Going Back to School Late in Life

[yinwithjim]

Over 20 years ago I left the workforce due to medical disability. 15 years ago I started a PhD program and quit in the first semester. I haven't done much since besides "exist". Now, as I near my 59th birthday, I want to use my life and education experience to give back to the world? I am LGBTQ and single with no one and have considered going back to graduate school to study and research LGBTQ aging issues. Most days I pass off the questions in my mind as "crazy talk." This morning I asked the oracle 3 questions related to this problem. I'll admit my question creation is not that great, and, my ability to interpret really not that great. After I asked question 1, I felt I needed to be more specific, and then, I followed up with number 3.

Can anyone shed some light?

question 1: Advise me on going back to school to pursue PHD - Hexagram 45.1.3 changing to 49
question 2: Advise me on phd in social science at Syracuse focused on LGBTQ LTS Aging - Hexagram 63 Unchanging
question 3: What do I need to know now? - Hexagram 46 Unchanging

 

[my_key]

1: Advise me on going back to school to pursue PHD - Hexagram 45.1.3 changing to 49
2: Advise me on phd in social science at Syracuse focused on LGBTQ LTS Aging - Hexagram 63 Unchanging
3: What do I need to know now? - Hexagram 46 Unchanging

1: Bring everything together for your plan may mean you have to change some of your ways. It might take a little while to get your act together. Check out your motivations and whether this is the right time. Let things unfold a bit and then you'll see what is best.

2: You might consider now this is putting things right. However you are advised to give some real thought to all the pros and cons, so that you don't find yourself caught out in the future. Forewarned is forearmed.

3: Ascend the mountain one step at a time.

...or it might be nothing at all like this for you.

 

[redoleander]

question 1: Advise me on going back to school to pursue PHD - Hexagram 45.1.3 changing to 49

Don't decide in advance a full yes or no, but still move forward. Reach out and begin the process. If you continue to feel good about it, find someone who can help you and advocate for you, like an admissions counselor you trust, someone who could advise you on getting helpful experience or recommendations. It might be that this is step one in a process of doing some extra things in order to better your chances of admissions, versus just applying and beginning in one go, but that would still be worthwhile (if it's worthwhile to you, that is.) You might be in a more unusual position as an older student but obviously that can also have a strong positive side given your focus of study.

question 2: Advise me on phd in social science at Syracuse focused on LGBTQ LTS Aging - Hexagram 63 Unchanging

Do you have any other options you're considering? Based on this answer my guess would be that you don't and so this answer is kind of saying "I think you already decided on this part." That may or may not be true though (I'm a beginner, not an expert!) but I think it would either be saying "you already know the answer to this" (essentially) or that if you want something more to consider you'd have to seriously add in more options. (The other possibility is that, say, the application date has already passed? Maybe you want to apply for this year but it would actually need to be next year, or that type of thing?)

question 3: What do I need to know now? - Hexagram 46 Unchanging

I think this is telling you to move forward (I think all your readings support that actually) with a flavor similar to the answer to question one: it will require you to adapt, work, and follow the course of what's possible, when it's possible. Take the step you can take now. Then there will be more steps. You'll take each step at the right time. For example, maybe they'll want you to take pre-requisites or the GRE or have previous volunteer work -- but that would all be doable if you're really interested in this. Follow the path and see where it takes you. It might not just be the final outcome that's valuable but the movement along the way. Slow, steady progress. Some of it will be hard. It might not be a 1-2-3 process but nothing so valuable ever is. Let yourself see what's out there and modify goals and timeline as needed.

Best of luck! Let us know how it comes along

 

[ZeroPoint]

Question 1: Advise me on going back to school to pursue PHD - Hexagram 45.1.3 changing to 49.

I'm focusing on question 1, because moving lines matter. I'm seeing an impulse to gather, which seems to be favorable for you and in which you'll seek and find like-minded others. I assume the financial resources required for grad school are not a problem for you. The physical energy for it and the cognitive focus required may pose challenges (I, at 60, am abruptly surprised by the difference since 54; your mileage may vary. )

I do see a surprise, in that a strong start may get qualified by later developments; things won't go as planned. That may indeed show learning! Line 3 suggests it won't be a harmonious gathering. From Hilary's book: "...This is no longer a purposeful gathering; is become a drama... but keep going anyway," (p.151). Reducing expectations may help.

Why a PhD, I wonder. What will be so for you if you earn one? What do you think will happen? What else could happen? Is this the only way?

49: Zhou: Your primary plea is heard. (What is your first concern? The learning? The credit? New like-minded people?) Zhou says about the outcome: Problems disappear. So if you are clear on your primary purpose for going to school, all seems well.

2. Your more explicit question here results in
63 uc: Already Across [after many Small Exceedings]. Your commitment pays off. From Zhou, I understand this as good outcomes from small efforts ("your plea is heard") but in the end, misfortune. You still don't end where you think you will, perhaps.

3. 46, what you need to know now: see people you respect and look up to; maybe get some recommendations from those who've known you in the past. Push Upward. What does "south" mean here? Multiple sources say going to familiar places or people, known supports. Which you would need to do anyway, perhaps before school or it happens at school when you find a mentor or special teacher, or the journey to grad school reveals such a person on the way.

Your mileage may vary!