Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If she is paying her own way, a PhD is almost never worth the investment. If she is receiving a free education and a stipend, sure, she can do it.
What does she want to do with the degree and why does she want to get it?
In order to teach at the college level. That's also why I had thought about doing it. I could teach at a community college or a regional school but not a full fledge university.
In order to teach at the college level. That's also why I had thought about doing it. I could teach at a community college or a regional school but not a full fledge university.
Then the question becomes, a PhD in what? The US is full of unemployed and underemployed PhDs. Does she have significant experience in the field she wants to get a PhD in? She may also face age discrimination issues which would most certainly be easy enough to explain away. The likely scenario is that she will spend a butt load of money to get a degree and then be lucky to get a job as an adjunct teaching one or two classes a semester. In general, the job market for PhDs is poor and she needs to understand that going into it. You also need to be willing to relocate anywhere in the country in order to get your foot in the door. If she is hired full time, she will be expected to conduct research and to be published.
I'd say if she has the time, money and determination - sure.
Shoot, if I had the time and money, I'd go to med school since there is such a shortage
and demand for general practitioner's and internist's.
While there is a shortage of GPs, there is not a shortage of PhDs.
I was in grad school with a woman who was 61. My gynecologist switched careers in her midlife and ended up in med school at age 46. You're never too old to go back to school!
I have a 53 year-old friend who is thinking about returning to school for her doctorate. Her husband told her he is not sure whether sinking all that money into education is a good investment at this point in her life. I have thought about it myself but I am even older. So, at what point should a person say I am too old for this to be worth my time or money?
Never say you're too old. Plus at 53 you have more knowledge and understand of the value of learning.
I have a 53 year-old friend who is thinking about returning to school for her doctorate. Her husband told her he is not sure whether sinking all that money into education is a good investment at this point in her life. I have thought about it myself but I am even older. So, at what point should a person say I am too old for this to be worth my time or money?
I read a Dear Abby column probably 35 years ago, but I never forgot it. A 40-something year old man wrote in asking if it was too late to go back to school to become a lawyer (what he always wanted to do). He wondered if it was too late, saying it would take him close to 10 years and he would be over 50 by then.
Abby's answer was "How old will you be in 10 years if you DON'T go to law school?"
I read a Dear Abby column probably 35 years ago, but I never forgot it. A 40-something year old man wrote in asking if it was too late to go back to school to become a lawyer (what he always wanted to do). He wondered if it was too late, saying it would take him close to 10 years and he would be over 50 by then.
Abby's answer was "How old will you be in 10 years if you DON'T go to law school?"
Yes this! My mother said her therapist told her this 30-something years ago (I guess she was in therapy when I was a little kid)... she would have been in her late 30s at the time, and she wishes now, at 70, that she had listened!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
