Any 35+ year olds?

[Imgtnold]

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I'm 34 and took the MCAT Jan 29th...should get my scores next week I am looking at DO schools, but am also considering podiatry😕

 

[stinastina]

I'll be 42 in April. I'm planning on going the Caribbean route. I feel like time is ticking and don't want to wait another year and take the MCAT again......

 

[Chulito]

I turn 36 on Monday (Feb 26th), and I've just found out after many months of silence and waiting that I will indeed be starting med school this fall.

 

[medblue]

yes. i just turned 35 two weeks ago!

 

[hayashik1]

Will be 39 in just under 6 months. Hope to start post-bacc in the spring or fall, 2008

 

[AKN]

I'm 39 and planning to take the MCAT in May for a 2009 matriculation...

 

[Empi]

I am 47 and will be 48 when I apply to medical school next summer.

I can understand the issue of research, I want to go into medicine to care for patients rather than being on the cutting edge of research and technology.
At the moment, my first choice would be PCOM. Depending on my mcat scores, I'll likely apply to Jefferson, Drexel (Hanneman,) and U Penn (not likely but it's within commuting range, if I got accepted into PCOM, I'd chose PCOM over any of the Allopathic schools because their philosophy is more harmonious to mine.)

So far, my grades are on target and the one class that I must take that the mere thought of taking it gives me a fight-flight response is Physics.

 

[PT2MD]

I'll be 36 in November. Hopefully finish med school in 2012! Whops...just realized I've already posted in this thread. Early onset dementia.

 

[njbmd]

I began medical school at age 46 and graduated at age 49. Started my general surgery residency at age 50 (my MD was my 50th birthday present). Now I am an older vascular surgeon enjoying my practice and my teaching duties.

Not one of the six medical schools that I interviewed and was accepted (all allopathic) mentioned my age or were even concerned about my ability to "fit in" with their class. Not one residency program mentioned my age(24 interviews). I am no more tired or "burned out" than the other vascular fellow (age 35) who is with me. Actually the current crop of general surgery interns look worse than either of us.

If you have the grades and the energy, you can get the job done and age is not a barrier. You will find that you have more in common with your traditional classmates than you would first believe. I spent many enjoyable hours partying and celebrating after exams with my classmates who were 20+ years younger because we all felt the same relief to be done.

 

[PT2MD]

I began medical school at age 46 and graduated at age 49. Started my general surgery residency at age 50 (my MD was my 50th birthday present). Now I am an older vascular surgeon enjoying my practice and my teaching duties.

Not one of the six medical schools that I interviewed and was accepted (all allopathic) mentioned my age or were even concerned about my ability to "fit in" with their class. Not one residency program mentioned my age(24 interviews). I am no more tired or "burned out" than the other vascular fellow (age 35) who is with me. Actually the current crop of general surgery interns look worse than either of us.

If you have the grades and the energy, you can get the job done and age is not a barrier. You will find that you have more in common with your traditional classmates than you would first believe. I spent many enjoyable hours partying and celebrating after exams with my classmates who were 20+ years younger because we all felt the same relief to be done.

Awesome post. That fires me up.

 

[hayashik1]

I began medical school at age 46 and graduated at age 49. Started my general surgery residency at age 50 (my MD was my 50th birthday present). Now I am an older vascular surgeon enjoying my practice and my teaching duties.

Not one of the six medical schools that I interviewed and was accepted (all allopathic) mentioned my age or were even concerned about my ability to "fit in" with their class. Not one residency program mentioned my age(24 interviews). I am no more tired or "burned out" than the other vascular fellow (age 35) who is with me. Actually the current crop of general surgery interns look worse than either of us.

If you have the grades and the energy, you can get the job done and age is not a barrier. You will find that you have more in common with your traditional classmates than you would first believe. I spent many enjoyable hours partying and celebrating after exams with my classmates who were 20+ years younger because we all felt the same relief to be done.

NJBMD, Thank you very much for such an encouraging post. I appreciate it!!

 

[Pekoe]

I CLOSE to your age, but you are older😀 😀 . I'm 36 ~ and feel like I'm going to school with my children. Funny thing, I feel as young as they look, but then I look in the mirror and WOW ~ something happened.

Hey-- I have children in college and children in the same child care on campus that they were in 15 years ago! I am almost 39!

