MD Is 31 too old to begin residency?

[deleted245139]

Didn't begin med school until I was 26, took an extra year to graduate - hoping to match into Neurology. Assuming I match this cycle, I will be 31 years old to begin residency. Assuming I also do a 2 year fellowship, I won't be an attending until 37. Assuming I retire at standard 67, that is only 30 years of practice as an attending.

I see my fellow classmates becoming residents at 26-27, and I feel so old - both mentally and physically. Will this be a problem? Will my old age be discriminated against during residency, and if not - will it realistically make me slower than my fellow 26 year old classmates?

I do however have no debt. Your input is appreciated!

That's just when I started...
Now in my second year out as an EM attending.
Didn't find it to be too bad. Honestly, having been a bit more established in life made things a bit easier.... Didn't go nuts partying, just hunkered down and did the work.
The trouble is starting a family. I'm lucky I have a chill wife and we had my first daughter intern year. You just make it work.
Just work hard.

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[PlutoBoy]

Thanks for the re-assurance guys. Let's say I do a fellowship and comes out as an attending at 37. I practice until 67 - do you think 30 years is still a respectable time to practice? Can I still consider those 3 decades as a "full career"?

Yes. It's a full career.

 

[psychMDhopefully]

Thanks for the response guys. One thing I am grateful for is that I have no debt - have wealthy parents that made good investments. Do you think that even though I am 5 years behind my peers, the fact that I have no debt puts me in a good position?

And honestly with the way the recession screwed over millennials, everybody is starting everything later. I'm 29 and none of my classmates from HS own a house, also I think fertility Docs are gonna make a fortune in the next decade.

 

[astrostellar]

I won't be in residency until I'm about 40. You good.

 

[TypeADissection]

Dude. You don't stand a chance. Just stop now. I turned 30 and my back and shoulders went bad. My knees hurt. And now I got this weird thing where I pee a lot at night. Got an AARP thing in the mail. Probably should look into that. Recommend you do the same. Cheers.

 

[Soccer171983]

I loathe this saying. Time is always greater than money. You can always make more money, but you can't create more time (or get it back).

THis is probably the most simple truths ever said on SDN. This is dead on the money. You shouldnt be in medicine for the money b/c there are a lot of things you can do to make money a lot easier and sooner. Do it because you love it ...that being said the money you make in medicine isn't to shabby and provide you with a quality of life for yourself and family. Also, the money you work hard to earn can work hard for you by being smart with you money, not living beyond ones means, investing right etc.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

Thanks for the re-assurance guys. Let's say I do a fellowship and comes out as an attending at 37. I practice until 67 - do you think 30 years is still a respectable time to practice? Can I still consider those 3 decades as a "full career"?

Nope.

You should quit while you're ahead and become a shoe salesman.

 

[firstaidforever]

Thanks for the re-assurance guys. Let's say I do a fellowship and comes out as an attending at 37. I practice until 67 - do you think 30 years is still a respectable time to practice? Can I still consider those 3 decades as a "full career"?

30 years is more than enough. A lot of our attendings are practicing into their 70s. That said, most 30 year old residents I've met (minus the MD-PhDs) regret picking medicine and unequivocally say they wished they had done Dentistry.

Not having flexibility set a date for your wedding, no house, mountain of student debt, etc. is wearing them and their significant others down.

 

[NeurologyHopeful2018]

30 years is more than enough. A lot of our attendings are practicing into their 70s. That said, most 30 year old residents I've met (minus the MD-PhDs) regret picking medicine and unequivocally say they wished they had done Dentistry.

Not having flexibility set a date for your wedding, no house, mountain of student debt, etc. is wearing them and their significant others down.

Is it still possible to practice outpatient Neurology (maybe Epilepsy) while I am 70+? Can I choose to maybe work 3 days a week? I have a passion for Epilepsy - since I struggled through childhood with a genetic form of epilepsy.

 

[NonTrad16]

Is it still possible to practice outpatient Neurology (maybe Epilepsy) while I am 70+? Can I choose to maybe work 3 days a week? I have a passion for Epilepsy - since I struggled through childhood with a genetic form of epilepsy.

A good question to ask yourself when you're 65?

 

[Reveler]

I love the vague hypotheticals that get asked in this forum. It's amazing that some of the best and brightest find reassurance (or completely lose hope) when unknown internetters answer these questions so decisively with so little background and most variables unknown.

That being said, 31 is way too old. Can't remember the last time I saw a 30+ doc outside an urgent care


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[Abortion Provider]

Thanks for the re-assurance guys. Let's say I do a fellowship and comes out as an attending at 37. I practice until 67 - do you think 30 years is still a respectable time to practice? Can I still consider those 3 decades as a "full career"?

