41 MCAT 3.79 cGPA 3.97 sGPA 39 years old

[Do Something]

Hi everyone. I'm a 39-year old career changer. I've worked almost 20 years on Wall Street. I want to do something that helps people now. Cornell undergrad. Hunter post-bacc. Stellar numbers (15PS 12VR 14BS), lots of diverse ECs, leadership, community service, a few years volunteering in hospitals... The two big negatives in my application are: 1) I have no research experience since undergrad, and 2) I'm *39*.

I'd love to stay in the Northeast. I don't know where/how broadly to apply. Any advice?

I have a LizzyM score of 79.9, which should make me competitive in a lot of places, but... I'm old.

I'm applying to all the MD schools in New York state. That's a good range of schools and I have very strong ties to the state, which I hope will help with the SUNYs. Harvard, Penn, Yale. (Why not?) BU, Brown... That's 18. Any more?

I know the list is top-heavy. What other schools would look at me if I have no ties there?

Thanks in advance for your help!

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[LizzyM]

Why not Yale? Be sure you want to be on board with the Yale System and that you are cool with the requirement that one write a thesis.

Dartmouth? Tufts? Quinnipiac?

You have the grades, scores and an interesting backstory for the top tier schools but most fancy themselves research powerhouses and they are going to prefer students who want to do research. What kind of medicine do you see yourself practicing: wellness & minor illnesses with major stuff referred to specialists, treating patients with rare conditions who are referred by primary care docs, diagnosing patients with mysterious conditions, working mostly with your hands in a field with a lot of procedures, or working mostly in a field with machines and technology? Something else?

 

[Do Something]

Thanks, LizzyM!

I meant "why not?" as in I'll give all the schools I listed a shot. I do want to do research even in a school where a thesis is not required. I enjoyed research my 3 summers in undergrad, and included them in my AMCAS activities. I just don't have any recent research to demonstrate continuing interest in it. (I worked full-time through most of my post-bacc.) I made a point of writing in my secondary essays (that I'm still pre-writing) that I want to get involved in research from day one.

I think I do have an interesting backstory. I'm also ordained clergy. I love working with people directly. I see medicine as the way I can bring together direct patient care and the intellectual challenge of research.

I'm just concerned that top-tier schools will dismiss me because of my age and mid-tier schools will dismiss me because they'll think I want to go to a top-tier school.

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks, LizzyM!

I meant "why not?" as in I'll give all the schools I listed a shot. I do want to do research even in a school where a thesis is not required. I enjoyed research my 3 summers in undergrad, and included them in my AMCAS activities. I just don't have any recent research to demonstrate continuing interest in it. (I worked full-time through most of my post-bacc.) I made a point of writing in my secondary essays (that I'm still pre-writing) that I want to get involved in research from day one.

I think I do have an interesting backstory. I'm also ordained clergy. I love working with people directly. I see medicine as the way I can bring together direct patient care and the intellectual challenge of research.

I'm just concerned that top-tier schools will dismiss me because of my age and mid-tier schools will dismiss me because they'll think I want to go to a top-tier school.

At my secret location we've had at least one student in recent memory who was over 40. Applicants in their 30s are not uncommon and a fair number are interviewed.My only concern would be that you've already trained for and/or practiced in two professions (member of the clergy and finance (assuming that's what you meant by "Wall Street")) and some adcoms might wonder if you are serious about this career and if you're making an informed and mature choice and not just trying this out before you jump to law or acting or who knows what.

 

[Do Something]

Yes, I know I will have to address that concern.

Thanks a lot, LizzyM. It's comforting to know that applicants my age can still be considered. Now I just need to make sure the rest of my application is up to snuff.

 

[Goro]

Nothing wrong with aiming high, nor is there such a thing as "too old". First, age discrimination is illegal, and being older means you're more mature. Some of my all-time best students have been in their 40s!

Suggest adding ALL schools in PA, CT, MA (except U MA); Duke, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, U VT, ALL schools in MI, WI, FL, NC, and Chicago (except U ILL), Baylor, Stanford, USC, Emory.

Don't forget NYCOM and Touro-NY.

Private schools, for the most part, don't care about ties to a state.

I'm applying to all the MD schools in New York state. That's a good range of schools and I have very strong ties to the state, which I hope will help with the SUNYs. Harvard, Penn, Yale. (Why not?) BU, Brown... That's 18. Any more?

I know the list is top-heavy. What other schools would look at me if I have no ties there?

Thanks in advance for your help![/QUOTE]

 

[LizzyM]

Nothing wrong with aiming high, nor is there such a thing as "too old". First, age discrimination is illegal, and being older means you're more mature. Some of my all-time best students have been in their 40s!

Suggest adding ALL schools in PA, CT, MA (except U MA); Duke, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, U VT, ALL schools in MI, WI, FL, NC, and Chicago (except U ILL), Baylor, Stanford, USC, Emory.

Don't forget NYCOM and Touro-NY.

Private schools, for the most part, don't care about ties to a state.

I'm applying to all the MD schools in New York state. That's a good range of schools and I have very strong ties to the state, which I hope will help with the SUNYs. Harvard, Penn, Yale. (Why not?) BU, Brown... That's 18. Any more?

I know the list is top-heavy. What other schools would look at me if I have no ties there?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I think that the list is far too extensive given the LizzyM score (he shouldn't need to apply to more than 15-20 schools) and all wrong for someone who doesn't want to leave the NE.