"I want to go to college" - Kelly Ripa eyes return to school after All My Children dropout

Kelly Ripa might be gearing up for a new step in her life. The 54-year-old actress and talk show host revealed during the April 17 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark that she might revisit going back to school.

Entertainment Weekly noted that the prospect of Ripa going back to college came up when she revealed that her youngest son, Joaquin is graduating from college, and she isn’t ready for the huge change in her son’s life.

To that, her husband and co-host, Mark Consuelos suggested that she should consider going back to school as Joaquin would no longer be bothered by the prospect of having his mom in his class.

Ripa revealed that she did carry a desire for returning to school and completing her education. She said,

“My whole thing is I want to go to college, I want to go to a four-year university, and I want to get my degree in something. What? I don't know. I should go into broadcast — that's an easy A. I'll take an easy A. I'll go into communications!”

About her options, Ripa debated on what she would like to study if she were to return to school. She thought out loud, saying,

“Maybe psychology, maybe I'd take a writing class. I’ll teach reverse psychology. I'll be an adjunct professor.”

Kelly Ripa had dropped out of college to begin her acting career

Kelly Ripa landed her breakout role as Hayley in the soap All My Children in 1990, as per Hello Magazine.

Ripa has previously spoken about her early life and how it led to her acting career. In a conversation with the New York Times in 2001, Ripa revealed that her maternal grandfather had paid to have her attend acting lessons as a toddler, but she didn’t keep up with it. The actress went on to do musical theater in her high school, and said,

“I couldn't really sing, and in high school, musical theater is about the music. Still, I always got some part and enjoyed doing it.''

In the 80s, Ripa appeared in her first television gig on a Philadelphia local dance party show, Dancin’ on Air, also appearing on Dance Party USA, according to Uproxx.

Still, the young Ripa attended community college at the insistence of her parents after high school. She told the New York Times,

“My parents were adamant about college, so I took a few courses and then would audition for everything. I took things like psychology, things I couldn't get motivated to do.”

As per the news outlet, after bagging her role on All My Children after a year, the New Jersey native moved on with her professional career. Ripa did say that her father still expects that she’ll go to college someday, and said,

“My father is still waiting for me to go to college. Maybe someone will give me an honorary degree to make him happier.”

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While Kelly Ripa herself wasn’t able to graduate from college before embarking on her illustrious media career, she has made sure that all of her three children complete their education.

As per People Magazine, Consuelos and Ripa’s oldest son, Michael, and their daughter Lola, both graduated from New York University in 2020 and 2023 respectively. Ripa also shared on Live with Kelly and Mark that she wishes that her youngest, Joaquin, goes to graduate school.

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