I went back to school a couple years ago. I'm turning 34 in November. I am "the highest performing student" my department has seen in decades, and I got accepted on to an exchange program to the university that's best in the world for my desired specialization. Currently 80% across the world from where I was in a new city, learning a new language, and after meeting with some of the profs the chair of this department has let me into his master's level course even though I'm just a measly BA student.

No one has ever commented on my age, except that one time I self-consciously brought it up (they hadn't even noticed until I did). Having life experience and knowing how the working world works is a huge advantage. Going to school because you WANT to go to school is the one, and only key to success and enjoying it. Love your subject. Have conversations about it with other people who love it. It doesn't matter if they're another student or a prof.

Ask questions. Allow yourself to look stupid. Make mistakes and eagerly ask how to do better -- and mean it.

It breaks my heart to see so many people at university who don't want to be there. But if you keep the love of your subject in your heart you will have an amazing time, and make incredible friendships.

Age is a stupid way to gauge someone's character or ability. School is about learning, and trying to make it about age, gender, parental status or anything else is an attitude problem, not an academic inhibitor.