Capella University MS in IT

At age 57, I've elected to return to school and earn a second Masters. I have been accepted at Capella, and will start the first course in the Masters in Information Technology in January 2004.

My wife thinks that my elevator is no longer stopping at all floors, but I've been passionate about this field of technology ever since the internet really took off. I'm an industrial engineer by trade, with an MS in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

A possible career change at age 60 (providing all the IT jobs have not been outsourced)...hey, why not!? Dreams are what make life tolerable. I do not plan to "go gently into that good night".

I'd like to hear from any other "young" Capella learners.

 

Darrell

Welcome to the board.

I'm not a Capella student, but anyway I wish you well with your studies there.

 

Darrell,

I am not a Capella student but like you (except I am a tender 46) am going to pursue a second masters. Good luck in your studies.

 

Congratulations.
I earned my second masters at age 62 this year, and now starting a PhD program.
"Old age and treachery will beat youth and inexperience"

 

Certain facets of IT such as project , program and product management may not have fully shipped over by the time you're done. If we've gone that far in three years, we may as well outsource the corner offices ...

 

Capella Learners

Hello,

As a Capella learner you will notice that it is of help and support to stay on top of things.

To comment to other learners ideas and to post homework assignments in a certain period will be a little challenging.

The course room is an enjoyable environment and if the instructor has experience to support and motivate the students the experience of learning will be superb.


Good luck,

fyfy

 

fyfy,

I appreciate your input. Today is first day of "class", and I've just spent 6 hrs reading and posting after a 10 hr workday.

I'm really enjoying the challenge. This is my "first ever" online DL course, and I'm really impressed. What a great way to learn. I think Capella has got the formula right.

It's time to get some sleep and do it all over again tomorrow.

Thanks again for your response.


Darrell Lawrence

 

Congrats for taking the brave plunge.

Even though I am not in IT I had to do a major career change after 30 years. I went back for my Masters in Counseling at a brick and mortar school and then enrolled in Capella's School of Psychology for the Ph.D. in Family Psychology. I'm now in my last course and I will say that it has been challenging but wonderful! Like many other DL schools, Capella is committed to making you successful if you do your part. They bend over backwards to facilitate your journey and not get stuck in politics, ego games, red tape, etc. Before you know it you will be done and wondering if you should get a Ph.D. next! (Maybe in Industrial and Organizational Psychology? or Management?).

I wish you well and know that you will have fun keeping those neurons busy.

 

I hae almost completed my Capella Masters in IT (Information Security), and based my decision to go there mainly on the feedback I received from this forum. While it certainly has been challenging to manage with a tremendous amount of work at work, and although I am a bit younger than you (42) I can honestly say it has been a very positive experience.

Instead of taking tests which I would undoubtedly pass, I have used the projects given to each class to resolve problems that my CIO has envisioned at work. This has included papers on IM in government, Linux vs. Windows, Geographic Information Systems, a test plan for an online project and a new website for elected officials, among others.

While it hasn't been easy (especially when taking multiple classes at once), I feel it will definitely pay divendends in the future.

Good luck!!

 

Good luck Darrell! Don´t know anything about Capella but I´m
also 57 and still alive and kicking (and learning). With a little luck
we might still be posting here after 30 to 35 years !

 

While Capella is not perhaps the best choice for an academic career it should be fine for a non-academic one.

In any case - the program will stretch your mind and improve your personal aging process

Of-shore job relocations are generally of the programming variety - not Information Technolofy per se.

Note that SIGITE is moving towards a "model program" for IT degrees that should improve acceptance. http://site.it.rit.edu/

 

I just found out that I received an "A" in the first course (Technical Communications). That's one down and eleven more to go.

I'm impressed with Capella. This was the first online course I've ever completed. I felt the academic rigor of this course was graduate level. It required approximately 20 hours of work each week during the quarter, and included two "all-nighters" to finish a research project. Those all-nighters are a lot tougher at age 57 than they were 25 years ago, but the grade of "A" makes them worth it.