How old is "too old" to go to grad school?

[Maladict]

As long as the purpose of post-secondary education is to prepare students for careers

It isn't. 

Well what is it for?  Because if I just want an amazing lecture by an academic I can easily view those all over the internet for free.

A university education teaches you about the scientific method, how to conduct research and report your findings, loosely based around a subject (law, arts, medicine). You don't go there to learn a trade, or how to network and pimp your cv (though sadly, it is going in that direction).
A university degree tells an employer you are capable of a certain level of critical thinking, but not necessarily if you'd make a fine lawyer/artist/doctor.

[Sheilbh]

A university education teaches you about the scientific method, how to conduct research and report your findings, loosely based around a subject (law, arts, medicine). You don't go there to learn a trade, or how to network and pimp your cv (though sadly, it is going in that direction).
A university degree tells an employer you are capable of a certain level of critical thinking, but not necessarily if you'd make a fine lawyer/artist/doctor.

Exactly.

If you're looking for a vocational education then you can get into accountancy or engineering say without a university degree. There's some exceptions like law and medicine but even there at least with law the professional and vocational qualifications/training is what makes you a lawyer - not the degree.

The degree's a useful signifier that you've got reasonable thinking skills and abilities. So you'll see adverts for a minimum grade or certain universities and sometimes certain experience. But unless you're going specifically into that sector (ie. academic or technical jobs) I don't think it hugely matters what you studied.

I know people who are earning well in, say, insurance who have a masters in Medieval history. Passing that level of education from a very good university helps.

Although I think there's a difference in attitude over the Atlantic. I've heard British academics try, very gently to let American students know that they're just not good enough to do a masters far less a doctorate.

[Sheilbh]

With an Assistantship, it would be minimal debt incurred. Without, most advanced degrees are in the $45k+ range. At that range, about 10 years to pay it off, assuming immediate employment at $80-100k/year.

What would it be in?

If you get the assistantship (I'm not sure what that is though) I'd say go for it. If not don't unless, perhaps you can do it more cheaply part-time or long-distance.

[Valmy]

If you're looking for a vocational education then you can get into accountancy or engineering say without a university degree.

The degree's a useful signifier that you've got reasonable thinking skills and abilities. So you'll see adverts for a minimum grade or certain universities and sometimes certain experience. But unless you're going specifically into that sector (ie. academic or technical jobs) I don't think it hugely matters what you studied.

I know people who are earning well in, say, insurance who have a masters in Medieval history. Passing that level of education from a very good university helps.

Um...yes that is what I am saying.  Sure there are plenty of reasons to get a University education but the primary purpose is to get an educated workforce and be prepared to advance far in a career.  That is why we pay the big bucks for it.  Are there secondary purposes?  Sure.  But you do not need to go to University to gain enlightenment, but you sure need that degree (any degree really) for your career.

[Valmy]

With an Assistantship, it would be minimal debt incurred. Without, most advanced degrees are in the $45k+ range. At that range, about 10 years to pay it off, assuming immediate employment at $80-100k/year.

What would it be in?

If you get the assistantship (I'm not sure what that is though) I'd say go for it. If not don't unless, perhaps you can do it more cheaply part-time or long-distance.

Meri needs a bit to ask her friend.

[Sheilbh]

Dude you cannot get a job pushing paper without a University Degree.

Again maybe things are different. But in both of those cases what matters is vocational qualifications and employers hire lots of people from school to do those qualifications. They also hire lots from universities obviously but that path's there. In the case of accountancy a lot of the hires are from not necessarily related disciplines.

But my experience of looking for work is that there's still jobs either in vocational work and services for people without degrees, but also for lots of office roles especially with smaller companies. When I was trying to find something I didn't apply for them because I thought they'd think (rightly) that I'd probably be looking for something else the whole time.

[Valmy]

In the case of accountancy a lot of the hires are from not necessarily related disciplines.

Sure...but you have to have a degree in something.

But my experience of looking for work is that there's still jobs either in vocational work and services for people without degrees, but also for lots of office roles especially with smaller companies. When I was trying to find something I didn't apply for them because I thought they'd think (rightly) that I'd probably be looking for something else the whole time.

Sure but you will never be promoted to manager.  Your job will be a dead-end.

[merithyn]

With an Assistantship, it would be minimal debt incurred. Without, most advanced degrees are in the $45k+ range. At that range, about 10 years to pay it off, assuming immediate employment at $80-100k/year.

What would it be in?

If you get the assistantship (I'm not sure what that is though) I'd say go for it. If not don't unless, perhaps you can do it more cheaply part-time or long-distance.

Meri needs a bit to ask her friend.

It could be in anything. I've no idea what the chances of someone older than 30 or 40 getting an assistantship are. That's a question for the academics among us, but it could also help one decide if it's worth it at a certain age.

[Sheilbh]

Sure but you will never be promoted to manager.  Your job will be a dead-end.

