<p>Some friends of mine who live abroad are thinking of applying to grad school in the US but got worried when they heard rumors that they may be too old for grad school. One of them is 23 and is starting a 2-year masters, after which she plans to apply for a PhD in the US. The other one is 25 and plans to apply for a PhD in the US this year. I just finished my freshman year in college so I don't know too much yet about how grad school works. But as far as I know, there are plenty of students who decide to take several years off between college and grad school, so age should not make a difference. So how important is age in grad school admission process?</p>
<p>If it makes any difference, they are both aiming at top grad programs in chemistry, respectively math.</p>
<p>I would dare to think 23 and 25 are too old for graduate school, in fact those ages are rather young… especially 23. Most people are 22 when they finish undergrad, if they did so within 4 years, and many choose to take a few years to work or do research before applying to graduate school. I would say that in the sciences and math most first year graduate students will be in their mid-20’s.</p>
<p>Being 23 or 25 is not old for graduate school. In fact, on average, it is young.</p>
<p>The rumors your friends heard are worse than incorrect, they are ridiculous.</p>
<p>Second the above. Im 24 and I just got into a grad school. No one ever tells me Im too old for it. Rather some said “wow you’ll be a doctor when your 30”. Thats considered young in my country</p>
<p>Moreover I’ve heard so many people finishing their doctorate degrees by their 50’s or so. I’m pretty sure admissions commitee wont find ages a problem</p>
<p>On the other hand, do you guys think being younger than average is an advantage when applying for a PhD? Do they even look at your age?</p>
<p>I finished undergrad at 19 and I’m planning on finishing master’s at 21, would that make my application look better?</p>
<p>Achapiro,</p>
<p>No it does not help you in away way whatsoever. In fact, it may actual hurt you since you completed in such a quick time you likely did not take additional classes that are ‘recommended’ for certain programs but generally are not required for acquiring a degree. Also its possible that you missed out on other opportunities such as research and internships since you are graduating in such a hurry.</p>
<p>It is illegal in the United States of America to ask or consider anyone’s age in decision making regarding employment and admissions to universities.</p>
<p>Good answer by Kyleand.</p>
<p>I was going to say yes and no until I read your ages. 23? 25?! That’s actually pretty <i>young</i>. Everyone else in my public health cohort besides me was 25 or older when they started the program, and I’d say that a little more than half of my psychology cohort was around 24-25 when they began the program. Two of my colleagues downtown (one who just finished after 5 years and another who just finished her third year with me) just celebrated their 30th birthdays, making them 25 and 28 respectively when we started this thing.</p>
<p>I was 22 when I started the program, and people act like I’m a child prodigy or something. “Wow, you’re so YOUNG.” Or “You’ll have your PhD before 30, oh my god!”</p>
<p>For the rest of those reading this, though, I won’t say that age discrimination <em>doesn’t</em> happen in admissions. Even though it’s illegal, it’s difficult to prove. Likely a program won’t turn down an outstanding 60-year-old applicant, but a 60-year-old applicant on the borderline may cause some raised-eyebrows because some professors may see them as too old to easily get tenure-track positions because in turn the hiring universities and search committees may discriminate against hiring a 65-year to 70-year old as an assistant professor. But that’s what we’re talking about here when we say “too old”; not in the 30s or 40s and definitely not in the 20s.</p>
<p>This isn’t quite true re: age discrimination.</p>
<p>People over the age of 40 are a protected class according to The Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967. It is perfectly acceptable, common, and legal to discriminate against those younger than 40 on the basis of their ages.</p>