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Non-trads: What is the one thing, that finally caused you to make up your mind, and start the arduous journey of becoming a doctor, after all these years?
After all the hard work, there is no guarantee that you will matriculate and if you do, you also have the great possibility of having to pack up and relocate to an unknown or undesirable location not once, but possibly twice, because there's med school but afterwards you'll probably match somewhere completely different. Then there is no guarantee of what specialty you will match in.
Many of you have impressive careers, money, comfort, status and are consciously walking away from it all, only to start over again, and duke it out for a coveted matriculate seat. Even those of you who don't have careers or money, we're ALL older now.
What is it specifically about medicine, after all these years that have passed in our lives, that's making you do this now? Also, do tell what prevented you from starting the premed pilgrimage sooner.
Was it self doubt; bad company; finances; wrong advice; lack of exposure or guidance? Or did you always know that you wanted to practice medicine, but there were things that prevented you from doing so? There are no wrong answers here.
I have no regrets, but I see that there are a lot of med schools that matriculate high achieving high school students, through special programs such as Med Start. Where if you keep a certain grade point average through college, you're guaranteed admission. Wow! That was the furthest thing from my mind back in high school. Becoming a doctor at 25/26 years old, that's amazing. I never knew these kinds of programs existed. I would not have taken advantage of them anyway
.
I didn't have that mind set way back then, I just wanted to make a quick buck. Due to lack of exposure to medicine, wrong advice/guidance, and wanting to much too soon, I just wasn't there
. I'm not blaming anyone, I but I had no PASSION for anything, until I was exposed to the fascinating world of medicine. This didn't happen until I got married (26). After the births of my children (4) & (18 months), I was hooked. I really tried to escape this burning desire, after all, I'm looking at about 12 years before I can fully practice, not to mention the excessive debt to pay off, and that's if I get it right the first time. But I just couldn't fight it any longer. So here I am (31) starting all over, and I feel darn good about it.
Anyone please reflect and share.

After all the hard work, there is no guarantee that you will matriculate and if you do, you also have the great possibility of having to pack up and relocate to an unknown or undesirable location not once, but possibly twice, because there's med school but afterwards you'll probably match somewhere completely different. Then there is no guarantee of what specialty you will match in.
Many of you have impressive careers, money, comfort, status and are consciously walking away from it all, only to start over again, and duke it out for a coveted matriculate seat. Even those of you who don't have careers or money, we're ALL older now.
What is it specifically about medicine, after all these years that have passed in our lives, that's making you do this now? Also, do tell what prevented you from starting the premed pilgrimage sooner.
Was it self doubt; bad company; finances; wrong advice; lack of exposure or guidance? Or did you always know that you wanted to practice medicine, but there were things that prevented you from doing so? There are no wrong answers here.
I have no regrets, but I see that there are a lot of med schools that matriculate high achieving high school students, through special programs such as Med Start. Where if you keep a certain grade point average through college, you're guaranteed admission. Wow! That was the furthest thing from my mind back in high school. Becoming a doctor at 25/26 years old, that's amazing. I never knew these kinds of programs existed. I would not have taken advantage of them anyway
I didn't have that mind set way back then, I just wanted to make a quick buck. Due to lack of exposure to medicine, wrong advice/guidance, and wanting to much too soon, I just wasn't there
Anyone please reflect and share.