getting your phd in your 30s

Academia & mental health

Doing a PhD in your 30s

Over time, I’ve seen quite a few tweets from people asking whether one should do a PhD in their 30s and what it is like. I personally am of the opinion that it is never too late for education, including a PhD, and when it came to me making a decision to do one at the age of 29 it did not even occur to me that I might be ‘too old’. However, at that time I was single and without children, so the decision seemed a lot simpler. Nevertheless, there are a few things I learned along the way about doing a PhD from the age of 29 until 35 (yes it took me 6 years to finish) that I’d like to share with you.

Let’s start with the positives!

The major benefit of starting a PhD at 29 was that I was more mature – it’s a fairly obvious one I know, but in hindsight it was important. It meant that I (mostly) knew what I wanted and why I was doing a PhD. I had already tried other careers and was quite certain that a career in academia would be a good long-term fit for me and I was not wrong.

Also, because I had had a career before starting this degree, I had work experience which helped me not only with the PhD itself but also in the work I was doing alongside the PhD. I was self-funded which meant that I had to work part-time, and in my first year I worked as supply teacher in secondary schools; a job I was able to get thanks to my previous teaching qualifications. Later when I started working as a teaching assistant in my Department, the teaching qualification and experience also came in very handy. My previous work experience helped me build a profile for myself as a reliable and effective employee, which in turn helped me find employment after the PhD. This is, of course, not to say that if you don’t have work experience you won’t be a reliable employee, but rather that in my case I noticed it as a benefit.

I was more confident too as a lot of the insecurities about my looks and persona that I had in my teens and early 20s were mostly gone by 29. I felt right in my own skin, if that makes sense. Previous work experience in a job that I loved also enabled me to find out what I was good at and what were my potential weaknesses, which helped me in my PhD when it came to e.g., picking a topic or deciding on the methodology. Knowing who I was and being overall quite confident was also important in the fight against the imposter syndrome, which like with most people kicked in for me too. At those times it was useful to be able to remind myself that there were other things I was good at and that no matter what happened with the PhD that wouldn’t change. 

Although when you start your academic career later in life it means that some of your colleagues who are younger or the same age as you might be further along in their careers, don’t let that bother you. I personally find my own Department to be rather diverse in terms of staff ages and when people made a start in academia and that’s great. I found it rather refreshing that I was given the choice to completely change my career and start a PhD at 29 and that has never been an issue for me in terms of age or being ‘a late starter’.

Nevertheless, there were some negatives too which are worth sharing and considering. 

Overall, I think my previous career was a big help during the PhD but having had a job/career before also meant that it was fairly difficult to adjust to the PhD way of life/work as it is a lot less structured and with a lot less accountability to other people. I really missed having co-workers and meaningful deadlines, and it took me quite a while to figure out what routine worked best for me. Finding a routine also meant getting back into being a student again and all that this entails, like reading and writing academic papers, improving my concentration and sitting long hours at a desk. It had been a while since I did all that for my BA and MA, but eventually I got the hand of it.

Another important consideration are finances. I personally went from having a decent and steady salary to spending my savings on my PhD and working multiple part-time jobs. This is a bit different if you are funded, but even then the stipends are usually not large enough to allow for comfortable living. I would say that in most cases, the PhD years will mean living on a tighter budget. Especially, if you are coming from a well-paid and steady job, you may find this change in your financial circumstances a bit tough. 

I guess a fairly important consideration when starting a PhD later in life is family, whether you already have one or you are planning for one. I personally left family planning until after I finished my PhD and found a job, as I found it too much to be thinking about both at the same time. However, I know of many PhD colleagues who have had a baby during the PhD or started the PhD with children.  

What I want to say at the end of this post is that regardless of at what age you start your PhD, it will come with its unique challenges. However, none of these challenges are unsurmountable, especially if you are reasonably prepared for them and know what to expect. As I said at the start, I don’t believe that one is ever too old to do a PhD so if that’s what you really want to do, go for it!

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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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Older PhDs student experiences – should you pursue a PhD later in life?

In today’s world, it’s not uncommon for individuals to change careers or pursue higher education later on in life.

For those considering a PhD program at an older age, there may be some hesitations and concerns about the experience.

• Will it be worth it?
• How difficult is it to balance academic responsibilities with other commitments such as family and work?
• What are the experiences of older PhD candidates?
• And many more questions…

In this article, we will explore the unique challenges and rewards of pursuing a PhD later in life, and share the insights and experiences of older PhD candidates.

Whether you’re considering a career change or simply seeking personal growth, read on to discover if pursuing a PhD is right for you.

Two specific case studies:

This case study explores the experiences of two mature PhD students, who despite their age, successfully navigated through their doctoral programs.

These students come from diverse backgrounds, having pursued their PhDs in Marketing and Computer Engineering. Their stories highlight the importance of determination, support systems, and practical experiences in achieving their academic goals.

Case 1: Marketing PhD Student at 48

Background:.

This student began their PhD journey at the age of 43, having accumulated 15 years of corporate experience, 5 years of teaching, and some consulting work. They decided to pursue a PhD after talking with their advisor during their master’s program.

Challenges:

One of the main challenges faced by this student was knowing when to stop working and take breaks. Managing workload and maintaining mental health were essential aspects of their PhD journey.

Key Factors for Success:

The student emphasized the importance of having a good advisor and a support network. Their prior experience in the corporate world helped them form interesting and relevant research questions. This also made them more relatable to students when teaching.

The student is now in the final stages of their PhD and has been offered a tenure-track assistant professor position at a university in New York.

Case 2: Computer Engineering PhD Student at 32

This student completed their PhD at the age of 32, having taken five years off after their master’s to work in the aerospace industry. They had always planned on getting a PhD and built significant experience in their field during their time off.

Working full-time while pursuing a PhD consumed most of their time, making it difficult to balance work, studies, and personal life. They acknowledged that having children would have added another layer of complexity to their situation.

The student’s success can be attributed to a fantastic advisor, a passionate research topic, and the ability to work from home. Their company’s financial support for their PhD program played a significant role in their decision to continue working full-time.

Having completed their PhD in three years, the student now plans to continue climbing the technical ladder within their company and aims to achieve a Technical Fellowship.

The experiences of these mature PhD students demonstrate the importance of determination, support systems, and real-world experience in successfully completing a doctoral program. Both students managed to overcome challenges and leverage their unique backgrounds to achieve their academic and professional goals.

If you want to know more about how to do a PhD at an older age you can check out my other articles:

• What is the PhD student average age? Too late for your doctorate?
• What is the average masters students age? Should you return to graduate school?
• Typical Graduate Student Age [Data for Average Age]
• Balancing PhD and family life – tips for balancing a busy life

Life Experience Helps with a doctoral degree 

Life experience can be a valuable asset when pursuing a PhD. The journey towards obtaining a doctoral degree can often be challenging and demanding, requiring dedication, hard work, and resilience.

Other benefits can include:

Iindividuals with life experience may have an advantage as they already possess a certain level of maturity, self-discipline, and time-management skills.

Life experience can bring a unique perspective and insight to research, as individuals may draw from their personal experiences to inform their research questions and design.

Moreover, being part of a cohort with diverse backgrounds and experiences can also enrich the doctoral experience, leading to greater learning and growth as a researcher.

You’re never too old to become a PhD student

Age is just a number, and this is especially true when it comes to academic pursuits. It is never too late to do a PhD, as academia welcomes learners of all ages. Long gone are the days when PhD candidates had to be in their early 20s to pursue this degree.

Nowadays, more and more people in their 30s or 40s are pursuing doctoral degrees, and many have even found great success after graduation.

