DO student graduates at the age of 61

[Adapt]

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The following is an article discussing how currently there are more older people that want to continue going to college. There is a small excerpt of a lady who applied to 40 medical schools but only got into MSU-COM. She is graduating this month at the age of 61. There's some encouragement for non-traditional students. 🙂

http://www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0405/06/a01-144713.htm

But not every institution is receptive to nontraditional types, student Clarence Nicodemus said.

Nicodemus, who graduates today from Michigan State University?s College of Osteopathic Medicine at the age of 61, had applied to 40 medical schools. No other school but MSU accepted the former medical researcher, who has a doctorate in biomedical engineering.

?There are institutions who tend to not look favorably on nontraditional students,? Nicodemus said. ?They?re really missing an opportunity because you can?t learn life experiences in a classroom.?

 

[Adapt]

Bumping this for sdnstud who thinks he may be too old to apply to DO schools because he is 25 years old.

If a 57 year old can get in, surely there is still hope for you. 😀

 

[DrMom]

Wow !

 

[sophiejane]

There is a 74 year old student at Southwestern in Dallas. I think he's in his 3rd or 4th year. Makes me feel like a spring chicken at 34. 🙂

 

[Doctor Peloncito]

There is a 74 year old student at Southwestern in Dallas. I think he's in his 3rd or 4th year. Makes me feel like a spring chicken at 34. 🙂

dang, unless you are independently weathy and are doing it for fun (now that's masochism), what the heck is the point? You may be able to practice medicine for a few years at most?

 

[kpax18]

There will be a student in COMP 2008 who is in her mid 50's

 

[stoic]

I wonder how a 61 and 74 yo are gonna hold up to q3 or 4 call during internship/residency?

 

[Adapt]

There will be a student in COMP 2008 who is in her mid 50's

Really? Do you know the profiles of all the students already?

 

[Doctor Peloncito]

The oldest in our class was 48 at the beginning of the year.

 

[kpax18]

Really? Do you know the profiles of all the students already?

yup, muahahahaha, I know everyone of you
just messin

no, she was in the 2007 class but quit midway and decided to be in the 2008 class

 

[Adapt]

yup, muahahahaha, I know everyone of you
just messin

no, she was in the 2007 class but quit midway and decided to be in the 2008 class

😀 Interesting. I hope she doesn't quit on us and decide to move to the 2009 class.

 

[Pooh Chong]

I think it's great when people can achieve their dreams...no matter their age. I'm sure that the admissions board had enough reason to believe that these older students would be able to withstand the rigors of clinicals/residency...and would make a meaningful contribution to the healthcare field OTHERWISE they wouldn't be admitted.

Rock on!

 

[flighterdoc]

Thats great. Gives me hope.

 

[nate2973]

I have mixed feelings about the ages listed in the posts and I know I am going to receive a beating for speaking my mind. I think it is great that these people are living their dreams by becoming doctors and they should have every opportunity. Heck, I am a non-trad. However, isn't mid 70's a little extreme. I mean how many hospitals would hire a person just starting out at this age? How long could they possibly practice effectively? Are the school admitting people this age adding extra seats to accomodate other potential applicants? Just my two worthless cents.

 

[Robz]

I have mixed feelings about the ages listed in the posts and I know I am going to receive a beating for speaking my mind. I think it is great that these people are living their dreams by becoming doctors and they should have every opportunity. Heck, I am a non-trad. However, isn't mid 70's a little extreme. I mean how many hospitals would hire a person just starting out at this age? How long could they possibly practice effectively? Are the school admitting people this age adding extra seats to accomodate other potential applicants? Just my two worthless cents.

We don't know their stories or their past. I bet they have a plan in life and thus got through the process and interviews. Maybe they want to spend the rest of their life helping the underserved or go on a mission to another country. Who knows....I bet they made them pay cash though and not student loans... 🙂

 

[sistahnik]

this is really awesome!! makes you reconsider complaining about applying in the mid 30's!!! thanks for giving us something to think about. 👍

 

[Neon Black]

After reading this article I now truly realize that every admissions committee has brain damage. She has about 30 times as much mileage of real world experience than anyone else she's going up against and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering (Which is far worse than med school or any Bio or Chemistry class you've taken). Simply unreal.

 

[WillowRose]

While I wonder why a septugenarian would want to apply to medical school, I see nothing wrong with he/she going. Not everyone who gets an MD/DO wants to practice medicine. For example, the womman in the original post was a researcher.......maybe she wanted to get the DO in order to further her work in research?? You never know. (Ok, you might if you read the whole article. I was cleaning up scrambled eggs and trying to convince my son not to throw any more on the floor).

I did a year in law school (yes, I make it sound like prison for a reason). The head of the Health Care Law division had an MD/JD from Harvard. Don't think he ever spent a day in residency or practicing medicine. But apparently, it was important to him to get the experience that getting an MD gave him. Or maybe he just wanted more letters after his name...hehe.

Significant contribution to medicine does not have to mean picking up your black bag and setting up a practice. It could be research, law, working as a liason with a pharm company, working in education or public health.... And I'm sure those young'uns who are only 40 or so will have another chance. When you're 72, you gotta strike while the iron's hot! LOL

Willow~