gradPSYCH - November 2011 - (Page 36)
DEGREE INSIGHT
Midlife grad
BY KIRSTEN WEIR hrough his mid-30s, David Neale-Lorello had a work history that wasn’t so much a career as a series of jobs. He’d jumped from field to field before landing in a position as office manager for a consulting firm in New York City. Then, at 37, he became a father. “I had one of those really intense what-am-I-doingwith-my-life kind of moments. I wanted my daughter to pursue something she loved,” he says. To set a good example for her, he says, “I decided to do something I was passionate about.” After some soul-searching, he decided to pursue psychology — a field he’d been interested in since high school. First, he had to finish the bachelor’s degree he’d abandoned nearly 20 years earlier. It was a long haul, helped greatly by the fact that his wife was an indefatigable support, he says. Three years ago, at age 46, he finally started his doctoral studies in clinical psychology at American University in Washington, D.C. Though Neale-Lorello’s situation isn’t unheard of, he’s definitely in the minority among his classmates. According to the APA Center for Workforce Studies’ Doctorate Employment Survey, only 10.9 percent of psychology graduates began a doctoral program at age 35 or older in 2009. That figure is down from 20.2 percent in 1995. The reasons for the decline aren’t clear, but one thing’s for sure: A dwindling population of nontraditional students could spell trouble for a field that’s attempting to meet the needs of an aging population, says Simon Rego, PhD, director of psychology training at Montefiore
36 • gradPSYCH • November 2011
students
As the bad economy puts a squeeze on the number of older graduate students, some universities aim to ease their way.
Medical Center in New York. As with diversity in other domains, students benefit from hearing the perspectives of their older classmates, he says.
T
Economic pressures
In general, doctoral students in the sciences seem to be getting younger. Over the last 10 years, the percentage of doctorate recipients over age 40 has fallen from 26 percent in 1999 to 18.5 percent in 2009, according to the National Science Foundation. There are many possible reasons for the decline, including a change in the eligibility criteria for the types of doctorates included in the poll, says Mark Fiegener, PhD, who runs the survey. However, the revised criteria couldn’t fully account for the decline, he adds. One explanation is that research careers increasingly require advanced degrees, says Nathan Bell, who directs research and policy analysis at the Council of Graduate Schools. To jump right into those careers, students may be entering graduate programs earlier rather than entering the work force after college. He also points to a growing appreciation of the value of higher education; more college students may be starting out with graduate school already a part of their long-term plans. The recession could also be also driving more college grads straight to graduate school, Bell suggests. At the same time, older people with jobs might opt to hold on to them — and continue funding their hard-hit retirement accounts — rather than seek advancement through higher education.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of gradPSYCH - November 2011
GradPSYCH - November 2011
Contents
Most practice-oriented psychology students Google their clients
Does romance quash women’s interest in science?
Goodbye to the ad hoc postdoc
Graduate students take on Capitol Hill
Media Picks
Odd Jobs
Research Roundup
Grad school traps
Chair’s Corner
Postgrad growth area: Designing workplace wellness programs
Study smart
Fighting food addiction
Matters to a Degree
Using social media in your research
Midlife grad students
Are you really ready for private practice?
Bulletin Board
Jobs, internships, postdocs and other opportunities
The Back Page
gradPSYCH - November 2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/gradpsych_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/gradpsych_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/gradpsych_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/gradpsych_201109
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com