Here are some potential advantages and drawbacks of doing a PhD later in life:

Advantages:

• Greater maturity: You have a better understanding of what you want to do and can focus on your goals.
• Real-world experience: You have a better understanding of real-world problems and can work on more relevant research.
• Stronger mental health: Having other commitments in your life can help you maintain a better work-life balance and prevent you from dwelling on research-related stress.
• Financial resources: You may have more financial resources at your disposal, which can be helpful during your PhD journey.
• Less need for validation: You’re likely pursuing the degree for genuine reasons rather than seeking status or validation.
• Better relationships with professors: You may find it easier to connect with your professors as peers and friends.
• Research relevance: Your research may be more relevant to managers because you’ve experienced management roles.
• Time constraints: You may not have as much time to enjoy the benefits of your PhD, especially if you plan to retire in your 60s.
• Additional life commitments: You may have more personal responsibilities, such as children, a spouse, or aging parents, which can make it more challenging to balance your PhD work.
• Potential need for relocation: You may have to move around for job opportunities, which could be difficult if you have a family or other commitments.
• Opportunity cost: Pursuing a PhD at this stage in life may come at the expense of other career opportunities or financial gains.
• Difficulty in obtaining tenure: You may not obtain tenure until your late 50s, which may be a drawback for some individuals.
• Not a financially sound decision: If you’re pursuing a PhD to make more money, the return on investment may not be as high as you expect.

Older PhD candidates often have a wealth of experience and knowledge that can only enhance their research and academic contributions.

So if you are considering pursuing a postgraduate degree, don’t let your age hold you back. It’s never too old to follow your academic dreams!

If you want to know more about how doing a PhD later in life you can check out my other articles:

Who is the oldest person to do a PhD? 

The oldest person to earn a PhD was a 95-year-old woman named Ingeborg Rapoport.

She was a Jewish-German physician who began her PhD studies in the 1930s but was unable to complete them due to the Nazi regime.

After a successful medical career, she decided to resume her studies in 2008 at the age of 94 at the University of Hamburg in Germany.

Her doctoral thesis focused on diphtheria and included research conducted in the 1930s, making her research especially significant.

In 2015, Rapoport successfully defended her thesis and earned her doctorate, becoming the oldest person in history to do so.

Her achievement received widespread recognition and admiration, and she demonstrated that age is just a number when it comes to academic achievement.

Wrapping up – doing a PhD later in life

In this article, we explore the unique challenges and rewards of pursuing a PhD later in life, drawing from the experiences of older PhD candidates.

Two case studies showcase the importance of determination, support systems, and practical experiences in successfully completing a doctoral program.

Life experience offers numerous benefits for older PhD students, such as a broader perspective, problem-solving skills, transferable skills, time management, an established professional network, emotional resilience, enhanced credibility, motivation and purpose, adaptability, and mentorship opportunities.

Age should not be a barrier to pursuing a PhD, as older candidates often bring valuable real-world experience and knowledge to their research.

Key advantages of pursuing a PhD in your 40s include greater maturity, real-world experience, stronger mental health, financial resources, less need for validation, better relationships with professors, and research relevance.

Drawbacks may include time constraints, additional life commitments, potential need for relocation, opportunity cost, difficulty in obtaining tenure, and lower return on investment.

The oldest person to earn a PhD was 95-year-old Ingeborg Rapoport, exemplifying that it’s never too late to follow your academic dreams.

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.

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Is Doing A PhD In Your 30s Crazy?

OK, so you are in your late 20s or 30s, and you are thinking of doing a PhD. I am sure you are thinking, is doing a PhD in your 30s crazy? The answer is an definite ‘no.’ While many people start their PhD before they turn 30, or immediately after their undergraduate education, it is absolutely normal to start a PhD in your 30s. It is OK to do a PhD in your 30s.  Read this post if you want to learn what a PhD student does all day (It’s very interesting).  Pretty near the majority of the people I know that have done a PhD in Business Administration, has started their PhD in their late 20s and early 30s.

If you want to watch the video for this post about doing your PhD in your 30s, check out:

https://youtu.be/qePwYFMBB-M Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Doing A PhD In Your 30s Or PhD Before 30?: Average Age To Start PhD in Business Admin -Academia Tips (https://youtu.be/qePwYFMBB-M)

Why do people pursue a PhD in their 30s in the business school?

Most of the time, the reason why people start their PhDs in Business administration in their 30s is because they tend to favor people that have an MBA or an equivalent degree. Most of these MBA programs require you to have at least a couple of years of work experience before you apply. Indeed, students are often discouraged if they want to apply right after their undergraduate degree to gain experience in the workforce.

Take the should you do a PhD quiz! You will love it.

Another important factor is that many people do not know what they want to do when they grow up until they work for a while. You would be surprised the number of engineers, lawyers, and accountants that decide that they like studying and discovery a lot more than the day-to-day operations of running a business. The reason they were in those programs was because they liked the challenge, but when the get their real jobs, they realize that the real job was not nearly as challenging as the education to obtain the degree.

Some people also might have multiple goals and dreams in their life. Having conflicting goals and dreams in life is fundamentally human. Indeed, on a poll on R3ciprocity in 2020 (n=23), 57% of the people suggested that they wanted to become a scientist or engineer when they were a kid. Many people might have chosen a safer career path, but then decided to pick up on this dream that they had as a youngster.

Finally, life changes a lot for many people. What sounds like a sexy career in your early 20s fades quickly. Many people that go into business as a consultant or a manager work long-hours away from home, have to put up with the daily commute, and travel extensively. Many people are drawn to the academic career because you get a lot more flexibility. You still have to work many long hours, but you get to choose (at least some degree) the place that you do you work.

Some people even do multiple PhDs as well! They change their academic career by doing so.

We all have our doubts in academia-this is normal. You can check out why all of us struggle with self-doubt in this post about impostor syndrome (It’s helpful to know why) .

In sum, it is totally normal to start a PhD in Business Administration in your early and even late 30s.

I used to think that there was all these tips and hacks to becoming a Business Professor, but now, I don’t think so for a number of reasons. Check out this post about productivity tips and non-hacks for your PhD journey.

By the way, if you do not know what to expect with grad school, and you are thinking of going to grad school. You might want to watch this video about the pros and cons of going to grad school. I hope it will be useful for you.  And, do you need help with your PhD Program Application? This guide to PhD Program applications is going to be the thing you need.

https://youtu.be/DQeKDT2nS5E Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: What Are The Pros And Cons Of Going To Grad School? – Should You Go To Grad School/Doctoral Program? (https://youtu.be/DQeKDT2nS5E)

How about in other fields? How common is starting your PhD in your 30s or 40s, compared to your 20s?

Again, it is totally common to see people that start a PhD late in life. While the proportion of younger folks is much higher in many fields, you will still see a proportion of them that are in their 30s and 40s. One thing that you will realize with a PhD is that the reasons why people choose to pursue a PhD or a research career are surprisingly diverse. Doing a PhD is a pretty intimate affair because you have to be self-motivated to stick with the career.

How do you know what is the best PhD Program? Check out the R3ciprocity PhD Program rankings to help you decide.

However, I am going out on the limb to point out that there are definite advantages and disadvantages to starting your academic career later in life. This career, of course, is like any other career, but the lag between when you put in your efforts and when you see rewards is quite long. Doing research is closer to drug discovery than working at a Walmart. It is closer to becoming a chess grandmaster or a world-class musician than being a lawyer. In the later examples, the returns are quick and relatively instant. You work, you get paid. In the former, it takes years of practice to reap any rewards. A good rough estimate is to say that it will take 25 years before you reap substantial rewards from doing a PhD (4-7 years for your PhD, 5-7 years for getting tenure, 10 years for becoming a full professor). It just takes a long time before you peak out in the career.