What is mean't by "respectable time to practice?" Practice as long as you want, many money, send me referrals, and we be friends.

 

[Goro]

Thanks for the re-assurance guys. Let's say I do a fellowship and comes out as an attending at 37. I practice until 67 - do you think 30 years is still a respectable time to practice? Can I still consider those 3 decades as a "full career"?

Oh, fer cryin' out loud.

Doctors tend to be very long lived. I have a colleague who is still in practice in his early 70s.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

my current friends in neuro residencies maintain it's actually one of the hardest residencies all the way through

I was inclined not to believe them but now they've told me enough over the years to believe it

my one friend for example, their program was set up not to give ANY residents a single weekend off.... EVER. As in, EVER. Not on a single goddamn rotation in a single year. I don't know how that is even possible to be that sadistic with a schedule but it is, I guess.

I still can't get passed this post. Is this for real? Seems like I need to re-evaluate my plan.

Perhaps @typhoonegator may provide his input

 

[GoroTard]

Oh, fer cryin' out loud.

Doctors tend to be very long lived. I have a colleague who is still in practice in his early 70s.

You mean a colleague who actually went to medical school? Not a non-clinician faculty member.

Cry out loud

 

[NeurologyHopeful2018]

I still can't get passed this post. Is this for real? Seems like I need to re-evaluate my plan.

Perhaps @typhoonegator may provide his input

I also shared your disbelief. I knew someone who switched to Neuro after 2 years of IM residency and said lifestyle is much more benign. After all, neurologist focuses on the brain/nerves while Internist have to treat the whole patient.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

I also shared your disbelief. I knew someone who switched to Neuro after 2 years of IM residency and said lifestyle is much more benign. After all, neurologist focuses on the brain/nerves while Internist have to treat the whole patient.

I know that after residency, neuro is more lifestyle friendly than a lot of IM subspecialties. Residency is know to be tough, but I thought it would still be on par with IM/anesthesia and less brutal than OBGYN/surgery. People also say that PGY2 is the only harsh year and that it gets significantly easier after that.

I'm between neurology and radiology, and honestly if I see that I'll be a hospital slave for 4 years during neuro residency, the choice is going to be much easier.

 

[NeurologyHopeful2018]

I know that after residency, neuro is more lifestyle friendly than a lot of IM subspecialties. Residency is know to be tough, but I thought it would still be on par with IM/anesthesia and less brutal than OBGYN/surgery. People also say that PGY2 is the only harsh year and that it gets significantly easier after that.

I'm between neurology and radiology, and honestly if I see that I'll be a hospital slave for 4 years during neuro residency, the choice is going to be much easier.

At my institution in southeast (categorical program) - Neurology PGY-3 and 4 are basically outpatient based (4 months inpatient + 8 months electives). The job market for Neuro is excellent too - can easily break 300K in private practice in suburbs.

How can Neurology be more intense than IM? Neurology - we focus on one organ system, very few emergencies other than status epilepticus & stroke. Our notes are very concise focused only on the nervous system. Have you ever treated a IM social admit? No real acute problems, but a billion chronic medical problems to manage at once.

 

[Ad2b]

I won't be in residency until I'm about 40. You good.

57 here, if this cycle goes well practice until 75 (part time in 70s + teach), teach 'til 80ish and then

My dad worked until he was 81 and health issues from long term smoking stopped him; he'd still rather be working at 87.

 

[Stagg737]

And honestly with the way the recession screwed over millennials, everybody is starting everything later. I'm 29 and none of my classmates from HS own a house, also I think fertility Docs are gonna make a fortune in the next decade.

Eh, I think that's very dependent on what you majored in and where you're trying to live. I'm around the same age and almost all of my friends from college who don't live in a major city have bought a house. The ones who haven't are struggling because they chose majors that aren't marketable/want jobs that aren't really needed in most areas (film, philosophy, etc), went to grad/professional school (like me) and haven't started their careers yet, or are financially *****s and spend a couple hundred dollars going out and partying every week.

That being said, 30 is definitely NOT too late to start residency or even med school and one can be pretty well off in the future taking this route.

 

[NeurologyHopeful2018]

Eh, I think that's very dependent on what you majored in and where you're trying to live. I'm around the same age and almost all of my friends from college who don't live in a major city have bought a house. The ones who haven't are struggling because they chose majors that aren't marketable/want jobs that aren't really needed in most areas (film, philosophy, etc), went to grad/professional school (like me) and haven't started their careers yet, or are financially *****s and spend a couple hundred dollars going out and partying every week.

