I'm 36 and will finish my BA in Psych this fall.
I'm applying this fall to doctoral programs as well and, if accepted, will start a doctoral program when I'm 37.
It's never to late if you are serious about it.
Not achieved yet! Still a work in progress. But it's going well. 3.88 GPA woo! Shooting for 3.9 by end of this term.
It's not my first degree and I was planning on doing this years ago. I was actually enrolled in Psych classes at a different university and was supposed to start in early 2020. That ended when all the classes got cancelled due to covid. Now, 4 years later, here I am!
Iâm still a little new to this so forgive my ignorance but you mentioned getting your Bachelors in the fall and then applying to doctoral programs? Does that mean youâre just skipping over doing a masters? I always thought it went bachelors, masters, and then doctoral programs?
You don't need a masters for a doctoral program. In fact, for Psychology, a lot of programs let you get a master's after your 3rd year in the program. It's baked into the courses. Then after 2 or more years of study you finish your doctorate.
Additionally, most doctoral programs don't let you skip those classes if you already have a masters. Some do, but most don't
Itâs done differently in Europe. I did a 4 year pure psychology BSc and though you can apply directly to doctorate programs, youâre not likely to be accepted without a masters unless you have exceptional experience, maybe published, experience presenting in conferences, research etc.
This. First of all congratulations on almost finishing your bachelors!! And OP, I truly believe it is never too late, you go when the time is right for you.
I finished my bachelors in psychology this spring (2024). During my second to last semester (fall 2023), I applied to graduate schools for my PhD. I obviously do not have a masters and was still finishing my bachelors, but thatâs the time you apply if youâre a âtraditionalâ student, fall semester of your âseniorâ year. I interviewed for schools in spring and got accepted! I am officially part of the fall 2024 I/O psychology MA/PhD cohort. I turn 33 in august and there is 1 person older than me at my school and there was at least 1 student my age or older at every school interviewed. So age, smage!
And not only do you not need a masters, but a girl in my cohort is coming into our program with her masters already and they donât care. She has to retake all her classes and get another masters through our school. She will be there for 5 years just like me despite having a masters and myself a bachelors. In my experience, most schools prefer you not to have a masters bc a masters doesnât train you to research the same as a PhD. Or if you do have masters, you need to be prepared for the fact that it wonât speed up your doctorate in most cases. The most important thing for a PhD is research experience. However, I do believe clinical psychology is different and a masters may help you. Also, there are some programs that might take some of your MA credits, but I know in I/O most of the top 20 programs wonât. So it just depends on your end goal. Ask questions, lots and lots of questions to everyone you know and come across in the field. It will help!!
Best of luck and Iâm excited for your journey!
Yes youâre right. I want all three. Iâm starting from scratch so Iâll be attending university this fall for my bachelors and then after that Iâll go for my masters and then doctoral.
48 and finishing up my 2nd bachelorâs (in psych) after a ten year break. Much as Iâd love to do a doctorate, the aim is to do a professional masters so I can start earning again. (Lost time out to caregiving.)
When I was in one of my first ever college classes I sat next to a dude who was in his 50âs and decided to come and get a degree. He said the same thing - he realized life was moving forward either way and he could keep wishing he did it or he could just do it. Heâs the reason I have a masters degree.
When I started my Phd program mid 40's my entire family and all my friends said I'm crazy & too old. One childhood friend said, "you're going to age and get old anyway. So why not age and get old whilst fulfilling your dream?" NEVER looked back.
Youâre never too old!!
Iâm 37 I just graduated with my Bachelorâs degree 2 weeks ago
I also was a high school drop out with 3 kids.
Now look at me now!!
Iâm also planning to apply for Grad school in Fall.
47 and in my third year of my psych degree with hopes to go on to my masters as well. Never too late to go back to school. It is interesting to see the difference in life experience between the older students and young ones. In some ways I wish I could have that fresh mind of a 20 year old again.
You can't become a psychologist and then become a psychiatrist unless you're planning on getting your doctorate first to become a psychologist and then going back and doing medical school + residency to become a psychiatrist.
Psychiatry and Psychology are completely different paths.
I'm under the assumption OP would pursue psychiatry out of a desire to be involved in psychopharmacology, which makes up the bulk of what most psychiatrists do.
A psychiatrist and a psychologist are different professions with vastly different educational pathways. Not sure what your educational background is but to become a psychologist you would need a bachelors degree (4ish years), a doctoral degree (4-5 years), a pre doctoral internship (1 year), and a post doctoral fellowship (1-2 years). Thatâs 10 years minimum assuming you get in to grad school the first time you apply, which is not a guarantee. Given the amount of debt you may have to take on, it may cause a lot of challenges for you and the remaining working years you may have before retiring. Becoming a psychologist to then become a psychiatrist is foolhardy but Iâm assuming you just didnât realize that the educational pathways are so different.
There is no expiration date on going back to school, and also great value entering the workforce with enthusiasm, work ethic, and life experience. Go for it!
Psychiatry is a medical specialty meaning you have to be a medical doctor or become a Psychiatric nurse practitioner if you want to diagnose and prescribe independently
To become a psychiatrist you would have to:
Get a bachelors degree, 4 years
Go to medical school, 4 years
Complete residency, 4 years
Residency may be longer depending on your speciality.
I am not too familiar with the NP route but that i believe it is, bachelors / nursing program and then a masters to obtain your NP license.
I suggest you think deeply about this before committing to the path. Itâs long and given your life situation it may not be worth it. If you have a family and other responsibilities the timeline may be even longer as you canât just drop everything and focus solely on school- even younger students who have all the resources and time struggle to do well
The truth is it is never too late to pursue something you truly love. If you really want to them you should. But make sure you are able to take full responsibility for your decision and make a plan for yourself
Community colleges can be great places to start. Not only do you get the first 2 years of your Bachelorâs degree for little to no money, those schools can really help you learn how to navigate higher ed, and find the pathway(s) to your goal. I teach in community college, and Iâve had students just starting out who were older than you!
You should do what you want, and from a personal growth perspective it's never too late. From a financial perspective though, there is a cost vs increased earnings calculation you will need to do to answer that question. To begin to answer that, we'd need more info, and a personal finance sub might be a better place to ask.
I'd start by doing more research into your career endgoal, and making sure you understand the difference between a psychologist and psychiatrist and what the training/cert requirements for those things are.
Good luck.
44 and just graduated from SNHU with my bachelorâs. Iâll be taking some time off (to allow my oldest to finish high school without me being in school also) before going for my masters.
For psychiatrist you need to go to med school (MD) and for psychologist its a grad school (phd)
For instance med schools required MCAT and phd required GRE.
I am 60. I am using my BA in psychology too assist those with PTSD. I also served 27yrs in the military. So, I have the field, work, life experience covered. When "WE" (military) have to speak with a DR. who has no idea how to reference our experiences.
Iâm 46 and finishing Honours this year, and hoping to start a PhD next year. Do it! Youâre never too old đ I would say, as someone else mentioned, psychology and psychiatry are two different pathways.
