Just Wanted To Introduce Myself

[docsumday]

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Sorry if this isnt the right forum to be doing this but i'm green. My name is Brian and I live in Arizona with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Wont bother you all with the details of my life but am looking for some advise. This year I will have the opportunity to go back to school after an 8 yr absence. I attended a junior college for one year after H.S. in '97 and just wasnt mature enough or financially able to continue. So i quit to make some money and " find myself" well here I am 27 yrs old and ready to go for it all. My wife is finishing her BSN and very supportive of my decision. My goal is to finish with a MD and persue Radiology or Neurology. Am I out of my mind? Need some feed back from people who are doing it. Do I stand a chance as a 35-38 yr old starting his medical carrer. Thanks in advance!

 

[Shaz]

Sorry if this isnt the right forum to be doing this but i'm green. My name is Brian and I live in Arizona with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Wont bother you all with the details of my life but am looking for some advise. This year I will have the opportunity to go back to school after an 8 yr absence. I attended a junior college for one year after H.S. in '97 and just wasnt mature enough or financially able to continue. So i quit to make some money and " find myself" well here I am 27 yrs old and ready to go for it all. My wife is finishing her BSN and very supportive of my decision. My goal is to finish with a MD and persue Radiology or Neurology. Am I out of my mind? Need some feed back from people who are doing it. Do I stand a chance as a 35-38 yr old starting his medical carrer. Thanks in advance!

Hell no dude, don't be worried. People do that all the time! I think you would just have to worry about getting into that "rhythm" of studying. Seriously, you'll do fine if you put in the effort.

 

[beep]

i'm 30 and applying now.

 

[lulubean]

hey there and welcome!!! first of all, it is never too late to apply, and i think nowadays, more and more med schools appreciate applicants who have been out in the real world and have some life experience. almost every med school has students who have started in their 30s.
a note of caution however: the whole process of completing your bachelors degree, premed requirements, the MCAT, and getting clinical experience is tedious, long, expensive and difficult. i don't say that to discourage you, just so you know the path for what it is and are ready to take it on. do you have any clinical experience? if not, i would get some just to make sure this is what you want to do. the process is also a huge drain on your personal life/family so that is something to consider. if you are not sure about the time and financial committment, consider other options in the medical field like becoming a physician's assistant or nurse practitioner.
if after reading all this you still want to go for it, then best of luck and don't let anything or anyone stop you!

 

[Brain]

You're definately not too old. There was a 46 year old applicant at one of my interviews.

 

[Mr PluM]

Sorry if this isnt the right forum to be doing this but i'm green. My name is Brian and I live in Arizona with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Wont bother you all with the details of my life but am looking for some advise. This year I will have the opportunity to go back to school after an 8 yr absence. I attended a junior college for one year after H.S. in '97 and just wasnt mature enough or financially able to continue. So i quit to make some money and " find myself" well here I am 27 yrs old and ready to go for it all. My wife is finishing her BSN and very supportive of my decision. My goal is to finish with a MD and persue Radiology or Neurology. Am I out of my mind? Need some feed back from people who are doing it. Do I stand a chance as a 35-38 yr old starting his medical carrer. Thanks in advance!

Greetings, welcome to the family, Brian. Now focus and do it, but don't ignore your family in the process, approach it with an impatient patience...The time will come, a little later, a little slower, but it will be as juicy as a plum.. Exercise your will and focus. And don't ignore your family. Some guy did that earlier, and the dunce got dumped, so first lesson, don't be a dunce...

Good luck bro, and welcome..

 

[chopper]

documsday - try the following site: oldpremeds.org

you will find many people in your boat, and it's very supportive.

I started this process almost 2 years ago, and will be starting med school in the fall.

Good luck

-chopper

 

[medic170]

I do not mean this to be sarcastic, but why do so many new premeds think that age matters in med school admissions? Like only people under 24 are acceptable med students??? 😕

 

[ShyRem]

Because, medic 170, the percent of accepted after the age of 28 or 30 begins to decline dramatically. I have been told by two schools I got rejected from that my age was definitely a factor - I'm over 30, and therefore considered in "we won't get as much work out of her as a 24 year old". Sad, but true. You just gotta keep plugging along.

Life isn't always fair. However, old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill in the end. 😀 😀

 

[docsumday]

Thanks everyone for the welcome and vote of confidence. Its really not my age that i'm worried about. The fact that I haven't set foot on a campus or looked in a text book, except to quiz my wife, in 8yrs has me scared. I'll be fine though, I like a challenge. I probubly wont have much to contibute to this site until I get further along in school, but i'll be on the side and maybe chime in once in a while. Thanks again, Brian

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Thanks everyone for the welcome and vote of confidence. Its really not my age that i'm worried about. The fact that I haven't set foot on a campus or looked in a text book, except to quiz my wife, in 8yrs has me scared. I'll be fine though, I like a challenge. I probubly wont have much to contibute to this site until I get further along in school, but i'll be on the side and maybe chime in once in a while. Thanks again, Brian

hey there, welcome!

