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Average age to start a PhD and correlation to future career

Which is the average age in which persons start their PhD? Is this age in some way related to the post PhD plans a person does?

In my (European) experience I have 3 groups of people, with the relative distributions:

• (70% of the total) Those who started right after graduation (let's say when they were 24) without any job experience. Most of them (with exceptions, of course) are a bit fed up with research and willing to try a "real world job experience"
• (25% of the total) Those who started 2,3,4 years later (so between 24 and 29), taking a full time phd. Generally people belonging to this group seem to be more motivated for academic career, even if starting a phd when one is 29 years old might be a bit late (or not?)
• (5%) Those who start in their 40ties with the idea of taking a part time PhD as an out of job activity, and don't plan to leave their job.

Clearly there are all the possible shades between the above categories.

• 15 This seems to be a case of "71% of all statistics are made up on the spot". Anyway, independently of your numbers, it would make sense to me if people who have worked in industry for a few years but decided it is not for them are less likely to long for "real-world experience" than those that never made this experience so far. –  xLeitix Commented Mar 30, 2016 at 15:31
• 1 I imagine it depends a lot on the field. For example, a Ph.D. program in medieval literature, where there is little or no prospect of getting a job afterward, may have a lot of those 40-year-olds. –  GEdgar Commented Mar 30, 2016 at 15:50
• 4 @xLeitix And 93.7% of people believe them whether they are accurate statistics or not . –  BrianH Commented Mar 30, 2016 at 16:30
• @OP, it's not clear what you mean by "started" in some parts of the question. E.g., "started right after graduation (let's say when they were 24)" == graduation from bachelor's program? master's? In my day, you were graduated with BA or BS at age 21 or 22 after 4 years, or MA/MS at 22-24 after 1 or 2 more years, if you weren't going directly into the doctoral program. Starting at 24 would generally be after a couple years in the workforce. –  shoover Commented Mar 30, 2016 at 16:47
• 1 @shoover OP is talking about Europe. Here universities often require a master to enroll in a PhD programme, and studying towards your master usually takes at least 5 years. So no, starting a PhD at 24 is usually pretty much directly after what is considered the "undergrad" around here. –  xLeitix Commented Mar 30, 2016 at 17:55

There are many confounding variables (field of study, country, citizenship status, sex, race/ethnicity, probably many others) that correlate with both age at doctorate (as seen below) and post-PhD plans. This makes it difficult to directly measure the relationship between age and post-PhD plans.

The median age at doctorate varies by country and by field. Here's some OECD data :

It also varies over time. In the US, from 1978-2003, in the science and engineering fields:

And in the non-science and engineering fields:

See this report for more details.

For the US, we have data on the distribution of students' age, not just the median, and it's also broken down by sex, citizenship status, and ethnicity and race. From 2014:

• 7 While strong data for the first part, this is missing the "correlation to future career" part, which I feel is what the OP is really after. –  xLeitix Commented Mar 30, 2016 at 15:35
• 4 @xLeitix This is why we have the one question per post rule. –  ff524 Commented Mar 30, 2016 at 15:37
• 5 If you're going to answer exactly one part of the question, and you're going to justify it by saying that asking two questions is a violation of cite policy, shouldn't you edit away all references to the other question in the OP? Otherwise we'll be permanently left with a dangling unanswered question that can't be asked again lest it be closed as a duplicate of this one. –  user4512 Commented Mar 30, 2016 at 17:10
• Can we subtract the median age at doctorate by the total time to degree to get the median age at PhD start like the question asks? –  Sam Commented Mar 30, 2016 at 17:39
• @Sam: No, not really. They aren't uncorrelated. –  Ben Voigt Commented Mar 31, 2016 at 2:48

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Meta How to start PhD even before starting PhD? ( self.AskAcademia )

submitted 15 days ago by rexcan5

Hello everyone! I'm in the very beginning of my PhD journey (haven't even chosen the country yet but most likely in Europe) and I don't have any international publication yet so I am feeling a bit lost. I have finished a Master's degree with thesis and another one in France without thesis.

I am an English teacher by profession and I want to follow the path of my second Master's which was in education technologies. Probably related to AI in education.