What is the average cost of a PhD program? Check out this blog post to find out more.

By the way, you really need to understand why it takes so long by reading this post about how PhD students are evaluated . I also have a great post on the advantages and disadvantages of doing your doctorate .

What Is The Average Age Of PhD Student?

You would be surprised on how old most people that start a doctorate are, particularly in more professional oriented degrees. For example, if you check out this survey from the Council of Graduate Schools , it appears that the median age of a PhD student graduate is roughly around 33 years old. There is a super interesting NSF document that shows the cohort of people that are 30s that are starting a PhD is growing over time. But, in a graduate program, you learn that you should learn never take averages at face value! There is a large distribution of when people get their PhD. In other words, the average age of a PhD student can vary a lot between programs, institutions, and countries.

Indeed, if you look at this poll of the R3ciprocity community about age of starting a PhD (who is predominately made up of people that are grad students, professors, academics, and folks who are interested in research), the average starting age was around 29. However, the distribution of PhD age is really quite spread out. Note: This social media poll should be interpreted cautiously, as you are likely aware of the problems of social media. Yet, it is very much illustrative that you are normal to start a PhD at almost any age. There is no “best” age for PhD, just whatever is right for you.

Take this quiz if you are wondering if you should start a PhD.

What are the Top PhD Programs? Check out (and contribute to) the R3ciprocity PhD Program rankings. We want you to know!

A PhD Is Not Like A Masters / MBA In Your 30s.

You can recover your costs and have a good ROI with a MBA / Masters in your PhD. However, with a PhD, you have to forgo your wages for a very long time. I would highly recommend a Masters in your 30s, but for a PhD, you have to be committed to the program. You need to really want it.

If you are are serious about getting a doctorate, read this excellent guide what you actually learn when you do your doctorate!

What Does This Long Lag-time Mean If You Are Thinking Of Doing A PhD And Your Age?

I want to clarify upfront that I am not specifying that you need to be a certain age to do a PhD. I am also not discriminating based on age, either. Many people in academia have sky-rocketing careers late in life, after they were doing research in obscurity for years. Indeed, this is quite normal in academia, particularly if someone was working on a strange idea that did not get attention until other people take it seriously. You can also start your PhD late (say in your 50s), and become outstanding productive until your 80s. This is one of the joys of getting your PhD – you don’t have to stop at a specific time if you love the career. While you might have to formally retire (become an emeritus professor), many professors keep interacting in academia late in life.

How do you become a Business School Professor? Check out this great guide that will help you find your way!

However, there are advantages and disadvantages of doing a PhD in your 30s and 40s. Consider the following:

Research Outcomes Take a Long Time.

If you choose to do a research intensive PhD in Business, you should know that the outcomes of doing research generally take a long time. To get tenure at almost all universities, it will take you about 10-15 years by the time you start your PhD to when you get tenure. For example, if you start your PhD in Strategy in your 40s, you might not get tenure at a Business School until you are 55. This could be even later if you experience any ‘life’ during this time, and experiencing ‘life’ is quite likely.

I should also point out that not getting tenure is not all that bad – it just means you have to move to another institution or try another career. Depending on your view, this could be a good or bad thing for you. Often, this might mean that you get to go on an adventure to a new city or country, meet new people, and see how things work in a new location.

How do you determine the best graduate programs? This blog post will help you.

Interested in countries where higher education is free? You need to read this blog post.

I have learned a lot about how long doing a PhD takes, and I have detailed how long most PhDs now take in this blog post (most other websites are not accurate).

Are you interested in university administration? You might want to think about a professional doctorate! Learn more.

Young PhDs Have Less Credibility In The Classroom.

Young PhD’s are usually greatly discounted in the classroom. This is especially true if you are expecting to teach Executives or MBAs. It is not uncommon if you graduate with a PhD in Business Administration or a related degree (PhD in Managerial Economics or A Doctorate in Business Administration) when you are young to be teaching Executives that are 5-10 years older than you are. Being younger can create an awkward situation because you cannot teach based on wisdom or to simply say ‘do as I do.’ Rather, young PhDs have to teach based on novelty, intellect, and knowledge. This is not to say that older PhDs do not have the same struggles, however, they can rely a bit more on wisdom arguments. In general, being older is often an asset if you want to teach.

Extensive Work Experience Gives You An Edge With Administration Roles.

At the current moment, academia is facing a situation where many senior faculty are looking to retire in the near future. These are all of the baby-boomers. The problem is that because tenure requirements have generally increased over the years (particularly within competitive academic fields), few people are able to replace their administrative roles. Thus, if you do have related management experience in other fields or industries, and you are lucky enough to get tenure at a university, you are in a very fortunate position from an administrative position. People with administrative experience might actually have an advantage when they are thinking of roles like the Dean of a Business School, or some role like that. They are likely to have an easier time convincing others that they are suitable for the role.

Work-life Balance Is More Challenging If you Enter A PhD A Little Bit Older Than Others.

If you have a family or friends (ok – I might be the only one. 🙂 ), you will face many more demands as you get older. For example, you might have to run your little ones to school, take care of sick parents, or care for friends that need emotional support. Just because you are older and you have more experiences, you like have more connections with people, which may pull you in different directions with obligations.

These obligations are important to deal with, but know that doing a PhD will put a lot more stress on these relationships, and many people might not understand what is expected of you during the PhD. Indeed, nobody knows what a PhD is, unless you actually have a PhD.

Just be aware that you might have to learn how to balance these demands as you do you PhD. I guess for some people, it might be easier because you might have established yourself financially, which might give you a little more slack resources to take your time with your research. Or, you might be able to do things like rent or buy a more comfortable home in grad school , or have house-cleaners help with your weekly chores.

https://youtu.be/thhxmfC7wrQ Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Should You Buy A House In Grad School – Purchase A Home Mortgage When Starting PhD / Doctorate (https://youtu.be/thhxmfC7wrQ)

Either way, there is not a good answer as people of all ages face resource constraints, but it is something to consider if you pursue your PhD in your 30s or 40s.

Is A PhD degree worth it? This is something I have thought about for a long time, and you might want to see on this post.

You Might Affect Your Student-Advisor Relationship.

One of the cool advantages of being a bit older in graduate school is that you might have more in common with your PhD advisor. In business school, it is extremely common to see PhD students that are just as old, or older, as their advisor. The benefit, then, is that you can connect more readily with the business professors. You might be less intimidated from status divide between PhD and advisor, allowing you to have increased communication and trust. We created a pretty awesome blog post about meeting with PhD advisors which you should read.

https://youtu.be/D0mDi87WftA Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Building Graduate Student – Advisor Relationships (https://youtu.be/D0mDi87WftA)

Doing A PhD In Your 30s May Give You A Different Perspective.

For me, my 20s was a great learning experience. I am sure that I am not the only one that learnt a lot about life in my 20s. You go through a lot of transitions: Finishing undergraduate school, first job, first real relationships (I got married), first home, first heartbreaks (my Dad and Father-in-Law died), and many other things. I personally grew up. Of course, I would have said that about every year of my life, but your 20s seem more instrumental for some reason.

My major breakthrough was when I realized that life was not about what I can get, but rather about what I can I do for others. It seems like a rather mundane change in perspective, but it had rather large impacts on my life, marriage, and academic relationships. It would be nice to know some of those ideas when I first entered the PhD, but then again, maybe I might not have pursued a PhD, but that is hard to know.