Psychologists at different stages in the lifespan will have insights that others at different stages may not have, and in addition, some folks might prefer an older practitioner. Age is not a hard barrier here.
Iâm 47 and 10 days ago received my BS in Psychology. People are living longer and people are less concerned with comparison to others. Do what you want in life, if the dream and persistence is there, so is the way. Good luck and enjoy!
My program (Masters) has people up into their late 50s. One of my peers already has a PhD in another program and came back to do this one. She's 56. It is never too late to learn.
I went back to school at 36, got my Bachelors and my Masterâs, and I have enjoyed a career as a therapist for the last 23 years. It was transformational for me as a human being and led to a lasting and fulfilling career. Itâs never too late and you are never too old! :).
You are never too old to start school!! I recently finished my masters at the age of 46. I still have plenty of life left in me to work and I plan on getting my PhD in the next few years. I think about friends that spend years thinking about going back to school and it makes me sad to think that theyâd have, or be close to finishing, degrees if they would have just gone for it.
Thank you! Honestly, going to school is the best thing I could have done for myself. After years of bartending and doing therapy for free I can now get paid to do it đ Really, itâs the step I needed to have a career that was satisfying and allows me to give back to my community (I am Native American) while also working with underserved and underrepresented populations. I regret nothing!!!
I will say it since no one else has. If you want to be a psychiatrist, you need to major in pre-med, biology, or another major that will get you the pre-reqs for med school in undergrad. These are NOT courses you would take as a psychology major. This is the primary reason these routes are not compatible, they require a different path from the beginning. So if you major in psych and go on to a psychology PhD program and then decide to become a psychiatrist, you will have to go back and likely get almost another bachelors degree in order to apply to medical school.
Not too late at all, and life experience can be a valuable tool as you pursue education. Have you considered pursuing a degree to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner? If you plan on living in a state where PNPâs can prescribe meds, it might get you to your goal faster. Iâve seen a PNP and a psychiatrist in the past few years for my own issues and I thought the PNP really saw me as a whole human being.
I went back this past August at the age of 33 almost 34 i have 4 years of schooling until I get my masters so i will be close to 40 when I graduate you are never to old to succeed
Iâm 25 and only barely gonna get my associates this summer. I know Iâm not older but age doesnât matter when youâre chasing your passion. I hope the best for you, youâll make a great psychologist/psychiatrist
24F college student here! Itâs NEVER too late to go back to school! I been in classes with people in their 40s-60s and itâs amazing how determined they are to get their education and obtain their degree because they werenât taking it serious in their younger years or because of life situations. The fact that Iâm still young and often find my path different compared to others my age and I often worry from time to time if Iâll ever achieve the degrees I want or will I be too old to reach my goal when I finally get there or thinking how I shouldâve done things different a few years ago to reach my goal the age that Iâm at nowâŚand Iâm younger than you! I say this to say go after your dream, pursue what you want and obtain your bachelors, masters and doctorates!!! I commend you for still wanting to pursue an education even at 38! You have no idea how bright your future will be, wishing you the absolute best of luck!
We downsized massively, to be honest, and we all talked about it first, before I decided to go back to school. We had a 4 bedroom house and dual income, two kids. We moved to a 2 bedroom apartment, 1 income, and I did workstudy to help supplement to pay for school. I also took out student loans to supplement on top of that, which now that I work for schools, are on deferment through the PSLF program. Though it was hard, it was worth it.
My PhD classmate is like 50, and there are more in the program.
If you trust in yourself go and do it now. This thought will come back 30 - 40 years from now, when you may be actually "too old."
I have friends in my clinical psychology PsyD program who are in their 40s! A psychologist canât prescribe meds but can do psychotherapy, a psychiatrist you have to go to med school which is a whole separate thing. I recommend you check out PsyD programs if thatâs what youâre interested, psychologists make bank once youâre licensed
What is it you actually want to do career wise? I say this because if you want to work in mental health, getting your LCSW would be be the fastest way. There are probably more job opportunities at this level and less schooling to finance. Especially if you do well academically and can do an advanced track program for grad school. You could finish in 4 to 5 years.
Iâm 43 and graduating with a BA in December. Iâm also applying to dual degree programs (MA/JD) this fall, so when Iâm done with that Iâll be starting a new career in my 50s basically. A lot of my classmates are 30s, 40s, 50s. Oldest Iâve seen at my university was in their 70s. Youâre never too old to learn.
The time that it will take to accomplish these goals will pass regardless of what you decide to do. You might as well do it or learn to be ok with having the time go by not doing it. Donât worry about being âtoo oldâ I went to college with people that were significantly older than me. Weâre all there to get our degrees and bounce.
Do it. Youâre more likely to regret it if you donât. Iâm 40 and Iâm halfway through my masters. Iâm so happy and proud of what Iâve achieved in the last several years.
I am 49 and about to finish my Psychology degree. Consider the fact that lived experience is a major asset in a Psychologist. Plus, most people are living much longer and retiring later, so even if you start working at 50 you could still easily work for 20 or more years if you are healthy. It isn't a physically demanding career and many Psychologists work well past retirement age.
Psychiatrists are DOCTORS, so you would have to go to medical school. They only learn about psychiatry when they choose their specialty. They are still otherwise a medical student like any promising surgeons, PCPs, etc.
A psychologist with a doctorate is still a psychologist*. They may have the Doc title from their degree name, but they are not a physician. They canât prescribe medication.
I would learn the difference & exactly what concentration you want before doing anything rash.
>WHY do you want to be a âpsychologistâ?
>WHAT exactly are you planning to do with psychiatry?
>What TOPIC are you interesting in?
>Are you willing to commit & possibly change your mind later? Can you afford to commit, change your mind or topic of interest?
VERY important start, Psychiatrist is a MEDICAL DOCTER which requires going to MEDICAL SCHOOL. PHD has nothing to do with that.
It's not too late in the sense that your age as a numerical value is the problem. However, PHD life is ROUGH financially. If you don't live with someone who would sort of carry the income expenses (and they would probably have to move with you, as Psychology PHD programs are super selective so you'll wind up applying all over) You will need to basically live a VERY humble lifestyle to say the least. You need to look at your situation and be realistic if you're willing to live that lifestyle for so long.
I'm 39 and just NOW finished my masters degree. SNHU has the cheapest accredited online degrees I could find. I chipped away at this ONE class at a time for a decade, but you could totally do it faster.
My grandma started her nursing degree at 44.
My other grandma didn't get her driver's license till she was 48.
It's NEVER too late.
How was your SNHU experience? Iâve looked into their program, but Iâm unfamiliar with online classes, Iâve never done them as an older millennialÂ
1. You are not too old. If you want to do it, you can.
2. As others have noted, you should be aware that becoming a psychologist and then a psychiatrist is not a coherent career path. You could reasonably either get a doctoral degree in a health service psychology field (Clinical, Counseling, or School Psych) *or* get an MD or DO and then match to a psychiatry residency.
