Ask HN: Did anyone here start a PhD in their late 30s or later?

6 points by FreeRadical 8 years ago | 5 comments

I am thinking of changing my career from finance to computer science, I already have a masters in science and programming experience over 10 years. I would like to do a PhD in AI/robotics. Has anyone here gone back into study later in life? How did it work out and what happened? Any regrets?

CyberFonic 8 years ago |

I was 51 when I started my PhD in software engineering. Some thought it was a sort of mid-life crisis. Over the decades of working in various areas of IT I had a burning desire to research a specific area that held an enduring interest for me.

I need to correct your use of the word "study". Doing a PhD is about extending an existing body of knowledge in a small but significant way. So you need to already have a Masters level of knowledge in your field and to be reasonably up to date in the field. Once you start your research you survey your field, aka literature review. Then you formulate how you are going to contribute and get stuck into experiment after failed experiment.

I was most fortunate to have advisors from several other leading universities around the world, people who were widely cited in my field. My principal advisor was helpful in navigating the bureaucracy, getting funding for conferences and motivating me to write and present several papers at conferences in my field.

Doing a PhD is an emotional roller coaster ride. I suggest that you Google extensively to read about other people's experiences. Be warned, you will find a lot of humanities PhDs experiences. Ignore them. Science and engineering PhDs are very different so focus on those. I can recommend reading phdcomics.com - lighthearted, and very accurate. Writing the dissertation can be challenging. Graduating feels like crossing the finish line after running a marathon -- total exhilaration and you forget the character building challenges that you faced up to in order to get there.

FreeRadical 8 years ago | |

Thank you for your detailed response. I am 37 now and plan to ‘get up to speed’ through private study then start a PhD when I am 40. Did you remain in academia after your PhD?

cottonseed 8 years ago | | |

Think about how private study is going to translate to your application. Talk to professors to see what you'll need to get admitted. I had roughly the same plan, but luckily had dropped out of my undergrad so I was able to go back and do a 2yr undergrad right before applying to grad school.

cottonseed 8 years ago |

After 15 years of software engineering, I started a math PhD at 36. Consider the opportunity cost, those can be productive years. When considering programs, see how the other students like it. Your experience is likely to be similar. I did a postdoc afterwards, but didn't stay in academia. It might have been overkill, but the credentials have unlocked some opportunities.

f_allwein 8 years ago |

I started mine (Information Systems/ social science) when I was 38. Haven't really regretted it since. I think if anything it is beneficial to have some real life experience to put your theoretical knowledge in context. Also, at my university (London School of Economics) it turned out there were quite a few mature (30+ year old) PhD students.

I guess it comes down to what yo really want to do with your life. Are you reasonably sure you want to work in academia/ research? Then go for it. Otherwise, maybe not. Do go and visit some seminars/ workshops etc. for PhDs to get an impression of whether the lifestyle appeals to you.