What I do see though, and I have had many wonderful discussions with others, is that people that enter a PhD program in their 30s and 40s (whether it be a PhD in Business, or something else) have a different perspective. Maybe it is because people worked for many years in the business world, or they did want they wanted to do. Many people that enter later in life enter the PhD because they truly want to become an academic. When you enter really in your 20s, you kind of view getting a PhD as a stepping stone towards some larger career, which is good of course, but just is different. By the way, you might want to watch this video about getting a PhD in Business Administration to become a consultant:

https://youtu.be/MYUabmCkQN4 Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Should You Get A PhD In Business Administration To Become A Consultant Or To Teach Executives? (https://youtu.be/MYUabmCkQN4)

Doing A PhD In Your 30s Is Not Crazy.

In summary, I think there are many things to consider if you are thinking of doing a PhD in your 30s. In many fields of study, you will be absolutely normal and fit in with the other students (ie. business administration). Many people do their PhD in their 30s and 40s. However, from my experience, life does get a bit more challenging as you age because you gain a few more obligations. If your total number of obligations has not changed much over the years, this probably won’t affect you, but if you are like me, it will.

If you are truly passionate about research and thinking about ideas, I would highly recommend a PhD. Why do a PhD? Because you love to learn and you like the idea of search and discovery. There is no other great reason to do a PhD, other than you like the ‘hunt’ for new ideas.

There are so many myths before your start your own PhD journey. You can read 10 of the most common myths in this post. You do learn some pretty cool ideas that you will not be able to learn in any other setting. The key thing to remember is that you will not get financially rich (relative to those that pursue industry careers), but you will be rich in insight and knowledge. And, yes, you can’t ‘eat’ knowledge, so you have to be somewhat practical with this choice, and weigh the pros and cons for pursuing a PhD for yourself.

The R3ciprocity Project

I should qualify who I am. I am David Maslach, an Associate Professor in Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, and am doing an interesting project . The R3ciprocity Project started out as a side-project, where David Maslach created an App to help others get feedback on their work (r3ciprocity.com – it is seriously inexpensive and easy to use. You have to try it!) , but it is beginning to grow into a real movement. I was thinking a lot about ways I could positively contribute to society (mid-life crisis anyone?) and reciprocity. Reciprocity is often discussed in the context of innovation where there are many people that do things online where they expect to get little back in return. Josh Lerner and Eric von Hippel had some interesting ideas that I wanted to explore further. There was also a creditability revolution that was occurring in science, which had a part in the project, but this was later on, and is a longer story.

Anyway, long story short, I created the r3ciprocity.com  as a way to give back, but then I realized. Oh crap – nobody even knows this site exists. What do I do now? I did a bit of paid advertising, but then I thought, it might be better for me just to lean into this reciprocity idea, and try to give back even more. Thus, started my YouTube channel , and this blog where I try to give back even more than before. Right now, I try to give back to the people that I know the most – people that are interested in research, graduate school, business administration, strategy, and innovation.

If you liked this post, you should read these other posts about the research journey as a PhD. You will find them useful and interesting:

• You NEED to read this blog post on misconceptions of people who have PhDs.
• Are you cut out for a PhD or academic life? Take one of these fun and information quizzes!
• What are the most have software tools and apps that every student and academic should have? You need to read this helpful post.
• Did you benefit from this post? Do you know of anyone at all that could use feedback on their writing or editing of their documents? I would be so grateful if you read this post on how to get feedback on your writing using R3ciprocity.com or let others know about the R3ciprocity Project. THANK YOU in advance! You are the bees knees.

David Maslach

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Getting Your Ph.D. in Retirement

Lessons from planning for retirement.

Posted September 24, 2014

I have trained several hundred people in the past few years in the work of retirement planning.

Many have been very ready to move ahead and enjoy or endure their last months of work. They were ready to plunge into this less- career -identified space we still most often call retirement. Others were somewhat ready and knew they had work to do unless they wanted to be totally surprised by leaving their career. And still others were woefully unprepared, and did not even know they were.

First my own story of retirement. I am 65. I built a business with my wife Patti for 30 plus years now, and it still operates as a coaching and leadership development business. We moved it some years ago to Columbus so we could be around more family. I have two sons here in Ohio and four grandkids. We are fortunate. We love our work as executive and life transition coaches still, and it is portable, as we can travel and get clients in Columbus too, and do much of our work by phone or video now. But we don’t work as hard as we used to by design. We had employees and an office for 25 years and let all that go, to work out of our homes.

So how did I handle turning 60? I kept (we kept) the business, the parts we wanted to keep. I went back to school for a certificate in psychology and got a masters degree instead because it was so interesting. (My other Masters is from Xavier in Cincinnati 44 years ago—sheesh!) And we moved 700 hundred miles from our home of 30 years, Kansas City, down-sizing in the process. It has been a lot of letting go and a lot of taking on new things. Even though I teach how to make transitions, I would say I was moderately prepared for the changes. Some were bigger/tougher than I thought they would be.

So do I have any advice after taking this trip of life-change/quasi-retirement of the last several years?

Here are a few things I have learned and that I see in others as we plan for and make this transition:

• Experiment: try a lot of things to see if they fit your new stage in life. I imagine you can experiment too much but I see the other problem more. We are too narrow in their ideas of what might work and report that they did not think broadly enough. Small experiments have less risk. Rent the apartment in Tuscany or Memphis before you buy. In my case I started with a certificate, but ended up getting a degree.
• Expect Inner Gains: The good news of aging is that we gain more access to our inner life if we pay attention to it. We get more spiritual by design, it seems, as our body and its power starts to wane and change. This may mean church but it may not. It may mean nature, or service, or simply drinking in daily joys on a walk, in a conversation, or a favorite TV experience (WOSU of course).
• Expect Losses and Do Some Good Grieving: Not having staff, or seeing your buddies at work every day can be a real loss. You may lose a good friend. The kids may leave town. Your energy won’t be what it was. And status may be a loss too. Give yourself time to get used to what goes away. They most likely are not coming back and other things, slowly fill in the empty spaces again, in unexpected often richer ways.
• Take your Time and Hurry Up Too: this is a big paradox of course. Time is a wasting and you know you have less time on the planet by a lot than what you have already lived. So move on with some boldness. That said, there is no hurry either. Each day is a new day to enjoy and breathe into without as many deadlines.
• Work as Hard as You Want: you may want to work a little or a lot, or go in spurts, which is common. It may be time to try new ideas for work, and this may pull you into more work than you imagined. When you see your financial realities, work may still be needed, so good luck on the financial front (and see an advisor of course), and be realistic.
• Play and Savor: many of us know how to play well already, but some need to learn new ways to play at this stage. The sore back may inhibit the golf game, or your euchre partners may have moved to California. And you may have been all about the work. This age can be a great time for creativity and play. Play can be serving on boards, at the block party, or even in the new part-time job. Savor it all: the work, the play, the day, as much as you can. Goals are good, savoring the moment, with or without them, just as much so.

Get your Ph.D. in retirement and semi-retirement, one of the things aging people do. Learn what you want and like, factor in the responsibilities and duties that still are there, often big ones. Make it happen and let it happen too. You have some control, but not total. Keep on learning, or as the Grateful Dead might have put it, keep on truckin’.

John Schuster is the author of The Power of Your Past .

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10 Time Management Tips for Older PhD Students Who Want to Balance Work and Studies

Breaking barriers: empowering black women over 40 to excel in information systems phd programs. , the top 8 must-know tips for phd preparation: how to get started.

You’ve Decided to Pursue a PhD in Your 40s – Now, What?

First, I want to say congratulations on deciding to pursue a PhD in your 40s. Now that the big decision is made, let’s move to some less daunting activities that’ll get you sitting in your first classroom in a few months. ( Please note that the steps in this post are mainly directed toward pursuing a traditional Ph.D. However, these steps should also apply to DBA and Executive PhDs. ).