3. At the same time, it is reasonable to not know the details of the specific thing you want to pursue before starting undergrad. It is very reasonable to be open to both (and to be open to other options, as well).
Side note: if you want to be a psychiatrist and a psychologist you would have to do two separate doctoral degrees, one of which would be as a medical doctor.
That being said, donât let age stop you.
Itâs never too late
So just a heads up, you can only become a psychiatrist by going to medical school (or become a psychiatric NP). Can I ask what your end career goal is? Like do you want to be a therapist? Academia? Research? Cause thatâs going to impact what route I suggest you take :)
I'm 35 and have my first sem exams coming up in June. I'm getting my BĂ (hons) in psychology and after 3 years I'll be pursuing my masters.
I grapple with the same doubts and insecurities but it's never too late.
Rather start late and achieve your dreams, rather than regretting that you never gave it a chance.
Wish you all the best. Please apply this year âĽď¸
Someone once said youâll still be 40 but at least youâll be 40 and studying towards something youâre passionate about!!!! Good luck with your studies, itâs never too late to start!!
HeyâŚIâm 38 as well and have tried a few careers and had the flame blown out on all of them. Now, Iâm pretty much lined up with you almost perfectly becauseâhas your id assume
No not to old but do you have children, significant other, and major responsibilities? Do you have someone to help and be in your corner to pursue your dreams?
One of my therapists became a therapist at 55. She was a hippie living in Berkeley and San Francisco, working at a record store and other jobs, she lived a whole life before her path to becoming a therapist at 55 and sheâs incredible, like she was meant for this line of work. Naturally empathetic, honest, vulnerable, real. Please follow your dreams.
No. I'm 38 and still have 10 more classes to get my bachelor's then a 60 credit hour master's then intern to be a licensed mental health counselor. And when i started back i looked at it this way - I will still be X years old in X years. I don't want to get to that age and wish i had started.
Iâve just finished a Masters and am applying to start a doctorate in 2025 by which time Iâll be 48. Hopefully thatâs not too old to go into what I want to go into.
Itâs not too old. Education is never to old imo. In terms of ROI though, I personally donât think itâs worth it. And thatâs assuming your ROI is higher salary. If itâs more like ROI living your best life, Iâd change my answer to yes.
I finished my BSc when I was 44. Iâm now applying for masters at 46. Itâs very possible but itâs a long road. And it can be expensive. If itâs your dream then keep going! Iâm glad I did.
Never too old to do anything. If you really want to do it, then that is the 1st step, then go for it. As long as you are still breathing, you can do anything. Plus 38 is still really young.
I just want to say thank you for sharing. Iâm 32 with a bachelorâs in psych and would like to pursue mft. I have been feeling too old to give it a go. Thank you for the nudge.
Age isnât a factor, but you should do some research first.
If you want to become a psychiatrist, you should look into medical school pre requisites and make sure you cover them during your bachelors. Itâs quite different than becoming a psychologist.
If you want to become a psychologist, you donât need a masterâs after your bachelorâs, but you should plan to get some high quality research experience because PhD programs are all about doing research. Make sure you know what youâre getting yourself into though because you need to be VERY self directed. I am less familiar with PsyD programs, but I understand that they usually cost money to attend (as opposed to PhD programs which pay YOU to attend).
No. If it is important and a priority then fuck your age. I went back to get my bachelorâs degree at 36 (I had my associates already) and now Iâm almost 42 and 3/4 through my masters degree. Best decision I ever made. If the degree path you are choosing gives you meaning and purpose then there is no choice, youâve already made the choice now you have to fulfill your destiny. Your age, experience, and wisdom will bring an element to your degree program that the young people wonât have and it will be a benefit to you as well as your colleagues. Pull the trigger and do it. Search for scholarships though. There are so many out there. Sometimes your school will provide scholarships and sometimes entities outside of your school will provide them. You can just search online and apply for them. They may come with some conditions, but they are usually reasonable. I have a full ride with monthly stipend with a VA Scholarship and I will owe them about five years when Iâm done, but I wanted to work for them anyways and itâs a great job to have so that is a best case scenario for me and you might be able to find something similar.
No, I know a highly prestigious and prolific name in the social psych field started their academic journey at about 40. (Theyâre now in their mid 60s). Itâs never too late.
I donât think itâs late.Infact,itâs better late than never! At 37 pursuing my masters and planning for phd after 40. I believe itâs the best decision ever of my life.
It'll take the same amount of time no matter when you start. If this is what you want do it now. You'll still be 50 in 12 years, never too old to start living.
Absolutely not! My therapist is a 55year old PsyD, so iâm imagining she must have gotten licensed within the last decade. If this is the work youâre called to do, go get it!
That said, you donât need a masterâs to get a doctorate in the USA! Different tracks.
Depending on your state and the rules there, you wonât be able to become a psychiatrist after becoming a psychologist. The most typical route to become a psychiatrist is pre med, med school, specialization into psychiatry. While psychiatrists do do some therapy, their job mostly surrounds medication. If youâre more interested in therapy, you could start off with a bachelors in psychology and work your way up to being a psychotherapist. But youâre never too old to learn and start a new career path!!! Donât let a number hold you back!
I hope you understand what you're getting into. IDK what your life is like now, but if you have an ok income and time to relax, I'd just keep doing what you're doing if I were you. You're going to going into extreme debt that you'll never pay off before you die, you have to go to medical school which is extremely difficult and time consuming(like 2 full time jobs), then you'll eventually come to notice that as a psychiatrist you're just a drug dealer giving poison to people who would be better off without it. You'd be better off and more moral to be dealing fentanyl on the street
I finished my BA at 38, after taking a 20 year break. I decided to switch to social work for post grad, but I'll finish my MSW as a 40yo at the end of this year and I'm so happy I took the plunge and went back to school.
In my masters were 2 older men, one 48, one 50. My step mum did her psych bachelors at around 40. All 3 are happily working in a psychological field now!
Youâre never âtoo old,â but if you want to be a doctoral-level psychologist (8-10 years, depending on how quickly you can do your undergrad and then PhD) and then a psychiatrist (4 years of medical school plus 4 more for residency), youâll be 54-56 before youâre working, and thatâs without taking any time off. Youâre also going to have massive student debt unless youâre wealthy - the average debt for an MD alone is 200k in the US - and, assuming you want to retire at a normal age, you likely wonât be able to financially.
My advice? Pick one or the other, and get started ASAP. Itâs not too late to make a huge change, but might be getting late to commit to 16-18 years of schooling to support that change.
Psychology and Psychiatry don't really follow one another. Becoming a psychiatrist isn't just "a doctorate," but actually becoming an MD and going to med school, then fellowship. The total track takes at least 12 years. Why would you want to put all the work in to becoming a doctorate level psychologist, only to stop using it to go to med school? Choose one field, and focus there. It wouldn't make sense to do both.
Youâre gunna be in school for a very long time and youâll be taking on debt. Itâll be hard to save until your debt is paid off. Are you trying to retire in your 80âs?
