any advice.......

[hello07]

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I am an optometrist whose been practicing for 15 years and have really enjoyed my work and profession. I always strive to provide my patients with the best care I possibly can within my state legislature laws. Optometry is all 50 states has undergone profound changes/ advancement on how we practice -drugs topical/oral. The last few years, my job no longer stimulates me. It's not challenging to me anymore unless I go back and work with ophthalmologists in a clininc like I had many years ago. But even then, we are OD's and the bulk of med/ surg tx is their domain.
I was contemplating on going back to school but it's been 15 years since I got out of OD school and 19 years since I got out of undergrad. Will I have to take all the prerequi. over again ? If so, my chances based on my MCAT scores if I don't do well will be Caribbean schools. Are there any 40 year olds who have done this ? or should I have my head examind for wanting to do this?

 

[J ROD]

Depending on the school, you may have to retake your prereqs.

Plus, to take the MCAT, you may need to "update" your prereq science knowledge. So, in order to do well on the MCAT, you may need to take the classes over.

The MCAT is key for you, period. If you can do well, then you can prove you do not need to retake classes, etc. Your advanced degree may help some but not substitute for a bad MCAT.

I know of 40+ peeps trying to go for it. Crazy for wanting to do it. Depends on you and your situation. Only you can make that decision.

Just remember that most jobs become boring after time because they become routine. Even MDs get bored after a while too.

You just have to determine how bad you want to see if the grass is greener on the other side.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Like J Dub says, some schools will not accept prerequisite courses that are too old (usually ten years), but thankfully those schools are in the minority.

The best advice I can give you is to be sure that this is something you really want. Ask yourself if you would still go to medical school even if it takes you three years to gain admission. I'm assuming you'll probably want to serve in ophthalmology; that's 4 years of medical school and another 4 years of residency to be a generalist. Both allopathic and osteopathc medical schools will get you there.

I was ten years removed from the prereq's when I thought about applying. To do well on the MCAT, definitely take a prep. course since the time between prereq's and medical school will be so long for you. You may even benefit from auditing physics and chemistry classes. I would advise against retaking the classes unless you did very poorly first time around in chemistry, biology, physics, and organic chemistry.

The oldest student in my class (MSIII) is 53, and there are a couple in their 40s. Age is not that much of an issue in the U.S.

Good luck!