I classify these as early activities and application activities.  

Early Decisions to Pursue a PhD

The early activities involve some early decisions you must make. These decisions include; the location of the PhD program, the PhD concentration, and what to study. Once you have answers to these questions, the rest of the application process becomes a little more straightforward.

#1 Location:

The general location where you desire to do your pursue a PhD should be decided. For the most part, if you’re pursuing a PhD in your 40s, there’s a chance you have settled in a particular location. This means that you prefer to do a PhD near or around that location. On the other hand, you may be looking for a fresh start in life and have the flexibility to choose where you want to do it. In that case, you have many more location options: North, South, West, or East.

#2 Schools:

After you’ve decided on the general location, it’s time to hone in on the school or schools. If possible, try not to make that decision blindly. In other words, try and find someone who might tell you one or two things about the schools, the culture especially. Given that pursue a PhD education is more than just schooling, it’s important that you understand the culture of the people you’ll be working very closely with for 4 years. Some PhD programs are collegial. Others are not and could be stressful. If you’re in your 40s and 50s and seeking your pursue a PhD, you probably want to avoid PhD programs with non-collegial cultures.

#3 PhD Concentration:

There are many PhD concentrations in business schools. The one you select should complement your current skills or experiences. For example, if you are a technologist, you might consider pursue a PhD concentration in information systems. You might consider management science or operations research if you are a math or statistics professional. See our post on concentrations.

Application Activities for a PhD in your 40s’

Now Let’s look at some of the requirements for gaining admission to a Ph.D. program. PhD program requirements include taking a GRE/GMAT, identifying and sending your transcripts (bachelors and masters), writing your personal statement, securing some good recommendation letters, etc. Figure 1 is a visual of those steps. Steps 1 to 5 can take about 6 months to 1 year. We address GRE/GMAT and transcripts in this post.

#1 GRE/GMAT

If you’ve taken a GRE/GMAT within the last 5 years, then you can skip this step. If you have not, you should start studying for the GMAT or GRE exam. Most universities in the US accept either of these. However, if you have a clearer idea of the schools you’ll like to apply to, you should find out their preference. Usually, this information is posted on their Ph.D. information website.

#2 Get ready to send your transcripts:

If you’re a domestic student, the process of sending your transcripts to your schools of interest usually takes a few simple steps. Most universities have an automated process that allows former students to log in and order and sends their transcripts to schools for a small fee.

The process is a lot more involved if you’re an international student. International transcripts sometimes need to be evaluated and translated. There are college credential evaluation services that could evaluate your transcripts for a fee. This process can take a longer time to complete than you initially anticipated. So, plan accordingly. You could also call the graduate office of your schools of interest and ask if they could recommend an evaluation service or if they do the transcript evaluation themselves. Some schools do. So, it’s worth a try.

See more on writing your personal statement and securing some good recommendation letters .

Related Posts

7 tangible strategies for coping with burnout while pursuing your phd after 40, a 2023 resolution to start a phd in information systems – make a bold move, 7 career options: what you can do with a phd in information systems or technology, is it worth it to get a phd in information systems.

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Angel Reese doesn’t need to be liked, but she and LSU demand your respect

The Athletic has live coverage of Iowa vs LSU in the March Madness Elite 8 matchup.

ALBANY, N.Y. — There was joy, because of course there is when a team survives and advances in March . Flau’jae Johnson, who scored 24 points and willed LSU past UCLA , bounded over toward the Tigers’ family and friends in the stands with a big, bright smile.

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But about 15 minutes later, Johnson’s guard was back up as she sat next to Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow during a postgame news conference. So was Reese’s. Morrow’s, too. Yes, the Tigers were happy to be moving on to the Elite Eight. But they know exactly how the world sees them, and they don’t always appreciate it.

“We’re the good villains,” Reese said. “Everybody wants to beat LSU . Everybody wants to be LSU . Everybody wants to play against LSU. You’ve got to realize, like, we’re not any regular basketball team. Coach (Kim Mulkey) talks about it all the time; she calls us ‘The Beatles.’ People run after our bus. People are coming to our games. You’re seeing sellouts, you’re seeing people buying jerseys, you’re seeing more sellouts than the men.

“We’re impacting the game so much, and all of us are super competitive and want to win and do whatever it takes to win. We’re just changing the game.”

Reese noted that she gets criticized for her modeling, which she likes in addition to basketball. “I can do both,” she said. Johnson regularly gets asked about her second career as a rapper. “Flau’jae can do both.”

“We can all do both,” Reese continued. “That’s what people don’t believe. They don’t think that we’re focused, and we prove every single night when we get between those lines, we’re focused. That’s what we’re worried about.”

"People are going to discredit me because I rap and I hoop, so I know I got to go extra hard." "She does rap, her new single is 'It Ain't My Fault,' but today, this win was your fault." "It is our fault!" Great postgame interview of Flau'jae Johnson from Holly Rowe. pic.twitter.com/6GpOxPq9uf — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 30, 2024

“Just being able to have teammates that have my back, have teammates, have coaches just have each other’s back this whole time. I don’t care what the outside (world) thinks,” Reese said. “I know what’s going on in that locker room.”

Before the season and at points during it, many outside the program wondered how it would work — adding Hailey Van Lith from Louisville and Morrow from DePaul — with only one basketball to share. And with a coach who is not afraid to say what she wants about all of it (and not afraid to bench a star, either).

“People always tell us how we should act, how we should dress, how we should talk,” Johnson said. “But there’s never been people who have done this before.”

She’s right. These LSU players have lived on the cutting edge of the name, image and likeness era, balancing their lives as students, athletes and entrepreneurs in a way we’ve never seen.

Mulkey tells them to be who they are, and she says she’ll fight for them. She teed off Saturday on a Los Angeles Times column that said her team represented “evil” against the “good” of UCLA and that the Tigers were “dirty debutantes.”

“How dare people attack kids like that?” Mulkey said. “You don’t have to like the way we play. You don’t have to like the way we trash-talk. You don’t have to like any of that. We’re good with that. But I can’t sit up here as a mother and a grandmother and a leader of young people and allow somebody to say that.”

Kim Mulkey was asked about the perception people have about her LSU team. In her response, she brought up recent LA Times article she read about the matchup between UCLA and LSU. "I'm not going to let sexism continue. … How dare people attack kids like that." pic.twitter.com/72YwVnmwyv — The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 30, 2024

This is what LSU wanted to talk about after a thrilling, nail-biting win over UCLA on Saturday. It’s what this coach and these players think about and deal with daily. And it’s in large part because of the way this team was introduced to most of America — with last year’s title game, with the taunting, with all the talk (which it backed up).

So it feels similar again to Mulkey and to Reese as they prepare for a rematch against Iowa . They don’t need to be liked, but they demand to be respected. As the Tigers keep winning and chasing a second consecutive national championship, that’s what they’ll expect.

“We won at the highest level in college, and we haven’t had peace,” Reese said. “But I wouldn’t want to change (that to) this day. I wouldn’t want to change where we are right now. I wouldn’t want to change the three letters across my chest because it means something, and I want to be a part of history.”

(Photo of Flau’jae Johnson , left, and Angel Reese: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

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Nicole Auerbach covers college football and college basketball for The Athletic. A leading voice in college sports, she also serves as a studio analyst for the Big Ten Network and a radio host for SiriusXM. Nicole was named the 2020 National Sports Writer of the Year by the National Sports Media Association, becoming the youngest national winner of the prestigious award. Before joining The Athletic, she covered college football and college basketball for USA Today. Follow Nicole on Twitter @ NicoleAuerbach

Android Police

Gemini finds a new host and galaxy ai goes mainstream in this week's news.