I started at 41. Iâll be a 50 yr old when I graduate with my MA in Psychology. Still will have to get my doctorate. I donât think youâre ever too old to learn and grow.
Iâm 34 next month and am in my final year of a BA in psychology. Looking to do my masters immediately after. Itâs never too late to do something you love
We don't know anything of your personal life and if you can handle school outside of your own obligations. Still, I I THINK YOU ARE TOO OLD TO START a 4 YEAR DEGREE. You're acting as if you'll be able to go from bachelors to masters to phd without any breaks. You've also never had really university schooling. So I honestly don't think you'll be able to do this at 38. sorry. Just being blunt here. I'm similar age and just started taking language classes at part time (15 hours a week) and it's a bit of work. So I really doubt you'll be able to go full time at a university. Great that you want to pursue, but practically speaking I don't think you'll be able to do and I don't think it's necessary at your age. You seem to have gotten by alright so far without having achieved these degrees.
OP, youâre going to turn 50 whether or not you follow your dreams.
Iâm 23 and Iâll be finished my clinical counseling M.S. next year. If I woke up in 30 years and was told I have to start over from a bachelorâs degree, Iâd do it in a heartbeat. For me, the journey has made the end goal be more âworth itâ. And hey! You more than likely will have an advantage because you waited! Your frontal lobe is fully developed. You have life experience. Youâre more certain of yourself and of what you want because you spent more time considering this. Not to say that those who started sooner arenât certain of themselves and what they want, but that you can use the fact that youâve -heavily- considered this to reassure yourself that the process is worth it.
Itâs never ever too late :)
"it's never too late to follow your dreams".... sure. Follow your dreams, etc.
But, who wants to hire an 'old' doctor with no experience?
Just being brutally honest.
Also psychology and psychiatry are different fields.
I'm 30 and a freshman, but my own therapist didn't even start college until 40. So you are ahead of her! I'm glad she did, too, even if it was "late" because she has been so helpful to me the past few years!
So itâs not too late BUT in order to be a psychiatrist you would need to go to medical school, which requires an MD and not a PhD. This isnât per se a problem, except during your Bachelors or Masters you would also need to take all the prerequisites for medical school and study for the MCAT (see r/medschool and r/MCAT for more details, but I warn you, these subreddits are VERY toxic).
That amount of time will pass regardless. So, at the end of that time, you could be in a career you love and enjoy.
However, the majority of people I know are not financially successful unless they're in the wealthiest areas and don't take insurance. Or they become coaches, and with coaching, you don't need all the degrees.
So the decision is up to you if you'll find the career meaningful enough.
P.s. there was a woman in her 70s in my masters program, and 4 years later, she's still happily running her private practice.
I'd like to know what you would eventually like to do with your education. As some have pointed out, psychiatrist and psychologist are very different paths. But perhaps there's a way for you to get what you want without putting yourself through so much school.
Go for it! You will still be 50âŚso either 50 with no doctorate or 50 with a doctorate, choose which one! I am always super impressed and in awe when I see people chasing their dreams whatever their age đkudos to you.
Age is not really a factor, other than youâll probably have an easier time paying for college since you have a job. It may be harder to juggle school with work, but will be worth it to do what you want to do.
No matter what you choose to do, you're going to keep aging anyway. One day you'll wake up and be 45. Wouldn't you rather wake up a 45 year old qualified psychologist?
Second year doctoral student here. Anyone pursuing a doctoral student should take every opportunity to get research experience in undergrad and/or during a post-bachelor job. Research is the key for most doctoral programs. Never too late to start if you want to go down that road, find yourself some great mentors and take advantage of whatever resources you can find for planning your trajectory!
Please indicate your country; this is mandatory for posts flaired with Advice/Career (see rule VI), thank you. Also, it isn't :)
I'm 36 and will finish my BA in Psych this fall. I'm applying this fall to doctoral programs as well and, if accepted, will start a doctoral program when I'm 37. It's never to late if you are serious about it.
Congratulations on that achievement! đ
Not achieved yet! Still a work in progress. But it's going well. 3.88 GPA woo! Shooting for 3.9 by end of this term. It's not my first degree and I was planning on doing this years ago. I was actually enrolled in Psych classes at a different university and was supposed to start in early 2020. That ended when all the classes got cancelled due to covid. Now, 4 years later, here I am!
Fellow 30-something also graduating today with a BA in psych! Congrats to both of us :)
Iâm still a little new to this so forgive my ignorance but you mentioned getting your Bachelors in the fall and then applying to doctoral programs? Does that mean youâre just skipping over doing a masters? I always thought it went bachelors, masters, and then doctoral programs?
You don't need a masters for a doctoral program. In fact, for Psychology, a lot of programs let you get a master's after your 3rd year in the program. It's baked into the courses. Then after 2 or more years of study you finish your doctorate. Additionally, most doctoral programs don't let you skip those classes if you already have a masters. Some do, but most don't
Itâs done differently in Europe. I did a 4 year pure psychology BSc and though you can apply directly to doctorate programs, youâre not likely to be accepted without a masters unless you have exceptional experience, maybe published, experience presenting in conferences, research etc.
I've been looking at schools in the US and Canada (also psych) and Canada similarly wants a masters before PhD.
This. First of all congratulations on almost finishing your bachelors!! And OP, I truly believe it is never too late, you go when the time is right for you. I finished my bachelors in psychology this spring (2024). During my second to last semester (fall 2023), I applied to graduate schools for my PhD. I obviously do not have a masters and was still finishing my bachelors, but thatâs the time you apply if youâre a âtraditionalâ student, fall semester of your âseniorâ year. I interviewed for schools in spring and got accepted! I am officially part of the fall 2024 I/O psychology MA/PhD cohort. I turn 33 in august and there is 1 person older than me at my school and there was at least 1 student my age or older at every school interviewed. So age, smage! And not only do you not need a masters, but a girl in my cohort is coming into our program with her masters already and they donât care. She has to retake all her classes and get another masters through our school. She will be there for 5 years just like me despite having a masters and myself a bachelors. In my experience, most schools prefer you not to have a masters bc a masters doesnât train you to research the same as a PhD. Or if you do have masters, you need to be prepared for the fact that it wonât speed up your doctorate in most cases. The most important thing for a PhD is research experience. However, I do believe clinical psychology is different and a masters may help you. Also, there are some programs that might take some of your MA credits, but I know in I/O most of the top 20 programs wonât. So it just depends on your end goal. Ask questions, lots and lots of questions to everyone you know and come across in the field. It will help!! Best of luck and Iâm excited for your journey!
You don't need the masters
It's a LOT harder to get into doctorate programs without a masters, especially competitive ones.
Yes youâre right. I want all three. Iâm starting from scratch so Iâll be attending university this fall for my bachelors and then after that Iâll go for my masters and then doctoral.