How were you as a student last time you were in junior college? Can you make a committment to both your family and studying? Is your wife supportive? Do you both know what you are getting into? Can you afford to go without a salary for 6 years? It's a long and difficult road and it takes understanding and dedication. You can't do it half way. But if you can handle it, it's also a rewarding path...so go pursue your dream! 👍

 

[mshheaddoc]

Hey ... please check out here .... on this site Non-Traditional Forums
Non-traditional students

Mostly older people who are applying/reapplying after college 🙂 Good support structure ...

There are others like you ... and myself ... will be 27 applying to med school but no family. It can be done though 🙂 All with patience and time 😍 GOOD LUCK!

 

[tharealest]

In terms of admission to med school, many people say that it is an advantage to be an older non-traditional applicant. If you decide this is what you're gonna do, just give it 100% and don't look back. Good luck.

 

[medic170]

Because, medic 170, the percent of accepted after the age of 28 or 30 begins to decline dramatically. I have been told by two schools I got rejected from that my age was definitely a factor - I'm over 30, and therefore considered in "we won't get as much work out of her as a 24 year old". Sad, but true. You just gotta keep plugging along.

Life isn't always fair. However, old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill in the end. 😀 😀

Hmmmmm. I am 28, and I had no problems at all. All my interviewers were impressed with all my experiences at both MD and DO schools, which I could not have done if I were not on this earth for longer. I would have to say it never hurtsm and it could help if you dpent your extra years doing interesting and productive things!

 

[Dr. Chiquita]

If I were you, I would find a specialty that will allow me to retire later and practice medicine longer. BTW, I don't think it's never too late to follow your passions in life. Good luck. 😀

 

[RangerD]

Sorry if this isnt the right forum to be doing this but i'm green. My name is Brian and I live in Arizona with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Wont bother you all with the details of my life but am looking for some advise. This year I will have the opportunity to go back to school after an 8 yr absence. I attended a junior college for one year after H.S. in '97 and just wasnt mature enough or financially able to continue. So i quit to make some money and " find myself" well here I am 27 yrs old and ready to go for it all. My wife is finishing her BSN and very supportive of my decision. My goal is to finish with a MD and persue Radiology or Neurology. Am I out of my mind? Need some feed back from people who are doing it. Do I stand a chance as a 35-38 yr old starting his medical carrer. Thanks in advance!

Don't hesitate, if being an MD is something you really want to do. My situation is very similar, except that I'm older and more kids and I don't regret it one bit! You have to decide what you want out of life and the go for it. For some that is being an MD, for others it is something else. Once that decision is made, do what you have to do. 👍

 

[docsumday]

hey there, welcome!

How were you as a student last time you were in junior college? Can you make a committment to both your family and studying? Is your wife supportive? Do you both know what you are getting into? Can you afford to go without a salary for 6 years? It's a long and difficult road and it takes understanding and dedication. You can't do it half way. But if you can handle it, it's also a rewarding path...so go pursue your dream! 👍

I did very well for that year. I nearly tested out of most of the math classes, scored in the 1300's on the SAT's and loved to go to school. Unfortunately being 18 and having fun took over. Now i'm focused and ready to excel. My wife is very supportive and is probubly my main motivator. I am limited at the moment as to where I get my pre-med schooling done. Is there any disadvantage to going to an Arizona school or starting with a Bio-medical engineering degree? What is the best way to start this process? Thanks for the help!

 

[beanbean]

Welcome to the journey!

I am in my second year of med school and am a 37 yo wife and mother of three kids (8,6, 18 mos). I was a biomedical engineer, a stay-at-home mom and then decided to pursue my dream of med school.

Some advice:

SDN is great to help you figure out the whole process. Just don't take the hyper-anal premeds too seriously....the rest of the advice here is outstanding.

Pick a major for undergrad that you will enjoy and excel at. That is the best way to ensure a great GPA. Biomed eng. is a great prep for med school, but it can be tough (engineering in general is a tough major) and it can be more difficult to get a stellar gpa. Adcoms know engineering is tough and will adjust that in to your gpa a bit. There have been numerous threads about this in the past. Basically, if you love engineering - go for it! It really teaches you to think - a great skill for med school. Just major in something that fascinates you!

No problem going to an Arizona School. Just try to do your prereq classes at a 4 yr accredited university. Some schools do not want those courses taken at a community college and others will look less favorably upon it. Not a deal breaker, but something to consider.

You have all the time in the world to prepare a well-rounded application with plenty of ECs and volunteer activities. Search around here on SDN to see what others have enjoyed doing. I recommend getting your EMT if you would have the chance to work or volunteer and use it. It is lots of fun and you get great patient contact.

Great to hear that your wife is supportive. There is no way I could be doing this without my husband's love and support.

So, look into some undergrad programs in your area and start taking classes!

Deirdre