Receiving Masters degree at 30yrs old. Is that too old?

Question

I am 24 yrs old and I received my Bachelors degree one year ago. I could have received my bachelors degree sooner but took a medical leave from school for almost two years. Since receiving my bachelors degree I have been working on the core pre-requisites for admission into the Physical Therapy Masters program. If all goes well I will be applying for the program next year Fall 2009 and will start the program Fall 2010. By the time I graduate I will be like 29-30 yrs old and I feel like graduating at that age with no work experience whatsoever and just years of school is pathetic. I see guys my age who with their bachelor degrees are doing well, have work experience, are in a relationships and have pretty much started "life". Me on the other hand, I have nothing. I know careers in the medical field require years of school but just thinking that I am almost 25 yrs. old and not near applying to the Masters program make me feel slightly pathetic.

Answer 1

Hey!

No, you are no where near too old for a Master's degree or any other graduate degree. The average age of a graduate student in this day and age is about 30 years old. I am currently a graduate student at NYU and I am exactly 30. I haven't even finished that program yet and was JUST admitted into a PhD program at Harvard to begin after that. I'll be in grad school until my mid 30's. Sure, I did work full time since I was 20, but your circumstance is totally different with your medical situation.

Don't worry about it. If you need a Master's in order to pursue your chosen profession, then do it. You will be in classes with people your exact age. h**l, I had one guy that was 58 in one of my classes. Many graduate programs, especially in business will not even let you apply until you are at least in your mid twenties with some job experience. Graduate school is very different from undergrad. You will be with people of all ages, with the average being about 30.

I hope this helps. Go for it and good luck!

Answer 2

How old will you be in six years if you don't get a master's degree?  Will you be less "pathetic" without one?  If you don't get that master's degree starting next year, how old will you be when you do get it?

60+ years from now, when you and these "guys you know" are dead and dying, compare your lives to each other's then.  Until then, the race has barely started and it's not over until it's over.

"...are doing well, have work experience, are in a relationships and have pretty much started "life"...."

Are doing well in what way?  Did you want some work experience?  Get a job!  What does being in a relationship have to do with going to college?  People my age think that all people your age are just starting life - we've got one heck of a head start on you.  

Once you enter the "real world", you start competing with people like me, not those "guys you know".  Most jobs don't have age specifications.  I suggest that if you want to compete with people like me that you had better get one or two of those master's degrees.  ÃƒÂ¢Ã‚˜Âº

Answer 3

Of course not. When I was getting mine most of the people in the classes were over 30. Most people don't get their masters right away. Schools actually prefer people who have more work experience.  

Answer 4

What is your BA in? If it's not in a natural science you would have to go back for another BA before getting yourself into a medical school.

That being said, it's never too late. Go to a college campus some time. You'll people of all ages (certainly over 30) going back to school or even going for the first time ever for BAs, Masters, and PhDs.

Answer 5

It's never too late!!! I am thirty and I am going back for my 2nd degree, my goal is to have a masters. I'll be lucky to have it before I'm 35! If you quit now you will regret it the rest of your life...

Answer 6

Physical therapy often attracts "non-traditional students." I went to school with three 40 year-olds and have I even had a 45 year old student. You have nothing to worry about, you will not be the only one in your class at this age.  

It's commendable what you are doing, because it shows you are doing it because you want to.  

Answer 7

I always thought the 30's were the traditional age for getting higher degrees, as the timeline usually goes....

1)  Graduate from high school at 17 or 18.

2)  From college at 21 or 22.

3)  Work for a couple of years, start grad school at 24.

4)  Have PhD by age 30, but with a Master's right before it of course.

If you're a doctor its graduate from college at 22, get medical degree by 25.

If you were planning on becoming a doctor I would say its a LIIIITTLE late, given the traditional social clock/timeline for academic progress.  However if its everything else who cares; the great majority of "first time" masters students I personally met summer time at WSU were all in their 30's.  Very rarely did I meet a grad student in their 20's.