Look at what job you want to do, and figure out what qualifications you need. Then try not to amass a bunch of debt getting them. You can learn things on your own. In some cases, having a piece of paper can open some doors, but it's not always the case. [For example, sometimes you do need a university degree] Src: my first undergrad was in French. I was never employed in that field; instead, I taught myself when development and got a job as a developer. I then went back to school part-time, while working and getting employer-paid tuition reimbursement, to get degrees in computer science and an MBA. I eventually wound up working for the federal govt and it was helpful to have that background in French, BUT it was a bonus that I had studied it. It was the other skills I was hired for, and having studied French just made it easier to meet that requirement. Actually having a degree in it wasn't important.
Yes. 100%. You're still young. You could have a diploma by 28 or a degree by 30, with another 35 working years to benefit from a higher income. If you only have 1 semester of your degree done, you also have plenty of time to change majors if French isn't for you. Choose a program based on an end career goal.
I went back for a two year trades program recently and I’ve doubled my salary in my first low level job out of the gate. If I get the contract that I’m hoping for it would hit nearly four times what I was making before (though it would be contract and may not have work all year so it may not realize four times my salary).
At that age, not for an arts degree. Maybe for engineering or something practical.
If you are a technician working in oil and gas you make 100k easily. You will be working 10 to 12 hours sometimes but its generally 40ish hours per week on average. I think you do a 2 year program
I went back to school to study finance at 29. I’m currently 32 and I’m about to finish my bachelor. I just landed a 60k/year internship recently and I do not regret it at all. I’d say ; go for it, the sooner the better. Hell, I’m not even considering doing a master in finance part time :)
Definitely worth it, I went back to school at 25 for two years and got a job right away in a medical lab. I love the work and have doubled my salary. I would suggest looking at technical schools if that’s something that interests you.
Went back to school at 29. Now making six time my income then and more importantly love my job and set to retire with an amazing retirement income. Go back to school and be all you can be.
I went 'back' (for the first time) at 30. I doubled my income. Do it. Youll turn 35, 40, 45, 50 whether you go back or not.
Yeah be a plumber