I saw some older posts from a few years back talking about the average ages for JETs being mid to late 20s and I was wondering if that still holds true or if anything has changed.
I’m hoping to get in and start either for 2024 or 2025 and I’ll be 26 or 27 respectively and from what I can tell I’d probably be around the average age at that point right?
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Couldn’t tell you the specs for the whole Jet Program, but where I’m located, we’ve got ALTs from age 23-35 so you’d likely fit right in.
Also unsure on statistics but I’m departing this July and I’m 29, turning 30 in November ☺️
Our town has/had some older jet 30/40s but the majority still mid to late 20s.
One of the JETs at my former school is 41. I think you’re fine. It’s just that most people apply at the end of university to get a few fun years abroad before they “go home to start real life”.
I’m a 33 year old male in suburban Japan. Yeah I’m older than most JETS by a few years. It’s not too bad. You are still young and have tons of time.
Apply and hope for the best!!
Pretty standard. I’m 25 and in my first year. Tbh I feel like if you’re in your 20s or 30s without children or a partner, it’s not going to change the experience much.
One thing is that living in more rural Japan, most people you’ll meet are old.
I don’t go out drinking, but some of the other JETs that teach elementary and middle school end up (by lack of people) becoming drinking friends with their students parents. Not that they sort them out, just more so that most people here seem to be young children, people in their 40s or super old.
I’m starting in August, and I’m 31! In my opinion, it’s a good thing as, personally, I’ve got a lot of experience and skills now that I didn’t in my early 20s. I have also lived abroad before so that helps too. I thankfully have the energy to keep up with the young’uns too!!!
I was 26 when I started in 2017. I was probably one of the oldest new JETs as most where around 22–25 years old.
Like everyone else, I don’t have actual statistics, but I know at least a handful of JETs who are late twenties or in their 30s, so you’re not going to be an outlier or anything.
I’m running a server on discord with a bunch of JETs. I was accepted at the age of 28. I’m one of the older ones in the server, but someone else is in their mid 30s I think. Everyone else is closer to fresh college grad age.
Most of the people in my placement seem to be mid 20s and up. I am 27 and a first year, so don’t feel terrible. At this age you should be fine, you should have the life skills to do everything mostly.
We do have some young jets in early 20s and they are the ones who I notice tend to lack some life skills imo.
You will be completely fine. Eyebrows only begin to raise after 35, but I still knew a 43 year old jet in my prefecture back on my last year in the program.
I got into JET when I was in my late 20’s! Don’t worry, there’s plenty of mid-late 20’s early 30’s JETs!
Incoming JET here, I just turned 37 and from the Discord group I am I see a lot of people in their late 20s to mid 30s.
I’m in my 30s, taking a mid-career break.
There’s quite a few of us, especially after working through the pandemic….
Okay, this in their twenties or thirties asking if they are too old is pissing me off. Add 25 years and that’s me. Got accepted, going!
It’s a good mix, with plenty of mid 20s to late 30s JETs (oldest I’ve met is 38 but someone posted a 50s recently). Sometimes the CO’s prefer the older JETs cause they have more life/work experience.
Mid 30s here
I’m 32. Lots of people here around my age.
Most of the JETs I know personally are in their 20s. I’m in my mid-30s and am usually the oldest or one of the oldest JETs in any given gathering, haha. Still, there are at least some of us in our 30s so it’s not uncommon.
On the other hand, at my schools, I’m still one of the youngest staff! All my JTEs are at least in their 40s. The oldest is in her 60s.
Yeah I’d say that’s average. I was the exact same age as you when I started. I worried about age as well, but in hindsight I’d think more about your life trajectory and how you want it. For example, JET may or may not offset some other timelines you would want and or/ shove many of them into a shorter timeframe ( example, shoving finding a husband/ wife, having kids, getting a master’s, starting a career, buying a house, saving for retirement and utilizing compound interest). There’s a LOT of other things you can be developing outside of JET that can get left in the dust, or in a sort of frozen- time pergatory.
If you don’t care about timelines since most are adjustable ( minus women having biological children, waaah), then that’s ok too! I just think it’s a good thing to consider.
Tldr:
I wouldn’t worry about age, you seem to be the average start age anyway 🙂 just take a broad view of your life and see if JET fits in well, and if it significantly offsets another timeline you want happening soon ( like starting a career in your home country)
From my experience most of the folks showed up right out of college (early 20s) and left in their mid to late 20s. That said, I did know someone who was 47 which was a bit odd.
I’m starting in a few months and I’m pretty much 25. I’d say it’s pretty ESID but most participants are likely 23-35.
I will be a CIR in Kagoshima from August and will be turning 69 by the end of the year. I am aware of a few early 60s JETs but so far am the oldest I know of. I have been retired for ten years. Yes, you can receive your social security benefits while in Japan and the embassy in Tokyo has a specialist to help with SSA issues. Medicare is useless while in Japan and you can unenroll for when you are in JET and re enroll when you get back to the states easily if you bring proof that you had Japanese health insurance while on JET. My wife is not coming with me and she will be maintaining our home.
I’ll b eturning 22 shortly after arrival
While the majority of JETs are in their 20s we do have a lot of JETs who are in their 30-40s
I’m 36 and am in incoming JET heading to Kyoto-shi.
21 and have been here for a year. Seem to be by far the youngest anyone’s worked with. You should be fine!
Age is irrelevant, focus on what YOU want to do, what you will contribute, what you will gain. All the best, be your best.