I'll keep this short. I have two master's degrees in economics. The first one I did mostly because I didn't know what else to do. The second one was me trying my luck in the US. After a year of job hunting, I figured out that what I actually want is research — got more callbacks for it too, which helped confirm it. Just started a good research role.
But I'm turning 30 and I really want a PhD. Not just for academia — I genuinely want the experience of going somewhere new, a different country, something outside the life I've built so far. The PhD is the vehicle for that as much as anything else.
The age thing is getting in my head though. I know 30 isn't old. But when I look at PhD timelines — applications, 4-5 years of program, graduating at 35+ — I spiral a little.
My plan does make sense to me. I've always taken my time figuring out what I want, and I've been okay with that. My timeline is weird by conventional standards but it's mine.
Has anyone here done this — started a PhD at 30 or later? Did the age thing stop bothering you once you were in? Any advice from people who took the longer road?