Online Graduate Degree Psychology Every spring you hear of a senior citizen, often in their 90's, graduating with their first college degree. Some might think it's cute to see a great grandparent in cap and gown. The real truth is one should admire these people who are using their golden years to get everything from associate degrees to masters.
Now here's the great little secret, any senior citizen can do it. If anything, it's been proven to not only enrich their lives, but prolong them. Online colleges are one popular way these "retired" students are going about furthering their education.
Moving from secret to myth, the simple truth is old dogs can learn new tricks. Maybe these elderly students aren't planning to be brain surgeons or rocket scientists, but they are very often supplementing their knowledge in arenas they have always had an interest in.
For instance, one such graduate always appreciated and read her share of literature. Thanks to her new Bachelor's of Arts in Literature, she now has a deeper understanding of the conditions her favorite authors wrote under, what they were trying to do and thus winding up with a greater appreciation of why the work is considered great. Another is a retired engineer who got a degree in history so he could better appreciate the evolution of his profession.
For those who wonder if they can afford getting a degree when they are living on a retiree's income, here's another myth that can be easily shot down. It turns out there is academic financial aid for the elderly. Companies such as Calgon have set up special financial aid programs for people over the age of 35, and this includes senior citizens. Many colleges also offer senior citizens special reduced tuition or audit programs. There are also programs, such as the Janet Rankin Foundation, set up for just this. If that isn't enough, a number of U.S. states offer tuition wavers to people age 62 or older.
As for the online option? One main reason many senior citizens are taking this route is while their minds might still be exceptionally sharp, the wear and tear of over 60 years of living has taken its toll on them physically. As it stands, with traditional desktops and laptops now dropping below $200, they can afford DSL or Wi-Fi hookups and not have to endure commuting. Further, as with all online courses, they can take their classes when they want to, not the other way around.
As for the longevity issue, scientists have long acknowledged that keeping a brain active and stimulated is essential towards living a much longer lifetime. Even if the senior citizen is studying a field that's absolutely obscure, what they are also doing is keeping their minds active and agile, thus adding years to their lives.
So, the next time you look at a newspaper or web article extolling college graduates who just earned associate degrees at an advanced age, look at that person with a bit of admiration and respect. They are actually doing themselves quite a bit of good by going back to school, many with the aid of online college grants just for their age group.
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