Schools Is Starting a Ph.D. After 30 Uncommon?

AI Thread Summary
Starting a Ph.D. after the age of 30 is not uncommon, though it may feel atypical compared to younger peers. Many individuals share experiences of returning to academia later in life, emphasizing that age becomes irrelevant when performance is strong. Concerns about age and gaps in academic experience are common, particularly regarding the application process. Prospective students are encouraged to strengthen their applications by engaging in relevant research or coursework, even if they have been away from technical studies for a while. Having a background in education, such as being a high school physics teacher, can also be beneficial in demonstrating commitment and capability. Overall, the focus should be on showcasing skills and readiness for graduate-level work, regardless of age.
copernicus1
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Hi, is there anyone here who started working on their Ph.D. after 30? I will be 31 when I start later this year, and I'm wondering how atypical this is. Any advice? Thanks!
 
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I'm 33 and doing my (first) undergrad in CS and math. I'm definitely quite older than every TA I've ever encountered, i.e. the PhD students at my school, so my guess is, yes, you might be a little atypical. Then again, you won't be as atypical as me so I expect you will cope just as I have : )

I was quite concerned about my age when I first started. What my experiences have taught me is that if you kick *** no one cares how old you are.
 
Sorry to necro post, but I'm 30 and seriously considering going to grad school 9 years later. My biggest problem right now is that I'm not really sure how to go about getting a strong application, etc. I've been going over my upper-level coursework and getting ready for the physics GRE (which I plan to take next April), but I haven't had any research experience since my last year as an undergrad and all the classes I've taken since then are education related, not anything technical. Do you think admissions might be skeptical of someone who has been away for so long? Would they want to see me do some sort of research part-time on the side? I'm currently a high school physics teacher if that helps at all.
 
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