~NonTraditionals~: Ages

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LionFish said:
I couldn't agree with you more. While I am only 27 (for now) and will hopefully be entering med school by the time I am 30, I still find myself getting into a "timeline" mentality, and at those times I start thinking about how long it will be (and how much older I will be) before finish my residency, etc. But then I take a look at myself in the mirror and remember I only have one life to live, so if I'm going to be 38 whether I'm out of med school and only just finishing up my residency or 38 or having worked as a physician assistant for six years but wishing I had "gone all the way" (not that there is anything wrong with being a PA), I may as well go with the option that is likely to leave me with the least regret.
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Ahhhh, I know EXACTLY what you mean. I'm 25 years old , 26 in a month, finishing up Phhysics, then just one more semester of organic chem and I'm taking the MCAT in the first few months of 2009. I'll probably matriculate in 2010, unless I decide to travel for a year, in which case itll be 2011. So I'll be 28 or 29 when I start medical school, and 32 or 33 when I graduate, and then probably 38 when Im a full fledged doctor.

The "timeline" issue gets me alot too. People said "why don't you jsut be a PA or a nurse, it's so much less time", and theres nothing wrong with being a PA or nurse, but i dont want to spend my life thinking, gee, i wish i had been a doctor.

before i babble too much more, i'll leave this be and start a new thread elsewhere on the family concerns I have....
 
ChimpanzeeMinky said:
It doesn't go nearly as far as you think it would. 100k pre-tax gets a lot smaller after taxes and expenses. And that's 100k at the end of the career. You can bet that number was much lower at the beginning.
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Not to mention that when you hate every second of that kind of career you spend the money on distractions...
 
razortoy said:
Not to mention that when you hate every second of that kind of career you spend the money on distractions...
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That's the answer I need to give people when they ask me why I haven't saved enough to pay for med school outright!
 
I'm 22, but will be around 25/26 when I ultimately apply to medical school. A poor undergrad record means a longer road to medical school than I anticipated. Everything happens for a reason =) I'll get there one day.
 
27, Plan to take MCAT in April of 2009 and enter in the fall of 2010.
 
Im 28, starting first year pre med... so I'll be about 33 when I enter med school and 37 when I graduate.. god willing.
 
MissIntrigued said:
The "timeline" issue gets me alot too. People said "why don't you jsut be a PA or a nurse, it's so much less time", and theres nothing wrong with being a PA or nurse, but i dont want to spend my life thinking, gee, i wish i had been a doctor. ....
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god, did this hit the nail on the head.
 
I'm 36 a BS, 2 kids a wife and a mortgage. I'm planning to take Mcat in 2009 and matriculate med school at 38. Good luck everyone.👍
 
I'm 32, a wife, and a kid🙂. Will be 35 when enter Med School😀. 39 When I graduate it🙄. 42 when I'm done with residency😕. 45 after completing the fellowship:scared:. Then I'll start my life.😱
 
musashi said:
Wow, I feel old. I will start medical school at 35 and finish my residency by 42 or so. Well, I am going to be 42 regradless, so might as well be 42 and enjoy what I'm doing or 42 and still teaching H.S. It could always be worse!
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I love your post!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
I am 34 and probably won't get in to medical school for 3 more years (by the time I take the MCAT and do all the other wonderful things). But like you said, everyone will age, but aging is better when doing something you like🙂. BTW, I am married and have a 3-month old baby!
 
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Isn' going to school part of "the dream" anyway? Even at 40 and still undergrad, at least I am undergrad and not wishing I was! What a better way to spend "retirement" age - doing what you've dreamed of. Hey, isn't that what you're suppose to do then anyway? Fishing, golfing and yeah living your dreams!
 
