Not completely. 😉 and I agree - non-trads should have to show they can handle the rigors of medical school in terms of the school work required. Age should NEVER excuse a poor MCAT or poor grades.
But along that same line, age shouldn't be a factor at all. And there are still places where unfortunately it is.
at all? I mean it
is a factor, otherwise we wouldn't be talking about it. i think it's a consideration, but shouldn't be considered by default to be some sort of handicap. it can just as easily be a positive thing or a negative thing, but based on the applicant only, not on generalizations.
i mean whatever factor we talk about, admissions committees may look favorably on it or unfavorably. and there's someone who gets an advantage and someone who gets the disadvantage, by definition. take preference for instate applicants, for example. instate applicants have an advantage, out of state applicants have a disadvantage. it's not a crime against humanity, everyone just accepts it because data shows instate applicants are more likely to produce instate doctors, and that's part of the mission of the (state) school. or worse - there are schools that have profound preference for applicants who grew up in a rural town...which, like age, a person has no control over. data has shown pretty reliably that such people are likely to practice medicine in rural areas, which is part of the mission of such schools. likewise, it makes sense that all other things equal, a younger applicant would get the same position over an older applicant, because they'll have a longer career in which to do fellowships, serve the community, go on medical missions, publish papers, practice medicine, etc. which is part of the mission of medical schools as well. THAT SAID: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "ALL THINGS EQUAL" when you're talking about such qualitative factors, and for you, your increased age could be a resoundingly good thing based on your situation. and a smart admissions officer will consider the whole package and likely come to the same conclusion you have - your advanced age has contributed positively to what a great applicant you are. but if you don't care to explain why that is, then you're not helping them understand everything you know about yourself that makes you sure you deserve the spot over your equivalent 22 y.o. it sounds like maybe some admissions officers are unfairly profiling people based on a relatively unfair dimension (age), and that's silly too. but i just don't think people should be afraid to talk about why they feel they're the right person for the job, when if they really believe they're the right person, they'll have a good answer. i don't necessarily think it's fair to say MD schools are prejudiced against non-trads though.
anyway, we may have to agree to disagree. i think we agree on the main principles.
