Thread: How old is too old to start a career in Geology?

OK.. I am not that old but I am not that young either. Maybe somewhere inbetween (27 next month)..

Anyway I recently just applied and was accepted into a Bachelor of Applied Science at QUT majoring in Geosciences. My previous degree was a Bachelor of Arts in Politcs and International Relations/Indonesian.

Anyways my course starts next month, 3 years and 1 more for Hons as they say thats what the big companies demand. So if I stay the course with Hons I will be about 31 or 32 when i finish , add extra if I do mastars.

I originally planned on getting a drilling ticket and working in the mines but in recent months I have become highly fascinated in the formation and history of our universe, solar system and planet earth etc etc. (How it all began).

The reason for geology I guess is first and foremost for the lucrative earnings, the chance to travel (and get away from where I am from) and I guess explore the biology of earth.

I feel I am up to the task and look forward to learning mind blowing information that also in a sense explains the meanings of life and why we are here. ( I never really got into the whole Jesus fad). When I watch videos or read books about earth sciences it provides an escape for me from the "brutal" reality side of life.

But anyway, my questions stands- how old is too old/ how long is too long in such an industry?

Any words generated from this topic would be great as this is pretty much my first forum ever.

I know a bit about the formation of earth but as for rocks - 3 words.

Igneous. Sedimentary. METAMORPHIC.

Eighty or so is probably too old.

Originally Posted by Lynx_Fox

Eighty or so is probably too old.

On the other hand I've always felt great benefit from having seen Miocene sediments as they were deposited.

Originally Posted by Ophiolite

Originally Posted by Lynx_Fox

Eighty or so is probably too old.

On the other hand I've always felt great benefit from having seen Miocene sediments as they were deposited.

Paint hadn't been invented for you to watch it dry?

Prerequisites for a geologist is a brain and 2 legs.
Consequently, age is not a big issue.

The brain is of questionable importance, too, sometimes.

Working in hilly country it is useful if one leg is shorter than the other.

Originally Posted by Elias Alexander

But anyway, my questions stands- how old is too old/ how long is too long in such an industry?

Any words generated from this topic would be great as this is pretty much my first forum ever.

You might be surprised - a lot of geology students are older, often having had years of a successful, previous career. When I went through university, the oldest student was in his mid-50s. A nuclear engineer came back to do grad school in his late 40s, and there was another guy with a family who was 37-38 when he started. Several of my women classmates were 28-32, and there a lot of people 23-26 who were doing second degrees because their psychology or sport science degrees weren't paying off. Kids coming right out of highschool were very rare. I remember everyone teasing the two 21 year old 'babies' at second year field school because they were the youngest in the bunch.

I'm 28 now, and I'd highly recommend doing geology.

Wow.. some great feeback here.

Thank you tenderheart bear. For a moment there I was feeling a bit daunted by the fact that I might be surrounderd by youngins in the 18/19 age bracket. But even if i am i'd say the kids are gonna be much more down to earth then say the ones in arts/business/law.

I favourited this forum and I will be sure to come back. Hopefully you all can help me out with tough science questions.

Originally Posted by Ophiolite

Working in hilly country it is useful if one leg is shorter than the other.

Only if one eye is on the back of the head.

Originally Posted by Elias Alexander

Wow.. some great feeback here.

Thank you tenderheart bear. For a moment there I was feeling a bit daunted by the fact that I might be surrounderd by youngins in the 18/19 age bracket. But even if i am i'd say the kids are gonna be much more down to earth then say the ones in arts/business/law.

I favourited this forum and I will be sure to come back. Hopefully you all can help me out with tough science questions.

If it helps, I'm 45 and working on a Master's in archaeology.

On the one hand, there's no age limit to starting a career.

On the other hand, if you want a job as a salaried employee, in spite of legal protections against age discrimination, your chances of being hired go down steadily after 45-50 yrs of age.

On the third hand, if you're any good, you can always get hired as a consultant.

(Yeah, I'm a Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle fan.)

Follow your passion and you will succeed.

Hi Elias, I have similar plans and you will be happy to hear that I am older than you, 30 Which University are you applying for?

The older is the better.

Originally Posted by mentor

The older is the better.

True, gives you somthing in common with the rocks.