Well, it seems most of us are at or near 30s (give or take an SE of 10 yrs
, but what does it all REALLY mean anyway?). I am currently 32 y.o. undergraduate - a classic academic late bloomer, with an apparent gluttony for punishment
. I began out of high school enlisting in the Navy, to become an independent duty corpsman and then on to surgical first assisting. Thereafter, I had the wild notion that I wanted to jump in and attempt the school for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). It was an odd decision to be sure, but I like the small-team work ethic, and it ended up being a good personal asset.
After 8 years, I began my undergrad, and changed schools after a year, in order to maintain support for a double major in molecular bio and computer science. I originally had no intent to go into medical school, but rather rather wanted to enter into a graduate program with an interest in infectious disease, or oncological research. I think my acid test then was in that working in surgery to me was more a pain in the ass than a life impacting career. I suppose perspective (read: low man on totem pole) was handing me my opinion at the time. But I took for granted the patient base I enjoyed, both as an IDC, and as a private FA (working for a hospital in this area is terribly fraught, by design I would argue, with fire breathing and gnashing of teeth).
During my undergrad career, I watched my grades plummet in a short time from several semesters of 3.76 to 3.5, and then with onset of a chronic injury (dive related), and then redeployment on 9/11, I witnessed by best in stuttered wisdom. I became hard headed and attempted to complete classes remotely, never once considering a leave of absence (but then I had only a few hours to make the decision for withdrawal when 9/11 came around). Obviously I was wrong, and consequently saw the dive to a 2.5 (I am working on a recalculation as I believe it's a 2.88 now, but we'll see.). Incompletes can do that far easier than performing poorly in a class.
So I contact a pre-med advisor on my wiley idealism of med school and here is an interesting reply that all might want to read.
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Although there is legally no age discrimination, the number of people
over thirty who are accepted to medical school is very small. The
number accepted over forty is very very small. The reasons for these
reduced numbers is not always obvious and should be stated.
1. To become a physician at 45 means that individual will practice medicine twenty less years than the physician at 25. As a tax payer, I get more from my tax support for a medical student if that student
practices medicine longer.
2. The much older student recognizes bull**** faster and is less likely to endure it than a younger student. There is a lot of bull**** and bush marking in the education of a physician. Don't underestimate the impact of this statement.
3. The older student has additional responsibilities, often of a maturing family, that are not faced by a younger student.
4. The much older student does not have the same stamina as the younger student.
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Although most of these issues can be easily be rebutted on an individual basis, it DOES seem that Medical Admissions Committees (MACs) are a bit on the discriminatory side - though legally age is not supposed to be a factor in admissions. But I'm not pursuing that here.. just laying out some information I received, regardless of what I hear elsewhere. Yeah, receiving this info made for quite a discouraging day yesterday.
However, the bottom line is, although my GPA is certainly not endearing to a MAC, I should be able to nail the MCAT, which will hopefully open a couple of doors or draw at least a second glance. I suppose if anything shouldn't be underestimated, it's my resolve to complete this thing that I've started. The end story of this traversal will be interesting in the least.
I was presented with the idea recently to try DPM schoolbyt both fiancee, family, and advisor (we are in the process of buying a home, the hours are supposed to be decent, and the pay good in a growth market). Immediately I looked at this as a plate of bitter apples being handed to me. Under the circumstances, it wasn't the question IF I would eat them as much as it was HOW I would go about it. Ultimately I had to look at my true intent. Regardless of the potential pay, hours, and convenience, I just can't do something that I don't feel my heart would be in. But then, I have to do more footwork on the matter.
Will post as events emerge. This feels a decent section for communication between us all as well as interpersonal diaries. This is a nerve racking but exciting decision I think I've personally come upon. And it's taken me only 14 yrs to make it
Good luck to everyone in their pursuits.
Cheers,
Phillip
I am applying for the 2005 class as well. I am married, but have no kids. It's really good to see others in the same position I am. 
