Age starting medical school

[petyr_baelish]

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Thank you so much for that! Sometimes I forget I am only 28 probably 29/30 by the time I start medschool and that I still have a lifetime ahead to fluorish as a physician. I get caught up on the family/getting married/having kids/ having a life and I forget that all of that can happen while I still pursue my passion.

Very insightful and very true. I'm in the same boat. Whether we have 45 good years as a physician or 30, does it really matter? 30 is still a lot of years!

 

[Escape_Goat]

Happy Birthday young man.
congrats on getting in medical school.

Don't forget the non-trad students who are now looking to you as inspiration.
Let us know how your first year of medical school goes.

Haha. Revisiting this thread two months later. I haven't been accepted yet, currently applying this cycle. I'm just remaining optimistic about getting in somewhere.

I will certainly post about my experiences as I continue this journey as I found other non-trads' posts to be very insightful and encouraging.

You are my hero 😍

🙂

 

[jl lin]

What's with the age thing, and why doesn't it every go away? Restriction based on age is illegal, period. If a person had a good darn application, someone may have to answer for nixing their application--if it looks like the nixing was based on an age issue in any way, shape, or form.

Saying all that, however, there are so many great applicants that the issue could easily get brushed over. However, if I were on an adcom, I'd still be careful about this. Age shouldn't enter into it--the determination--anymore than gender, religion, race, sexual orientation, etc.

 

[Escape_Goat]

What's with the age thing, and why doesn't it every go away? Restriction based on age is illegal, period. If a person had a good darn application, someone may have to answer for nixing their application--if it looks like the nixing was based on an age issue in any way, shape, or form.

Saying all that, however, there are so many great applicants that the issue could easily get brushed over. However, if I were on an adcom, I'd still be careful about this. Age shouldn't enter into it--the determination--anymore than gender, religion, race, sexual orientation, etc.

The age stigma persists because older, non-traditional applicants represent a minority demographic, and minority demographics are always marginalized. The assumption is that non-traditional applicants "chose" to be non-traditional since we:

• didn't know we wanted a career in medicine when starting university.
• didn't do well our first time in university.
• had a career prior to deciding to pursue medicine.
• started a family prior to deciding to pursue medicine.
• had life happen.

Since inclusion in this group is by "choice", the uninformed conclude that being a non-traditional applicant is the result of irresponsibility or lack of ability/motivation.

I see it as sort of analogous to the argument that poor people "choose" to be poor. If only us non-trads pulled on our bootstraps harder, we'd be doctors by now, amirite? 🙄

 

[gyngyn]

The age stigma persists because older, non-traditional applicants represent a minority demographic, and minority demographics are always marginalized. The assumption is that non-traditional applicants "chose" to be non-traditional since we:

• didn't know we wanted a career in medicine when starting university.
• didn't do well our first time in university.
• had a career prior to deciding to pursue medicine.
• started a family prior to deciding to pursue medicine.
• had life happen.

Since inclusion in this group is by "choice", the uninformed conclude that being a non-traditional applicant is the result of irresponsibility or lack of ability/motivation.

I see it as sort of analogous to the argument that poor people "choose" to be poor. If only us non-trads pulled on our bootstraps harder, we'd be doctors by now, amirite? 🙄

We would all like to have "mature" students and what better way to increase those odds than by accepting older applicants!

The more important and less discussed factor is that the education of a physician is largely paid for (in taxes) by the public. Medical education is less a right for the applicant than a debt owed to the public. Medical schools are the steward of this trust. If, after training, this "debt" could not reasonably be repaid, then this is another consideration in the process.

 

[jl lin]

No one knows what a day or tomorrow will bring. Probability statistics only goes so far. It's a legal gamble to put this in the equation. The bet would be also against the probability of someone pursuing this legally. The best protection for this is to do you are darnedest to demonstrate the "better" applicant was chosen. So, it may be a bit tougher for non-trads because of this. Better is a relative term. Until someone can show that that their crystal ball is dead on accurate, it still is risky to include age in the decision-making process. I mean you can't do it, anymore than you could by saying, as once and perhaps still may be considered, that a female applicant will statistically tend to want to reproduce or drop out to part time or less to raise children. Residency may be "paid for," but the students are certainly paying their fair share in terms of educational costs in most cases.

Let's see. Average resident salary $50,000-60,000 (depending) * 3-5 years (perhaps) = $$150,000 - $300,000. Even most applicant that are in their 50's would be able to pay that back and then some. Remember also that many physician roles can be continued by folks even well beyond 70's--something more and more people are either having to or choose to do. Taking up the latter two decades of your life with golf is not something most people really want to do, when they stop and give it a lot of thought.

Once more, any rationalization for the use of ageism is just as wrong as using rationalization for any other bias, such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.
Age is not a disease anymore than having a birthday is like having an illness exacerbation for heaven's sake.

 

[SOML]

Hi everyone!

