I'm and adult student getting my masters in education because my career no longer is viable.  In this economy, I'm finding a lot of people who are in my same situation.  They have spent a lifetime working in hopes to retire soon, only to have their job and future savings lost or diminished.  Thank goodness for FAFSA, but I've downsized as much as I can, including selling almost all my belongings just to make ends meet.  I've gotten rid of all my debt, so I'm down to the bare bones of having a degree that no longer serves me, very little means to support myself and I'm facing a very short time to rebuild a plan for the security of my future.  Does anyone know of any support groups or financial aid/grants/scholarships to help displaced workers?  Going back to school is wonderful, the only difference is that I do not have my whole life ahead of me to build my dream career.  This is strictly about survival.  Living on assistance is not an answer to the future "seniors" out there.  We have to be proactive and find a way to make this happen and be productive again.

Thanks for listening!

wcat

Hi SSN.....Love your nic!  We've been having a class discussion about funding and education.  One of the younger students in the class quoted an article by Hube that said lending institutions don't off much to older students because they assume they have more earning power to afford loans or pay for school out right.  I was sort of shocked by that because of the economic upheaval.  Some whole industries are either gone or about to be replaced.  I would think that a lending institution would take look at it case by case.  It made me feel really OLD and not worth too much, when all we have been studying is how important baby boomers are to educational institutions.  It was sort of an article that contridicted itself.  I've decided one of my class papers is going to be about this very topic.  It's a growing need with many more displaced workers that are still very productive, and young enough to put 25 years into a company.  I thought the entire article was bordering on age discrimination.  Something I've just begun to face first hand in a lot of real life situations.  I didn't know how alive an well it really is!

wCat, i hear ya.  I am in a similar situation.  I have to start over to survive.  I hope someone answers your questions soon because I am searching for the same answers.