FNP to MD, how common/how difficult?

[MsGigglesGrl]

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Hi!

I am graduating with my masters as an FNP in exactly one year but have a growing interest in going to medical school as a non traditional student and becoming a pathologist. I have family who have gone to medical school so I know the rigors and what is required of me generally.

How common is applying to and being accepted as a former FNP as well as at the age I would be applying? I will be around 41 when I take my physics and o’chems and 42 when I take the MCAT.

I have nursing colleagues that have taken the MCAT and applied to medical school and told during the interview process they love medical professionals and nursing applicants. Any advice or recommendations?

Thank you!!

 

[gyngyn]

Your outcome will be influenced more by your MCAT, gpa and "mission" fit than on age or nursing background.

 

[esob]

I was older than you will be at matriculation. As gyngyn noted, your GPA and MCAT will be the most significant influences on your chance for matriculation. Age will work against you at some schools but be helpful at others. Overall, I would say that being over 40 is most negative at high-ranking institutions but significantly beneficial at most other programs.

 

[IntoTheStorm]

RN to MD here (MCAT and applying this spring at the spritely age of 36)

A good friend of mine was a FNP for around 5 years before taking prerequisites and she is now an MS4.

Your biggest challenges will obviously be how you do on the MCAT (and cGPA and sGPA) but your mission fit for MD/DO vs remaining an FNP. You really need to be able to elaborate "why physician" in your personal statement and make that same theme flow throughout your application so schools have no questions as to why you are pursing the physician route.

 

[MsGigglesGrl]

Thank you all for the helpful comments! I appreciate y'all and your input 🙂

 

[Bribri123]

Hey I’m 30 and I’m graduating FNP in May this year 2025 , long story short I went back and forth between deciding to pursue medicine or not. I tried my hardest to convince myself not to do med school and thought I had finally convinced myself and to just do NP school but I had an experience during one of my clinicals that was the straw that broke the camels back and I realized that although i known I will enjoy being an NP and will undoubtedly make an impact to the lives of many in that role. I realize that I will not be truly happy unless I go to medical school, no amount of self teaching, mentoring or conferences will be able to provide me with the unique learning experience I will get going through the rigors and challenges of medical school and so I have been doing my pre reqs for med school while also finishing up my NP classes and doing my last couple hundred hours of clinical rotations. It’s been exhausting and their isn’t a day I don’t have multiple clinical encounters to document, soap notes to write or chemistry biology reports to complete on top of studying for FNP boards but my heart is happy because after much back and forth I am finally pursuing this dream that I have had for years