27, no college -- is it worth it now- feedback is greatly appreciated........

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iwantthis

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😱i know everyone's talking about the age thing, but that is just one of my predicaments... '\

1. i don't have any college (currently i am trying to decide were to go, b/c i want to do online classes... like my fellow army wives... i just got out of the army my husband is still in and i am a housemom now... so i need to see if online classes are acceptable....... university of phoenix can get me in this month...

2. currently i am 27 yrs old... so if everything goes as planned i will be 38 when i complete everything is that right and my husband will retire within the same time frame....... and on top of that, my credit is shot, so i guess student loans are out of the question...

is there hope, please be honest......... but dont get me wrong i want this.🙄 whether it be pediatrician or dermatologist... i appreciate it:idea:
 
Age is not that much of an issue, especially for you. 38 is not too old to start practicing. (Though some fields will be easier on you than others.) I don't think you'd have to worry about credit - med students are generally seen as good investments for private lenders, and that's if you can't get gov. loans, which you should. I forget the name of the program, but two buddies of mine got through engineering school on military education benefits after they got out. These benefits should at least help you with college.

And you don't need a full degree. Depending on the school, you may need as little as 90 credit hours. You may look into going to a full 4-year institution, but as long as you have the pre-reqs, you are able to apply.
 
RxnMan said:
Age is not that much of an issue, especially for you. 38 is not too old to start practicing. (Though some fields will be easier on you than others.) I don't think you'd have to worry about credit - med students are generally seen as good investments for private lenders, and that's if you can't get gov. loans, which you should. I forget the name of the program, but two buddies of mine got through engineering school on military education benefits after they got out. These benefits should at least help you with college.

And you don't need a full degree. Depending on the school, you may need as little as 90 credit hours. You may look into going to a full 4-year institution, but as long as you have the pre-reqs, you are able to apply.
Click to expand...

Might want to check that...applicants may only need 90 hours to apply, but don't most (all?) med schools require a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation?

As to the OP - if you read these threads, you should see that you are in the highly enviable position of having no college GPA record to salvage - there are people here much older than you who are trying to dig themselves out of a deep GPA hole and I am sure they would give anything to be in your position...
 
Hi, congrats on getting out of the military and wanting to get an education. My husband just got out and we are both going back to school. The MGIBill is a wonderful thing. It is enough money to pay for classes and it also gives a bit extra for you to live on while you go to school. Also, there should be a program through the ACS for spouses. It gives extra money per semester for you to go to school. We were in Germany when I took classes and it was crazy expensive for each one through the Univ. Maryland. I wish you the best of luck. It is possible if you want it. 😀
 
iwantthis said:
😱i know everyone's talking about the age thing, but that is just one of my predicaments... '\

1. i don't have any college (currently i am trying to decide were to go, b/c i want to do online classes... like my fellow army wives... i just got out of the army my husband is still in and i am a housemom now... so i need to see if online classes are acceptable....... university of phoenix can get me in this month...

2. currently i am 27 yrs old... so if everything goes as planned i will be 38 when i complete everything is that right and my husband will retire within the same time frame....... and on top of that, my credit is shot, so i guess student loans are out of the question...

is there hope, please be honest......... but dont get me wrong i want this.🙄 whether it be pediatrician or dermatologist... i appreciate it:idea:
Click to expand...
You might want to look into a combined 6 yr BA/MD program. I think the only stipulation is that you haven't had a certain amoung of credit hours in college (as opposed to your age alone). Most programs would probably be interested in someone who fits the criteria but is not straight out of high school. Check out the MSAR for a location closest to your ten digit grid location.
 
lzbthcox said:
Hi, congrats on getting out of the military and wanting to get an education. My husband just got out and we are both going back to school. The MGIBill is a wonderful thing. It is enough money to pay for classes and it also gives a bit extra for you to live on while you go to school. Also, there should be a program through the ACS for spouses. It gives extra money per semester for you to go to school. We were in Germany when I took classes and it was crazy expensive for each one through the Univ. Maryland. I wish you the best of luck. It is possible if you want it. 😀
Click to expand...

👍hey that's great i looked it up and it legit and it seems like it will be easy to apply for.. thanks!!!
 
i researched the accelerted program route and there are no in my region unless i missed something, im in washington state for the next 4yrs, so unless i am able to transfer into an accelerated program i think im pretty much screwed on that... does anyone out there know any different, i could sure use all the help i can get. and im starting to the university of phoenix is not the route to go b/c its online and they don't offer all of the premed courses
 
not sure if you're looking to be a doctor. typically a 4 yr degree is required. Now you can be a rn with a two year degree. Talk about fast track to making some money. Compare the salary most rn's make ~45k with two years of college to what a doctor makes "~150" with 8 years plus 1 year residency. Financially it's a tough call. Only difference is after your 9 years you do well. So not trying to talk you out of it just giving you some other options.
 