I'm 28 with no wife and no kids. I have an undergrad in fine arts.
I've only just started this journey. I have 2 years worth of post bac work ahead of me, volunteer time, and 'damage control' for the older gpa. Although I'm a year and a half to 2 years out from taking the MCAT, I've already begun to familiarize myself with it by reading old MCAT reviews from half price books or the local library.
There is so much work to be done before even getting close enough to see a med school of choice in sight, but it all just feels like the right thing to do, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
I am 38 and just found out non of my past nursing credits will transfer, too old they say. So I'll be starting from the bottom with my prereqs. I want no regrets !!! I will do this. I do not care if I spend what would be my retired years practicing medicine, it's my dream.
 
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Isn' going to school part of "the dream" anyway? Even at 40 and still undergrad, at least I am undergrad and not wishing I was! What a better way to spend "retirement" age - doing what you've dreamed of. Hey, isn't that what you're suppose to do then anyway? Fishing, golfing and yeah living your dreams!
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😀 I love it you are right!!!! I'm 38 and just enrolled for my first prereq. I start bio, sept 2nd.
 
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oops sorry new not sure how to post yet
 
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DaniMD said:
Im 28, starting first year pre med... so I'll be about 33 when I enter med school and 37 when I graduate.. god willing.
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I was your age 10 yrs ago, and had this dream then!!! I didn't do it and here I am still wanting it. I can say this at 38 I still feel young, I am in better shape physically and mentally. So you at 37 and already an MD!!!! Go for it. 🙂
 
jdoctora said:
Wish I were in Tx, to partner with you.👍 I am 38 and starting Sept2.

Best Wishes
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Maybe I should keep quiet here - but I turn 47 by the time I hit send to this message - I am completing my BS degree by this summer (I fast tracked it) and just took my MCAT Aug 5th and applying for Fall 2009 med school. I am already a mother and grandmother. I'm praying age "really" doesn't count against you! 🙂
 
Cougartime said:
Maybe I should keep quiet here - but I turn 47 by the time I hit send to this message - I am completing my BS degree by this summer (I fast tracked it) and just took my MCAT Aug 5th and applying for Fall 2009 med school. I am already a mother and grandmother. I'm praying age "really" doesn't count against you! 🙂
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Slap me five: I finally found someone older than me! (I'm 45, mother of two, but you have me beat on the grandkids thing: my kids are only 9 and 12.🙂)

I'm applying this cycle too. We can do it, Cougartime! Knock 'em dead.
 
Hello My name is Crys. I am 25 and I am in my 2nd year of Undergrad. I am a mom of three and thier ages 2 (autistic) , 8 , and 11. I am just beginning all my science pre req.s and very excited. I love Biology but I greatly struggle with Chemistry. Thats why I am taking Elemntary Chem before starting the next one and Organic. I am glad to have found this place. It's very encouraging!
 
I considered taking Introductory Chemistry too. I'm not sure if Chemistry is going to be difficult for me or not. I've looked through a few chemistry books to get a feel for it, but ultimately I can't decide. Would the introductory course help to raise my gpa in the long run? After all, I will be needing to bring up my older gpa. If so, I'm going to just enroll at the CC and take the introductory course, and then move on to Chemistry at the university.
 
34 with two kids and a husband. Am I crazy for wanting to go back to school?
 
Turned 30 three weeks before starting med school in summer 2006.

Other than having to plan my childbearing pretty damn carefully (residency, here I come!), there have been no ill effects. It might be harder to study now than it used to be 10 years ago, but fortunately I can't notice a difference (the memory goes too, they say). 🙂

As a rule, it is harder to get into med school than to stay in med school. Flunking out is really rare. If you get in, trust that you are a smart enough cookie to pass everything.

Did another degree to qualify. No regrets - I love it, love it, love it.
 
Currently 31...will be 32 when I apply and 33 when I hopefully start med school.
 
I'm 20 right now, be out of the military with my AA by the time i'm 24, finished with my BS by 26-27 hopefully finished with med school by 30-32, and finished with residency, 35~ until i'm a totally done. :laugh:
 
Travisgee said:
I considered taking Introductory Chemistry too. I'm not sure if Chemistry is going to be difficult for me or not. I've looked through a few chemistry books to get a feel for it, but ultimately I can't decide. Would the introductory course help to raise my gpa in the long run? After all, I will be needing to bring up my older gpa. If so, I'm going to just enroll at the CC and take the introductory course, and then move on to Chemistry at the university.
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I took an Intro. to Chem course the first semester I was at the University I'll be getting my degree from. It was so helpful I would highly recommend it. It set me up to go into Gen. Chem with a really good foundation.