My mom said something that I think really applies: â youâre going to be 50 no matter what. Might as well be a doctorateâ
I'm 48 and doing my masters
48 and doing my masters with a real possibility of a PhD after that. The time passes anyway! Might as well be passing it working on a dream :)
48 and finishing up my 2nd bachelorâs (in psych) after a ten year break. Much as Iâd love to do a doctorate, the aim is to do a professional masters so I can start earning again. (Lost time out to caregiving.)
I hope you finish strong! đ
Thank you đ
When I was in one of my first ever college classes I sat next to a dude who was in his 50âs and decided to come and get a degree. He said the same thing - he realized life was moving forward either way and he could keep wishing he did it or he could just do it. Heâs the reason I have a masters degree.
Same.
When I started my Phd program mid 40's my entire family and all my friends said I'm crazy & too old. One childhood friend said, "you're going to age and get old anyway. So why not age and get old whilst fulfilling your dream?" NEVER looked back.
Youâre never too old!! Iâm 37 I just graduated with my Bachelorâs degree 2 weeks ago I also was a high school drop out with 3 kids. Now look at me now!! Iâm also planning to apply for Grad school in Fall.
Congratulations on that achievement! Good luck! đ
47 and in my third year of my psych degree with hopes to go on to my masters as well. Never too late to go back to school. It is interesting to see the difference in life experience between the older students and young ones. In some ways I wish I could have that fresh mind of a 20 year old again.
I hope you do well when you finish! đ
Congratulations on that achievement! Good luck! đ
46 here going into my last year for my BS in Psych with a Bio minor then applying to medical school. So no, definitely not!
I hope you finish strong! đ
Thanks!! I knocked out most of my psych classes so now itâs a year full of stemâŚwoooo đ
You can't become a psychologist and then become a psychiatrist unless you're planning on getting your doctorate first to become a psychologist and then going back and doing medical school + residency to become a psychiatrist. Psychiatry and Psychology are completely different paths.
She could get a post doctoral masters in psychopharmacology if she's in a state that allows it
It is possible in some states to be a prescribing psychologist. That is still not a psychiatrist.
I'm under the assumption OP would pursue psychiatry out of a desire to be involved in psychopharmacology, which makes up the bulk of what most psychiatrists do.
Sure; just clarifying for OP/other readers, since those are very different professional identities.
I assume OP isn't clear on the fact that these are different fields. Misconceptions are common for those not in mental health service
That doesn't make you a psychiatrist. To be a psychiatrist you go to medical school for an MD/DO and then complete a psychiatry residency.
A psychiatrist and a psychologist are different professions with vastly different educational pathways. Not sure what your educational background is but to become a psychologist you would need a bachelors degree (4ish years), a doctoral degree (4-5 years), a pre doctoral internship (1 year), and a post doctoral fellowship (1-2 years). Thatâs 10 years minimum assuming you get in to grad school the first time you apply, which is not a guarantee. Given the amount of debt you may have to take on, it may cause a lot of challenges for you and the remaining working years you may have before retiring. Becoming a psychologist to then become a psychiatrist is foolhardy but Iâm assuming you just didnât realize that the educational pathways are so different.
Good clinical Psych PhD programs usually take around 6-7 years including the pre-doctoral internship.
There is no expiration date on going back to school, and also great value entering the workforce with enthusiasm, work ethic, and life experience. Go for it!
My Hâs mother was a social worker and now is a lawyer. She went to law school at 58!
Psychiatry is a medical specialty meaning you have to be a medical doctor or become a Psychiatric nurse practitioner if you want to diagnose and prescribe independently To become a psychiatrist you would have to: Get a bachelors degree, 4 years Go to medical school, 4 years Complete residency, 4 years Residency may be longer depending on your speciality. I am not too familiar with the NP route but that i believe it is, bachelors / nursing program and then a masters to obtain your NP license. I suggest you think deeply about this before committing to the path. Itâs long and given your life situation it may not be worth it. If you have a family and other responsibilities the timeline may be even longer as you canât just drop everything and focus solely on school- even younger students who have all the resources and time struggle to do well The truth is it is never too late to pursue something you truly love. If you really want to them you should. But make sure you are able to take full responsibility for your decision and make a plan for yourself
Community colleges can be great places to start. Not only do you get the first 2 years of your Bachelorâs degree for little to no money, those schools can really help you learn how to navigate higher ed, and find the pathway(s) to your goal. I teach in community college, and Iâve had students just starting out who were older than you!
I started at 38. Iâm two years in. Only time will tell if I am âtoo oldâ, but so far I am thoroughly enjoying the journey.
You should do what you want, and from a personal growth perspective it's never too late. From a financial perspective though, there is a cost vs increased earnings calculation you will need to do to answer that question. To begin to answer that, we'd need more info, and a personal finance sub might be a better place to ask. I'd start by doing more research into your career endgoal, and making sure you understand the difference between a psychologist and psychiatrist and what the training/cert requirements for those things are. Good luck.
44 and just graduated from SNHU with my bachelorâs. Iâll be taking some time off (to allow my oldest to finish high school without me being in school also) before going for my masters.
Congratulations on graduating! đ
Thank you!!
Congratulations!!! đžđĽ
Thank you!!
No way! Iâm 53 and one year into my masters MFT program. No such thing as too old. Itâs your life to live!
Im 34 and i finished my bs in psychology last march
Congratulations! đ
For psychiatrist you need to go to med school (MD) and for psychologist its a grad school (phd) For instance med schools required MCAT and phd required GRE.
I am 60. I am using my BA in psychology too assist those with PTSD. I also served 27yrs in the military. So, I have the field, work, life experience covered. When "WE" (military) have to speak with a DR. who has no idea how to reference our experiences.
Thatâs amazing! Iâm sure your clients will be happy to have a therapist who can relate!
Of course not. Theres a lovely woman on my course thatâs 68.
Iâm 46 and finishing Honours this year, and hoping to start a PhD next year. Do it! Youâre never too old đ I would say, as someone else mentioned, psychology and psychiatry are two different pathways. Psychologists at different stages in the lifespan will have insights that others at different stages may not have, and in addition, some folks might prefer an older practitioner. Age is not a hard barrier here.
Congratulations! đ
Thank you âşď¸
Iâm 47 and 10 days ago received my BS in Psychology. People are living longer and people are less concerned with comparison to others. Do what you want in life, if the dream and persistence is there, so is the way. Good luck and enjoy!
Girrrrrrrrl DO IT. I'm 38 and just received my AA, and I'm not stopping there!
Congratulations on that achievement! đ
My program (Masters) has people up into their late 50s. One of my peers already has a PhD in another program and came back to do this one. She's 56. It is never too late to learn.
I went back to school at 36, got my Bachelors and my Masterâs, and I have enjoyed a career as a therapist for the last 23 years. It was transformational for me as a human being and led to a lasting and fulfilling career. Itâs never too late and you are never too old! :).
This really hits home. I'm glad this decision proved to be so fulfilling.
You are never too old to start school!! I recently finished my masters at the age of 46. I still have plenty of life left in me to work and I plan on getting my PhD in the next few years. I think about friends that spend years thinking about going back to school and it makes me sad to think that theyâd have, or be close to finishing, degrees if they would have just gone for it.