I was 26 when I decided to quit my job and pursue medicine. I matriculated at 28, turned 29 shortly thereafter, and graduated last May at 32. I'm now 33 and well into my intern year in general surgery. I'm also in the Navy; the GME situation being what it is, I will be taking a 3-year hiatus from my residency to be an undersea medical officer. I currently plan to return to a gen surg residency (either civilian or military) afterwards, but who knows what the future will bring...

Nice. I'm inspired by this as I recently decided to leave an opportunity to train as a USAF pilot (training slot right out of Afrotc / College grad) to pursue medicine. I marticulated last year at the age of 28. I got a LOT of flack from my parents and friends about my decision (which was the hardest decision in my life so far). Heck, I continue to get flack from my current classmates haha.

Anyway, I plan on coming back into the USAF as a doctor, and I'm stoked about doing the 3-year hiatus GME thing.. I'll be right at about your age.

Good luck to you on your surgical career, Sir! =)

 

[desdes]

I am looking at 42 when applying

 

[ElleInfinite]

Matriculate at Med School age 29 or 30

Graduate 33 or 34


Complete residency 36, 37, or 40, 41 depending if I specialize

 

[Courtjester8]

I am an M1 currently and I'm 27. In my class there is a wonderful woman who is in her late 30s, divorced with 2 kids. She's doing it and loving it. He told me her little ones are very proud of future Dr. Mommy as well.

-cj8

 

[NAVY ROLE 3]

I will be 49. MBA-MHA completed but I really want to go back to physical patient care. In the Navy(HMC) taking care of wounded Marines, Sailors and Soldiers for over 15 years.

 

[Darth Doc]

I will be 49. MBA-MHA completed but I really want to go back to physical patient care. In the Navy(HMC) taking care of wounded Marines, Sailors and Soldiers for over 15 years.

Where are you applying?

 

[NAVY ROLE 3]

Where are you applying?

Texas schools: UT Southwestern and UNT; trying to stay close to home.

 

[gethscout]

Nice. I'm inspired by this as I recently decided to leave an opportunity to train as a USAF pilot (training slot right out of Afrotc / College grad) to pursue medicine. I marticulated last year at the age of 28. I got a LOT of flack from my parents and friends about my decision (which was the hardest decision in my life so far). Heck, I continue to get flack from my current classmates haha.

Anyway, I plan on coming back into the USAF as a doctor, and I'm stoked about doing the 3-year hiatus GME thing.. I'll be right at about your age.

Good luck to you on your surgical career, Sir! =)

hardcore, bro!

my friend let go of a US Marine Corps officer commission opportunity (OCC) last minute to go to medical school in the Philippines, a good school called University of Santo Tomas.

 

[engr2dr]

You are NEVER to old to do what you want, as long as you are willing to work hard! You guys are all YOUNG! I am 53 and in my 2nd semester of Medical School! Yes, its tough, but at this end of life, its amazingly interesting and you see it from a whole new perspective! I plan to be around for a while and do what good I can during that time!! So do not let ANYONE tell you that you cannot do this! JUST DO IT! There are many ways to get this done if you want this bad enough! 🙂🙂🙂🙂 If I can do it, YOU can do it! We actually have someone that is 65 in an MD4 class! The only time your dreams should stop is when you die! My favorite saying "Only he who attempts the ridiculous achieves the impossible".

You inspire me...my hero!

 

[kendrick lamar]

I am 23 right now and don't think I'll be a serious medical school candidate till I'm at least 26, maybe 27 or 28. Reading this is reassuring. I just graduated pharmacy school and know I made a lot of mistakes GPA wise, study wise, etc., but I hope working for a few years and being more grown up may help me if I do decide to go medical

 

[Geekman55]

Thank you so much for that! Sometimes I forget I am only 28 probably 29/30 by the time I start medschool and that I still have a lifetime ahead to fluorish as a physician. I get caught up on the family/getting married/having kids/ having a life and I forget that all of that can happen while I still pursue my passion.

I have this same worry sometimes too with me being single, only having maybe one serious relationship my entire life so far and worried about my relationship future with kids, wife, etc... I realize I need to let this go and focus on my priorities now. Who knows I will probably meet my special someone during school or if not shortly after I would guess.

I am 27 now and will start med school when I'm 30 if all goes according to plan. This means I will be done with it all around 37 or 38 and I'll have hopefully a solid 30ish years of practice and wonderful experiences ahead of me to contribute to the book of life I am writing everyday. It has been a good one so far 🙂

 

[QuentinT88]

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[Mad Jack]

29. I'm a youngin' still.

 

[Hozhoni]

.

 

[Lawgiver]

Nice thread for when society comes a knocking for its due.

 

[AspiringERMD]

I'll be 28 when I start this fall. 🙂

 

[Tirian]

42 last November. Starting at VCOM-Auburn this fall after two years as a post-bacc.

I'm in my prime.

 

[Goro]

My I chime in and mention that some of my all-time best students have been in their 30s and 40s? Last year I graduated one at 50!

 

[cardiologyfan85]

I am 30 and haven't started yet .