age gap

[mattl]

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Hi, my name is matt, 25 years old and in my senior year at UofWaterloo. I have recently found out that i will be attending medical school, and i have a few concerns.

My main concern is the age gap, its not going to be by 10 to 15 years but by only 2-4 years by traditional standards (25-27 years old being traditional age of MD graduates). I'll be 29 and a medical school graduate, but i have heard recently that my chances of getting a surgical residency (general surgery) is not as good as the younger graduates, any truth to this?

My parents tell me its not a big deal, that if this is what i truly love then go for it and that a couple of years dont matter. I plan on retiring at 55, so in the long run is 21 years of experience still just as respectable as atraditional student having 23-25 years experience?

PS: unlike other non-trad students, i screwed up in high school graduating 2 years later then usual then having to do 2 years CC to get into my undergrade program. If everything would have gone as planned i would have been 25 insted of 29 with a md. I cant change the past but will the 2-4 years age gap matter in the long haul and will my attendence to a CC school then a transfer student make me look less dignified?

 

[8744]

Hi, my name is matt, 25 years old and in my senior year at UofWaterloo. I have recently found out that i will be attending medical school, and i have a few concerns.

My main concern is the age gap, its not going to be by 10 to 15 years but by only 2-4 years by traditional standards (25-27 years old being traditional age of MD graduates). I'll be 29 and a medical school graduate, but i have heard recently that my chances of getting a surgical residency (general surgery) is not as good as the younger graduates, any truth to this?

My parents tell me its not a big deal, that if this is what i truly love then go for it and that a couple of years dont matter. I plan on retiring at 55, so in the long run is 21 years of experience still just as respectable as atraditional student having 23-25 years experience?

PS: unlike other non-trad students, i screwed up in high school graduating 2 years later then usual then having to do 2 years CC to get into my undergrade program. If everything would have gone as planned i would have been 25 insted of 29 with a md. I cant change the past but will the 2-4 years age gap matter in the long haul?

Just take a lot of stool softeners, be careful going down stairs so you don't break a hip, and keep your AARP memebership up to date. I even think they allow you to take your walker into anatomy lab so you should be OK.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

2-4 years won't matter in the long haul. Class rank, board scores, and letters from surgeons will be much more influential in your matching to surgery.

 

[IceMan0824]

2-4 years won't matter in the long haul. Class rank, board scores, and letters from surgeons will be much more influential in your matching to surgery.

Man, are people really worried that they will be 2-4 years older than their peers in medical school. I feel bad for the 30 year old that are attending medical school then. There is no future, might as well give up now
/yawn

 

[Quix]

Man, are people really worried that they will be 2-4 years older than their peers in medical school. I feel bad for the 30 year old that are attending medical school then. There is no future, might as well give up now
/yawn

Well, back to the drawing board, I guess... 😉

 

[Taty]

Hi, my name is matt, 25 years old and in my senior year at UofWaterloo. I have recently found out that i will be attending medical school, and i have a few concerns.

My main concern is the age gap, its not going to be by 10 to 15 years but by only 2-4 years by traditional standards (25-27 years old being traditional age of MD graduates). I'll be 29 and a medical school graduate, but i have heard recently that my chances of getting a surgical residency (general surgery) is not as good as the younger graduates, any truth to this?

My parents tell me its not a big deal, that if this is what i truly love then go for it and that a couple of years dont matter. I plan on retiring at 55, so in the long run is 21 years of experience still just as respectable as atraditional student having 23-25 years experience?

PS: unlike other non-trad students, i screwed up in high school graduating 2 years later then usual then having to do 2 years CC to get into my undergrade program. If everything would have gone as planned i would have been 25 insted of 29 with a md. I cant change the past but will the 2-4 years age gap matter in the long haul and will my attendence to a CC school then a transfer student make me look less dignified?

Mom mom went to college full time at the age of 42 with bunch of 18 year olds. Age dont matter as long as u are doing a good job and 4 years is not gap at all. I am also 25 and will be starting medical school this August. I was never conserned that I will be a little bit older and never tought about it. I am not planning to retire at 55 though...

 

[MJB]

Guess I'm screwed considering I'll be 31 when I matriculate...

To the OP, I wouldn't worry about it at all...

 

[Law2Doc]

I plan on retiring at 55, so in the long run is 21 years of experience still just as respectable as atraditional student having 23-25 years experience?

No one in medicine retires at 55 anymore.

I also note that in your prior thread, you indicated you were already in med school. At least keep your story straight.

