BOCA RATON, Fla. — College freshman Jack Slotnick's midterm report card shows an A, two grades of A-, one B and one C.

It's something most full-time students would be happy with, but Slotnick isn't the average college student.

At age 84, the World War II Purple Heart veteran is the oldest undergraduate student in Lynn University's history, according to a spokeswoman for the Boca Raton, Fla., school.

"Sometimes when I look at the students, I can't believe I'm as old as I am," Slotnick said. "Some of the students thought I was the professor when I walked into one of my classes."

After retiring from a career in the vacuum cleaner and lawn-mowing businesses, Slotnick felt the need to finish what he had started more than 60 years ago at Brooklyn College.

"Everybody I know has one or two degrees, so I looked in the mirror about six months ago and I said, 'You really are a dumb-dumb. You don't have a degree,'" he said.

With that realization, he applied to Lynn, and was accepted as a psychology major. At his current pace, Slotnick will graduate with a bachelor of science degree late next year.

People like Slotnick are rare. Only a handful of older people continue their educations.

A 2009 survey by AARP found that only 16 percent of people age 50 and older said they were likely to return to school. Among those 65 and older, according to the survey, that number was only 7 percent.

"I think only Jack can do this. I've never met anyone like him,"

said Amanda Gross, who sits next to Slotnick in psychology class.

Robert Seifer, Slotnick's psychology professor, gives his oldest student no special treatment, but understands his unique situation.

Slotnick has definite plans for his psychology degree: "I'm going to be the oldest practicing psychologist in the U.S."

His goal is to earn a master's degree and offer free counseling to returning military veterans.

"I think I can relate better to a returning veteran than somebody who has no concept of what being a soldier is," Slotnick said.

He wants to work through veterans' organizations to help the vets transition to civilian life and reduce what, he said, is an alarming suicide rate among returning servicemen and servicewomen.

"Evidently there is more stress or strain on the soldiers of today than when I was in the war," Slotnick said. "There is something drastically wrong with the amount of suicides among the current group of soldiers."

Slotnick's goal is to help his fellow veterans, but that's not the only benefit he will get from it.

"Brain exercises, such as what you would get from taking classes, are wonderful stimulation," said Dr. Leilani Doty, director of the University of Florida Cognitive and Memory Disorders Clinics.

As people age, many deal with memory loss and slower problem-solving skills, she said. Stimulation is key to delaying the brain's atrophy.

"If you don't use it, you'll lose it," Doty said.

Other than some difficulties with technology, Slotnick said, his age hasn't affected his schoolwork.

"The only disadvantage I have right now are the technical points of the computer," he said. "I'm taking a computer course, so I'm really getting into the 21st Century."

His family is supportive. "I'm glad I'm passing my classes," Slotnick said. "My children want me to maintain if not a 4.0, at least a 3.5 average."

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