BlueSiren

One thing that’s worth mentioning, and something that I think comes up indirectly or directly in all of the old timers' posts: Life is not a straight shot from point A to point B. Or, at least in my opinion, life is a windy, confusing set of divergent paths, and each turn of the way highlights something new about the traveler. If I had married my first love or gotten a PhD in what I was interested in at 18, oh, man. Good thing I took some years to figure it out. Life should not be about the pot of (tenured) gold at the end of the (academic) rainbow. Those of us "non-traditional" applicants have taken time out from the straight and narrow to hold unique jobs, travel, start families, maybe fuck up a bit, change life paths several times, and all of this has brought us back to academia with a fierce determination to make it a life. This is not the only life we have led, so, as BlueSiren rightly points out, we have a unique appreciation for it, even knowing the difficulty inherent in starting a PhD later in life. When the POI at my top university told me that my "non-traditional" status made me attractive to the admissions committee, I was a bit thrown off. I have never thought of myself as older or academically disadvantaged, but I am. And, like BlueSiren, my status made me interesting. In each of the interviews I did, the more I talked about my past in and out of academia, the more fascinated the interviewer became. I don't know if this will translate to the job market, but if it doesn't, there are, for me, other options. Obviously, I would prefer to have all the intellectual acumen, life experience, and emotional maturity I have now at 30 in the body of a 24-year-old. Certainly that would make this all easier. But since that's not an option, I have what I have now. And maybe this is a little too fluffy for some, but I think it's most important to develop as a human being. A career pales in comparison to that.

I am 37 and starting my PhD program in Literature this fall. I do hope to have a traditional academic career when I'm done, but realize that I have other options. I received an MA in History when I was 31 and worked for a number of years in that field (as a research historian for a well known firm) before returning to pursue my MA in Literature. I originally started this second MA in the hopes of teaching at a community college (following my first MA I received interviews for spots at a variety of two year colleges but never received a job offer; when I inquired the reasoning I was told that most community colleges prefer two MAs). I am doing this because this is what I love to do and if I am unable to find a tenured position I hope to teach at a better community college and if that doesn't work out I could always return to being an historian. Like many others who are pursuing an advanced degree later in life I focused on other matters when I was young. I have two high school age children, took lengthy breaks to finish my BA, and worked a number of non-professional jobs in my twenties. In some ways, I think that I have more at stake in my PhD program and a greater appreciation for the academic world.

I am 37 and starting my PhD program in Literature this fall. I do hope to have a traditional academic career when I'm done, but realize that I have other options. I received an MA in History when I was 31 and worked for a number of years in that field (as a research historian for a well known firm) before returning to pursue my MA in Literature. I originally started this second MA in the hopes of teaching at a community college (following my first MA I received interviews for spots at a variety of two year colleges but never received a job offer; when I inquired the reasoning I was told that most community colleges prefer two MAs). I am doing this because this is what I love to do and if I am unable to find a tenured position I hope to teach at a better community college and if that doesn't work out I could always return to being an historian. Like many others who are pursuing an advanced degree later in life I focused on other matters when I was young. I have two high school age children, took lengthy breaks to finish my BA, and worked a number of non-professional jobs in my twenties. In some ways, I think that I have more at stake in my PhD program and a greater appreciation for the academic world.

None of us oldies are inexperienced and naive about the way the world works.  In fact, those 'disadvantages' of beginning a PhD program 'late in life' (ha!) are merely just another set of disadvantages that have plagued most of us oldies all our lives.  I wasn't able to begin college right after high school.  I grew up poor and attended a high school that didn't even encourage its students to pursue higher education.  My family didn't either, and I immediately went to work.  If I'd been asked to define what a scholarship meant at that time, I wouldn't have been able to.  None of that was part of my world.
 
In my early twenties, I began to long for something more and seriously considered the idea of community college.  However, I didn't work up the courage to attend until my mid-twenties.  Over the next decade, I attended steadily but could usually only take two classes a semester due to my work schedules.  In my early thirties, I began a well-paying career around the same time I transferred to a university to finish my upper-division work.  Despite the money I made, my college career began taking precedence; I loved it more than my job.  When I finished, I missed it so much that I began pursuing my MA.  It's the most satisfying accomplishment of my life, and--yes--my passion.
 
Interestingly, despite my PhD admission committee's knowledge of my age, they awarded me a prestigious fellowship.  I may be the oldest member of my cohort...but I have the best funding package.  I take this as a vote of confidence in my abilities (and recognition that I won't be succumbing to dementia anytime soon) despite the ageism that admittedly exists all around us.  And maybe life experiences and the accompanying maturity counts for something.
 
All I know is that I look damn good for my age (I'm routinely told I look at least ten years younger; this has been the case throughout my life), and my expertise just keeps growing.  I feel like I'm doing pretty good for someone who wasn't even supposed to get into college in the first place, and that's satisfying in every way.

Hi there!
I am actually a current University of Montana student and I've lived in Missoula most of my life. It is a beautiful place to live, especially if you enjoy the outdoors. I've studied at UM for about 10 years on and off and have found the professors accessible, warm, and encouraging.
I will actually be moving away this summer following graduation, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask!
 
Take care.

To all people who are thinking of coming to WSU DO IT!
I have spent my undergraduate years here and they have been simply amazing. Its a warm and loving school.
 
GO COUGS!!!

Hi there,
 
I haven't officially accepted yet, so I have the check mark at this time. Congratulations on getting in!
 
Pax.

And by the way, if you really feel that you must get into a PhD program, you could always apply to a school that isn't ranked highly, but may still offer a great education. I've sort of hedged my bets and applied to some schools that my professors didn't recommend. I figure if I don't get into a good or middle of the road program I may still have a shot at a school that isn't my top pick, but may provide me with further learning, new life experiences, and an adventure.

Click on your name in the upper-right corner and you'll go to your profile page.  Click on "Edit My Profile," then "Signature" and change it to whatever you fancy.

Wishing everybody the best from someone who knows exactly what you're all going through