Any Non-traditional Students???? Need advice.

[FutureTXDr]

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I was interested to know if there were any non-traditional medical students who made it "to the promise land" ie. medical school. I am entering my thirties and questioning wether it is a little to late to enter medical school. I have seen different web sites of individuals who have done it but I was very interested in recent matriculants -- your stories, the hurdles that you encountered, the reactions from the rest of the student body, and what you did to be victorious in accomplishing your goals. I look forward to your posts. Thanks 🙂

 

[myodana]

no major stories here, but i'll share anyway. i'm 27, graduated from undergrad in 2000 with degrees in dance (performance concentration) and bio, worked several research jobs, did a lot of dancing, choreography, got certified in the pilates method, have been teaching pilates and running a studio for the past 3 years. i took physics 3 years ago thinking that i might go to physical therapy school (since i've always wanted to do rehab). i took the MCAT last august (i didn't decide to apply until after the april date), applied last year to 20 schools, interviewed at 3... etc. you can see my mdapps profile for the details. i didn't encounter any major hurdles, with the exception of a really mean interviewer at a certain school (in NY) who basically said "aren't you kind of old to be applying?" and "what took you so long?" and "why don't you just stick with what you're doing now?" ouch. it seems like there are definitely certain schools that are more open and welcoming to us non-trads, and certain schools that aren't. anyway, i'm starting at AECOM in 2 weeks (one of the aforementioned open/cool schools), and i'm really looking forward to it. the only thing that weirds me out though is the fact that most of my classmates are about 22! eek! i'll just be reassured by the fact that i've gotten to enjoy my 20s and explore a lot of different aspects of my life that they haven't... 🙂 i've also probably gotten to party more than they have 😉

 

[uptoolate]

I'm 32 and mother of one beautiful little girl. I was a bit of a train wreck in undergrad, don't really want to go into the details. Med school wasn'y much of an option at that point. I always wanted to join the Peace Corps and they happily took me. I did the 2.25 years there and then stayed in country working in child survival research. Stayed again and worked as acting assistant PC Director for health program. Left and started an MPH program. Finished that and did a PhD. Just finished that last week. Start med school in 2 weeks. I got married and had a baby during all of that.

I had a high rejection to interview ratio- it seems a lot of schools couldn't get over my train wreck years. I never re-took the pre-req's, so it wasn't that much of a surprise. I've met tons of people who are less than traditional and entering into this process as a second career. It can be done. Don't lose the faith (I came very close here and there). I believe I got the perfect match down with the school I will be attending. Good luck.

 

[chopper]

I'm 33 and starting this week. I had a so-so undergrad experience (3.1), and I did take/retake all the pre-reqs in a post bacc program. I did very well on those and had no problems getting into school. Try the following site: oldpremeds.org You will find many people in your shoes. Good Luck

 

[asimpleday]

I was interested to know if there were any non-traditional medical students who made it "to the promise land" ie. medical school. I am entering my thirties and questioning wether it is a little to late to enter medical school. I have seen different web sites of individuals who have done it but I was very interested in recent matriculants -- your stories, the hurdles that you encountered, the reactions from the rest of the student body, and what you did to be victorious in accomplishing your goals. I look forward to your posts. Thanks 🙂

Hi, there:

Mike Grasso has a great website for non-traditional. I think there is link to his site here.

 

[Learfan]

There are a few of us out here. I drifted around without focus as an undergrad many years ago. Came out with a 3.46 as a dual biology and chemistry major. Since my undergrad performance was so inconsistent I decided no med school would take a chance on me and went on to get a PhD in chemistry. After 18 years spent in industrial chemistry and junior business leadership roles without enjoying the experience other than the $$$, I decided to go back to do what I had intended. I start MS1 in less than two weeks at the age of 46. Hard to believe a med school would take a chance on me at this stage of the game but it happened. I suspect a high MCAT score (36S) was a big help in opening doors. It can be done.

