I'm 26 and interested in going to medical school...

[jw100]

I am 26 years old and after a few years in business, I realize that this is not where I want to be for the rest of my life. I actually would like to become a doctor. I've thought about it consistently over the last year or so.

My concerns are as follows:

1) Wife, getting married, having children...will medical school greatly impede this? I don't have a girlfriend currently, but I am wondering if being a student in my late twenties and early thirties will be a problem?

2) Finances...are there any students who are 28 or 29 in their first year of school and wondering if this was the right decision for them? Financially how do you manage as a slightly older student?

3) Anyone out there who came to the calling of medicine a little later in life and loving it? Or are you hating it? Just looking for some perspectives...

thanks, any advice would be greatly appreciated...

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[doughboy]

If you really want to be a doctor, its definitely a possibility. I don't think you are considered too old at 26. Not everyone is fresh out of undergrad and single.

 

[MUN2005]

The above poster is right. But in the mean time, there have been many discussions on this topic in the pre-allopathic forum. Go to 'search' at the top of the page and type in some keywords. Good luck.

 

[pcl]

I'm 26, and enjoying my experience mostly. I worked as an engineer for a few years before deciding to return to med school. It is hard to give up the nice Paycheck life, but they usually give you a reasonable budget to live on, and it's OK.

I haven't been dating much since I've been here, it's a combination of lack of time and lack of exposure to people other than medical students... kind of like high school again. It might be easier for a guy because I feel like I want someone a little older than the fresh out of college grad. Most of those older people already have a significant other in my class.

I am generally happy with my decision, but you have to do what is right for you. If you have specific questions, you can send me a private message.

 

[Shark]

I started at 29 and wouldn't trade it for anything. I worked previously as an accountant for a Big Six firm!! Anything is possible!!

 

[barcher]

I'm 28 now and will be starting medical school in August. I was an engineer for 5 years. As far as your concerns:

1. It is possible to meet someone in medical school. I have a friend who is an MS1 and is 30 who is dating another MS1 in his class. Plus, I'm not sure what your career is now, but I wouldn't guess that being a medical student would by any means hurt your chances at getting a girl friend.

2. Are far as finances go, you'll be in the same boat, maybe at little better than your classmates. You will most likely have to take out loans like everyone else. This will also involve making an adjustment to your current standard of living. My wife and I have to sell our house and move into an apartment. If you can't do this for a few years then you really need to evaluate your motivation for going into medicine.

3. Can't really speak to your 3rd question, other than I'm really excited about getting started. It will be a sacrifice, but few good things come w/o sacrifice.

The only real bummer for you (as it was for me also) is that you'll probably need to take some of the required pre-req's next school year and either quit your job or try and balance them while working. After you take the MCAT next year (I'm assuming of course that you haven't done this yet) you'll spend the following year applying and interviewing. So, you would look at entering medical school in 2004. As bad as this is, if you can make it through all this, it really shows determination on your part which is very positive during the interviews. Good luck to you.

 

[neilc]

i am 31 and in my second year. same sort of deal, worked for years, realized that i did not want to spend most of my waking hours doing something i did not love. so, i pushed everything aside and went to med school.

i am happy that i did it, but there were MANY difficulties. the first being that my girlfriend and i are still having problems. they may not be directly related to school, but it sure doesn't help. it is difficult also to adjust to being a student agian, and the coursework is a bit more demanding than my undergrad, but not terrible.

just do what you want to do. i have many moments where i wish for my stable life back, and i miss my girlfreind, family etc...but, the bottom line is, if you cannot be happy doing anything else, you should sacrifice now. you are only 26, i would be done now if i started when you did. so, just do it! if i can, anybody can.

 

[Detroit Mick]

Go for it! I will 27 when I start my first year this fall.

 

[quaileggs]

I'll be starting this med school this fall at age 32...and I didn't even begin college until 27. And I have three kids and a husband. You are absolutely not too old. If you want to do it...go for it. You can find a way to make it happen.

 

[NuMD97]

In my own journey, I have come across not just one, but several folks in residency training already in their 50's. One even began a second residency after finishing a first one in Family Medicine, and won't be done until she's 57. Obviously, money is not the driving force, and she actually was attending medical school sandwiched between her two sons. She truly enjoyed the experience of studying with them, and apparently had the full support of her husband as well. Her second residency program was tailored around her needs for family time.

At the end of the day, it depends on what you really want out of life. Once you find what you truly want, and as others have already suggested, are willing to make the years of sacrifice, the other things you are concerned about will fall into place.

I wish you well as you embark on your trek.

 

[Freeeedom!]

I started when I was 26, and I just turned 30...so I graduate in one month!

Rest assured, the fact that you are older than most will be to your benefit. The added maturity will help your studying and will provide for better decision making in your clinical years. I have found, that I get along better with my attendings because of my previous work experience that helped my communication skills. Sure, it is a bummer that you will be doing residency in your 30's...but who really cares?

 

[Future_Doc]

jw100 - there are sooooo many of us in the same situation as you. I too have been in business for my entire professional career. I was 25 when I decided that the business world was not for me and that I wanted to persue a career in medicine. I went back to school and took all of the prereqs and took the mcat. did well on all, applied and got it. I deferred one year (our son is now 17 months old and I wanted to spend a little more time with him before I started medschool <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> ) and will start this August! So, taking that year into consideration, I will be 30 when I start. So, it can be done, you just have to want it bad enough. Good luck!!

 

[Jeff698]

Sure, you can do it.

I'm 34 and am in the closing weeks of my first year (man, that sounds good!). I'm married and have two kids and am loving every minute of medical school. Well, OK, maybe not EVERY minute of it but certainly most minutes.

My age will probably prevent me from going into neurosurgery or something else with an ungodly long residency, but that wasn't really high on my priority list to begin with.

Good luck!
Take care,
Jeff

 

[jeff2005]

I'm almost 29 and in my first year of school. I've actually found that even as a mother and wife, that things are EASIER for me now. Working for a living is harder than med school.

 

[Cobragirl]

I'm almost 31, finishing my 1st year of medical school (after starting college at 26), and married to a husband who is active-duty military and is stationed 2 hours away. Believe me, you CAN do this! Borrow the money (we ALL do, trust me) and go with your dream. Many medical schools are now starting to actively recruit older students because they know we have the drive, desire, maturity, and real world experience that will make us better docs in the end.

Go for it!