I had never taken a chemistry class before. Back in 1985 when I graduated HS I guess it wasn't required 😉 . Anyway, I got an A in the Intro. course, an A in Gen. Chem I, and an A- in Gen Chem II. I really credit all of this to the foundation I got in the Intro. course. Oh yeah, I am even a TA for the Chemistry department--again I really think it was the solid foundation that the intro course gave me. So, if you are debating taking an intro to Chemistry course, I can only tell you it helped me out a lot!

And in keeping in spirit with the thread, I'm 41 and will be applying when I'm 42.

Edit-thought I would mention the TA thing.
 
Started med school: age 44

Finished residency: age 54

During the 1st year of med school, I was sitting in my apartment with gross anatomy books in front of me -- I was alone, having to live 500 miles away from my husband and family in order to attend med school.
Life as I knew had completely changed. :scared:

But this wonderful sense of empowerment overcame me, as I realized that I was finally living out my life-long dream. Priceless!😍
 
DrMona said:
Started med school: age 44

Finished residency: age 54

During the 1st year of med school, I was sitting in my apartment with gross anatomy books in front of me -- I was alone, having to live 500 miles away from my husband and family in order to attend med school.
Life as I knew had completely changed. :scared:

But this wonderful sense of empowerment overcame me, as I realized that I was finally living out my life-long dream. Priceless!😍
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Grats Dr. Mona! I'm so happy for you and feel proud for you for accomplishing your dream, regardless of your age! Kudos! 👍
 
Wow, I am so happy that there are so many women like myself who are going for the gusto. And of course the fellas too!! Good Luck to all of you on your journey through medicine.😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
 
I'm so glad I found this thread!

I was a terrible high school student - and I've always loved sciences and caring for people, I was just rebellious. I skipped out on my first year after high school and I was regretting it until this past year, there was a 55 year old lady sitting in my A&P class on her first year of pre-med. If I'm 20 and she can be motivated, so can I!

It's also great to read that so many of you are doing this with kids. I'm sure you are hesitant, but to single parents - how do you do it?
 
I'm 38. I've been a paramedic for 18 years. I took a break 4 years ago and started a family and now have a 2 and 3 year old. I'm starting pre reqs for nursing tomorrow and working towards a nursing degree. That's my goal at the moment.
 
I recently turned 26, and after months of sleeplessness, I'm pretty sure I want to go into medicine. Starting with the pre-reqs now. I'm utterly torn between keeping this to myself and telling others in the hopes that a community will keep me going. So here I am. (Incidentally, I've been reading SDN for months; my boyfriend just went through this process, as a more-or-less traditional student.)

This is terrifying, and I can't think highly enough of all of you who are doing this with real commitments to juggle at the same time.
 
I think I already contributed to this thread but I'm going to have to bump it up yet another year, to 29 years old, some health problems got in the way. Sometimes it feels like you are supposed to have everything in your life accomplished by 30 and people tell me maybe I should pursue something that takes less time since I'm getting older but I want to do this. I'm really inspired by all of you!
 
I'm 25 now, 26 in April, hopefully starting pre-med post-bacc next summer, done when I'm 27. Glide year; matriculation when I'm 28 (I hope!), done when I'm 32, then onto residency.

🙂
 
AliveNkickin said:
I'm 28 years old giving up a 10 year career in IT 100k/yr that has been much less than rewarding. Can't wait to live like a student again and rack up mountains of debt (insert grain of salt here). Two kids 6 and 8 yrs old that don't live with me. I'm so excited to get started.. Don't plan on retiring, ever. I'll probaby die with student loan debt but at least I'll die happy.
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I'm 30 and giving up a lucrative, easy career in IT for long hours of studying and debt. I've got 2 kids (2,6) and my wife is a nurse. She's the inspiration and finally got me to realize what I want to do with my life, now that I'm finally all grown up.:laugh: I'm back in science classes that I haven't had in 10 years so I'm pretty fired up.
 
