PhD in Physics at 35+ - Is it Too Late?

[Maddox1]

Hi.
I've been searching throughout the Internet and in many physics forums and many people wonder about the age at which it is considered ok, not too old to graduate.
But, I'd like to ask a more specific question, specific to me:
I'm 24 and next year I'm planning to start studying physics which means that if everything goes as planned, I should get a phd at the age of of ~35. I do know that it is way older than most people in physics or other natural sciences, but the question is: is it too old? Will I be able to get a job in research? Or, would you say that "my train is gone"?
I do have money for "groceries" so I can support my study and life, but again the question is whether it won't be actually too late to graduate?


Thanks in advance.

 

[Rick88]

It's never too late to graduate and contribute to research.
Also you wouldn't be that much late, only a few years.

 

[axiomatic7777]

Too late for what? Yes at 35 you are absolutely too late to claim a title of a prodigy in physics. Other than that, 35 is only a few years behind.

 

[Jack21222]

Just learn to use your life experience to your advantage. I went back to school at age 25 myself (I'm 28 now), and I feel that my age has helped me. Unlike some of my classmates, I'm not in college out of some sense of obligation, or because my parents want me to be, and I didn't pick physics because "well, I had to pick something, might as well be physics."

I'm in school because I WANT to be there. I've experienced the grind of a boring retail sales job, and I know that's not what I want to do. So, I'm much more motivated than many of my classmates. I don't look at homework as something horrible forced upon me, I see it as something that I sought out.

I'm applying to summer internships right now, and in my applications, I'm stressing my life experience as one thing that sets me apart from other applicants. Use it to your advantage, know how to sell yourself, and you'll be fine.

 

[Choppy]

What gets me is how one might come to the conclusion that there is some sort of age limit in the first place. When you finish a PhD and go around applying for jobs or post-doctoral positions, age is not a factor that is assessed. This question gets asked quite frequently in these forums and I guess I just don't know its source.

It's not like physics is professional hockey where at 35 you're just not going to be as spry and quick as the young bucks anymore. In fact, one of the things that attracted me to academia was the simple fact that you can still make a meaningful contribution no matter how old you are.

 

[twofish-quant]

is it too old?

No.

Will I be able to get a job in research? Or, would you say that "my train is gone"?

Probably not, but it's not a matter of your train going, but that it never arrived. If you had graduated at 28 with a Ph.D., you'd be looking at a one in ten chance of getting a tenure track position. There's a good chance that getting a Ph.D. will help you get a better job, but even then there are a lot easier ways of improving your career.

 

[Mathnomalous]

I'm in school because I WANT to be there. I've experienced the grind of a boring retail sales job, and I know that's not what I want to do.

Same here. If I have to work for The (Wo)Man to earn a living, at the very least, I will earn that living doing work I find interesting.

What gets me is how one might come to the conclusion that there is some sort of age limit in the first place. This question gets asked quite frequently in these forums and I guess I just don't know its source.

It seems studying, learning, and scientific discovery are perceived as activities only young people engage in, at least in US culture; I call it "Good Will Hunting" syndrome.

Probably not, but it's not a matter of your train going, but that it never arrived. If you had graduated at 28 with a Ph.D., you'd be looking at a one in ten chance of getting a tenure track position. There's a good chance that getting a Ph.D. will help you get a better job, but even then there are a lot easier ways of improving your career.

What about going to "greener" pastures such as China, India, and Latin America? I am particularly interested in Latin America, since it is culturally closer to the US and countries like Brazil and Argentina are working hard to join the global economy "big leagues."

 

[cabraham]

I went back to school 3.5 yrs. ago at age 52, to pursue an EE Ph.D. My last term in the master's program (MSEE) was in 1980. I returned to grad school after a 27 year hiatus.

If all goes well, I could get my Ph.D. within a year, at age 56. My 3 yrs. of class work took place while working full time. No summer classes are offered, & I can only take 1 class per semester. It is tough, but that's what makes a Ph.D. so special.

At age 56, I won't get nearly as much use of the Ph.D. as a 35 year old would, but what the heck. Better late then never.

Here's a little humor. In 2007, in my first class, semiconductor physics 2, the prof asked the students to say when they took the pre-req course, semiconductor physics 1. First student said "fall 2006". Prof replied, "good, it's still fresh in your mind." Second student said "fall 2004." Prof. replied, "hmmm, maybe you should review the material." I said "spring 1979!" Prof said "you should be ok!"

Claude