You're not too old. That is not a factor at all.
I will be 35 when I start med school next year.

The combined bs/md programs are a good idea, but there may not be any in your area. Here's a link that lists all the programs that exist.
http://www.services.aamc.org/currdir/section3/degree2.cfm?data=yes&program=bsmd

If that doesn't work, then just try to go to the "best" school you can with a strong science program. "Best" is very subjective, but any 4 year school that has science majors should work. I would stay away from cc or online. Some schools don't look favorably on these programs. In all likelyhood you will need a 4 year degree before you start. It is possible with less, but it doesn't happen too often. I would plan accordingly.

The main question is how much do you want this, and can you keep this goal in mind for the next 10+ years?
There is no doubt that it can be done, just consider your options.
Think about why you want to be a doctor. There may be another path that will give you the same career satisfaction in a shorter time frame. Look into RN, NP, PA, CRNA. All good options that you can accomplish in a few years.

Good luck. Feel free to drop me a PM if you want.
 
Also, just my suggestion: Enjoy the entire ten years that you are completing undergrad and med school. College is great fun!

Its hard not thinking about stuff like "I am ___old and will be ___old when I get out, but the truth is life is about the journey, not about the destination....life doesn't start when you become a doctor, or a lawyer, nurse, teacher,etc,......life is happening right now even in those lower division undergraduate courses that seem like such a far leap from your goal of medicine.

Ten years is a long way off, don't get overwhelmed by this. Take it day by day, semester by semester. You'll get there one day, but don't forget to smell the roses and enjoy view :banana:.
 
iwantthis said:
😱i know everyone's talking about the age thing, but that is just one of my predicaments... '\

1. i don't have any college (currently i am trying to decide were to go, b/c i want to do online classes... like my fellow army wives... i just got out of the army my husband is still in and i am a housemom now... so i need to see if online classes are acceptable....... university of phoenix can get me in this month...

2. currently i am 27 yrs old... so if everything goes as planned i will be 38 when i complete everything is that right and my husband will retire within the same time frame....... and on top of that, my credit is shot, so i guess student loans are out of the question...

is there hope, please be honest......... but dont get me wrong i want this.🙄 whether it be pediatrician or dermatologist... i appreciate it:idea:
Click to expand...

I like the name iwanthis!

1. Many med schools will discriminate against on-line classes or degrees. You can contact the specific schools you're interested in and ask, but I think it is a bad idea unless you have no other choice. Science classes, of course, require lab, and it's very important to have real lab experience. The best bet is probably your local university.

2. Age and money probably won't be the biggest hurdle you have to face!

3. Don't lock on to a specialty, yet! The good thing about med school is that you get to experience a little of everything before you decide. Take away your biases, and really try to understand what's right for you. I have to warn you that derms is a very competitive residency to match into.

Good luck to you. Try and put yourself in the shoes of an adcom. They want applicants who are mature, unique, humble, and dedicated. These are attributes you've shown. However, they also need to adequately appraise how capable of a student you are. Since you've not had a continuous education, it's extra important for you to demonstrate that you have the ability to perform well in a rigorous academic environment.

Something else you may want to consider is getting some medical experience right away. Start shadowing a physician or volunteering at a hospital. The goal here is to get a clear picture of what the profession is and if it's right for you.

Good luck! 👍 It's a long road, but it's worth walking for the right people.
 
sawood said:
Also, just my suggestion: Enjoy the entire ten years that you are completing undergrad and med school. College is great fun!

Its hard not thinking about stuff like "I am ___old and will be ___old when I get out, but the truth is life is about the journey, not about the destination....life doesn't start when you become a doctor, or a lawyer, nurse, teacher,etc,......life is happening right now even in those lower division undergraduate courses that seem like such a far leap from your goal of medicine.

Ten years is a long way off, don't get overwhelmed by this. Take it day by day, semester by semester. You'll get there one day, but don't forget to smell the roses and enjoy view :banana:.
Click to expand...

Are you saying that "life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans"?

I believe a great man once said that as well.
 
Old Grunt said:
Are you saying that "life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans"?

I believe a great man once said that as well.
Click to expand...

I believe an older-non-traditional-been-in-college-for-more-years-than-I've-been-a-contributing-member-to-society-whose-parents-are-starting-to-wonder-if-I'll-ever-get-out-of-school woman said it too 😎....though definitely not wise or said woman would have her MS, MD, PhD, and Nobel Peace Prize by now 😀. If anything, college is a great way to avoid wearing business casual clothing and working in a cubicle.
 
Just a quick FYI - med schools are very leery of for-profit educational institutions (e.g. Phoenix). Any traditional 4-year school, public or private, is infinitely preferable. (Even 2 years at a JC and transferring still beats Phoenix.) Best of luck to you!
 