I recently got back into my old department and a former prof saw me. He is a Southern Gentleman who wears Italian shoes and suits and looks like a cross between a dapper Mafia don and an English gentleman. He reminds me of Highlander as he has truly not aged. He froze when he saw me, "Why I do say it's Miss Crumpet!" He asked if I was coming back and I said I was and I told him he had not changed, not even the carnation in his lapel had faded. He looked at my children and said, "And your children haven't gotten older!" Last time I'd been to a department party I had my eldest and then, only children with me and they were the same ages as the two I had with me at that moment.

Isn't it great to be back? I know it sounds cheesy, but at 23 I kept waiting for a light to come on while I was at school. Like a moment where I would "know" and my life would click and everything would come together. Now I know that the light is inside and all this time that student loans were accruing interest and I was having children and making a home and yearning to get back, that light has been inside me. Then I was a single mother and I didn't have a car and got around a snowy place without a vehicle and everyone would say I had my life ahead of me, but I was struggling so hard and all I saw were obstacles at times. Now I have greater obstacles, but I feel like there is truly no limit to what I can accomplish.

 

[Pekoe]

If you have the grades and the energy, you can get the job done and age is not a barrier. You will find that you have more in common with your traditional classmates than you would first believe. I spent many enjoyable hours partying and celebrating after exams with my classmates who were 20+ years younger because we all felt the same relief to be done.

Thank you for an awesome post!

 

[DocQ]

I am 38 and hoping to matriculate this summer when I'm 39. I've wanted to do this my whole life - I am so excited! Have a husband and two sons -we consider it a "family effort." 🙂 Tomorrow I'll find out if I got in my school of choice!

 

[Zhang Ji]

I'm 35. Thanks to everyone for an inspiring thread. It'll be a while before I can take the MCAT, but all of us elders should really shoot for the magic of matching age to MCAT score.

 

[Empi]

I am *literally* going to school with one of my children.

My oldest is a Junior in the same Uni that I go to, the only difference is I'm a Biology major and she's a History and Education major.

In fact, I might be able to have lunch with her in the Quad today 😍

 

[NPtoMD]

I'm a 44 year old Nurse Practitioner, hoping to start med school when I'm 46 (maybe 47)

 

[NPtoMD]

I'm a 44 year old nurse practitioner hoping to start med school at the age of 46 (or maybe 47)

 

[stiz]

i just turned 39 and i doubt i'll be going to any med school until fall 2009.

although, after i said i was 'older' to someone in my class ...

they responded:
'...old?, what you can't be more than 5 years older than us...maybe 7....'

i said 'you keep believing that.'

try 'sevenTEEN' years older. ...



s

the best statement i heard is:

'you'll be XX years old on that future date ANYWAY...'

 

[DocQ]

Every one of you can do it if you put your mind to it!

I am 38 and actually completed my last prerequisite in 2000, but family life kind of "got in the way" for a while. Now that my children are a little older (9 and 11), I am on my way! Just got accepted today!!!

Believe in yourself and it's possible 😀

 

[Empi]

Congratulations!!

My yougest will be 14 when I go into a residency if I get into med school, but I'm still thinking about PA school because of the time issues.

 

[docwolfe2b]

I'm a bit under 3 months from my 36th birthday and will be starting my undergrad work in the spring.

Thankfully, I've got my daughter (15) and hubby behind me all the way.

~ J

 

[gman33]

I'm 34 now, but I'll be 35 when I start med school next year. I finished up me postbacc work in the spring and I was accepted as an EDP for next fall.

I don't think your age matters, but there are different issues you have to deal with like family, financial responsibilities, etc. Balancing those issues are probably the hardest part.

If you want to do it bad enough, you can find a way. Don't be afraid to ask others for help. Find a mentor and get to know your teachers. You'd be surprised at all the resources that are out there if you just ask.

With that in mind, if any of my fellow 30 plus'ers need some advice, feel free to PM me. Good luck to all the future applicants.

 

[cpa2md]

I'm 39, will hopefully matriculate on my 40th birthday! My son will start college the year I start residency, with my daughter two years behind. My husband jokes that he does not want 3 in college at the same time!

My dad quit his engineering job and bought a small business at age 44, my mother obtained her RN at the age of 53, and my older brother is back in school as well! It's a family trait to try something new at midlife.