I think I going to give up becoming a DOC

[willl3]

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I would be doing a post bac program
I won't be able to start classes till summer I can take one class
Cal... I don't think I can do it. I'm 32 no money and I have a wife

I feel dead

I want to go but I don't know if I can do it 🙁

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

Hey three years of applying worked for me.

 

[1olddoc]

I am sorry about your frustration. But, if being a doctor is what makes you happy in life then you must do it. If being a physician will make you eager to get out of bed in the morning, then that in it's self is allot better than feeling dead. Also, I would immagine that your training even if it is a post bac program will be very stimulating. Once again, much better than feeling dead. Also, you didn't mention having kids, this is one less complication. Allot of people go to med school married or who are involved in strong relationships. Furthermore, money is not an issue. If you have an acceptance people will be more than eager to loan you money in most cases. Best of luck, and please don't give up if this is what you are ment to do with your life. Best Regards

 

[Rendar5]

If serving as a doctor is what you think will give your life meaning and/or happiness, go for it.

 

[xanthines]

Out of all the things you listed, your wife is the only thing that should be stopping you. I'm probably poorer than you are (I went to a very expensive private college, and I have a very low-paying job now), there are older people than you applying (pathdr2b has you beat there and she appears to be very enthusiastic), and if anything classes will help get you back into school-mode.

If your wife is TRULY supportive, then go for it! Just make sure that she knows what she's getting into: lots of away time, rough days, bad moods, lots of debt, potentially lots of moving around. etc etc.

Have a whisky and then go running. That'll make you feel alive! 😉

-X

Originally posted by willl3
I would be doing a post bac program
I won't be able to start classes till summer I can take one class
Cal... I don't think I can do it. I'm 32 no money and I have a wife

I feel dead

I want to go but I don't know if I can do it 🙁

 

[willl3]

Ok My post bac program would end in 2 years....
I would be working at a gym or something stupid...
I don't know if I'm smart emough to do this....but it has been something that I always wanted to do.. Since I was a freshman in school....
Are there any jobs I could get once I finish doing my postback while applying to med school? Can I work in a lab and make some money to live?
And the I'm not smart enough... I score really low on my gmats a long time ago I'm very scared that I will go waste my time and my wifes time. (Note I did go to NYU undergrad so I'm not too stupid)


Help advice? did anyone here fail in premed? anyone here?

 

[KarateGirl]

When you say failed as a premed, you mean someone who failed to go on into medicine? I'd guess that most of the failed premeds don't come here much.

And when you say you'll probably work in a gym...do you have any training in fitness? I really lucked out in my job. I was working as an aerobics instructor for a few years, and ended up getting my personal trainer's certification and going into fitness full-time. It was great because it's not 9 to 5, and I was able to work around my premed classes. Now I'm free-lancing and training people in their homes. I make good $$ and my hours are my own. (Leaves plenty of time to work on my apps.) You could try something like that to make ends meet while you get ready for med school.

What about your wife? Many women work to support their husbands through med school. Being married could be an asset in that way.

I hope you're able to make it work. Good luck.

 

[Sonya]

steady work and effort can compensate for smartness.

yes, there are a variety of jobs you could do.... relevant jobs at that. Working in a research lab is often more flexible, but rarely brings good income (22 to 30K). And, you could probably get a job if you're proactive about finding it and flexible.

Finding something more clinical is harder.

Good luck with your descision. Ask yourself how long are you willing to wait? It can definetly be done. But, it is up to you and you're wife if it is worth the time. It depends on what your other calling are also, i think.


Sonya

 

[hope280]

I would seriously consider a RN or another career in the medical field if I were you. Being a RN is rewarding, enriching, interesting, fun, and financially worthwhile. It is also much easier to attain than a medical degree. I hope this helps you. Good luck.

 

[judoka]

sometimes, you need to move on. If money, time, and your wife's sanity are all constraints for you, do something else...not everyone gets to achieve their dreams. In fact, most people don't...

Medicine is a long road, you can do a lot of things that are worthwhile instead.

At a certain point, you have to worry about things other than what you want, like what your family needs.

 

[jayski2030]

I'd consider RN, NP, or paramedic. All three have the potential to be very rewarding.

As far as work goes, maybe get certified as an emt. That's relevant job experience and you may fall in love with it and choose to become a paramedic. They make decent money and usually get good retirement plans. If you follow through on the med school route, you'll have made some money along the way and will have something good to put on your resume.