That being said, 30 is definitely NOT too late to start residency or even med school and one can be pretty well off in the future taking this route.

I turn 31 when I begin, not 30.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

At my institution in southeast (categorical program) - Neurology PGY-3 and 4 are basically outpatient based (4 months inpatient + 8 months electives). The job market for Neuro is excellent too - can easily break 300K in private practice in suburbs.

How can Neurology be more intense than IM? Neurology - we focus on one organ system, very few emergencies other than status epilepticus & stroke. Our notes are very concise focused only on the nervous system. Have you ever treated a IM social admit? No real acute problems, but a billion chronic medical problems to manage at once.

Yeah I spent some time reading about curriculums at different programs. Some are front loaded where you do most of your inpatient in PGY2, but others has the inpatient months spread over the three years of neuro. Personally, id rather endure it at the beginning and have an easy ride afterwards.

Opportunities to make money in neuro are endless. I've witnessed that on my rotation.

Btw, I'll be 32 when I start internship.

 

[NeurologyHopeful2018]

Yeah I spent some time reading about curriculums at different programs. Some are front loaded where you do most of your inpatient in PGY2, but others has the inpatient months spread over the three years of neuro. Personally, id rather endure it at the beginning and have an easy ride afterwards.

Opportunities to make money in neuro are endless. I've witnessed that on my rotation.

Btw, I'll be 32 when I start internship.

I am your twin. I was planning on going into rad onc - spent a gap year doing research (unpaid). Then I realized how unstable/uncertain a future is in rad onc because the entire specialty is tied to a treatment modality that is likely to be extinct in the next 2-3 decades. This is not to mention the horrible job market and misleading salary information. Established rad onc partners pull in 500K easy, but new residency grads are lucky to even get a job - with a starting salary well under 300K in any area that can be considered surburban.

It was during this gap year I discovered Neurology - very specialized and cerebral field that is tied to an organ system, instead of a technological modality. Due to the complexity, the field is very secure and lucrative for the next century. Not to mention the great lifestyle + lucractive salary as an outpatient Neurology subspecialist.

 

[VincentAdultman]

This thread man...

 

[Ad2b]

This thread man...

Aren't you glad you're not a neurotic premed again?

 

[VincentAdultman]

Aren't you glad you're not a neurotic premed again?

LOL. Being a neurotic attending might be worse.

But this place does provide some lulz now and then. So that's nice.

 

[Stagg737]

I turn 31 when I begin, not 30.

Literally won't make a difference...

 

[iqe2010]

I'm 25 and decided to take an additional gap year. That means I'll be 27 starting, 31 starting residency & 34/35 as an attending. And that's all assuming there's no delays.

There's a saying I read here on SDN that I tell myself often: you can be 31 or you can be 31 and a doctor, the choice is yours.

You'll be fine, OP.

 

[Goro]

You mean a colleague who actually went to medical school? Not a non-clinician faculty member.

Hospitalist and critical care specialist who went to UCSF, as matter of fact.

 

[rafa 22]

dude it's all good. A lot people start later.

 

[Rads312]

41?! I will be 43.

Well, I'm ****ed...

Not really, but at a disadvantage, ( if you have the 200+ loans I have ) when compared t everyone else.

Being a 45 year old attending with tons of loans does limit things a bit - doesn't mean its not worth it. No offense meant.

 

[heroesjourney]

Didn't begin med school until I was 26, took an extra year to graduate - hoping to match into Neurology. Assuming I match this cycle, I will be 31 years old to begin residency. Assuming I also do a 2 year fellowship, I won't be an attending until 37. Assuming I retire at standard 67, that is only 30 years of practice as an attending.

I see my fellow classmates becoming residents at 26-27, and I feel so old - both mentally and physically. Will this be a problem? Will my old age be discriminated against during residency, and if not - will it realistically make me slower than my fellow 26 year old classmates?

I do however have no debt. Your input is appreciated!

I started at 28 and I only feel advantaged by my age. If I were a PD and saw this thread I would be way more alarmed at the amount of mental energy and angst that is being wasted on worries about insignificant things and hypothetical scenarios. You will be fine, asides from thinking you're not fine. I'd recommend counseling.

Thanks for the re-assurance guys. Let's say I do a fellowship and comes out as an attending at 37. I practice until 67 - do you think 30 years is still a respectable time to practice? Can I still consider those 3 decades as a "full career"?

