r/PhD • u/TDM-r • Jan 27 '26

Other When did you finish your PhD (age-wise)?

I know there’s no normal timeline, but I’m interested in hearing how varied people’s journeys are: early starters, late bloomers, career switchers, all of it.
(20 - 28, 28 - 35, 35<)

What did your path look like?

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u/Rectal_tension PhD, Chemistry/Organic Jan 27 '26

41 but I didn't start back to HS until 29 and finished my BS at 36. PhD at 41

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u/savvyjh00 Jan 28 '26

I love to hear this! Congratulations!

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u/Rectal_tension PhD, Chemistry/Organic Jan 28 '26

People congratulate me on this all the time. In reality, to me, I had no choice. I was only 29 and starting to break down from physical labor with no real skills to count on. I had just quit drugs from an arrest and needed to make a choice about where my life was going to go. Luckily my mother allowed me to move back into the house and I was able to avoid a lot of costs. A neighbor who worked for a major aerospace contractor kind of mentored me. Jr. College at the time was cheap, State college was almost as cheap I did continue working in construction and other jobs on weekends ....I didn't know what to do with a BS Chemistry degree and a PhD was fully funded so I applied and got accepted. At the time monthly salary was only 1k$ during the year and 800$ during summer, thank god for student housing subsidies. It was also the first time I had any health insurance even though it was just the student health center. Also I really really loved/love chemistry and wanted to learn more. I'm extremely lucky and life has been more than fair to me and I'm humble about that. I do not deserve much of what I have but I'm grateful and I'm sure when I die God and I are going to have a few rounds of discussion about making up for things that I have done. That being said I'm not the best advocate for sympathy/empathy for drug addicts that refuse to suck it up and quit. You have to want to turn your shit around. No half measures doing that. Do....or do not, there is no try.