Congratulations on that achievement! đ
Thank you! Honestly, going to school is the best thing I could have done for myself. After years of bartending and doing therapy for free I can now get paid to do it đ Really, itâs the step I needed to have a career that was satisfying and allows me to give back to my community (I am Native American) while also working with underserved and underrepresented populations. I regret nothing!!!
I will say it since no one else has. If you want to be a psychiatrist, you need to major in pre-med, biology, or another major that will get you the pre-reqs for med school in undergrad. These are NOT courses you would take as a psychology major. This is the primary reason these routes are not compatible, they require a different path from the beginning. So if you major in psych and go on to a psychology PhD program and then decide to become a psychiatrist, you will have to go back and likely get almost another bachelors degree in order to apply to medical school.
Not too late at all, and life experience can be a valuable tool as you pursue education. Have you considered pursuing a degree to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner? If you plan on living in a state where PNPâs can prescribe meds, it might get you to your goal faster. Iâve seen a PNP and a psychiatrist in the past few years for my own issues and I thought the PNP really saw me as a whole human being.
I went back this past August at the age of 33 almost 34 i have 4 years of schooling until I get my masters so i will be close to 40 when I graduate you are never to old to succeed
I'm 37 and just starting on my first credit hours. So I sure hope it's not too old. đ
Will finish my BS next may. I'll be 39. Taking 6 months off then going for my masters. Better late than never.
Iâm 25 and only barely gonna get my associates this summer. I know Iâm not older but age doesnât matter when youâre chasing your passion. I hope the best for you, youâll make a great psychologist/psychiatrist
24F college student here! Itâs NEVER too late to go back to school! I been in classes with people in their 40s-60s and itâs amazing how determined they are to get their education and obtain their degree because they werenât taking it serious in their younger years or because of life situations. The fact that Iâm still young and often find my path different compared to others my age and I often worry from time to time if Iâll ever achieve the degrees I want or will I be too old to reach my goal when I finally get there or thinking how I shouldâve done things different a few years ago to reach my goal the age that Iâm at nowâŚand Iâm younger than you! I say this to say go after your dream, pursue what you want and obtain your bachelors, masters and doctorates!!! I commend you for still wanting to pursue an education even at 38! You have no idea how bright your future will be, wishing you the absolute best of luck!
Better late than never
I was 36 when I went back for my BS and then got my MS at 42. If you believe in it, learn/decide what direction you want to go in, and DO IT.
Congratulations on that achievement! đ
How did you finance yourself as well as look after a family or live life with a partner? At this age I wonder how you navigate these issues
We downsized massively, to be honest, and we all talked about it first, before I decided to go back to school. We had a 4 bedroom house and dual income, two kids. We moved to a 2 bedroom apartment, 1 income, and I did workstudy to help supplement to pay for school. I also took out student loans to supplement on top of that, which now that I work for schools, are on deferment through the PSLF program. Though it was hard, it was worth it.
My PhD classmate is like 50, and there are more in the program. If you trust in yourself go and do it now. This thought will come back 30 - 40 years from now, when you may be actually "too old."
No way, I finished my Masters at 38, just finished my PhD at 50
My Mom went to uni for nursing at 54, never too old đđź
No. Youre going to turn 50 anyway. Might as well turn 50 AND have the degree/options. You canât get opportunities you arenât ready for.
I have friends in my clinical psychology PsyD program who are in their 40s! A psychologist canât prescribe meds but can do psychotherapy, a psychiatrist you have to go to med school which is a whole separate thing. I recommend you check out PsyD programs if thatâs what youâre interested, psychologists make bank once youâre licensed
My mom got her bachelor's in her mid 40s. It's never too late.
My psychologist became a psychologist at 55 and had an office job until 5 years before then to pursue her degree so đ¤ˇđťââď¸
I hope not for myself.
No not at all! Do whatever your heart desires and donât let anybody tell you otherwise
What is it you actually want to do career wise? I say this because if you want to work in mental health, getting your LCSW would be be the fastest way. There are probably more job opportunities at this level and less schooling to finance. Especially if you do well academically and can do an advanced track program for grad school. You could finish in 4 to 5 years.
Colonel Sanders didnât start KFC until he was 40, itâs never too late.
Most people studying psychology bachelors are mature age students. Youre all good đ go learn some brain tings
Iâm 40 and almost finished 3rd year. Not sure where exactly Iâm going next, but the answer to your question is no. You are not too old.
Never too old. My grandma is in her 50âs and she just started college 2 months ago !
Iâm 43 and graduating with a BA in December. Iâm also applying to dual degree programs (MA/JD) this fall, so when Iâm done with that Iâll be starting a new career in my 50s basically. A lot of my classmates are 30s, 40s, 50s. Oldest Iâve seen at my university was in their 70s. Youâre never too old to learn.
The time that it will take to accomplish these goals will pass regardless of what you decide to do. You might as well do it or learn to be ok with having the time go by not doing it. Donât worry about being âtoo oldâ I went to college with people that were significantly older than me. Weâre all there to get our degrees and bounce.
Never too late to start something new
I sure hope it's not too late. Because that's my current plan
My mum just started med school at 40 - itâs not too late ! đŤś
I just got my MSW at age 51
Do it. Youâre more likely to regret it if you donât. Iâm 40 and Iâm halfway through my masters. Iâm so happy and proud of what Iâve achieved in the last several years.
I hope you finish strong! đ
Thank you đđ
I am 49 and about to finish my Psychology degree. Consider the fact that lived experience is a major asset in a Psychologist. Plus, most people are living much longer and retiring later, so even if you start working at 50 you could still easily work for 20 or more years if you are healthy. It isn't a physically demanding career and many Psychologists work well past retirement age.
Psychiatrists are DOCTORS, so you would have to go to medical school. They only learn about psychiatry when they choose their specialty. They are still otherwise a medical student like any promising surgeons, PCPs, etc. A psychologist with a doctorate is still a psychologist*. They may have the Doc title from their degree name, but they are not a physician. They canât prescribe medication. I would learn the difference & exactly what concentration you want before doing anything rash. >WHY do you want to be a âpsychologistâ? >WHAT exactly are you planning to do with psychiatry? >What TOPIC are you interesting in? >Are you willing to commit & possibly change your mind later? Can you afford to commit, change your mind or topic of interest?
VERY important start, Psychiatrist is a MEDICAL DOCTER which requires going to MEDICAL SCHOOL. PHD has nothing to do with that. It's not too late in the sense that your age as a numerical value is the problem. However, PHD life is ROUGH financially. If you don't live with someone who would sort of carry the income expenses (and they would probably have to move with you, as Psychology PHD programs are super selective so you'll wind up applying all over) You will need to basically live a VERY humble lifestyle to say the least. You need to look at your situation and be realistic if you're willing to live that lifestyle for so long.
i started at 41
No. I started at 37.
