I'm a current graduate student in my 30's in a top five ECE department. I spent 15 years in software but I only recently completed my undergrad. I'll address o

I'm a current graduate student in my 30's in a top five ECE department. I spent 15 years in software but I only recently completed my undergrad. I'll address only a few things you mentioned. > Is this even possible, though? Honestly, I know how competitive it is, and while my undergraduate grades are fine and I could nail the GRE again, I doubt I can pass admissions. Are your grades fine, or are they outstanding? GRE doesn't matter, many CS programs don't even require it. You need to have three strong recommendation letters from people with a background in academic research. Don't even bother getting a recommendation from someone without a PhD. Ideally, the people recommending you have published notable work in your chosen specialization. Once you've got that, then you only need convince one professor to provide funding for you and you will be admitted to the program. Age doesn't matter. If anything, it helps you relate to the professors you'll be interviewing with. > Also, how do people who go to grad school as adults line up the consulting work? They don't. Not in a top department. Your research group will look very unfavorably on doing outside, non-research, work. Graduate school is not like a job where you can leave it at the office at 5 pm. It becomes your life. It's unlikely that you'll be able to handle 10 hours a week. I know quite a few graduate students in their 30's and all of them rely on a spouses income in addition to a stipend. I live with my girlfriend who is also a graduate student. Our lifestyle is not lavish, but money is not a source of stress for us. Don't be terribly concerned with health care costs. My university provides better health insurance and health services than any company I've worked for.