This week in Android: Samsung and Google dominate the headlines with AI and updates

A leaked roadmap in late 2022 offered insight into Google's hardware plans, and a credible Pixel 9 rumor this week has corroborated some of what we saw there. Artificial intelligence wasn't part of that Google roadmap, but with the breakneck development speed of things like Gemini and Galaxy AI lately, there was no predicting what was to come in this arena. Even Google can't get its own story straight with Gemini Nano AI, but at least the company is under-promising and over-delivering on that and Circle to Search . Between these moves and a major Samsung One UI rollout, the two biggest players in the Android space absolutely dominated this week's top headlines.

Catch up on last week's biggest Android headlines here

Google can't get its gemini nano story straight.

Google launched the Pixel 8 Pro as the first phone to run Gemini Nano, its lightweight AI foundation model, entirely on-device. But Gemini Nano was only available on the more expensive Pixel 8 Pro when it launched late last year, not the standard Pixel 8. Many of us speculated this was a cash-grab move meant to push people toward the more premium offering, but a few weeks ago, Google outright said “Nano will not be coming to Pixel 8 because of some hardware limitations.”

Fast-forward to this week, and the company has done a complete 180, announcing that Nano will indeed come to the Pixel 8 , while citing some vague RAM constraints as its reason for the delay. Who knew a phone with the same exact SoC and nearly identical hardware could be made to run the same software?

Gemini Nano is coming to the Pixel 8 after all

Gemini ai finds a new host.

Since launching Gemini Nano at the end of 2023, Google has been hell-bent on getting its Gemini branding on as many surfaces as it can. It renamed the Bard chatbot to simply "Gemini," and the AI models behind it all have names like Gemini Pro and Gemini Advanced. Now, Gemini has infected yet another host.

This week, Google Messages beta users have started to see a new "Gemini in Messages" AI showing up in their chat app . Functionally, it's like you're texting straight to the web version of Google Gemini over an encrypted (but not end-to-end) RCS chat. Sadly, this means you can't call on the chatbot in your regular message threads, a concept Google pioneered way back with Allo , but some might find it easier to access Google's AI this way instead of setting Gemini as the default Android assistant, which still leaves a lot to be desired at this point in its development.

Gemini in Google Messages sees a wide beta rollout

Galaxy ai goes mainstream.

Sure, many of the features are powered by Google Gemini, but Samsung's got its own suite of AI functionality for Galaxy devices, and it's finally starting to see widespread availability. A rollout of One UI 6.1, complete with Galaxy AI, was announced earlier in the week , then Samsung quickly delivered as promised .

As a result, users can now access features like live in-call translations, writing style tweaks courtesy of Samsung Keyboard, and AI-powered image editing in the Samsung Gallery app. All of these features, plus other One UI 6.1 goodies like restoring minimized windows in one tap , are now available on the entire Galaxy S23 series, the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip 5, and the Galaxy Tab S9 series.

One UI 6.1 is coming to Samsung's 2023 flagships this week

Circle to search hits more phones.

Just as Galaxy AI and Gemini Nano were exclusive to the S24 series and Pixel 8 Pro, respectively, these two phone lines had another software trick up their sleeves: Google's Circle to Search. And just as the AI features are being opened up to older models, so is Circle to Search.

Towards the middle of the week, Google announced that Circle to Search is coming to all currently-supported Pixel phones, and the rollout already seems to be widespread. At the same time, Samsung's One UI 6.1 update for its 2023 devices also included Circle to Search, and the company went on record saying it was the most-used AI feature on the S24, so we're happy to see cutting-edge flagship tech make its way to older devices.

Google's Circle to Search is coming to more phones

That leaked google roadmap is looking like the real deal.

In December 2022, a roadmap of Google's hardware plans leaked, and it outlined potential changes to the Pixel series. Supposedly, the company would keep a close eye on Pixel A-series sales as it considered a potential shift to a three-flagship lineup, potentially abandoning plans for a Pixel 9a in 2025 in favor of an affordable Pixel flagship paired with a large and small variant of the Pro-series Pixel.

We saw a leaked Pixel 9 Pro earlier this year, but it wasn't until an alleged Pixel 9 surfaced that the roadmap was called back to mind, as the second device also had pro-like features, such as a triple-camera setup with a periscope telephoto lens, and a temperature sensor. Now, a new leak claims that second device was the Pixel 9 Pro, and the larger one presumed to be the 9 Pro was actually the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The leak in question shows off a base model Pixel 9 with dual rear cameras, more in line with what we'd expect, pointing to a potential trifecta of Pixel flagships this fall.

New Pixel 9 renders point to 3 Google flagships coming this fall

Still need some solar eclipse glasses before April 8? Here's where you might find some

If you know where to look, you may just luck out and find a vendor or even a local library with some solar eclipse glasses still in stock..

You're running out of time to get your own pair of certified glasses if you're wanting to catch a glimpse of the total solar ecl i pse that is nearly one week away.

If you're planning to be among the millions of people in the United States who will witness the spectacular sight on April 8, having a proper pair of glasses couldn't be more paramount . Until the moon completely blocks the sun's disc on the path of totality and ushers in darkness , the sun's rays will pose a danger to unprotected retinas gazing skyward.

At this point, proper eyewear may be hard to come by and some may be tempted to turn to alternative methods such as welding goggles . But if you know where to look, you may just luck out and find a vendor or even a local library with some still in stock.

Here's what to know about where to find last-minute solar eclipse glasses.

American Paper Optics, Warby Parker, among those offering glasses

Compared to regular sunglasses, proper eclipse glasses are 100,000 times darker to block nearly all visible, infrared and ultraviolet light and protect our sensitive retinas when looking upward near the sun.

That's why experts widely recommend them for those who will be watching as the upcoming solar eclipse charts a 115-mile-wide path of totality across North America.

Reputable vendors can be found on any eclipse websites like  GreatAmericanEclipse.com  and  NationalEclipse.com , which sell a variety of eyewear products, along with plenty of other gadgets one may need to see the eclipse. Additionally, American Paper Optics, the nation's largest supplier of eclipse glasses, offers express shipping and includes a  a countdown at the top of its website  to let you know the deadline to make a purchase to get your glasses in time for the big day.

Warby Parker, which actually plans to give out free solar eclipse glasses beginning Monday, may also be a good place to check.

Here are some other companies offering specials and deals timed for the big deal, including offers on eclipse glasses.

Finally, you may want to check your local library or other public institutions in your area, as many of these places have been offering free eclipse glasses to residents. Just don't count on supplies still being available.

When is the 2024 total solar eclipse? Your guide to glasses, forecast, where to watch.

How to make sure your solar eclipse glasses aren't fakes

The responsibility of guiding American consumers to the safest eclipse glasses is largely left to the American Astronomical Society.

The organization maintains  a curated list of approved vendors  of solar eclipse glasses and its been updated to give priority to North American manufacturers for the upcoming astral event. Products you purchase that are listed on that site are guaranteed to be  in compliance with  the highest international safety standards.

Those standards are set by the International Organization for Standardization, which only vouches for solar eclipse glasses that are dark and strong enough to filter out a certain amount of the sun's harmful light.

Of course, plenty of fakes and cheap imitators are proliferating the online marketplace in the leadup to the eclipse.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid any vendors making the grand (and entirely made-up) claim that their products are endorsed by NASA. As the space agency reiterated to USA TODAY , it only advises that people get a pair of glasses, but does not recommend or certify any particular product.

The astronomical society also provides some  helpful tips  for other useful ways to spot scams and counterfeit glasses.