Adradr said:
Just a quick FYI - med schools are very leery of for-profit educational institutions (e.g. Phoenix). Any traditional 4-year school, public or private, is infinitely preferable. (Even 2 years at a JC and transferring still beats Phoenix.) Best of luck to you!
Click to expand...

Please cite your source for this...sounds like BS to me...
 
I don't want to be a downer, but getting into a bs/md bs/do program might be more difficult for someone who is not straight out of high school. Those programs are freshmen acceptance only, which means if you change your mind after a year, that's 7 years of tuition that they are losing out on. Even if you are gung-ho about doing it, the admissions people may see a 27yo married, possibly looking to have children, who is more likely to change their mind than an 18yo who has nothing better to do than spend the next 8 years of their life in college. That being said, it never hurts to apply. Maybe you'll find a program that is looking for people who have taken some time to experience life, and are now ready to focus their attention on school.

I also agree w/ the person who said don't do the online schools. The degrees in these schools are legitimate, but are often viewed as "shortcuts." If this is your only option, I would go and talk to some of the medical schools you are interested in, and see how they view it. You don't want to waste your time taking classes if they won't accept it. Look into your state's university system. Many state schools have online class options, which allow you to do most of your work at home, and jsut go for class a few times a semester. This is definitely a better option. Also, don't rule out night school. It's tough to work all day, and go to school at night, but it's an option, and it will show medical schools how bad you want it.
Also, many online programs that I've seen are more for associates degrees in specific areas, they won't offer the core you need for med school (gen bio, gen chem, organic, and gen physics). You'll have to look into that before you start giving them your money.
Just some stuff to think about.
 
iwantthis said:
😱i know everyone's talking about the age thing, but that is just one of my predicaments... '\

1. i don't have any college (currently i am trying to decide were to go, b/c i want to do online classes... like my fellow army wives... i just got out of the army my husband is still in and i am a housemom now... so i need to see if online classes are acceptable....... university of phoenix can get me in this month...

2. currently i am 27 yrs old... so if everything goes as planned i will be 38 when i complete everything is that right and my husband will retire within the same time frame....... and on top of that, my credit is shot, so i guess student loans are out of the question...

is there hope, please be honest......... but dont get me wrong i want this.🙄 whether it be pediatrician or dermatologist... i appreciate it:idea:
Click to expand...

We have a lot in common. Age, military background, and family status. I'm also a 4th year med student about to graduate and go into pediatrics. Want my advice?

Don't do it. Forget about it. If you want to have a career in health care, I would choose nursing, NP, or being a PA.

I'm not saying this because I don't think you are smart enough (intelligence is not an issue, work ethic is. If you are coming from the military, I'm sure you have the work ethic to make the grades to get into medical school). I'm also not saying this because of your age. There are people in my class who started the first day of MS1 in their mid-40s.

I say this because the crap that you will endure over the next dozen or so years to finally make it as an attending physician is insane. For a non-trad student, married with a family, it's outrageous. You will work like a slave, live and breath medicine, and report to people who can't understand why you would want to go home to see your kids after putting in a 14 hour day. They will look at you as a slacker and lazy for wanting to see your spouse while they are still awake one night a week.

You will incur >$250K in student loans if you go to a private school (and a private osteopathic school is most likely to admit you, based on your history). Tuition is running around $40K a year at most places. And thats all loans...very little aid available for med school, if you don't want to sell your soul back to the Army.

And then when you graduate, you can look forward to years of declining reimbursement, as Medicare slowly squeezes the life out of primary care medicine.

You can go to sleep each night gnawed with worry that you forgot to document some obscure finding on a benign physical exam, that, 10 years in the future, might spell a massive payday for some malpractice lawyer. Oh, and don't forget about the cost of malpractice insurance.

Don't do it. You can have all the perks, with none of the headaches, making 75% of the salary, and going home to have dinner with your kids, by being a PA or NP.

I'll be a doc in 8 months. Would I do it again? Never.
 
postbacker said:
Please cite your source for this...sounds like BS to me...
Click to expand...

If you look online at any schools website, there are lists of the UG institutions that matriculants are from. I have yet to see Univ. of Phoenix listed at any of them yet, but have not done extensive research.

I know at my school, I have never seen anybody interview from there.
 
My father was 41 when he started practicing
 
You're not anywhere near too old for medicine! There have been 52 year-old med students on here.

My only advice would be, STAY AWAY FROM ONLINE SCHOOLS. Online courses at a legitimate school are okay, but no University of Phoenix! No one takes those for-profit schools seriously. Go with a school that sounds like "University of Your State". I think the University of Florida has a lot of online courses, and actually Harvard University does too through their Extension School.
 
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