I'll add to the string of posts by older PHD applicants. I also went back to school for an MA program in literature after 8 years in a completely unrelated and fairly successful career. I am turning 32 next month. And having gotten an acceptance from the program I had been dreaming of going to, I can tell you that I am beyond happy to be starting my doctorate at this age, and looking forward to a focused 6 or so years ahead. Every person is different, of course, but I know that the past, say, 8 years or so have given me more clarity and belief in what I am doing right now than I could have ever imagined 8 years ago. One thing that has changed for sure is that I got over my fear of still being "in progress" in my 30s, or even 40s. Getting rejects in your second round surely does not feel good, but at least I hope you stop fretting about 'the clock ticking' or whatever else people say to reinforce that fear of straying from a normative vision of our lifespans.