Age Issues

[Dr. Old Bill]

Thanks for this, Sacklunch. That's one of the great things about GradCafe: one might get a bevy of different opinions on an issue, but they usually distill down to one significant point. In this instance, that point is simply to not make age an issue in one's SOP or elsewhere. And over the past six weeks or so, I have learned the wisdom of not making a SOP personal. Both of these are very valuable considerations.

 

 

While legally this may be the case here, I can almost guarantee, as the OP's adviser wrote, that some departments will discuss his/her age. In my related field I have heard of this 'conversation' occurring past the age of 35 or so. It's really nothing personal, but for their investment (upwards of 500k at many top schools) they want to take on someone who can 'maximize' the most years possible. Whether or not this is horseshit is another question. As the others said, don't mention it in your Statement. Don't treat is as a 'personal' story (as many have no doubt already told you), but as a sort of intellectual genealogy. Stick to your academic credentials and only mention something 'personal' if it pertains to your stated interests.