I need some guidance or mentorship because I don't have any people around me who is in research field or academia and while I have time I want to go into right direction.

I wanted to write my questions but there are so many let's just say my research in Master's program was a qualitative research and I did interviews and stuff but right now I still don't know where to start to write a paper to publish.

Any help/advice would be appreciated, can reach me through DM if necessary.

• 12 comments

Want to add to the discussion?

Post a comment!

[–] wrydied 3 points 4 points 5 points 15 days ago   (1 child)

I’m not in education research though I know colleagues who are.

Pubs are important for getting into good PhD programs so see if you can spin off your masters into either a journal article or conference paper. Conference papers are easier (in my field anyway) and also create networking opportunities. You could even research which conferences the academics from your prospective program go, and target those.

Do your research either way. Don’t publish in predatory journals. Try and target Q1 or 2 if you can, those will be hard, depends on how good your masters work was, but don’t be discouraged by rejections, we all get them.

[–] rexcan5 [ S ] 0 points 1 point 2 points 15 days ago   (0 children)

Oh thank you for your advice! I'll try to salvage as much as I can from my masters research since it was in French. But I was just couple days ago checking those predatory journals and they looked very suspicious thanks for the heads up!

[–] aphilosopherofsex 2 points 3 points 4 points 15 days ago   (1 child)

The first step is reading everything you can get your hands on.

Thanks! And yeah that is my main focus right now pretty much to get at least some ideas.

[–] MaleficentGold9745 1 point 2 points 3 points 15 days ago   (0 children)

Join a program first, you'll get mentorship and more reading lists than you could manage. Good luck!

[+] brustybrego 1 point 2 points 3 points 15 days ago   (1 child)

I completely understand the feeling of being overwhelmed at the start of your PhD journey. A good starting point would be to immerse yourself in current research in your field to identify gaps or interesting angles. For organizing and managing all your research papers, annotations, and citations, I've found Afforai incredibly helpfulit's like having an AI research assistant at hand. Best of luck with your PhD!

[–] rexcan5 [ S ] 0 points 1 point 2 points 14 days ago   (0 children)

Thank you very much and I'll definitely look into that!

[–] wencewence 1 point 2 points 3 points 14 days ago   (0 children)

I'd recommend starting by identifying a specific niche within AI in education that you're passionate about. Start drafting a literature review to familiarize yourself with existing research. Tools like Afforai can be super helpful for summarizing and comparing multiple papers quickly. Best of luck with your PhD journey!

[–] Fluidified_Meme 0 points 1 point 2 points 15 days ago   (3 children)

In Europe very few people publish work during their Master’s, so not having any papers publishedis not a big deal even for important universities. That said, obviously it would be a great plus.

Anyways, I would draft a list of unis that interest me (either by consulting some ranking or by going country-by-country) and then look for vacancies on their websites.

[–] rexcan5 [ S ] 0 points 1 point 2 points 15 days ago   (2 children)

That's good to know! So I can keep my focus on my main research. Yeah I believe making a list of universities will be next because before that I heard about choosing an advisor is more important but I guess that's not a thing. Thanks a lot for your advice!

[–] fizzan141 1 point 2 points 3 points 15 days ago   (1 child)

It's important to have a match with an advisor in a lot of cases -especially if you're looking at the US. Part of making a list of universities should include seeing if you're a 'fit' for their programmes - i.e. are there people at those universities that do what you want to do?

[–] rexcan5 [ S ] 1 point 2 points 3 points 15 days ago   (0 children)

Yes yes I totally agree. It was just what I've heard before that "you choose your advisor not university" not exactly true. Thank you for your advice I'll try to find that balance in between!

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 06 November 2018

Twenty things I wish I’d known when I started my PhD

• Lucy A. Taylor 0

Lucy A. Taylor earned her zoology PhD from the University of Oxford, UK. She is now a postdoctoral researcher at Save the Elephants in Nairobi, Kenya, and a visiting researcher in the Department of Zoology at Oxford.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Starting a PhD can be tough. Looking back, there are many things I wish I’d known at the beginning. Here, I have curated a list of advice from current PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from the Department of Zoology at my institution, the University of Oxford, UK, to aid new graduate students.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-07332-x

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged. You can get in touch with the editor at [email protected].

