For anyone who cares or remembers me:

Three long years have gone by since I first posted this thread. A lot of things have happened. I never did apply for a PhD program.

However, after five years of adjuncting for beans, watching my bank account go from black to red, shooting out 100 vitaes, constant networking, attending an academic conference to present research when I was so strapped for cash I slept in the back of the car rather than in the hotel with the other attendees, my JD/MBA finally landed me a tenure track job in AACSB business academia at a fair-sized state university. I start this fall (08).

A position in academia at such a school is the primary reason I was interested in a PhD--really, the only reason. So things took care of themselves. I may one day advance my education and get a second doctorate--the real kind--but for now I'm just glad that I got where I dreamed.

Thanks to all for their advice, I hope all of you who were here 2 - 3 years ago got into PhD programs, perhaps we may meet in academia.

Best to you all.

LF

Dear Littlefauss,

Best Wishes for your new life. And yes, I remember you very well.

Just to introduce myself to our young club members, some of us (including Praetorian) had a cute idea of starting a forum for PhD entrance. It is now so active and with tons of good advice.

I have now completed my PhD (in 4 years), and landed a tenure track job at a bigshot university.

To answer the core question of this thread, after completion - No, it is not too old anytime, but very difficult to get placements at some universities where recruiters are 10 years younger than you. But all in all, the original advice stays - if your heart is in it, go for it !!

I'm encouraged to see that so many applicants are in 40s like me. I hope I'll have my luck.

Hi everyone,

I'm an "older" guy who stumbled on this forum by accident. I can't believe the age bias in favour of youth; that's ridiculous. I would have hoped that being older was a big advantage: more life experience, more maturity, etc.

Some of the comments from younger folks here could across as very immature. The arrogance of youth, perhaps ...

I'm not interested in a PhD, because I'm very happy with my career. However, I wanted to cheer on the older folks who are interested in pursuing their education. Good for you - a big thumbs up from me!

I finished a PhD in Finance two years ago from a descent Canadian university. I ended up in a teaching school for several reasons including a very bad year and not being from a top school. I’m seriously thinking of enrolling into a PhD program in Financial Accounting in a top US school. I always loved accounting, and a major part of my research overlaps with some of the hottest topic in financial accounting (actually I have published in CAR, one of top 5 accounting journal). My biggest problem is that I’m 38 years old and with virtually no practical experience in accounting!! I’m really worried that top schools will not take me seriously.
What are my chances considering that:
- I hold a PhD in Finance from a Canadian school (AACSB & EQUIS accreditation, # 1 MBA in Canada and # 1 MBA outside the US, etc…).
- I’m very research active: Over 15 journal publications, some of them in top ranked journals: Contemporary Accounting Research (now is a top FT 45), Journal of Business Ethics (a FT 45 journal), Financial Management (a top 10 finance journal), etc…
- I held the best and most lucrative scholarships offered by my former university and also by the Canadian governance. Now my research is funded by grants from the Canadian government.
- I was a visiting scholar at NYU, and visiting research at INSEAD.
- My ultimate goal is to become an accounting faculty in a top ranked BS school and to remain very research active (i.e. publication in top journals).
I’m very persistent and hard working person. However, I feel that my age can hamper my goal to get into a top ranked PhD program in the U.S. Am I right? Do you know of any top school that accepts “old” candidate? What should I work on to improve my chances?
Thanks a million.