What else to know about the April 8 total solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse offers the unique opportunity for skygazers to witness the spectacular astral display with the naked eye – but only when the time is right.

Eclipse glasses are still very much needed for most of the show, so make sure to come prepared,  according to NASA .

But when the moon moves completely in front of the sun and blocks its light, you'll know it's safe to fully take in the dazzling display. That moment is what is called "totality," whereby uncharacteristic darkness falls and all but the sun's outermost layer known as its corona makes a rare appearance to us here on Earth.

Hundreds of cities in  13 states are on the path of totality  for this year's total solar eclipse, which will pass from southwest to northeast across North America. You won't want to miss it, as this is the last such eclipse in North American  until 2044 .

And as you make your eclipse-viewing plans,  these interactive maps  should help you chart the time and duration for when totality would occur in cities along the path.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

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J.B. Smoove Thinks You Could Stand to Get Out More

Although he plays a sort of permanent houseguest on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “I tell young people all the time to go places,” he says.

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By Kathryn Shattuck

J.B. Smoove has been here before.

“This is almost like the old ‘S.N.L.’ story,” he said, referring to when he lost his writing job on “Saturday Night Live” in 2006. “Something has to go away for something to come in.”

This time, what’s ending is “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” on which he plays Leon Black, Larry David’s foulmouthed houseguest who never left.

What’s coming in is Smoove Season.

“Larry might be ready to hang them up,” he said. “I’m ready to take them off. This is my time to introduce all things that I love” — among them, producing and his new lines of watches and hat boxes. “I think there’s something really interesting about building something that you’re always building. It is never finished.”

In fact, Smoove still isn’t certain that this 12th and final season of “Curb” is actually its last.

“I never know what the temperature is because as the world keeps changing, Larry keeps thinking of ways to get us through it and explain it to us in his way,” Smoove said on a video call before talking about sharp suits, cigar cars and his beloved R.V. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

Close Dancing

My wife, Shah, calls me Twinkle Toes. I started in a dance crew when I was younger. And man, I’ve been dancing my whole life. My wife and I, any event we go to, we are literally the life of the party. We like dirty dancing. We like to do our little moves. And we dance even better when we know people are watching us.

Suits, Shoes, Shades

That is the J.B. look right there. I would wear a suit every day if I could. It forces your posture. You have to purposefully have your suit to the point where you have to breathe in and then you button your top button and you don’t exhale for the rest of the night. If that belly is sticking out, you are not doing that suit justice.

Classic Watches

I used to wear a watch that didn’t tell the time. The battery ran out, and I kept wearing it. You know what that watch did for me? Every time someone looks at my watch and says, “Your watch isn’t working,” I say, “You know why it’s not working? I know what time it is. And that’s go time.”

I’ve got a 1968 Lincoln Continental with suicide doors. My personalized plate is 68 STANK. That’s one of my jewels of my car collection. I also have a 1963 Studebaker Avanti. I showed Larry a picture of the car. He went crazy. I said, “We’re going to go for a ride, Larry.” These cars that I have, I call them cigar cars. You got to have a cigar in your mouth with a nice brim when you’re riding by, and you look good.

Treating Your Home Like Your Castle

When you’re in the public eye, sometimes you can’t go everywhere. So we redid this whole house as an entertainer’s home. I have a shuffleboard table. I got a pool table. I got cornhole, which is as big as pickleball is right now. We built a guesthouse. We built a pool house. We built a pool. Your home should be your castle.

You’ve got to find the right brim because everybody’s face is different. I’ve got a very long face, so I like my brims to be a little longer and a little flatter. And it’s got to be a certain height that’s going to accentuate my cheekbones and my chin. Sometimes I grow my beard in, but sometimes I like showing my dimple.

We have a Thor Damon Outlaw, and that R.V. is humongous. Going from L.A. to Vegas at night, you could see the stars from the driver’s seat. We only do R.V. resorts. We don’t do campgrounds. We a little bougie.

Winter, Baby

I love skiing, tubing, snowmobiling. I don’t even get sick in the winter. My nose hasn’t run in 25 years on a ski trip.

Eating Vegan

When I travel, I used to always go to Buffalo Wild Wings, and one day I was tearing the meat apart, and it just didn’t get me no more. I said, “Wow, I think I’m over it.” So I gave up meat, and it has been an amazing, amazing transformation. My one weakness is sweets. Some people have a sweet tooth. I got sweet teeth. Almost every night, after I eat my meal, I have to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

We love all aspects of travel — seeing amazing things that we’ve never seen before, meeting people from all over the world. It makes you well-rounded. I tell young people all the time to go places. Don’t spend your whole life on your neighborhood. Get off the streets. Go to college. Exchange ideas. Exchange your life story with people. It’s going to make you an amazing adult.

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Today's 15- and 30-year mortgage rates hold steady | April 1, 2024

Thinking about taking out a mortgage loan here are the current mortgage rates and the top factors that influence them..

Mortgage rates fluctuate almost daily based on economic conditions. Here are today’s mortgage rates and what you need to know about getting the best rate. ( iStock )

The interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.000% as of April 1, which is unchanged from Friday. Additionally, the interest rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.000%, which is also unchanged from Friday.

With mortgage rates changing daily, it’s a good idea to check today’s rate before applying for a loan. It’s also important to compare different lenders’ current interest rates, terms, and fees to ensure you get the best deal. 

Rates last updated on April 1, 2024. Rates are based on the assumptions shown here . Actual rates may vary. Credible, a personal finance marketplace, has 5,000 Trustpilot reviews with an average star rating of 4.7 (out of a possible 5.0).

How do mortgage rates work?

What determines the mortgage rate.

• How to compare mortgage rates 
• Pros and cons of mortgages 

How to qualify for a mortgage

How to apply for a mortgage, how to refinance a mortgage.

• How to access your home’s equity

When you take out a mortgage loan to purchase a home, you’re borrowing money from a lender. In order for that lender to make a profit and reduce risk to itself, it will charge interest on the principal — that is, the amount you borrowed.

Expressed as a percentage, a mortgage interest rate is essentially the cost of borrowing money. It can vary based on several factors, such as your credit score , debt-to-income ratio (DTI), down payment , loan amount, and repayment term.

After getting a mortgage, you’ll typically receive an amortization schedule , which shows your payment schedule over the life of the loan. It also indicates how much of each payment goes toward the principal balance versus the interest.

Near the beginning of the loan term, you’ll spend more money on interest and less on the principal balance. As you approach the end of the repayment term, you’ll pay more toward the principal and less toward interest.

Your mortgage interest rate can be either fixed or adjustable. With a fixed-rate mortgage, the rate will be consistent for the duration of the loan. With an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the interest rate can fluctuate with the market.

Keep in mind that a mortgage’s interest rate is not the same as its annual percentage rate (APR). This is because an APR includes both the interest rate and any other lender fees or charges.

Mortgage rates change frequently — sometimes on a daily basis. Inflation plays a significant role in these fluctuations. Interest rates tend to rise in periods of high inflation, whereas they tend to drop or remain roughly the same in times of low inflation. Other factors, like the economic climate, demand, and inventory can also impact the current average mortgage rates.

To find great mortgage rates, start by using Credible’s secured website, which can show you current mortgage rates from multiple lenders without affecting your credit score. You can also use Credible’s mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly mortgage payments.