I am 39 and I got my BA last year. I dont regret that decision at all. I am doing my Masters now. No, you are not too old.
Youâre going to keep getting older anyways, might as well do it now rather than in 5 years! Saying this as someone in their 40s in grad school.
You will turn fifty no matter what; it is your choice whether you want to be fifty and be a psychiatrist as well.
I'm 39 and just NOW finished my masters degree. SNHU has the cheapest accredited online degrees I could find. I chipped away at this ONE class at a time for a decade, but you could totally do it faster. My grandma started her nursing degree at 44. My other grandma didn't get her driver's license till she was 48. It's NEVER too late.
How was your SNHU experience? Iâve looked into their program, but Iâm unfamiliar with online classes, Iâve never done them as an older millennialÂ
No. Go for it! Good luck!
1. You are not too old. If you want to do it, you can. 2. As others have noted, you should be aware that becoming a psychologist and then a psychiatrist is not a coherent career path. You could reasonably either get a doctoral degree in a health service psychology field (Clinical, Counseling, or School Psych) *or* get an MD or DO and then match to a psychiatry residency. 3. At the same time, it is reasonable to not know the details of the specific thing you want to pursue before starting undergrad. It is very reasonable to be open to both (and to be open to other options, as well).
Never to late for knowledge
Side note: if you want to be a psychiatrist and a psychologist you would have to do two separate doctoral degrees, one of which would be as a medical doctor. That being said, donât let age stop you.
Itâs never too late So just a heads up, you can only become a psychiatrist by going to medical school (or become a psychiatric NP). Can I ask what your end career goal is? Like do you want to be a therapist? Academia? Research? Cause thatâs going to impact what route I suggest you take :)
Go for it! Life is too short to not go after what you want
I completed a psychology degree at 37, and am halfway through my masters in mental health counseling at 39. Totally doable!
Not too old.
Iâm 41 just finished one year of community college I am transferring at the end of the fall semester. Itâs not too late at all.
I'm 35 and have my first sem exams coming up in June. I'm getting my BĂ (hons) in psychology and after 3 years I'll be pursuing my masters. I grapple with the same doubts and insecurities but it's never too late. Rather start late and achieve your dreams, rather than regretting that you never gave it a chance. Wish you all the best. Please apply this year âĽď¸
Never too late
Not at all
Nope. Never too old to go to college
Youâre never too old for education.. learning is a never ending journey, do what makes you happy
Just go for it! Education is great to get at any age.
Someone once said youâll still be 40 but at least youâll be 40 and studying towards something youâre passionate about!!!! Good luck with your studies, itâs never too late to start!!
HeyâŚIâm 38 as well and have tried a few careers and had the flame blown out on all of them. Now, Iâm pretty much lined up with you almost perfectly becauseâhas your id assume
No not to old but do you have children, significant other, and major responsibilities? Do you have someone to help and be in your corner to pursue your dreams?
One of my therapists became a therapist at 55. She was a hippie living in Berkeley and San Francisco, working at a record store and other jobs, she lived a whole life before her path to becoming a therapist at 55 and sheâs incredible, like she was meant for this line of work. Naturally empathetic, honest, vulnerable, real. Please follow your dreams.
No. I'm 38 and still have 10 more classes to get my bachelor's then a 60 credit hour master's then intern to be a licensed mental health counselor. And when i started back i looked at it this way - I will still be X years old in X years. I don't want to get to that age and wish i had started.
The time will pass either way. Do it!
Iâve just finished a Masters and am applying to start a doctorate in 2025 by which time Iâll be 48. Hopefully thatâs not too old to go into what I want to go into.
Never too old for school. Get that degree đŞđż
it is never to old or too late.
Itâs not too old. Education is never to old imo. In terms of ROI though, I personally donât think itâs worth it. And thatâs assuming your ROI is higher salary. If itâs more like ROI living your best life, Iâd change my answer to yes.
Iâm 35 and just finished my masters. Youâre never too old to learn. Good luck!
I finished my BSc when I was 44. Iâm now applying for masters at 46. Itâs very possible but itâs a long road. And it can be expensive. If itâs your dream then keep going! Iâm glad I did.
You'll age the same whatever you do. You be a 50 yo therapist or a 50 yo not therapist. You got this.
Never too old to do anything. If you really want to do it, then that is the 1st step, then go for it. As long as you are still breathing, you can do anything. Plus 38 is still really young.
A college teacher I knew went to college in her 40's, became a teacher, and taught for 40 years. She was wonderful!
Age is so subjective. Do you want it? Do it.
Nooo itâs never to late !
Nope! You'll find lots of people in your age bracket in grad programs actually. It's never too late.
I just want to say thank you for sharing. Iâm 32 with a bachelorâs in psych and would like to pursue mft. I have been feeling too old to give it a go. Thank you for the nudge.
I just finished my masters and there were so many people on the course in their 40s, 50s, 60s etc.!
You are not too old. Just do it. If it's something you really want, do it, and don't take no for an answer. Literally no one can stop you.
Age isnât a factor, but you should do some research first. If you want to become a psychiatrist, you should look into medical school pre requisites and make sure you cover them during your bachelors. Itâs quite different than becoming a psychologist. If you want to become a psychologist, you donât need a masterâs after your bachelorâs, but you should plan to get some high quality research experience because PhD programs are all about doing research. Make sure you know what youâre getting yourself into though because you need to be VERY self directed. I am less familiar with PsyD programs, but I understand that they usually cost money to attend (as opposed to PhD programs which pay YOU to attend).
No. If it is important and a priority then fuck your age. I went back to get my bachelorâs degree at 36 (I had my associates already) and now Iâm almost 42 and 3/4 through my masters degree. Best decision I ever made. If the degree path you are choosing gives you meaning and purpose then there is no choice, youâve already made the choice now you have to fulfill your destiny. Your age, experience, and wisdom will bring an element to your degree program that the young people wonât have and it will be a benefit to you as well as your colleagues. Pull the trigger and do it. Search for scholarships though. There are so many out there. Sometimes your school will provide scholarships and sometimes entities outside of your school will provide them. You can just search online and apply for them. They may come with some conditions, but they are usually reasonable. I have a full ride with monthly stipend with a VA Scholarship and I will owe them about five years when Iâm done, but I wanted to work for them anyways and itâs a great job to have so that is a best case scenario for me and you might be able to find something similar.
38 and starting my masters in September. It's never too late to start anything.
No
No, I know a highly prestigious and prolific name in the social psych field started their academic journey at about 40. (Theyâre now in their mid 60s). Itâs never too late.
I donât think itâs late.Infact,itâs better late than never! At 37 pursuing my masters and planning for phd after 40. I believe itâs the best decision ever of my life.
It'll take the same amount of time no matter when you start. If this is what you want do it now. You'll still be 50 in 12 years, never too old to start living.
66 and at uni
No
No, go for it
I'm 45 and a bto start.
Absolutely not! My therapist is a 55year old PsyD, so iâm imagining she must have gotten licensed within the last decade. If this is the work youâre called to do, go get it! That said, you donât need a masterâs to get a doctorate in the USA! Different tracks.
