"I am less inclined to go after one of the...investment banking jobs because you have to give a two-year commitment. I just don't feel like I have enough time to do that," he says. "But at the same time, I don't feel like I need to do that anymore because I have a better sense of what I want."

But other disadvantages to being older cannot be as clearly defined, says Mougalian, who was born on Jan. 11, 1974.

"I introduced myself to an attractive girl in my government section last semester," he said. "But after I found out that her birthday was Nov. I, 1980, I just sat back stunned."

Although Roy says his experiences have changed his attitude toward academics, many of the older students say they do not find an extreme difference between themselves and their younger classmates. Roy says the unique Harvard community might have something to do with this.

"The people at this school are pretty well-grounded," he says.

He added, though, that while students at Harvard may be mature, they lack "real world" experience.

"It's just different out there than what the people at Harvard are going for. While many of my friends already are married and have kids and a mortgage, the people over here have different goals," he says.