 

[Divine Furor]

Dude, your source for this well founded information about surgical matchups being lower for "older" applicants is clearly one of two people:

a) A younger, cocky friend of yours eating sour grapes because he didn't get into Vanderbilt

b) An older, embittered surgery resident who didn't get into his preferred match.

Either way, your fears and your analysis are nonsensical. If you perform extraordinarily well, no one cares how old you are.

 

[madscientist50]

Hi, my name is matt, 25 years old and in my senior year at UofWaterloo. I have recently found out that i will be attending medical school, and i have a few concerns.

My main concern is the age gap, its not going to be by 10 to 15 years but by only 2-4 years by traditional standards (25-27 years old being traditional age of MD graduates). I'll be 29 and a medical school graduate, but i have heard recently that my chances of getting a surgical residency (general surgery) is not as good as the younger graduates, any truth to this?

My parents tell me its not a big deal, that if this is what i truly love then go for it and that a couple of years dont matter. I plan on retiring at 55, so in the long run is 21 years of experience still just as respectable as atraditional student having 23-25 years experience?

PS: unlike other non-trad students, i screwed up in high school graduating 2 years later then usual then having to do 2 years CC to get into my undergrade program. If everything would have gone as planned i would have been 25 insted of 29 with a md. I cant change the past but will the 2-4 years age gap matter in the long haul and will my attendence to a CC school then a transfer student make me look less dignified?

My Uncle graduated from Med School at age 31 and got a great residency and fellowship as an orthopedic surgeon and has had no questions about his age ever, I know because I am 25 now and applying and will be in a similar situation. Scores and letters are much more important as stated above.

 

[Benna]

It's only three years. I'm in the same position, and I feel like I barely qualify as nontraditional after hearing about all the people who are starting so much later and have come at this from so many different places in life.

And yeah... so are you a med student or not? Because that other thread makes this one look a bit off.

 

[gotmeds?]

Just take a lot of stool softeners, be careful going down stairs so you don't break a hip, and keep your AARP memebership up to date. I even think they allow you to take your walker into anatomy lab so you should be OK.

Seriously, a 3-year age "gap"?? Is anybody even going to notice?

 

[Benna]

Seriously, a 3-year age "gap"?? Is anybody even going to notice?

😀 Hah, no one's noticed me so far. I think you'd really have to advertise it.

 

[Taty]

😀 Hah, no one's noticed me so far. I think you'd really have to advertise it.

hehe My interviewer was also thinking that I am younger hehe he was like you had full time job for 6 years, really? You? Made me feel so good...I am also 25 and I dont think I am old...Its just a beginning!!!!

 

[QofQuimica]

Just take a lot of stool softeners, be careful going down stairs so you don't break a hip, and keep your AARP memebership up to date. I even think they allow you to take your walker into anatomy lab so you should be OK.

I concur. As a 31-year-old M1, it has been very tough keeping up with the stamina of the whippersnappers who are 10 years younger than I am. But on the bright side, I am the most popular person in our class when it comes to pairing up to practice geriatrics exam skills. It caused a ton of excitement when I failed the orientation tests and couldn't remember where I was or what the date and day of the week were. Speaking of which, what were we talking about again???

 

[remo]

I'm starting med school this fall at 37 and plan on doing general surg/critical care. The trauma surgeon I have been shadowing for the last year has already offered me a job when I get out in 10 years. There is going to be a huge shortage of general surgeons so if you want to go into it then it won't be a problem.

 

[Krisss17]

No one in medicine retires at 55 anymore.

With the state of Social Security and Medicare, I think that most of these "traditional" med students are going to find out that, by the time they get to retirement age...there will be SS or Medicare (or just enough to buy a gallon of milk and a container of Tylenol).

True a physician that sets him/herself up with a good retirement plan won't have to worry about SS or Medicare...but retiring at 55...I don't think so!

I'm just hoping my good genes will win out as my GM lived 93 years and was healthy for 91 of them.

Krisss17
"Doctor by 50"

 

[hattie]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I'm only 30 and matching into peds this year and I did have one program comment on my age and go on to tell me how I might not be a good fit for their progam... so it could be in issue at some places. I'm just pissed they didn't do the math before I paid for the plane ticket and hotel.

However, I have had many more people say that they would prefer to have a resident with some "real life" experience over a person who's internship will be their first job.

Maybe just apply to a few more programs than your slightly younger classmates to account for the few that will care and you'll be fine.