Mortgage lenders typically determine the interest rate on a case-by-case basis. Generally, they reserve the lowest rates for low-risk borrowers — that is, those with a higher credit score, income, and down payment amount. Here are some other personal factors that may determine your mortgage rate:

• Location of the home
• Price of the home
• Your credit score and credit history
• Loan type (e.g., conventional or FHA)
• Interest rate type (fixed or adjustable)
• Down payment amount
• Loan-to-value (LTV) ratio

Other indirect factors that may determine the mortgage rate include:

• Current economic conditions
• Rate of inflation
• Market conditions
• Housing construction supply, demand, and costs
• Consumer spending
• Stock market
• 10-year Treasury yields
• Federal Reserve policies
• Current employment rate

How to compare mortgage rates

Along with certain economic and personal factors, the lender you choose can also affect your mortgage rate. Some lenders have higher average mortgage rates than others, regardless of your credit or financial situation. That’s why it’s important to compare lenders and loan offers.

Here are some of the best ways to compare mortgage rates and ensure you get the best one:

• Shop around for lenders: Compare several lenders to find the best rates and lowest fees. Even if the rate is only lower by a few basis points, it could still save you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.
• Get several loan estimates: A loan estimate comes with a more personalized rate and fees based on factors like income, employment, and the property’s location. Review and compare loan estimates from several lenders.
• Get pre-approved for a mortgage: Pre-approval doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a loan, but it can give you a better idea of what you qualify for and at what interest rate. You’ll need to complete an application and undergo a hard credit check.
• Consider a mortgage rate lock: A mortgage rate lock lets you lock in the current mortgage rate for a certain amount of time — often between 30 and 90 days. During this time, you can continue shopping around for a home without worrying about the rate changing.
• Choose between an adjustable- and fixed-rate mortgage: The interest rate type can affect how much you pay over time, so consider your options carefully.

One other way to compare mortgage rates is with a mortgage calculator. Use a calculator to determine your monthly payment amount and the total cost of the loan. Just remember, certain fees like homeowners insurance or taxes might not be included in the calculations.

Here’s a simple example of what a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage might look like versus a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage:

15-year fixed-rate

• Loan amount: $300,000
• Interest rate: 6.29%
• Monthly payment: $2,579
• Total interest charges: $164,186
• Total loan amount: $464,186

30-year fixed-rate

• Interest rate: 6.89%
• Monthly payment: $1,974
• Total interest charges: $410,566
• Total loan amount: $710,565

Pros and cons of mortgages

If you’re thinking about taking out a mortgage, here are some benefits to consider:

• Predictable monthly payments: Fixed-rate mortgage loans come with a set interest rate that doesn’t change over the life of the loan. This means more consistent monthly payments.
• Potentially low interest rates: With good credit and a high down payment, you could get a competitive interest rate. Adjustable-rate mortgages may also come with a lower initial interest rate than fixed-rate loans.
• Tax benefits: Having a mortgage could make you eligible for certain tax benefits, such as a mortgage interest deduction .
• Potential asset: Real estate is often considered an asset. As you pay down your loan, you can also build home equity, which you can use for other things like debt consolidation or home improvement projects.
• Credit score boost: With on-time payments, you can build your credit score.

And here are some of the biggest downsides of getting a mortgage:

• Expensive fees and interest: You could end up paying thousands of dollars in interest and other fees over the life of the loan. You will also be responsible for maintenance, property taxes , and homeowners insurance.
• Long-term debt: Taking out a mortgage is a major financial commitment. Typical loan terms are 10, 15, 20, and 30 years.
• Potential rate changes: If you get an adjustable rate , the interest rate could increase.

Requirements vary by lender, but here are the typical steps to qualify for a mortgage:

• Have steady employment and income: You’ll need to provide proof of income when applying for a home loan. This may include money from your regular job, alimony, military benefits, commissions, or Social Security payments. You may also need to provide proof of at least two years’ worth of employment at your current company.
• Review any assets: Lenders consider your assets when deciding whether to lend you money. Common assets include money in your bank account or investment accounts.
• Know your DTI: Your DTI is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward your monthly debts — like installment loans, lines of credit, or rent. The lower your DTI, the better your approval odds.
• Check your credit score: To get the best mortgage rate possible, you’ll need to have good credit. However, each loan type has a different credit score requirement. For example, you’ll need a credit score of 580 or higher to qualify for an FHA loan with a 3.5% down payment.
• Know the property type: During the loan application process, you may need to specify whether the home you want to buy is your primary residence. Lenders often view a primary residence as less risky, so they may have more lenient requirements than if you were to get a secondary or investment property.
• Choose the loan type: Many types of mortgage loans exist, including conventional loans, VA loans , USDA loans , FHA loans , and jumbo loans. Consider your options and pick the best one for your needs.
• Prepare for upfront and closing costs: Depending on the loan type, you may need to make a down payment. The exact amount depends on the loan type and lender. A USDA loan, for example, has no minimum down payment requirement for eligible buyers. With a conventional loan, you’ll need to put down 20% to avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI). You may also be responsible for paying any closing costs when signing for the loan.

Here are the basic steps to apply for a mortgage , and what you can typically expect during the process:

• Choose a lender : Compare several lenders to see the types of loans they offer, their average mortgage rates, repayment terms, and fees. Also, check if they offer any down payment assistance programs or closing cost credits.
• Get pre-approved: Complete the pre-approval process to boost your chances of getting your dream home. You’ll need identifying documents, as well as documents verifying your employment, income, assets, and debts.
• Submit a formal application: Complete your chosen lender’s application process — either in person or online — and upload any required documents.
• Wait for the lender to process your loan: It can take some time for the lender to review your application and make a decision. In some cases, they may request additional information about your finances, assets, or liabilities. Provide this information as soon as possible to prevent delays.
• Complete the closing process: If approved for a loan, you’ll receive a closing disclosure with information about the loan and any closing costs. Review it, pay the down payment and closing costs, and sign the final loan documents. Some lenders have an online closing process, while others require you to go in person. If you are not approved, you can talk to your lender to get more information and determine how you can remedy any issues.

Refinancing your mortgage lets you trade your current loan for a new one. It does not mean taking out a second loan. You will also still be responsible for making payments on the refinanced loan.

You might want to refinance your mortgage if you:

• Want a lower interest rate or different rate type
• Are looking for a shorter repayment term so you can pay off the loan sooner
• Need a smaller monthly payment
• Want to remove the PMI from your loan
• Need to use the equity for things like home improvement or debt consolidation (cash-out refinancing)

The refinancing process is similar to the process you follow for the original loan. Here are the basic steps:

• Choose the type of refinancing you want.
• Compare lenders for the best rates.
• Complete the application process.
• Wait for the lender to review your application.
• Provide supporting documentation (if requested).
• Complete the home appraisal.
• Proceed to closing, review the loan documents, and pay any closing costs.

How to access your home’s equity 

If you need to tap into your home’s equity to pay off debt, fund a renovation, or cover an emergency expense, there are two popular options to choose from: a home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) . Both a home equity loan and a HELOC allow you to borrow against your home’s equity but a home equity loan comes in the form of a lump sum payment and a HELOC is a revolving line of credit.

These two loan types have some other key similarities and differences in how they work:

What is a rate lock?

Interest rates on mortgages fluctuate all the time, but a rate lock allows you to lock in your current rate for a set amount of time. This ensures you get the rate you want as you complete the homebuying process .

What are mortgage points?

Mortgage points are a type of prepaid interest that you can pay upfront — often as part of your closing costs — for a lower overall interest rate. This can lower your APR and monthly payments. 

What are closing costs?

Closing costs are the fees you, as the buyer, need to pay before getting a loan. Common fees include attorney fees, home appraisal fees, origination fees , and application fees.

If you’re trying to find the right mortgage rate, consider using Credible. You can use Credible's free online tool to easily compare multiple lenders and see prequalified rates in just a few minutes.