Advice Needed ASAP

[Karen11]

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Ok, now I need some advice and I want you all to be honest here. I really, really, really, want to go to med school. Not just any med school, Osteopathic med school. Here is my problem. I am 50 yrs old! I really do not want to be the oldest person in the class, and I do not even have a clue if anyone would accept me. I have a masters degree in Nursing and a Public Health Nursing certificate. That probably doesn't matter in this case. I was going to take the MCAT this month, but felt I would be better prepared in August. To be honest, I thought that maybe it would be a futile endeaver to even take?? I would have to rely on total student loans to do this. I mean, I would be cheyne stoking and still have student loans? I also lack all of the prereqs...I wonder if my background in nursing with all of my science would let me in without them?? My GPA is 3.87.....am I just dreaming here??

 

[lgriffie]

I can't give you any advice as to whether your age with help you or hurt you or whether all your experience will greatly help you, but I do think it will, but what I can tell you is that you HAVE to have all the prereqs completed before entering medical school. they will not bypass the prereqs just because you have a nursing job. Sorry for the bad news. If this is what you want, take a couple of years and get the prereqs done and then come back and try again.

Lindsay

 

[mddo2b]

Ok, now I need some advice and I want you all to be honest here. I really, really, really, want to go to med school. Not just any med school, Osteopathic med school. Here is my problem. I am 50 yrs old! I really do not want to be the oldest person in the class, and I do not even have a clue if anyone would accept me. I have a masters degree in Nursing and a Public Health Nursing certificate. That probably doesn't matter in this case. I was going to take the MCAT this month, but felt I would be better prepared in August. To be honest, I thought that maybe it would be a futile endeaver to even take?? I would have to rely on total student loans to do this. I mean, I would be cheyne stoking and still have student loans? I also lack all of the prereqs...I wonder if my background in nursing with all of my science would let me in without them?? My GPA is 3.87.....am I just dreaming here??

Go for it....one of my best friends in med school grauated at 44....aas far as the pre-reqs...didnt you take bio, chem, etc for nursing school?
If this is what you want than go for it....but i will be honest with yu , if you dont love it, it will not be woth the sacrafice....it should be a calling

 

[jiy76]

I don't get it if you are a nurse u must have taken all the pre-reqs already or at least most of them. Given that you took them a long time ago might be a problem. The only problem i see (albeit a big one) is whether you can commit to taking the necessary courses to complete the pre-reqs and complete the mcat with a decent score. If you can do this succesfully i see no reason why a school wouldn't accept you. Yes, there will be schools that will look negatively on the fact that you are 50 but others will see it as a positive you have much more experience training and wisdom than a 21 year old. Another thing is proving to the ADCOMS that you really want to go to osteopathic med school.There has to be a very good reason.Depending on how much you want to do this it you may not be in such a bad situation. Good luck!

 

[stomper627]

Do what you gotta do to get the rest of the prereqs and do well on that MCAT. As for the age thing....I can think of at least 5 classmates over 40 and I think 1 over 50 (although I dont know her age). They have all done really well.
goodluck

 

[Lab Diva]

Considering the life expectancy for us today.....40 is the new 25 and 50 is the new 30. Take good care of your health and you will have a long career in something you love.

The trends are changing........it wasn't all that long ago that women & minorities weren't allowed in med school.

Put the age issue aside and focus on what needs to be done. There is a spot for you somewhere.

 

[samdwi]

Ok, now I need some advice and I want you all to be honest here. I really, really, really, want to go to med school. Not just any med school, Osteopathic med school. Here is my problem. I am 50 yrs old! I really do not want to be the oldest person in the class, and I do not even have a clue if anyone would accept me. I have a masters degree in Nursing and a Public Health Nursing certificate. That probably doesn't matter in this case. I was going to take the MCAT this month, but felt I would be better prepared in August. To be honest, I thought that maybe it would be a futile endeaver to even take?? I would have to rely on total student loans to do this. I mean, I would be cheyne stoking and still have student loans? I also lack all of the prereqs...I wonder if my background in nursing with all of my science would let me in without them?? My GPA is 3.87.....am I just dreaming here??

A cuurent second year student at the University of Florida College of Medicine (MD program) is about 54 years old. So I say go for it.

 

[Karen11]

Thank you all for the advice

 

[ShyRem]

Be careful where you apply and take a serious look at DO schools. I'm 37 and was told last year I was "outside the normal age range for medical students" by four schools I was rejected from. I understand DO schools are more forgiving of age.

And no, don't give up!