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PhD Application Timeline: Timeline For Applying For Grad School

If you are looking to apply to start your Ph.D program, the journey can be daunting. However, with the right roadmap, it becomes manageable.

In this post, we guide you through each crucial step of the application process. From drafting your statement of purpose to securing letters of recommendation, we offer insights and tips to help you stay on track and maximise your chances of success.

PhD Application Timeline

March To June

In March, it’s crucial to start preparing your application components. This includes finalizing your list of target programs and universities, ensuring they align with your research interests and career goals.

Begin drafting your statement of purpose and personal statement, emphasizing how your experiences and aspirations fit with each program’s offerings.

Simultaneously, focus on getting your GRE test done if your chosen programs require it. If you’re not satisfied with your GRE score, consider retaking the exam.

April is all about refining and finalizing your documents. Review these documents, and ensure they do not have any grammatical mistakes of typos: 

• Statement of purpose
• Personal statement, and
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

This is also the time to finalize your letters of recommendation. Choose recommenders who are aware of your academic potential and can vouch for your suitability for graduate research.

By May, you should be ready to submit your application. Ensure all components, including your transcript and writing sample, are tailored to each program’s requirements.

This is also a good month to start exploring financial aid options, such as the FAFSA and any available fellowships or scholarships.

June is often when you’ll hear back from programs with rolling admissions. This can give you an early indication of where you stand and may require you to adjust your strategy for other applications.

Throughout these months, it’s important to stay organized, keep track of application deadlines, and allow ample time for each step of the application process. 

July To August

July and August are typically quieter months in the PhD application timeline, but they are by no means less critical.

This period provides an invaluable opportunity to enhance your application and position yourself as a strong candidate for fall admissions. Let’s delve into some key activities you should engage in during these months.

In July, if you haven’t already submitted your application, now is the time to do a final review. Check for any grammatical mistakes or typos in your

• Writing samples.

It’s also crucial to ensure your CV is up-to-date and reflects your most recent achievements and experiences. For those who have already submitted their applications, use this time to research potential fellowship opportunities and prepare for any upcoming interviews.

August is an excellent time to reach out to the graduate programs you’ve applied to and confirm that your application is complete. This shows your continued interest and ensures that nothing is missing from your application file.

If you’re waiting to hear back from programs with rolling admissions, you might start receiving admissions decisions.

During this period, it’s also wise to start preparing for your next steps. Research the graduate schools and the areas where you might live for the next few years. Look into:

• Housing options
• Support systems available at the university, and
• Job placement statistics for graduates. 

This will not only help you make an informed decision if you receive multiple offers but also allow you to plan accordingly for your move and transition to graduate school life.

September marks a critical juncture in your PhD application timeline. This month, you’re not just a prospective student; you’re a strategist, networking to enhance your application. Here’s what you should be focusing on:

First, reach out to potential recommenders. These should be faculty members who can attest to your unique skills and academic prowess. A strong letter of recommendation from someone who knows you well can significantly bolster your application.

Ensure they are aware of your grad school application deadlines and provide them with key insights about the programs you are applying to.

Networking with current students and alumni from your target programs is also crucial. They can offer invaluable insights into the graduate program’s:

• Teaching styles, and
• Research opportunities.

If possible, plan informal visits or attend virtual sessions to get a sense of the community you’re hoping to join.

Don’t forget to make contact with the admissions team. Attending information sessions and engaging with them can provide a deeper understanding of the program’s requirements and research opportunities.

This interaction is often noted by graduate admissions teams and can influence admissions decisions.

Finally, seek input on your Statement of Purpose (SOP). Have mentors or peers review it for grammatical accuracy, clarity, and effectiveness.

Remember, a well-crafted SOP can make a significant difference in showcasing your suitability for the program.

First, finalize your list of prospective schools. It’s a strategic decision – weighing program strengths against your research interests. This is more than just ticking boxes; it’s about envisioning where you’ll live and thrive for the next few years.

By now, you should have a solid sense of the universities and programs that align with your aspirations.

