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