I don't think I've known an office manager with a degree, similarly generally with PAs. I think those jobs are often ones you can really shape and mould and get a lot of responsibility. In my last job we moved premises and the decision was obviously taken by the Board. After the MD the day-to-day employee who had most input was sourcing new locations and visiting them was the office manager and she was the one who was telling very senior people that she didn't care how much they needed storage they couldn't have it and we're going paperless

This is partly why I always make sure I get on very well with the receptionists, office managers and assistants whereever I work

That may be a dead-end ultimately. But I think only if your goal is to climb very high. So you may reach a ceiling running the office and you'll be doing it (in different companies maybe) for years. But does that matter if you're earning a decent amount?

It reminds me of a few people I know who are working at very good law firms. They only want to do it for a few years because once they've got, say, 5 years at x firm they can then move to less well paid, but still well-salaried jobs which are less high-stress. They're taking a step down from reaching the top of their profession or whatever, but they're willing to do that and have evenings and weekends again.

Sure...but you have to have a degree in something.

To be hired from university, yes. But not always. Here's the Deloitte scheme:
http://mycareer.deloitte.com/uk/en/schools/brightstart

[Savonarola]

Dude you cannot get a job pushing paper without a University Degree.

Again maybe things are different. But in both of those cases what matters is vocational qualifications and employers hire lots of people from school to do those qualifications. They also hire lots from universities obviously but that path's there. In the case of accountancy a lot of the hires are from not necessarily related disciplines.

In order to become a Professional Engineer in the United States one needs a degree from an ABET accredited university.  There are companies that will hire engineers without an engineering degree, but that's unusual (and in my experience becoming more rare.)

Each individual field of engineering is an academic discipline with a large body of research.  Undergraduate engineering education teaches the basics of that discipline rather than the day to day job of an engineer.  For this reason an engineering degree isn't vocational qualification, but a university degree.

[Sheilbh]

In order to become a Professional Engineer in the United States one needs a degree from an ABET accredited university.  There are companies that will hire engineers without an engineering degree, but that's unusual (and in my experience becoming more rare.)

It's definitely the norm here too, but I think it's still possible to get your engineering qualifications without a degree if you've got vocational qualifications and experience. But it's rare and becoming rarer - like becoming a nurse or a teacher without a degree (which I think's almost impossible now) - because access to higher education's expanded so much.

[Ideologue]

Dude you cannot get a job pushing paper without a University Degree.

Again maybe things are different. But in both of those cases what matters is vocational qualifications and employers hire lots of people from school to do those qualifications. They also hire lots from universities obviously but that path's there. In the case of accountancy a lot of the hires are from not necessarily related disciplines.

In order to become a Professional Engineer in the United States one needs a degree from an ABET accredited university.  There are companies that will hire engineers without an engineering degree, but that's unusual (and in my experience becoming more rare.)

Each individual field of engineering is an academic discipline with a large body of research.  Undergraduate engineering education teaches the basics of that discipline rather than the day to day job of an engineer.  For this reason an engineering degree isn't vocational qualification, but a university degree.

"Made in Britain" is a synonym for "explosion hazard."

[dps]

Dude you cannot get a job pushing paper without a University Degree.

Again maybe things are different. But in both of those cases what matters is vocational qualifications and employers hire lots of people from school to do those qualifications. They also hire lots from universities obviously but that path's there. In the case of accountancy a lot of the hires are from not necessarily related disciplines.

In order to become a Professional Engineer in the United States one needs a degree from an ABET accredited university.  There are companies that will hire engineers without an engineering degree, but that's unusual (and in my experience becoming more rare.)

Each individual field of engineering is an academic discipline with a large body of research.  Undergraduate engineering education teaches the basics of that discipline rather than the day to day job of an engineer.  For this reason an engineering degree isn't vocational qualification, but a university degree.

"Made in Britain" is a synonym for "explosion hazard."

Probably.  British engineers designed the HMS Hood, after all.

Anyway, my position is that everyone should have the opportunity to be educated to the limits of their abilities and interests.  College isn't for everyone, but everyone should have the opportunity if they are capable of handling the coursework.

And as far as constraining the supply of degrees in certain areas, you have a degree in what is already one of the most constrained areas of study.  Law schools don't take just everyone.  If a few years ago when you wanted to go to law school, you'd been turned down, not because you weren't qualified, but because the was already an oversupply of lawyers, you'd be whining about the injustice of that now.  And while we could certainly artificially limit the supply of degrees in areas of study where there is an oversupply, I don't see how we could avoid shortages in some areas without forcing people to enter fields of study against their will.

I can see that one now:  "I'm sorry, Hunter, but while your grades and LSAT score are plenty good enough to get into law school, but there's an oversupply of lawyers, so we aren't admitting anyone this year.  However, there is a severe shortage of Catholic priests, so we're going to send you to a seminary.  Oh, you don't want to be a priest?  And you're not Catholic?  Too bad.  If you won't go along willingly, there are a couple of muscular, well-armed gentlemen waiting outside the door to escort you to your assigned seminary school.  We'll let them know that they need to stop off to have you converted first."

[CountDeMoney]

I find the poo-poohing of graduate degrees from many posters here wholly unpleasant and just a bit sad.

[CountDeMoney]

Dude you cannot get a job pushing paper without a University Degree.

Again maybe things are different.

Yeah, things are different.  You're on the other side of the ocean.