Creating accounts on each graduate program’s application portal is your next step. This isn’t just a formality; it’s where you’ll:

• Submit your application
• Track documents, and sometimes
• Find out about those pesky additional requirements – like that surprise essay due in early December.

Start preparing now to avoid a last-minute scramble.

Tailoring your statement of purpose for each application can make the difference between getting noticed or overlooked. It’s not just a personal statement; it’s your narrative, tying your past achievements to future potential.

Admission committees seek candidates who not only fit their program’s ethos but also bring a fresh perspective.

Finally, transcripts are more than a formality; they’re a testament to your academic journey. Request them early to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

November To December

As November and December roll in, the timeline for applying to PhD programs becomes critical. Whether you’re eyeing the upcoming fall admission or strategizing for later, focus on these steps:

Finalize Your GRE Prep and Test Dates: Many programs still consider GRE scores pivotal. If you’re retaking the GRE to improve your score, now’s the time. Remember, it’s not just about the score but how it complements your overall application.

Secure Letters of Recommendation: Ensure your recommenders are aware of your timeline. A well-thought-out letter from a faculty member who knows your capabilities and research interests can make a significant difference.

Submit Applications: Graduate school applications are often due in early December. This includes your personal statement, CV, transcripts, GRE scores, and sometimes a writing sample. Remember, a typo or grammatical mistake can be costly—proofread meticulously.

Financial Aid and Fellowship Applications Don’t overlook financial aid and fellowship opportunities, like the Graduate Research Fellowship or school-specific scholarships. The FAFSA and other financial documents are crucial and often have different deadlines.

Make contact with graduate students in these programs to provide a different perspective and understand the support systems available. You can also reach out to the professors directly.

Preparation Is Key When Applying To Graduate School 

Embarking on your PhD journey is an exciting yet intricate process that requires meticulous planning and dedication. This comprehensive timeline serves as your beacon, guiding you through the labyrinth of grad school applications.

By adhering to these timelines and embracing each step with thorough preparation and strategic thinking, you position yourself as a strong candidate.

The journey to a PhD is not just about academic rigor but also about personal growth and aligning your aspirations with the right opportunities. Stay focused, stay inspired, and your path to graduate school will lead to rewarding destinations.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

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Average age of a phd student: when is it too late, published by steve tippins on june 16, 2022 june 16, 2022.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 02:36 am

In 2020, the average age of a graduate from a PhD program in the United States was 33. However, 6% of the graduates were over 45. 

When people ask what the average age of a PhD student is, many times they’re really asking, “Am I too old to get a PhD?” The answer is almost always no. Let’s explore some different scenarios. 

When Is It Too Late to Get a PhD?

As an academic career coach, I’ve been asked by more than a few people if it’s too late for them to get a PhD. Some of these people were even in their twenties, worried that working for two years after their undergraduate degree had inexorably barred them from the halls of academia. 

Others were past middle age, looking for a career change. In either case, the answer is ultimately no, it’s not too late to get a PhD . However, there are some important things to keep in mind if this is something you’re considering.

Getting a PhD for Your Career

Let’s say you want to get a PhD to pursue a career in academia or elsewhere. You enter a PhD program at 25 or even 30, the average PhD duration takes six to eight years. That means you will finish when you are around 30 to 37. The normal retirement age to get Social Security in the United States is 67, so that’s at least 30 years ahead of you – lots of time for your career. If you look around academia, there’s a lot of people older than 67.

You have a chance for a very long career, even if you’re 42 and finish your PhD at 50. That’s still over 15 years before retirement age. These days, very few people stay at a job for 15 years. Rest assured that you have ample opportunity to have a meaningful career.

Over 50% of doctoral candidates don’t finish their dissertations.

Student Loan Debt Considerations

If you’re 61 and taking loans out, it will be a while before you pay those off. Debt is something to think about before getting a PhD. If you can get into a PhD program that pays your tuition or even provides you a stipend, you may be able to graduate with a much smaller student loan debt. That assistance could allow you to consider a PhD later in life. 

What Is the Minimum Age for Getting a PhD?

To get a PhD, you have to have graduated from undergraduate school. From there, some people can go right into a PhD program. If you graduate at the traditional age of 22, you’d be getting your PhD somewhere around age 25 at a minimum.

