I still feel like my age is a hindrance. I’m 27yo when my groupmates are all in their early 20s. I feel old to them, especially when it comes to women.

I was in a similar situation during my first round of grad school. In retrospect, there was no need for me to feel self-conscious. A lot of guys are still pretty immature in their early 20s. By comparison, a guy in their late 20s can be mature and reliable.