Going back to school after 40

Going back to school after 40.
This can be a little scary and exciting all at the same time. It doesn’t matter if you need to take your GED*link for GED test
http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=GED_TS&CFID=60469076&CFTOKEN=42494789&jsessionid=1630ac02ed1cD$FD$3F$
or you’re going to graduate school *link for GRE test http://www.ets.org/gre/

You need to do your homework to find out what you will require to go back to school.
I suggest you get a file and a notebook. If this is the first time you have ever been to college you might have to take entrance tests or placement tests. Don’t let that scare you. There probably an app for that if not there is a website that has a practice exam or information on the test.

Write, type or record everything you will need for admissions to the colleges you have chosen. Some schools charge a high application fee, some might have fee waivers and some do not charge a fee at all. One community college I found that won’t charge you an application fee if you complete the application online is Jefferson Community and Technical College.
Take a look at their requirements for admissions as an example. http://www.jefferson.kctcs.edu/Admissions/Admissions_Procedures.aspx

Be persistent!!! If you apply for a college write down the date you send in the application and make sure you follow up with the admissions department. Remember to get names of the people you speak to and write down the dates. Make a phone list so that you won’t spend extra time looking up the numbers over and over again.

Start the process early enough so that you’re not stress trying to get items in a rush. Remember to put everything associated with your school in your file.

Can you get tax breaks from going back to school? Good question! Contact the IRS and check out this link to the IRS tax page for education credits.
 http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=213044,00.html

Remember this is new great adventure. There are more and more adults going back to school after 40 so you won’t be alone.