There are stories about people who graduate from high school at 12 and college at 16. They could theoretically get their PhD at 19 or 20. However, people like this are quite rare.

Can You Get a PhD by Age 25?

It is possible to get a PhD by age 25, particularly if you graduate from college at 21 or 22. If it takes three or four years to get a PhD, you could graduate by 25.

What Is The Best Age to Get a PhD?

The best age to get a PhD is three years ago. The second best time is now. In reality, the best age to get a PhD is whenever you are able to complete it. The earlier you finish your PhD, the more of a life and career you’ll have with it , but there is no optimal age.

Does Having a Master’s Shorten the Time it Takes to Get a PhD?

Having a Master’s can shorten the time it takes to get a PhD , depending on your discipline. If PhD programs in your discipline are structured such that they assume you have a Master’s before you enter, then yes, you’re going to finish a PhD faster. 

If you enter without a Master’s, you may have to get the Master’s first to be allowed in the PhD program. Otherwise, you may have to take some remedial coursework. If your discipline is not set up in that manner, having a Master’s may not allow you to move faster.

Final Thoughts

As society ages and with employers having problems finding eligible workers, the problem of ageism will become less severe. Getting a PhD at any age is going to be a viable option. If you are interested in a PhD and it’s something you have a burning desire to do, don’t let age stop you. 

Are you considering getting your PhD? We’re here to help. Check out our Dissertation Coaching and Academic Career Coaching services.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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A Professor’s Top 3 Pieces of Advice for Ph.D. Students

When it comes to getting a Ph.D., there is no one-size-fits-all approach to ensuring success in graduate school. Every student must find their own path to navigating the most rigorous academic experience that most people Read more…

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What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Grad School

By  Vanessa R. Corcoran

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Exactly 10 years ago this past August, I was getting ready to move to Washington to start my master's in medieval history at Catholic University, with a larger goal of earning a Ph.D. I had just graduated from the College of Holy Cross three months before and was excited to continue on with my education.

Although my undergraduate professors certainly trained me as a budding historian, and I had carefully researched my graduate school of choice, I still arrived at the university unsure of the ins and outs of grad school beyond the expectations listed on the syllabus. So if you're at the start of your first semester, or contemplating going to grad school in the near future, I hope you'll find these tips helpful.

Grad school is not undergrad 2.0. I loved my undergraduate experience, but in no way was graduate school a continuation of my four years at Holy Cross. You do much more independent work in grad school, and you will probably need to revise the study habits and methods that worked for you in undergrad.

Keep up with the reading. Simply put, you’ll be assigned an enormous amount of reading. Learn how to read efficiently while taking thorough notes. The assigned reading is at the core of class discussions, so the best way to be prepared is to have read the book(s) and articles and have written notes on key takeaways from the material. What was the author's main argument? Kinds of sources? How does this book fit in with the current scholarship? What areas did you take issue with? Being prepared to discuss these issues will help you participate in class and will also be integral in your success in comprehensive exams, and later on, writing the literature review for your dissertation.

Create an organizational system that works for you. Find a set of naming conventions that work for saving your files, notes, articles. Back everything up on Google Drive, Dropbox or some other sort of cloud. If professors give you feedback via hard copy, scan those documents. Spend time on occasion (e.g., at the end of the semester or over the summer) getting caught up and file everything away in a way that works for you . (Your colleagues may have different methods.)

Keep up with your citations and bibliography. Get accustomed to doing this while in course work so that by the time you're writing a thesis or dissertation, it's a habit. Otherwise, it can be incredibly painful to spend the final stretch of your program combing through everything to make sure that your bibliography is up-to-date.

Connect with your professors early. Visit them during office hours, talk to them at department events and, in general, strive to make a positive impression early on. Your professors, especially your adviser, will be the people who make recommendations about fellowships, jobs and other opportunities throughout and beyond grad school. Keep them updated about your progress (rather than having them chase you down). Particularly if you pursue a Ph.D., your relationship with your adviser is a key element of your graduate experience, and you want to cultivate a positive one from the beginning.

