Is 32 too old to graduate from grad school? Is it worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My husband finished his umpteenth doctorate at 39 years old.
He gets bored after a few years in a certain field, and every time he switches, he has to get a few more degrees. The salary goes up a little, but obviously he doesn't do it for the money.

Not sure this is making a good case for getting an advanced degree when older, but whatever. It sounds like your DH needs to grow up.

[Anonymous]

Whether being a pharmacist or scientist those career paths are not friendly for having children. 80 hour weeks and weekends. Trust me, I used to be one and will never be tempted back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whether being a pharmacist or scientist those career paths are not friendly for having children. 80 hour weeks and weekends. Trust me, I used to be one and will never be tempted back.

OP here. I plan to become a pharmacist. I am not doing this for money but it will definitely be a very huge salary increase.

I know quite a few pharmacists (most being moms), with very family oriented schedules. I've never see a pharmacist work more than 50 hour weeks. My best friend is a new pharmacist. She works 8:30 - 4:30 and every other Saturday from 2-9pm. That isn't too bad for a first job, fresh out of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether being a pharmacist or scientist those career paths are not friendly for having children. 80 hour weeks and weekends. Trust me, I used to be one and will never be tempted back.

OP here. I plan to become a pharmacist. I am not doing this for money but it will definitely be a very huge salary increase.

I know quite a few pharmacists (most being moms), with very family oriented schedules. I've never see a pharmacist work more than 50 hour weeks. My best friend is a new pharmacist. She works 8:30 - 4:30 and every other Saturday from 2-9pm. That isn't too bad for a first job, fresh out of school.

She works at a retail pharmacy with those hours?

Most jobs are retail, 13 hour shifts and every other weekend. Even my friend working at a hospital works 12 hour shifts. Your friend is not typical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whether being a pharmacist or scientist those career paths are not friendly for having children. 80 hour weeks and weekends. Trust me, I used to be one and will never be tempted back.

My cousin has kids and she's a pharmacist. There's a shortage of them where she is, partly fueled by the trend of 24-hour pharmacies so you need a pharmacist on staff at all times. She can pretty much set her hours now that she's been there a few years. I think she now does a full-day shift (like 24 hours) for a day or two, then gets to take two weeks off or something liek that.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Nothing in life is too late, as long as you are alive.

Too late is when you die. And if you die as a child or a teen or in your 20s or 30s or whenever...then it is too late for you.

You are alive, healthy, your brain is working - Go. For. It.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My husband finished his umpteenth doctorate at 39 years old.
He gets bored after a few years in a certain field, and every time he switches, he has to get a few more degrees. The salary goes up a little, but obviously he doesn't do it for the money.

Not sure this is making a good case for getting an advanced degree when older, but whatever. It sounds like your DH needs to grow up.

Because he is smart enough to pick any field and actually get some degrees in it - and almost effortlessly? He sounds like a person who is extremely intelligent and curious, no wonder he gets bored after some years.

He does not have to grow up - he is doing just fine. He will always find joy in learning new things. Better than finding joy in booze and strippers like many men who are stuck in fields they do not enjoy and wives who tell them to grow up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My husband finished his umpteenth doctorate at 39 years old.
He gets bored after a few years in a certain field, and every time he switches, he has to get a few more degrees. The salary goes up a little, but obviously he doesn't do it for the money.

Not sure this is making a good case for getting an advanced degree when older, but whatever. It sounds like your DH needs to grow up.

Because he is smart enough to pick any field and actually get some degrees in it - and almost effortlessly? He sounds like a person who is extremely intelligent and curious, no wonder he gets bored after some years.

He does not have to grow up - he is doing just fine. He will always find joy in learning new things. Better than finding joy in booze and strippers like many men who are stuck in fields they do not enjoy and wives who tell them to grow up!

NP. Yes, because those are the only two options...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether being a pharmacist or scientist those career paths are not friendly for having children. 80 hour weeks and weekends. Trust me, I used to be one and will never be tempted back.

OP here. I plan to become a pharmacist. I am not doing this for money but it will definitely be a very huge salary increase.

I know quite a few pharmacists (most being moms), with very family oriented schedules. I've never see a pharmacist work more than 50 hour weeks. My best friend is a new pharmacist. She works 8:30 - 4:30 and every other Saturday from 2-9pm. That isn't too bad for a first job, fresh out of school.

She works at a retail pharmacy with those hours?

Most jobs are retail, 13 hour shifts and every other weekend. Even my friend working at a hospital works 12 hour shifts. Your friend is not typical.

Yes, she works retail. That is what I plan to go into as well. I don't live I'm DC anymore. I live in a major city still. I am
definitely going for it!

[Anonymous]

Look at it from this perspective OP, the time is going to pass anyway, right? Whether you attend graduate school or not.

At least make it count for something!!

And no, it is not too old.

These days, many older people are going back to school and I personally feel as an older student you have much more to bring to the table than when you were younger.

Life experience, for sure, but most of all, you will have the maturity and the discipline that many younger college students do not have.

I say go for it and I truly wish you only the best in all of your future endeavors.

Go you!!

[Anonymous]

You can't spend to much money on education or travel!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from grad school at age 51. You are never too old. If this is something you want, go for it, OP.

Thank you for posting and making this 40-year-old feel good about school

OP, you're a baby! Yes, it will be tough if family and kids happen along the way, but you don't know what will happen and when, so go for it. It's better to regret something you've done than something you haven't done.

[Anonymous]

DH went back to graduate school at 45! He was 51 before her finished and had been happily engaged in his new field for ten years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't spend to much money on education or travel!

Oh yes you can. Just ask anyone with over $100k in student loan debt who got a useless degree and has no hope of paying it back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't spend to much money on education or travel!

Oh yes you can. Just ask anyone with over $100k in student loan debt who got a useless degree and has no hope of paying it back.

+1

In addition, being a student can actually make it much harder to date. Sounds like the OP already made up her mind despite the recommendations to the contrary.