 

[cubbbie]

I'm starting med school this fall at 37 and plan on doing general surg/critical care. The trauma surgeon I have been shadowing for the last year has already offered me a job when I get out in 10 years. There is going to be a huge shortage of general surgeons so if you want to go into it then it won't be a problem.

Why is there going to be a huge shortage of general surgeons?

 

[Law2Doc]

Why is there going to be a huge shortage of general surgeons?

I'm not aware that there will be, but perhaps the current generation's focus on lifestyle/family friendly fields is putting the squeeze on those practices which are the opposite.

 

[remo]

Why is there going to be a huge shortage of general surgeons?

I saw this article in a journal/paper called General Surgery News and it said the number of general surgeons per capita is at about a 30 year low and going to get worse. I think it was mainly because the demand for general surgery services will go up with the aging population and a lot of doctors are specializing instead of doing the normal gen surg stuff. I also think like Law2doc said that people these days aren't into working the kind of hours that the old-school surgeons did.

 

[LINYKid]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I'm only 30 and matching into peds this year and I did have one program comment on my age and go on to tell me how I might not be a good fit for their progam... so it could be in issue at some places. I'm just pissed they didn't do the math before I paid for the plane ticket and hotel.

However, I have had many more people say that they would prefer to have a resident with some "real life" experience over a person who's internship will be their first job.

Maybe just apply to a few more programs than your slightly younger classmates to account for the few that will care and you'll be fine.

I hope this is the minority and not majority as I am hoping to start med school by 29-30. Although Im 27 now and my college classmaters think I am there age or younger. Although my fam keeps giving me some grief thinking Im starting school too late

 

[Taty]

I hope this is the minority and not majority as I am hoping to start med school by 29-30. Although Im 27 now and my college classmaters think I am there age or younger. Although my fam keeps giving me some grief thinking Im starting school too late

2-4 years ohhh so big deal....I feel so old that I think that instead of going to medical school this august , I will start planning my funeral 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[FlStudent]

There is so little, practically no difference between early/mid twenties and early thirtees, it's not like when you are 14 and so ridiculously uncool by hanging out with 10 year olds. Grow up 🙂

That is really ridiculous.

I am 25 right now and am in a couple of undergraduate science courses with 18-20 year olds. And nobody can tell any difference between me and the rest of the class. Of course I don't send out a memo either. I get no additional respect due to my elderly and now wisened age.

I think the maturity probably helps out, the road isn't so bumpy and you pretty much know what you gotta do for yourself to be content.

And I reiterate, the original post is ridiculous.

 

[foofish]

Hi, my name is matt, 25 years old and in my senior year at UofWaterloo. I have recently found out that i will be attending medical school, and i have a few concerns.

My main concern is the age gap, its not going to be by 10 to 15 years but by only 2-4 years by traditional standards (25-27 years old being traditional age of MD graduates).

Actually, I believe that these days the average age of MD *matriculants* is 24-25, which would make the average age of graduates more like 28-29....which means, OP, you ARE the average age....which other silly points aside, makes the point irrelevant. Even traditional applicants these days are more likely to take a year or two off between college and med school than not.

Don't believe me? Believe the AAMC: http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2006/2006age.htm

 

[GuzzyRon]

I concur. As a 31-year-old M1, it has been very tough keeping up with the stamina of the whippersnappers who are 10 years younger than I am. But on the bright side, I am the most popular person in our class when it comes to pairing up to practice geriatrics exam skills. It caused a ton of excitement when I failed the orientation tests and couldn't remember where I was or what the date and day of the week were. Speaking of which, what were we talking about again???

I can't imagine the almost all-knowing Q having a senior moment in the anatomy lab

 

[LINYKid]

2-4 years ohhh so big deal....I feel so old that I think that instead of going to medical school this august , I will start planning my funeral 🙂 🙂 🙂

taty hopefully see ya in nycom in a few yrs

 

[Taty]

taty hopefully see ya in nycom in a few yrs

Do u mean I have to cancel my funeral planning 🙂 ?

 

[QofQuimica]

I can't imagine the almost all-knowing Q having a senior moment in the anatomy lab

Heh heh, well, I do have them, and on a regular basis. Memorization has never been one of my strong skills. I'm confident that I spend a lot more time studying anatomy just to be average at it than many of my classmates do, including the many who are much better at anatomy than I am. On the other hand, I have an easier time remembering the pharm, probably in part because I'm really interested in it, and in part because I'm able to relate it to organic chemistry. It's kind of hard to do that with anatomy. 😉

The best thing I have going for me though is that whenever I do or say something silly, no one laughs about it harder than I do. 😀

 

[docolive]

Just take a lot of stool softeners, be careful going down stairs so you don't break a hip, and keep your AARP memebership up to date. I even think they allow you to take your walker into anatomy lab so you should be OK.