 

[skypilot]

I was interested to know if there were any non-traditional medical students who made it "to the promise land" ie. medical school. I am entering my thirties and questioning wether it is a little to late to enter medical school. I have seen different web sites of individuals who have done it but I was very interested in recent matriculants -- your stories, the hurdles that you encountered, the reactions from the rest of the student body, and what you did to be victorious in accomplishing your goals. I look forward to your posts. Thanks 🙂

Just entering your thirties is not even close to too late. Just keep an open mind, apply everywhere, and demonstrate that you can truly handle the courseload and have some unique experiences to bring to the table and you will have no problem.

Once you are a resident you will realize that there are lots of other residents in their thirties, even the ones that started at the traditional age. Especially the neurosurgeons 🙂

 

[FutureTXDr]

Thank you all who have responded up to now. I am very encouraged by your personal experiences and your triumps. I congratulate all of you. Great success to you who are starting and to those who are far along in your formal medical education. Thank you again. 🙂

 

[Termwean]

I am 33 y/o father of 2 (14 week old male,3 y/o female). I messed around in the military from 89-96 as a combat medic, and as a respiratory therapist. Decided to go to school after I got married in 2000 and use my GIbill money. Joined the national guard b/c they pay 100% tuition @ my state school.....ended up losing a year when I got sent to Afghanistan in 2002. I did ok in undergrad @ LSU.....3.76. Poor mcat (24) but encouraged to apply by DOA at LSU-NO med school w/o retaking mcat. So I applied and got in 🙂 . Man, I didn't want to retake that test!

Adcom liked medical experience as RT from 94-now and combat medic in Desert Shield/Storm, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.

You can do it too! I will turn 34 soon after starting next week.

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
We have a huge Non-traditional Forum a bit further down. I will be moving this thread to that forum where you can get lots of info.
njbmd 🙂

 

[thirdunity]

Hi there, I am a non-traditional-student myself, here is my story. I am 31, a student at a community college, and preparing to transfer to Davis in another year.

I was a total slacker for many years, with lifelong issues with depression and anxiety plus ADHD. Despite being a "gifted kid", I dropped out of high school at 15. From there, I held a series of sucky jobs, moved from place to place, and made several half-assed attempts at college. I tried a number of different things. As a result of a lifetime of slackerhood, I ended up with a substandard GPA (3.1 total; 3.45 in transfer-only classes; lots of Ws every single semester).

It was not until my life literally "hit bottom" (I ended up stuck in a bad marriage) that I decided to turn my life around. Now that I have gotten some help, "hit bottom" and climbed out (I've left that husband) and started help for the depression and anxiety, I am doing much better and everyone says they can see the change in me. I'd like to say I found G-d or something, since it sounds like your typical "I found G-d/Jesus/Buddha/whatever/whoever" story, but no, actually, I found Paxil and therapy.

Becoming a doctor is the first goal I've ever had that has ever felt "worthwhile" and it is this goal that keeps me getting out of bed on a day to day basis. It has inspired me to turn my life around and make something of myself, it has inspired me to start having self discipline in my life, and to start being responsible. I was always interested in medicine, but didn't think I could ever do it because of the problems that I had in school (due to the ADHD) when I was a child.

Even if I got straight A's from here on, though, I don't know that there is a chance in hell to bring my GPA up to med school standards. Typical of a lifetime of untreated ADHD, I got straight A's in subjects I was interested in, but W's or worse in things that couldn't hold my attention. Now that I am just going to be doing the science and math courses, I am expecting I will be able to do well, as I do well in heavily structured type of classes.

I am transitioning into health care work (starting school for phlebotomy next week, and will have my EMT-B by the end of the year) which I will do while I am finishing school. I am counting on the fact that I will have to have really strong clinicals as well as a stellar MCAT, so I am hoping to start getting the clinicals, shadowing, et cetera right away.

Meanwhile I'm looking forward to at least working in the medical field while working my way toward getting into med school, I'm going to try not to lose track of the journey en route to the destination.