-Jay

 

[woolie]

It took me a long while to get myself into a place where I could actually stop and go back to school without worrying that I would lose my job, flunk out, or run out of money, etc. I am an older applicant and I had to really stratgeize a long term plan for doing this. I also had a few years of jobs where I worked (in NY too) and I would feel my brains slipping out as the hours went by. After a while, I felt like I was stupider than a wet board, and had nothing to offer and nothing to show for myself. Some jobs can do that to you, even if you are earning good money. And then too, the money thing can suck you in and as you loose your confidence you begin to feel like: cripes! I have to hold onto this (worthless) job for dear life because I am so stupid no one else will hire me, etc...

A vicious cycle as you can see. I had to stop the thinking like that and force myself to believe in myself and to step out of the invisible trap of that work environment.

Do some soul searching (you must have already, since you have come here and posted) and KEEP working on that little flame of interest.

Today I sat in an adcom's office and we calmly talked about my path and what I have been doing. She seemed to think I was worth spending time with and what I had to offer was significant. You're not fresh out of ugrad, she said, and life experience matters here.

Dude, I also got accpepted a few weeks ago at another school so there you go. PM me if you have other questions, but follow your heart - you'll find a way. What does it say in the Bible: "God will make a way where there is none." Believe in something, have faith and start on you way ... you can do it if you really want it.

 

[charik]

My cousin thought she wanted to become a doctor, but later decided she didn't want to be in school that long. She decided to get a masters in hospital administration instead of going to medical school. She knew she liked the hospital environment. So now she works in a hospital, and is about to graduate with her masters, and is happy with her work. Why not think about what exactly you like about a doctor's job and then think about what other medical-related jobs have those aspects?

 

[8744]

Originally posted by willl3
I would be doing a post bac program
I won't be able to start classes till summer I can take one class
Cal... I don't think I can do it. I'm 32 no money and I have a wife

I feel dead

I want to go but I don't know if I can do it 🙁

You are not old. And a wife is an asset in Medical School.

PM me.

 

[KarateGirl]

Originally posted by woolie
Today I sat in an adcom's office and we calmly talked about my path and what I have been doing. She seemed to think I was worth spending time with and what I had to offer was significant. You're not fresh out of ugrad, she said, and life experience matters here.

I'd love to know which school that was.

 

[Supadupafly]

Originally posted by willl3

And the I'm not smart enough... I score really low on my gmats a long time ago

MCAT prep courses are very effective if you really apply yourself. A friend of mine with absolutely no science background pulled a 31. Not an awsome score, but it got her into a med school.

If you really want to be a doc, don't give up. You'll always ask yourself "could I have made it?" and feel bad for not trying.

There are alot of med schools that aren't so hard to get into. In a few years, DO schools will be as hard to get into as MD schools, so now is really the time to take advantage of slightly easier grade/test standards. In the end, what matters is how good you are at being a physician, not where you went to school.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Are you absolutely convinced you want to be a *Physician* in particular? Being a Physician Assistant is a lucrative career these days that would require about five years less time committment before you make money.

Don't let an infatuation with having a title make you waste 5 years of your life.

 

[tupac_don]

Ok My post bac program would end in 2 years....
I would be working at a gym or something stupid...
I don't know if I'm smart emough to do this....but it has been something that I always wanted to do.. Since I was a freshman in school....
Are there any jobs I could get once I finish doing my postback while applying to med school? Can I work in a lab and make some money to live?
And the I'm not smart enough... I score really low on my gmats a long time ago I'm very scared that I will go waste my time and my wifes time. (Note I did go to NYU undergrad so I'm not too stupid)


Help advice? did anyone here fail in premed? anyone here?

Hey man,

Not to be discouraging but you seem in bad shape to go, plus you say you don't do well on standardized tests, well med school is all about standardized tests. Two why are you so hell bent on going, you can have a very nice living and more time with your wife plus be involved in health care if you go be a: PA or a pharmacist. It takes a lot less school, the job can be very satisfying and it is not worth it to become an MD if it is going to ruin your life. You should only become one, if you can handle it physically, emotionally and mentally. It is very draining and if you go to it, just for the degree and be called a doctor you will be in for a rude awakening. Also talk to some doctors who have been in the game for years, not some of these pre-meds who are still in la-la land and don't even know what it is to be a doctor. Best of luck. Also not becoming a doctor is not the end of the world. You just have to figure out, why do you want to go so badly and if the reason is too strong, then I am sure a door will open, if not, do something else and move on. Later champ.

