Can you make a good academic career if you start your PhD at the age of 39?

[Anonymous]

Yes

No

It depends

[richardcory]

You can have a good career, but I'd recommend against pure academia. If you finish your PhD at say45, then 2-3 years post-doc, then if lucky assistant professor etc.. Its a long road.

You might consider something like a staff scientist career at a national lab or similar. The pay is actually better than academia, and you can start right out of grad school. You don't get to call yourself "professor" but you get do do a lot of the same work, sometimes even more since you don't have students to worry about

[exitseven]

I was going to say yes but it depends on what you major in. I got my masters degree at 39 and started my second career right afterwards but I got a degree in Computer science ans work in IT.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[Jazzy54]

Yes! Anything is possible! Go for it! 😌

[gothbxtch]

yes!!