Is 31 too old to start working on a Math degree?

Question

Also, where would you recommend one start to lay a strong mathematics foundation. 

Answer 1

31 is not old to start working on a Math degree.  Just do it if you want it bad enough you will find a way.  It will probably lead you into a different direction anyway.  Do It.

Answer 2

For an undergrad degree there should be no problem.  If you reach 35 and are pursuing a doctorate in math, you might be too old to make important contributions to the field.  But an undergraduate degree requires mainly that you understand the math of the 17th to 19th centuries, and can apply it effectively.  No big deal !

Answer 3

Depending on your lifespan 31 can be too old. Imagine a housefly whose average lifespan is 21 days!

I am disappointed in you. At 31 you are not asking the right questions. OMG!!!!

Answer 4

any age is open for a maths degree , if your smart enough to get it .

Answer 5

Not too old at all, in fact, you might do better!

Might want to review (Khan academy is great)

Answer 6

You could start with "Number Theory".  It's a fairly self-contained sub-field that uses the type of skills useful in other sub-fields of Math.  You could see if you like it/are any good at it.

For example: there are an infinite number of prime numbers whose decimal expression do not contain the digit "9".   Does that excite and amaze you?  There are prime numbers with more digits than there are particles in the Universe, yet none of them are "9".

Answer 7

Of course not and the only initial qualification you'll need is an interest in the subject.

Answer 8

Yes you can do that, providing that you have, (or can soon aquire), the basic qualifications for university entrance. But it takes a lot of commitment and perhaps some self-knowledge of the extent of your ability.

It is easy to like the idea of doing something like that without realising exactly what maths topics will be involved and whether they interest you.

So, do some research about the syllabus that might be available at your university of interest and see if you can obtain some first year exam papers from past years and then see if it is the sort of thing you can both cope with and are also interested in.

You might not want to be commited to a statistics course for example when

you really wanted to be learning about Diophantus and his ingenious approaches to solving certain equations.

To protect yourself against a big financial loss how about trying out online challenges or sampling part of an OU course.

So my answer is yes, but proceed with intelligent caution.

Answer 9

I actually have some experience with that. You may find yourself better prepared than most of your teenage classmates. A student of an age will likely have fewer social distractions, and more experience with being handed difficult tasks. There may also be a greater financial incentive, since it is more likely that you would be paying your own way.

Answer 10

Not really. There are 50 and 60 years old who return to college.

Just make sure it's something you're sure to follow through on. 

You don't want to be stuck paying all those loans!!!