Is 24 too old to start a masters?

[kiwikow]

Our DD dropped down a year during secondary school because we moved countries. She then took a gap year. She then also did a year abroad, so she’s now finishing up her finals and is 3 years older than most of her coursemates.

I appreciate three years doesn’t seem much but she says she feels old / people comment that she’s 24 and they’re 20/21.

She’s thinking of doing a masters at Cambridge. Then what she doesn’t know. Maybe a law conversion and solicitor exams/training. This would bring her out at 29/30 before she would qualify.

Is this an issue or should she look at work now rather than deferral?

No. I have two MA degrees and didn’t start work until after my second - aged 27.

Yeah it’s ancient…

wtf?! Of course it’s not. I knew an 80+ year old doing an MPhil. Education is for life.

Don’t be ridiculous OP

Of course she's not too old (I started a masters course in my 40s, a friend just started one in her late 50s; I didn't grad) but they are a very expensive way of filling in a year, particularly at Cambridge, if she is not quite sure what she wants to do with one, and it is really just an excuse to spend another year being a student.

Does she have much work experience - you said she did a gap year, was that just travelling or did she also work? Has she done summer internships? My concern would be that future employers would look at her CV and see someone who was indecisive and unfocused on their career and might be put off. Are you paying for the course?

No way is she old! Encourage her! She would love it - she is SO VERY YOUNG!

Masters are something lots of people start later in life. My masters group were 24-63.

I did mine at 26

Looking back, I could have done so much better, there was so much life that i simply hadn’t experienced that would have been invaluable

Now in my 40’s I’m considering another

I started part-time MSc at 43 and completed at 45 and got a job based on my master's degree subject. I was one of the older ones but definitely not the eldest.

I don’t think it’s too old! The only thing I would be cautious about is the amount of debt she will incur especially if she has no employment plans.
(I did my MSc aged 50)