Connect with other graduate students in your program. Your classmates are going through the same experiences, and it is helpful to make friends with people who can appreciate the challenges you're experiencing. Typically, veteran graduate students are willing to mentor the incoming ones. I was grateful that, from the beginning, our department's "old hands" (as my adviser referred to them) invited me out to events over the weekend or to grab coffee before class. They offered inside tips about how to do well with particular professors and shared their strategies for advancing through the various stages of the program. Some of them are still my closest friends.

Maintain a supportive community outside of grad school . Whether it's with your parents, your partner, your dog or other close family and friends, it does help to have a "squad" who is entirely separate from graduate school. They may not understand the specific challenges you're dealing with (such as learning Latin, my personal Everest), but you can vent or unwind with them in a completely judgment-free zone. Graduate school can often be a very lonely, solitary endeavor, and a support group or community of family and friends can provide vital support as you navigate through the highs and lows of it.

Be visible. Grad school is not just about going to class: you are also expected to attend lectures, workshops, conferences. Engage with your professors and classmates at these events, even if it feels awkward to introduce yourself to strangers. You all have a common interest that brought you there. Don't just leave immediately after a lecture ends; stay for the reception. Such events not only provide some light fare but also an opportunity to chat with faculty members outside of class.

Recognize that impostor syndrome is real. American psychologists Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes coined this term in 1978, describing impostor syndrome as a feeling of “phoniness in people who believe that they are not intelligent, capable or creative despite evidence of high achievement.” In my early years of grad school, I feared that the mask would be ripped off and my professors would realize that it was a mistake for me to be there -- that I did not belong.

I didn’t realize that so many other grad students shared that feeling. It wasn’t until three years into my program, when I walked out of a workshop on how to write a dissertation proposal, that I realized that many other grad students shared that feeling. As they began to vocalize their apprehensions about getting over this particular hurdle, I finally knew I was not the only one who was dealing with this common syndrome.

Practice self-care. The stresses of grad school, including doing well in course work as well as financially supporting yourself, can be quite taxing, and they will probably worsen if you don’t have some coping mechanisms to help provide a sense of balance and calm. Self-care goes beyond merely pampering yourself via spa days and juice cleanses . Indeed, by spending time seeking ways to improve your quality of life , you can become more productive in school and can lead a more fulfilled and well-rounded life. I picked up running when I started graduate school as a coping mechanism for dealing with the anxiety of a rigorous academic program. I quickly fell in love with the sport. A decade later, running has been an integral part of my physical and mental well-being.

Develop your own writing routine. People write their dissertation in many different ways. Some thrive in complete silence, working for long uninterrupted sessions. Others, like me, enjoy having the background noise of a coffee shop and break up writing sessions throughout the day. Create a writing environment that is specific to your needs. Do what works for you, whether that means blocking out two hours in the morning before the craziness of the day begins or returning to your desk after you've put the kids to bed. Be protective of your writing time, but also forgive yourself when you miss a few sessions. Get back on the horse.

Also, consider reading How to Write a Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day by Joan Bolker. The key message of the book isn’t that it only takes a fraction of an hour regularly to write a dissertation, but rather that dread and anxiety consume so many people that they stop writing altogether. They need to get beyond those feelings, and 15 minutes of writing each day can build a habit that will eventually turn into longer writing sessions. Ultimately, however, there is no one right way to establish a writing routine -- you just need to keep working at it until you develop one that works for you.

Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Let me repeat that it again, because I've had to assure myself of that many times. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Use all of the resources available to you: the writing center, counseling center, conversations with your professors and your loved ones, whatever and whomever you can find. Grad school can feel incredibly isolating, but many people are rooting for you to succeed and want to help you get through the difficult parts.

I hope these suggestions are helpful to those of you who have just started grad school in recent weeks or are contemplating doing so in the coming months. I wish you the absolute best as you embark on this exciting journey.

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This subreddit is for anyone who is going through the process of getting into graduate school, and for those who've been there and have advice to give.

is 27 too old to start a PhD

title. i may or may not be required to serve in my country in the scientific field for four years if i get this undergraduate scholarship, so will this impact my grad admissions or fellowship and grant acceptances in the future?

thanks! :")

edit: woah thanks for the responses! :DD

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