Why on Earth would you or anyone else critically judge you for adding value to peoples' lives for 30 years? I'd once again recommend counseling, and maybe hanging out people with more humble, blue collar jobs. Then you can have a robust 30ish year career and be an emotionally healthy person with sane ideas about respect and status.

 

[flightnurse2MD]

Not really, but at a disadvantage, ( if you have the 200+ loans I have ) when compared t everyone else.

Being a 45 year old attending with tons of loans does limit things a bit - doesn't mean its not worth it. No offense meant.

None taken. I will have 1/2 that kind of debt. Been working part-time as a RN all throughout medical school.

 

[CDI]

This must be a pre-allo thread I wandered into...

One of my Co-Chief Residents was in their 50s and had grandkids.


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[Perfect Hair Day]

Didn't begin med school until I was 26, took an extra year to graduate - hoping to match into Neurology. Assuming I match this cycle, I will be 31 years old to begin residency. Assuming I also do a 2 year fellowship, I won't be an attending until 37. Assuming I retire at standard 67, that is only 30 years of practice as an attending.

I see my fellow classmates becoming residents at 26-27, and I feel so old - both mentally and physically. Will this be a problem? Will my old age be discriminated against during residency, and if not - will it realistically make me slower than my fellow 26 year old classmates?

I do however have no debt. Your input is appreciated!

Bro, you're golden. I'm in the exact same scenario as you - started at 26, taking an extra year, will be 30 going on 31 very soon after we graduate.

Yes, it's too old.

Wrong.

 

[rabbott1971]

Never fear -- Your excessive age is offset by your abundance of youthful immaturity.

Omg, almost my exact line. "What I lack in youth I make up for in immaturity."

 

[wegh]

In other words, you're asking if it's too old to become a doctor? Because it's something you do for life usually

 

[NeurologyHopeful2018]

I am not disputing 31 is an OK age to begin residency, what I am worried about is competing with the 26-27 year old young grasshoppers who will be mentally and physically sharper than I am.

31 vs. 26 is quite a big difference. No?

 

[NonTrad16]

I am not disputing 31 is an OK age to begin residency, what I am worried about is competing with the 26-27 year old young grasshoppers who will be mentally and physically sharper than I am.

31 vs. 26 is quite a big difference. No?

What are you competing for?

I'm 30, started medical school this year. I'm years behind some (if "becoming an attending" is the sole objective in life -- thankfully it's not). I'm years ahead in other regards.

By the time you're in residency, I suppose there are fellowships to consider... but why are you worried about competing with your colleagues? Residency is short term employment. Don't be lazy/cop out due to being older, learn all you can, survive, and get out.

Edit: obviously I'm biased, since it has to be "OK" for my path to make any sense. But as far as I can tell, most everyone's goal is to survive residency and move on.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

I am not disputing 31 is an OK age to begin residency, what I am worried about is competing with the 26-27 year old young grasshoppers who will be mentally and physically sharper than I am.

31 vs. 26 is quite a big difference. No?

But seriously, this is a troll, anyone who is actually over 30 is not worried about it being a 'disadvantage.' We all know its actually a leg up being past the stupid phase. This thread makes me think OP is probably in HS.

 

[Ad2b]

what I am worried about is competing with the 26-27 year old young grasshoppers

53, #2 in class of 375 "young grasshoppers" at a fairly top tier PhD school... next question?

who will be mentally and physically sharper than I am.

Only if you let them. If you do, that's on you. Not them.

 

[CDI]

I am not disputing 31 is an OK age to begin residency, what I am worried about is competing with the 26-27 year old young grasshoppers who will be mentally and physically sharper than I am.

31 vs. 26 is quite a big difference. No?

Only in terms of how fast I can now recover from a night of binge drinking...


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[68PGunner]

But seriously, this is a troll, anyone who is actually over 30 is not worried about it being a 'disadvantage.' We all know its actually a leg up being past the stupid phase. This thread makes me think OP is probably in HS.

When you hit 30, your body deteriorates a little bit in term of time needed for physical recovery. However, you become more discipline that you can grind with the best of the best in term of sheer force and stamina.

 

[Cura_te_ipsum]

Thanks for the re-assurance guys. Let's say I do a fellowship and comes out as an attending at 37. I practice until 67 - do you think 30 years is still a respectable time to practice? Can I still consider those 3 decades as a "full career"?

Dr Denton Cooley practiced as a heart surgeon up to the week of his death at age 96. His rival, Dr. Michael DeBakey, died at age 99 and was seen in the OR the day prior to his death 2 months prior to turning 100.

Maybe you should get out now since your age seems to be a problem for you.