I am a lifelong biology nerd, but the broadness of the medical field seems like something where I can really enjoy myself and make a contribution. I just don't want to be a research scientist. I love being around people too much, and can't sit in one place for too long.

 

[ShyRem]

Welcome! I celebrated the 9th anniversary of my 29th birthday this year. I started school in 1984, didn't really care about what I was doing, didn't know WHY I was in college at the time, failed all of my 2nd semester sophomore courses and withdrew. I spent the next years growing up. Worked as a paramedic for 10 years, firefighter for 5. Went back to college and got my chemistry and math dual degree in 3 years - graduated cum laude. I have a husband and two children, and arranged my schedule throughout school to avoid day care.

I applied last year (VERY late) and got into a couple of "gee, we'd like to interview you but we don't have any spots left - we'll let you know if someone cancels" piles, but no interviews or acceptances. I called a few schools and three told me I was "outside the normal age range for medical school applicants." 😡 But I also only applied MD. I have since heard that DO tends to be a bit more considerate of those of us with more life experience.

I'm trying again this year, applying EARLY (two day secondary turn-around time!) to both MD and DO and hopefully will get in somewhere. My husband would really like to retire and let me support him in the liftstyle he would like to become accustomed to! 🙂 😉

Good luck!!

 

[RESP4NOW]

I am 33 y/o father of 2 (14 week old male,3 y/o female). I messed around in the military from 89-96 as a combat medic, and as a respiratory therapist. Decided to go to school after I got married in 2000 and use my GIbill money. Joined the national guard b/c they pay 100% tuition @ my state school.....ended up losing a year when I got sent to Afghanistan in 2002. I did ok in undergrad @ LSU.....3.76. Poor mcat (24) but encouraged to apply by DOA at LSU-NO med school w/o retaking mcat. So I applied and got in 🙂 . Man, I didn't want to retake that test!

Adcom liked medical experience as RT from 94-now and combat medic in Desert Shield/Storm, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.

You can do it too! I will turn 34 soon after starting next week.

Hey Termwean,do you think being an RT was a big factor in you getting in. I have heard that being in a healthcare field can sometimes work against you(ie RN, RT, PT). I am hoping my 7 years as an RRT will strenghten my future application. Congrats on your achievement.

 

[thirdunity]

Welcome! I celebrated the 9th anniversary of my 29th birthday this year. I started school in 1984, didn't really care about what I was doing, didn't know WHY I was in college at the time, failed all of my 2nd semester sophomore courses and withdrew. I spent the next years growing up. Worked as a paramedic for 10 years, firefighter for 5. Went back to college and got my chemistry and math dual degree in 3 years - graduated cum laude. I have a husband and two children, and arranged my schedule throughout school to avoid day care.

Wow! Great life experiences there.

I haven't really done anything interesting of note though - my bounce-back from slackerhood is painfully recent. I floundered around in an unhappy, largely nonproductive career in graphic arts and software for about eight years (between 22 and 30) and spent most of that time either unemployed or fruitlessly doing more training to make me more employable (ha, it didn't). I killed the rest of the time playing tabletop role playing games with some loser friends, collecting comic books, and generally being a loser. I didn't have kids or do anything which could otherwise justify my time. In my twenties, I was never the picture of the person who gets serious and goes pre-med.

Things didn't change until I got into therapy (things changed *slightly*) and got on medication (things changed *drastically*); before, I couldn't get out of bed, now I can't stay *in* bed. I've become a type-A person. I don't even dress the same way anymore.

I don't really know what kind of spin to put on my background. I don't have anything I can say for myself other than "I grew up". I'm expecting I'll be doing a whole lot of community service/volunteer type stuff.

 

[Termwean]

It definately worked for me.....when I stressed on secondaries....and in experiences that as a RT you work on ALL wards/units of the hospital and w/ pt's from every age range, go to traumas, codes etc....and the airway responsibilities of the RT.
Good Luck....where do you work?//////

Hey Termwean,do you think being an RT was a big factor in you getting in. I have heard that being in a healthcare field can sometimes work against you(ie RN, RT, PT). I am hoping my 7 years as an RRT will strenghten my future application. Congrats on your achievement.

