Is it harder to match EM if you are a nontrad(Being that one is a little older)?

[Nedsson]

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So, I'm a nontraditional who is matriculating to MD school this fall. My prior career path was EMT to ICU RN. I'm really leaning towards a future in either EM or IM to CC. I find the possibility of now doing EM to CC particularly intriguing. But, as a 30 something matriculating to medical school, I'm curious as to whether that would affect my chances of getting a residency in an increasingly competitive EM field. I keep fit, have no problem with nights vs days (heck, I work some nights now) and I think I'd be a good fit for the profession but I wonder how EM program directors view older applicants.

 

[Lexdiamondz]

So, I'm a nontraditional who is matriculating to MD school this fall. My prior career path was EMT to ICU RN. I'm really leaning towards a future in either EM or IM to CC. I find the possibility of now doing EM to CC particularly intriguing. But, as a 30 something matriculating to medical school, I'm curious as to whether that would affect my chances of getting a residency in an increasingly competitive EM field. I keep fit, have no problem with nights vs days (heck, I work some nights now) and I think I'd be a good fit for the profession but I wonder how EM program directors view older applicants.

The age thing won't hurt *too* much but remember that you'll be at youngest an early - 40s new attending/fellow doing alot of nights with lots of circadian rhythm shifts. As a PGY1 in EM who does a great deal of nights and swing shifts it can be very taxing - the number of nights I do now isn't something I'd wanna be doing in my 40s

 

[Nedsson]

The age thing won't hurt *too* much but remember that you'll be at youngest an early - 40s new attending/fellow doing alot of nights with lots of circadian rhythm shifts. As a PGY1 in EM who does a great deal of nights and swing shifts it can be very taxing - the number of nights I do now isn't something I'd wanna be doing in my 40s

That's a good point! Still, I'm sure the nights are going to s--k no matter what specialty I pursue, might as well go for something I'm interested in if I can match into it. To clarify though, you think age is a factor for program directors, just not an insurmountable one?

 

[Brawndo2016]

So, I'm a nontraditional who is matriculating to MD school this fall. My prior career path was EMT to ICU RN. I'm really leaning towards a future in either EM or IM to CC. I find the possibility of now doing EM to CC particularly intriguing. But, as a 30 something matriculating to medical school, I'm curious as to whether that would affect my chances of getting a residency in an increasingly competitive EM field. I keep fit, have no problem with nights vs days (heck, I work some nights now) and I think I'd be a good fit for the profession but I wonder how EM program directors view older applicants.

I have spoken to numerous EM physicians and posed the same question. They have all felt as though EM would be one of the more welcoming specialties for a non-trad, and I'm damn near 20 rears more non-trad than you.

 

[DrMcCoyDO]

Matched EM at 34. Work hard in school, do decent on boards, don’t be a jackass on rotations & interviews (I cannot stress this point enough), and you should be fine.