Pursuing PhD @ 50+

[Anonymous]

I had a brilliant classmate who did something similar after a distinguished career to pursue a passion. Some schools openly rejected him as they did not believe he would be able to sufficiently contribute to the field to earn his spot. It was very hard on him technology wise and physically. But he did graduate. He did not end up working in the field however, He enriched our class a great deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one enjoys getting their PhD. No one. You will be very much the odd person out trying to do it in your 50s. My DH had a postdoc once where one of his cohort was a late-in-life PhDer. Started after a finance career and a marriage implosion. Nice guy, never got an academic job or published anything. Hard to see the point of so much academic drudgery if it doesn't lead to anything.

My kid who is a current PhD candidate has a very difference story to tell. He is exceedingly happy and fulfilled, loves his lab and work.

While it isn't for everyone, one person's experience does not describe all.

I think the despair sets in closer to the end.

J/k, sort of

[Anonymous]

I knew many PhD students in my time in graduate school and many of them were very happy in their studies and all the way through to successful defense of a completed dissertation. Many of them are still thriving in their chosen fields decades later, whether academia or private sector.

I think this is like the threads about teaching, where whingers predominate. Happy folks aren’t online at some forum naysaying and doom and glooming other people’s dreams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a brilliant classmate who did something similar after a distinguished career to pursue a passion. Some schools openly rejected him as they did not believe he would be able to sufficiently contribute to the field to earn his spot. It was very hard on him technology wise and physically. But he did graduate. He did not end up working in the field however, He enriched our class a great deal.

I hope he found the experience enriching, because I really don't understand the point of going through all of that for those outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a brilliant classmate who did something similar after a distinguished career to pursue a passion. Some schools openly rejected him as they did not believe he would be able to sufficiently contribute to the field to earn his spot. It was very hard on him technology wise and physically. But he did graduate. He did not end up working in the field however, He enriched our class a great deal.

You left out the part that he must have had wealth. When you have wealth you can do all sorts of things for fun. It's a whole different ball game if OP needs to be able to supper her or himself and/or children, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a brilliant classmate who did something similar after a distinguished career to pursue a passion. Some schools openly rejected him as they did not believe he would be able to sufficiently contribute to the field to earn his spot. It was very hard on him technology wise and physically. But he did graduate. He did not end up working in the field however, He enriched our class a great deal.

You left out the part that he must have had wealth. When you have wealth you can do all sorts of things for fun. It's a whole different ball game if OP needs to be able to supper her or himself and/or children, etc.

LOL I meant support...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew many PhD students in my time in graduate school and many of them were very happy in their studies and all the way through to successful defense of a completed dissertation. Many of them are still thriving in their chosen fields decades later, whether academia or private sector.

I think this is like the threads about teaching, where whingers predominate. Happy folks aren’t online at some forum naysaying and doom and glooming other people’s dreams.

Yes, the entered during the Golden age of academia. Things have changed.Even your friends can tell you things have changed since they entered their fields. Do you actually keep in touch? Ask them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one enjoys getting their PhD. No one. You will be very much the odd person out trying to do it in your 50s. My DH had a postdoc once where one of his cohort was a late-in-life PhDer. Started after a finance career and a marriage implosion. Nice guy, never got an academic job or published anything. Hard to see the point of so much academic drudgery if it doesn't lead to anything.

My kid who is a current PhD candidate has a very difference story to tell. He is exceedingly happy and fulfilled, loves his lab and work.

While it isn't for everyone, one person's experience does not describe all.

Wait until he tries to graduate. That's when the claws come out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone care to share their experience of pursuing a PHD at 50+ Yrs old at one of the DC area universities?

What subject? They are very different

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one enjoys getting their PhD. No one. You will be very much the odd person out trying to do it in your 50s. My DH had a postdoc once where one of his cohort was a late-in-life PhDer. Started after a finance career and a marriage implosion. Nice guy, never got an academic job or published anything. Hard to see the point of so much academic drudgery if it doesn't lead to anything.

My kid who is a current PhD candidate has a very difference story to tell. He is exceedingly happy and fulfilled, loves his lab and work.

While it isn't for everyone, one person's experience does not describe all.

Wait until he tries to graduate. That's when the claws come out.

That's ridiculous. My son just received his PhD in a science at a flagship. His advisor and department were very supportive throughout his program. Didn't cost him a penny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

He is fortunate. Give it time. Things could change in his program. Wait until he gets his first academic job. He may just luck out throughout, but I would be careful advising a middle age person to this route until your son has gotten his Ph.D and been in the field for a while.

He'll be working in industry, not academia.

I was responding to the comments that the Phd experience itself is miserable, not life thereafter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew many PhD students in my time in graduate school and many of them were very happy in their studies and all the way through to successful defense of a completed dissertation. Many of them are still thriving in their chosen fields decades later, whether academia or private sector.

I think this is like the threads about teaching, where whingers predominate. Happy folks aren’t online at some forum naysaying and doom and glooming other people’s dreams.

+1

Touche

[Anonymous]

If you can get someone else to pay for it, sure. On your own dime? No.

[Anonymous]

Most of these responses are looking at it from the student's perspective. But a PhD is a two-way street. Taking on a new student is a big commitment for a Professor, both in terms of funding and time. TBH, they may be reluctant to take on a student who is simply doing the work for personal reward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of these responses are looking at it from the student's perspective. But a PhD is a two-way street. Taking on a new student is a big commitment for a Professor, both in terms of funding and time. TBH, they may be reluctant to take on a student who is simply doing the work for personal reward.

This. They will be very reluctant to take on a student who will essentially be a dilettante.