 

[jlee9531]

hey man, just go for it.
its better than the situation im in right now...

 

[superdood]

Hey man,

Not to be discouraging but you seem in bad shape to go, plus you say you don't do well on standardized tests, well med school is all about standardized tests. Two why are you so hell bent on going, you can have a very nice living and more time with your wife plus be involved in health care if you go be a: PA or a pharmacist. It takes a lot less school, the job can be very satisfying and it is not worth it to become an MD if it is going to ruin your life. You should only become one, if you can handle it physically, emotionally and mentally. It is very draining and if you go to it, just for the degree and be called a doctor you will be in for a rude awakening. Also talk to some doctors who have been in the game for years, not some of these pre-meds who are still in la-la land and don't even know what it is to be a doctor. Best of luck. Also not becoming a doctor is not the end of the world. You just have to figure out, why do you want to go so badly and if the reason is too strong, then I am sure a door will open, if not, do something else and move on. Later champ.

i agree. i know a lot of people who are in medical school, and when you ask them why, they say, "i can't quit after getting this far" sigh. but things like that happen. i'm not one to give encouragement, but just follow what your heart desires. you don't want to regret passing up an opportunity.

my 2 cents

 

[kmnfive]

hey man, just go for it.
its better than the situation im in right now...

what situation are you in? your davis is pending?

 

[nontrad314]

>>I would be doing a post bac program
>>I won't be able to start classes till summer I can take one class
>>Cal... I don't think I can do it. I'm 32 no money and I have a wife
>>I want to go but I don't know if I can do it

I want to address the age concern here. I don't think that you should take your age as a problem. There are other problems to solve as you mention (money, spouses, courses etc). But your age is not something that I believe you should hold as an argument against pursuing an MD / DO.

I'm 32 as well and am going to invest 2 - 4 more years to the process of applying to school. At first, I thought being 32 is a potential concern. So I investigated the situation a bit. Bottom line, 32 is apparently not a problem at all. [As I understand it, one of the basic concerns with age (there are several others including financial planning in the presence of student loans and retirement planning) are the physical problems associated to the stamina required for taking call. The difference between someone who ends a career in medicine that started at the age of 24 and someone who started at 34 is mostly not too significant. Or so I am told (by physicians, ad comms, etc)]

Hope this helps.

 

[doc05]

no, age in and of itself is not a big deal. but the point is : is wasting all your time and money worth it at this point??

medicine is not a very rewarding career; you can make good money but are nothing more than a slave to all of your mostly ungrateful patients. you mostly don't save lives, but rather just adjust medication doses and other incredibly dull things.

graduating medical students know this, and that's why lifestyle specialties are the most popular choice...while a career in medicine sucks, all the debt means you nonetheless have to be a doctor; so everyone chooses anesthesia, gi, radiology, etc...

what are your motivations for becoming a doctor? no, not "saving lives," but REAL motivations?? keep it to yourself , if you're too embarrassed to post here. just realize what you're getting yourself into.

 

[beanbean]

FYI - this thread was started last year and the OP hasn't posted since January. I'm not sure why it was brought back to life.

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

FYI - this thread was started last year and the OP hasn't posted since January. I'm not sure why it was brought back to life.

lol...

 

[KY1975]

>>I would be doing a post bac program
>>I won't be able to start classes till summer I can take one class
>>Cal... I don't think I can do it. I'm 32 no money and I have a wife
>>I want to go but I don't know if I can do it

I want to address the age concern here. I don't think that you should take your age as a problem. There are other problems to solve as you mention (money, spouses, courses etc). But your age is not something that I believe you should hold as an argument against pursuing an MD / DO.

I'm 32 as well and am going to invest 2 - 4 more years to the process of applying to school. At first, I thought being 32 is a potential concern. So I investigated the situation a bit. Bottom line, 32 is apparently not a problem at all. [As I understand it, one of the basic concerns with age (there are several others including financial planning in the presence of student loans and retirement planning) are the physical problems associated to the stamina required for taking call. The difference between someone who ends a career in medicine that started at the age of 24 and someone who started at 34 is mostly not too significant. Or so I am told (by physicians, ad comms, etc)]

Hope this helps.

