Non-traditional route

[Moncisabel]

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Hello my fellow medical students!
I am looking for other students who like me are also going a somewhat non traditional route into the medical field.
I have found that there can sometimes be some stigma and sour opinions towards those of us who are either perhaps a little older than the tradtional med student or who perhaps were even nurses who are now working on their medical degree... anyone else ever run into this? What do you guys think? What are some things you guys have noticed? Has anyone found anything particularily difficult to do because of the routes you have taken? Im curious to also see how many non tradtional students there are currently working on their degree... so please if you have anything to add on this l, any thoughts or opinions you yourself have or even just some positive encouragement. Or if you have any advice or stories from your own expeirences! I would love to hear from my fellow comrads going through similar things as i.
Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G925V using SDN mobile

 

[libertyyne]

Hello my fellow medical students!
I am looking for other students who like me are also going a somewhat non traditional route into the medical field.
I have found that there can sometimes be some stigma and sour opinions towards those of us who are either perhaps a little older than the tradtional med student or who perhaps were even nurses who are now working on their medical degree... anyone else ever run into this? What do you guys think? What are some things you guys have noticed? Has anyone found anything particularily difficult to do because of the routes you have taken? Im curious to also see how many non tradtional students there are currently working on their degree... so please if you have anything to add on this l, any thoughts or opinions you yourself have or even just some positive encouragement. Or if you have any advice or stories from your own expeirences! I would love to hear from my fellow comrads going through similar things as i.
Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G925V using SDN mobile

I think a lot depends on the school you go to and if they have a good sized non-trad population. Does your school have non-trads as upper classmen? This stigma is also greatly reduced with DO studens IMHO.

 

[aformerstudent]

I'm in my 30's and in my class (at an offshore school) we had a handful of students in their 30's 40's and even 50's. The one thing a few of my friends used to comment on was that it was hard for us to keep up with the young kids and their studying stamina. We'd be passing out at 12AM and these kids could consistently pull all-nighters without much trouble. I used to be able to do that too but not so much now. I guess that was one of the harder things about studying medicine at a later age. Then again the program I was in had mandatory attendance with little to no flexibility. If I did not have to go to class maybe I could have studied the material in a way that didn't tire me out.

As far as stigma, if you are accepted into a US MD or DO program then I would imagine there is no stigma attached to you becoming a medical student as an older student because the school has confidence in you. I have heard that it's harder for older students to look at certain specialties; notably surgery as programs might discriminate against an older applicant.

Also, being older mean you might have more responsibilities outside the realm of school and depending on what those responsibilities are they may take time away from staying 100% focused.

I have a friend who is starting clinicals as a third year at age 32 and we both agree that he just looks so much more mature than some of his 24 or 25 year old classmates. I can't imagine any stigma being associated with his age. If anything his life experiences have made him more mature which I would think earns more respect or cred.

 

[togaedere]

Went to med school at 32, now 36 and an intern. Once I got into med school there were literally zero people who cared about how old I was. At the very most it was a point of trivia if my age was revealed because I can pass fairly well for a younger person. It really hasn't mattered at all. I'm on the older end, the oldest of my program currently I believe, but there are other residents at my hospital who are second career folks. Once you are working I really believe it's only a problem if you make it one.

I had some initial minor difficulties in school - mostly due to confidence and getting back into studying full time. Started off in the middle of my class but ended up graduating in top quartile. I think if you see age as a strength and use it to your advantage you will do well. There can be a narrative about being <insert age> and a resident instead of <wherever you would be if you had gone straight through> but this narrative is just hugely unhelpful and best ignoring if at all possible. For me, I was in absolutely no place to tackle something like medical school/residency in my early 20s so the alternative doesn't apply to me personally. I have traditional friends from school who did well, and whom I admire for their maturity. I also saw quite a few struggle with the emotional stressors of school who I believe would have been better off having delayed by a few years for various reasons, and a few ended up dropping out. Some people need to sow wild oats or whatever, some people need to get their issues worked out.

Age did play a factor into a few things. I did not pursue an MPH through my med school when offered because I did want to graduate with my class as i was already 10 years out. Can't say this was a fully reasoned decision but it's what I chose. I did not pursue anything remotely medical prior to school so I did feel behind on the research element, and felt pressured for time to catch up during school. I'm using residency though to help pursue that interest (slow going during intern year but I'm getting started). My point is that even late bloomers can get to their goal at some point, and once you have a project that really matters to you and patients it's not going to matter if you got there in your 20s or in your 50s in the end.

Hello my fellow medical students!
I am looking for other students who like me are also going a somewhat non traditional route into the medical field.
I have found that there can sometimes be some stigma and sour opinions towards those of us who are either perhaps a little older than the tradtional med student or who perhaps were even nurses who are now working on their medical degree... anyone else ever run into this? What do you guys think? What are some things you guys have noticed? Has anyone found anything particularily difficult to do because of the routes you have taken? Im curious to also see how many non tradtional students there are currently working on their degree... so please if you have anything to add on this l, any thoughts or opinions you yourself have or even just some positive encouragement. Or if you have any advice or stories from your own expeirences! I would love to hear from my fellow comrads going through similar things as i.
Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G925V using SDN mobile

 

[Vain Brother]

there is no stigma -- nontraditional is the new traditional. good luck

 

[precisiongraphic]

Hello my fellow medical students!
I am looking for other students who like me are also going a somewhat non traditional route into the medical field.
I have found that there can sometimes be some stigma and sour opinions towards those of us who are either perhaps a little older than the tradtional med student or who perhaps were even nurses who are now working on their medical degree... anyone else ever run into this? What do you guys think? What are some things you guys have noticed? Has anyone found anything particularily difficult to do because of the routes you have taken? Im curious to also see how many non tradtional students there are currently working on their degree... so please if you have anything to add on this l, any thoughts or opinions you yourself have or even just some positive encouragement. Or if you have any advice or stories from your own expeirences! I would love to hear from my fellow comrads going through similar things as i.
Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G925V using SDN mobile

You might want to check out the "Non-traditionals" premed forum here. You are not alone.

 

[educ8r]

I'm 37 and PGY2. No stigma. I'll be able to start practicing on my own in my early to mid 40s. Still plan a 20+ year career.

 

[Mr Roboto]

The only stigma might be with taking multiple terminal degrees instead of picking a track and sticking with it. Your age won't be a factor.

 

[libertyyne]

I'm 37 and PGY2. No stigma. I'll be able to start practicing on my own in my early to mid 40s. Still plan a 20+ year career.

Surgical specialty?

 

[Lucca]

Moving to Non-trad forum where the OP is likely to obtain more relevant answers. Further, OP is not yet a medical student.

 

[educ8r]

Surgical specialty?

ENT

 

[libertyyne]

ENT

Baller.