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Hey 🙂

Your not alone! I am 31 now and I currently work as a flight nurse in arizona. I have a BSN and was a paramedic before that. I have always thought I wanted to be a doctor but felt like I was never in a position to do it. I used the same excuses as we all did "Im too old" "I already have a career" "I dont want to start from the bottom again". etc etc.

Let me say this. When I really sat down and thought about it, I realized that wanting to be a Doctor crossed my mind everyday. It isnt about money or prestige, its about being a Type A personality. Same reason i went to nursing school when i was a paramedic is the same reason i NEED to goto med school. I want to know what i dont know!

The last comment someone made to me that really helped push me into starting pre reqs was this "You can be 40 and a nurse or 40 and a doctor, but you'll be 40 no matter what". It hit home.

Currently, i finished chem I & II now doing Bio I & II and Physics I & II. I do O chem I in june and take the MCAT in august (ill be enrolled in O chem 2 for sept.) So i wont actually be able to go (assuming i do well in MCAT) until aug 2007 class. I will be 33 when i start and ill be 41 when im done residency. Really, that dosent matter!

Good luck and keep going!

 

[RESP4NOW]

It definately worked for me.....when I stressed on secondaries....and in experiences that as a RT you work on ALL wards/units of the hospital and w/ pt's from every age range, go to traumas, codes etc....and the airway responsibilities of the RT.
Good Luck....where do you work?//////

I work in NY, just outside of NYC, I am taking the rest of the prereqs that were not covered in RT school. I'm hoping that the experiences will also help me in the application process. During interviews, did anyone ask you about your RT experience? Thanks for the info.

 

[QofQuimica]

The last comment someone made to me that really helped push me into starting pre reqs was this "You can be 40 and a nurse or 40 and a doctor, but you'll be 40 no matter what". It hit home.

That's exactly what I told my mom, too. 👍 I am turning 30 this week, and I'll be 31 next year when I hopefully begin medical school. I have an MS in chemistry, and I'm finishing my PhD, also in chemistry. I did apply to medical school as an undergrad, but I went about it all wrong. I didn't apply to enough schools (only 3), I didn't do a post-bac (I went to a liberal arts college with no grades), and worst of all, I didn't impress upon the medical schools where I applied how badly I really wanted to go to medical school. In spite of all that, I managed to get two interviews but ended up waitlisted at both schools. I went on to grad school and kind of put med school out of my mind for a while, but I never really stopped thinking about going.

OP, my recommendation to you, on top of what everyone else has already suggested, is that you contact your state school if you have one and ask for a meeting with the admissions director. Bring copies of all your transcripts and your MCAT scores if you have them. Also, make a list of your current and past activities, both medical and non-medical. Ask the admissions director whether you are competitive based on your current stats and ECs. If not, find out what you have to do to make yourself more competitive, and do it.

I actually met with the admissions directors at three schools, and not only did each one give me suggestions to improve my app, but now I also have a contact at each school, and they know who I am when I call or email their offices. I found that all three schools were very open to taking qualified non-traditional applicants, and they all waived their GPA requirement for me (since I don't have an undergrad GPA.) But the thing is, you do have to meet the same qualifications that the younger students do, such as scoring the minimum MCAT they ask for (they preferred a 30, but the minimum is 24), having a competitive graduate or post-bac GPA (they asked for 3.5+, but the minimum is 3.0), and participating in shadowing and hospital volunteering kinds of experiences.

If medicine is your dream, I hope that you decide to go for it, and I wish you the best of luck. Drop in sometimes and post how you're doing with your pre-reqs.

 

[markt]

Hi, I'm not yet a medical student, but I found a really inspirational story of a former AT&T engineer who began medical school when he was 48.

http://members.cox.net/docstafford/Mystory.htm