I agree with this dude. Read his posts and believe him. Nontrad314 has some serious time researching the stats. Albert Sweitzer was 38 when he finished medical studies. However I will assert that some may be motivated by the image/ concept of becoming an MD rather than the actual work. There is some interesting psychology within these posts. Consider your motivation and reasoning is my 2 cents.

 

[2DEG]

I would be doing a post bac program
I won't be able to start classes till summer I can take one class
Cal... I don't think I can do it. I'm 32 no money and I have a wife

I feel dead

I want to go but I don't know if I can do it 🙁

Hey Will3..If anyone feels your frustration, that would be me. I am pretty much in the same scenario - except I have a kid as well.

If you don't have kids, then even working part-time, you and your wife should be able to fine financially.

I work full-time now..and applying this year. If I don't get in (due to my poor undergrad GPA), I am totally lost as to what I can do. I can't quit job - who will provide financial support for my family? And with full-time job, I can't take more than one course a semester. Med schools want to see that I can handle a heavy load.

My humble advice to you is..don't think too far ahead..just focus on the immediate future, that is, you need to do well in your post-bac stuff.

Best wishes..I hope everything works out for you..

S.

 

[stella81]

Hey will3, you can do this. Find a full-time job at a medical school near you or a hospital near you. Hospital job are mostly 12hrs a day, some fulltime hospital jobs require 36 hours for full-time workers...3 days a week with full benefits and PTO. You could work fri-sun and have mon-thur for school and to spend time with your wife. You could take evening classes, you are taking the prereqs right. You can do this. You could take one science lec and lab per semester (spring, sum 1, sum2 & fall) it will take you about two years to finish your prereqs and take the MCAT.
That's not bad though ,you will have money to take care of yourself and your wife and also you will be pursing your dream. Sit done and think about it really, you can do this. You need find somewhat of a decent job and your wife works also right, it should not be that bad, seriously. For example, your schedule could be (m-f)7a-4a or 7p-7a (work) ;6pm-9 pmschool (tue, thu) & (sat-sun) church, family & study time. you can do this, it might take you a little longer almost two years. Do a program that works with your schedule, it should be okay to take those classes on your own. let me know how it goes.

I would be doing a post bac program
I won't be able to start classes till summer I can take one class
Cal... I don't think I can do it. I'm 32 no money and I have a wife

I feel dead

I want to go but I don't know if I can do it 🙁

 

[Jon Davis]

This thread has been revived twice now out of the blue. Its two years old!
Whats goin on here KY1975?

 

[nontrad314]

This thread has been revived twice now out of the blue. Its two years old!
Whats goin on here KY1975?

who knows, but who really cares?

even if will3 is completely a figure of virtual imagination there's still alot of generally useful input floating around in this thread that presummably is serving a purposes for readers who are active / real

i mean, stella81's hypothetical schedule seems like a viable option for people in similar situations; e.g., hmmm....not bad stella81.....not bad at all.

similarly for similar comments

what would be nice is if all this generally useful information could be somehow organized into a coherent way.

but hey, it's the internet. coherence ain't easy; threads have a tendency to sort of diverge / spin off

 

[Jon Davis]

This thread has been revived twice now out of the blue. Its two years old!
Whats goin on here KY1975?

I agree with this dude. Read his posts and believe him. Nontrad314 has some serious time researching the stats. Albert Sweitzer was 38 when he finished medical studies. However I will assert that some may be motivated by the image/ concept of becoming an MD rather than the actual work. There is some interesting psychology within these posts. Consider your motivation and reasoning is my 2 cents.

who knows, but who really cares?

even if will3 is completely a figure of virtual imagination there's still alot of generally useful input floating around in this thread that presummably is serving a purposes for readers who are active / real

i mean, stella81's hypothetical schedule seems like a viable option for people in similar situations; e.g., hmmm....not bad stella81.....not bad at all.

similarly for similar comments

what would be nice is if all this generally useful information could be somehow organized into a coherent way.

but hey, it's the internet. coherence ain't easy; threads have a tendency to sort of diverge / spin off

Oh, you did it.

 

[1Path]

(pathdr2b has you beat there and she appears to be very enthusiastic),

Now reincarnated as 1Path, 2 years later and 1 year from the big 4-0, I'm now in the waiting game for the class of 2006!!! 👍

 

[ShyRem]

I'm 38 and applying now. If I make it in, I'll be 42 or 43 when I graduate med school, and 46 when I'm done with residency. *ouch* 🙁