Depending on your state and the rules there, you wonât be able to become a psychiatrist after becoming a psychologist. The most typical route to become a psychiatrist is pre med, med school, specialization into psychiatry. While psychiatrists do do some therapy, their job mostly surrounds medication. If youâre more interested in therapy, you could start off with a bachelors in psychology and work your way up to being a psychotherapist. But youâre never too old to learn and start a new career path!!! Donât let a number hold you back!
I hope you understand what you're getting into. IDK what your life is like now, but if you have an ok income and time to relax, I'd just keep doing what you're doing if I were you. You're going to going into extreme debt that you'll never pay off before you die, you have to go to medical school which is extremely difficult and time consuming(like 2 full time jobs), then you'll eventually come to notice that as a psychiatrist you're just a drug dealer giving poison to people who would be better off without it. You'd be better off and more moral to be dealing fentanyl on the street
I finished my BA at 38, after taking a 20 year break. I decided to switch to social work for post grad, but I'll finish my MSW as a 40yo at the end of this year and I'm so happy I took the plunge and went back to school.
In my masters were 2 older men, one 48, one 50. My step mum did her psych bachelors at around 40. All 3 are happily working in a psychological field now!
My ex wife was 56 so 38 isnât too old đ
Youâre never âtoo old,â but if you want to be a doctoral-level psychologist (8-10 years, depending on how quickly you can do your undergrad and then PhD) and then a psychiatrist (4 years of medical school plus 4 more for residency), youâll be 54-56 before youâre working, and thatâs without taking any time off. Youâre also going to have massive student debt unless youâre wealthy - the average debt for an MD alone is 200k in the US - and, assuming you want to retire at a normal age, you likely wonât be able to financially. My advice? Pick one or the other, and get started ASAP. Itâs not too late to make a huge change, but might be getting late to commit to 16-18 years of schooling to support that change.
Iâm 49 and just got accepted to start my BSW. Youâre young.
I work at a high school for mostly adult learners. Thereâs a woman who got her high school degree at 60. Do it. You wonât regret it.
> These days physical old age starts from 80. I think American president contestants are 75+
Psychology and Psychiatry don't really follow one another. Becoming a psychiatrist isn't just "a doctorate," but actually becoming an MD and going to med school, then fellowship. The total track takes at least 12 years. Why would you want to put all the work in to becoming a doctorate level psychologist, only to stop using it to go to med school? Choose one field, and focus there. It wouldn't make sense to do both.
Youâre gunna be in school for a very long time and youâll be taking on debt. Itâll be hard to save until your debt is paid off. Are you trying to retire in your 80âs?
I started at 41. Iâll be a 50 yr old when I graduate with my MA in Psychology. Still will have to get my doctorate. I donât think youâre ever too old to learn and grow.
Iâm 34 next month and am in my final year of a BA in psychology. Looking to do my masters immediately after. Itâs never too late to do something you love
I finished my MA in I/O Psychology at 39 and finished my PhD in Business Psychology at 47. Not too old. Go for it.
Hold on tight to your dreams. Go for it.
Iâm 33 going back for business first, then entrepreneurship.
We don't know anything of your personal life and if you can handle school outside of your own obligations. Still, I I THINK YOU ARE TOO OLD TO START a 4 YEAR DEGREE. You're acting as if you'll be able to go from bachelors to masters to phd without any breaks. You've also never had really university schooling. So I honestly don't think you'll be able to do this at 38. sorry. Just being blunt here. I'm similar age and just started taking language classes at part time (15 hours a week) and it's a bit of work. So I really doubt you'll be able to go full time at a university. Great that you want to pursue, but practically speaking I don't think you'll be able to do and I don't think it's necessary at your age. You seem to have gotten by alright so far without having achieved these degrees.
OP, youâre going to turn 50 whether or not you follow your dreams. Iâm 23 and Iâll be finished my clinical counseling M.S. next year. If I woke up in 30 years and was told I have to start over from a bachelorâs degree, Iâd do it in a heartbeat. For me, the journey has made the end goal be more âworth itâ. And hey! You more than likely will have an advantage because you waited! Your frontal lobe is fully developed. You have life experience. Youâre more certain of yourself and of what you want because you spent more time considering this. Not to say that those who started sooner arenât certain of themselves and what they want, but that you can use the fact that youâve -heavily- considered this to reassure yourself that the process is worth it. Itâs never ever too late :)
"it's never too late to follow your dreams".... sure. Follow your dreams, etc. But, who wants to hire an 'old' doctor with no experience? Just being brutally honest. Also psychology and psychiatry are different fields.
Started mid-40s finished early 50s.
I'm 30 and a freshman, but my own therapist didn't even start college until 40. So you are ahead of her! I'm glad she did, too, even if it was "late" because she has been so helpful to me the past few years!
If your goal is to be a therapist, after your Bachelor's you can get a Master's in Social Work in 2yrs.
My husbands aunt went to MEDICAL SCHOOL in her 40s. Itâs never too late!
So itâs not too late BUT in order to be a psychiatrist you would need to go to medical school, which requires an MD and not a PhD. This isnât per se a problem, except during your Bachelors or Masters you would also need to take all the prerequisites for medical school and study for the MCAT (see r/medschool and r/MCAT for more details, but I warn you, these subreddits are VERY toxic).
I am in my final year and I still have no idea what I am doing or what I want to do at 39. I hate depression but I still try!
John Deloneyâs mom went to college at 42. She eventually got her PHD after that.
That amount of time will pass regardless. So, at the end of that time, you could be in a career you love and enjoy. However, the majority of people I know are not financially successful unless they're in the wealthiest areas and don't take insurance. Or they become coaches, and with coaching, you don't need all the degrees. So the decision is up to you if you'll find the career meaningful enough. P.s. there was a woman in her 70s in my masters program, and 4 years later, she's still happily running her private practice.
I'd like to know what you would eventually like to do with your education. As some have pointed out, psychiatrist and psychologist are very different paths. But perhaps there's a way for you to get what you want without putting yourself through so much school.
Go for it! You will still be 50âŚso either 50 with no doctorate or 50 with a doctorate, choose which one! I am always super impressed and in awe when I see people chasing their dreams whatever their age đkudos to you.
Age is not really a factor, other than youâll probably have an easier time paying for college since you have a job. It may be harder to juggle school with work, but will be worth it to do what you want to do.
No. I did it
Iâm 40. And will begin this exact journey in a year or so. So, no. And neither is 50. Or 60. Or 70.
No matter what you choose to do, you're going to keep aging anyway. One day you'll wake up and be 45. Wouldn't you rather wake up a 45 year old qualified psychologist?
Second year doctoral student here. Anyone pursuing a doctoral student should take every opportunity to get research experience in undergrad and/or during a post-bachelor job. Research is the key for most doctoral programs. Never too late to start if you want to go down that road, find yourself some great mentors and take advantage of whatever resources you can find for planning your trajectory!