 

[melissainsd]

The woman that interviewed me at Baylor didn't enter med school until her 40s and did her surgery residency at Mayo.

 

[1Path]

On the other hand, I have an easier time remembering the pharm, probably in part because I'm really interested in it, and in part because I'm able to relate it to organic chemistry.

Man, I don't have words for how much a strong background in chemisty is helping me kill pharm!! So, I can't wait until I take the "real one" this fall with the med students!

 

[QofQuimica]

Man, I don't have words for how much a strong background in chemisty is helping me kill pharm!! So, I can't wait until I take the "real one" this fall with the med students!

I'm all about the drugs. It's become a running joke with some of my classmates even. One guy told me that now he understands why I wanted that PhD in organic.

 

[Law2Doc]

Man, I don't have words for how much a strong background in chemisty is helping me kill pharm!! So, I can't wait until I take the "real one" this fall with the med students!

Actually, at most places, in the "real one" they take most of the chemistry/science out of pharm, and it's all about memorizing drug names, what they do, who should get it, and potential side effects. You can get a very good grade without knowing what methyl group ends up going where. Memorization skills (as opposed to understanding) are what will carry you in this med school subject big time. (Sorry.)😱

 

[1Path]

Actually, at most places, in the "real one" they take most of the chemistry/science out of pharm, and it's all about memorizing drug names, what they do, who should get it, and potential side effects. You can get a very good grade without knowing what methyl group ends up going where. Memorization skills (as opposed to understanding) are what will carry you in this med school subject big time. (Sorry.)😱

Very true, but there's nothing in the world like being able to recall structures when asked what a drug does and where, but most importantly seeing the basic stuff twice. Plus, there's a PhD in Pharm in my future, so I have no choice but to get the depth (understanding) of graduate education combined with the what's the pointness (memorization) of med school.😉

Oh yeah, I haven't had to know where a methyl group goes yet in graduate level pharm! Man I hope you guys don't think that's what meant by knowing structures! Even when we're talking about the difference between morphine and codiene (methyl morphine) it's all about FUNCTION and relating the structure to it.

I'm all about the drugs. It's become a running joke with some of my classmates even. One guy told me that now he understands why I wanted that PhD in organic.

My advisor told me a good chemistry background would be highly beneficial inthe program and I don't know why I had a hard time believing him, at first! And for me it goes waaayyy beyond having an MD/PhD. Big Pharma is BIG business in the US so combine that with all the latest advances in science, and I'm predicting having a VERY well funded lab!

 

[QofQuimica]

Actually, at most places, in the "real one" they take most of the chemistry/science out of pharm, and it's all about memorizing drug names, what they do, who should get it, and potential side effects. You can get a very good grade without knowing what methyl group ends up going where. Memorization skills (as opposed to understanding) are what will carry you in this med school subject big time. (Sorry.)😱

But if you do know what methyl group goes where, it cuts back quite a bit on how much memorizing you have to do. 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

Even when we're talking about the difference between morphine and codiene (methyl morphine) it's all about FUNCTION and relating the structure to it.

Fair enough, though in med school you will have no interest in the structure, or even what it does at the chemical level, just which one has anti-tussive properties, which one causes constipation, etc. Pretty much making a short flashcard on each of these and you are done with what you need to know on them. I'm sure you can get to that through a graduate chem level of knowledge, but you are definitely taking the scenic route while med school is basically the shortcut. Definitely won't hurt you, but might not help -- you may be hunting flies with a cannon.

 

[Law2Doc]

But if you do know what methyl group goes where, it cuts back quite a bit on how much memorizing you have to do. 🙂

Only if you are expected to retain that level of detail. Most frequently you aren't. While it's great to understand things like this, it doesn't always translate to the highest grade in med school.

 

[QofQuimica]

Only if you are expected to retain that level of detail. Most frequently you aren't. While it's great to understand things like this, it doesn't always translate to the highest grade in med school.

We don't have to know that stuff for tests either. But again, because I do know that stuff, it helps me remember the rest of it that we do have to know.

 

[Law2Doc]

We don't have to know that stuff for tests either. But again, because I do know that stuff, it helps me remember the rest of it that we do have to know.

Since I have no frame of reference (I do the quick and dirty "memorize without really understanding" approach😀 ), I'll take your word for it that it may actually be helpful for some.