I just joined SDN and am finding it very interesting. I am 37 and planning on taking the April 2009 MCAT. I haven't thought about medicine since 1993.

I am all in. I sold my house, moved into a small apartment and am trying to reduce my work hours. I will be going to UMD starting next week.

I was also in IT like a few others here. I like the work but after a while you plateau. I was a certification nut and run out of exams to take.

Best of luck to all.
 
26 ... I'll be around 28 or 29 when I apply. I've been hitting obstacles with work and finances so it seems that it'll happen when it happnes ... I think I'm still young enough.
 
Ishiguro said:
I recently turned 26, and after months of sleeplessness, I'm pretty sure I want to go into medicine. Starting with the pre-reqs now. I'm utterly torn between keeping this to myself and telling others in the hopes that a community will keep me going. So here I am. (Incidentally, I've been reading SDN for months; my boyfriend just went through this process, as a more-or-less traditional student.)

I totally get this. I'm in school full time with the hopes of attending med school in the next 2 years. I haven't told anyone about this, not even my husband. He just thinks I'm taking classes until I figure it out. I've found that when you tell people, they love to tell you how hard it is and how many ways you can fail. I think it's a jealousy thing but whatever the case, people suck.

I'm 28, pregnant and due in Oct. Taking all online classes this semester and will be back on campus in the spring. There are days that I think I'm crazy and there are days when I feel so motivated that I just don't know what to do with myself.
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I'm currently 47 and working on my doctorate in clinical psych. I will be 49 by the time I finish internship and get licensed! 😎
I'm a career changer (former lawyer) with a husband, 3 kids, and a dog. What was I thinking! :laugh:

Seriously, I'm so glad I did this. It's been a great experience in so many ways, although difficult at times to juggle it all.
 
I'm 34, just enrolled to finish my BS( I have an associate in nursing for 7 years). Planning to get it done in 3-4 years, ... and then apply for dental school. Husband, two teenagers, cat, dog and a fish🙂
 
27. No husband. No kids. Bio degree so pre-reqs completed. All I have to do is take the MCAT and apply. To think, I was complaining/worried b/c I thought it was "too late" (I really need to let go of my mental timeline).

2 cheers for the Non-Trads!!! 😀
 
I'm back with my age distributions for those that are curious. 28 seems to be the favorite.

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trustwomen said:
As a rule, it is harder to get into med school than to stay in med school. Flunking out is really rare. If you get in, trust that you are a smart enough cookie to pass everything.

No regrets - I love it, love it, love it.
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I second that rule.... quite a few schools have graduation rates in the ~90-95 %'s But you have already earned the right to be there. Just dont screw up with honor code or something like that. My class has an average age of 24 but spans 21-47. Good Luck! :luck:

PS Be ready with a really good answer for the why medicine now? Do you think you can go back to school? How are you going to handle a family and medical school? questions that will come up in your medical school interviews, I can assure you that they will come up too
 
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24, BSEE, MSEE drop out, .com Entreprenuer, received admission to MSUCOM (DO) for class of 2013! YAY!!!
 
bump 🙄

MODS: This thread should be pinned up in this section and all similar threads and posts should be redirected here (due to the high number of hits and reads).

Thanks.
 
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Just dropped by to say hello..

I'm looking at you guys from the other side.. Im a nontrad who decided on med school at the ripe age of 24.. had to do a post bacc (1 year for all the science classes.. ) take the MCAT and then had a year off to apply before i started med school.

Anyway, i would say the hardest time was probably 2nd year of med school where I constantly questioned whether I made a mistake or not (i actually held off on registering for the USMLE Step 1 exam until like 4 or 5 months after the school told us to register, because I wasn't sure if I would drop out or not). The volume of material is just enormous.

In any case, I'm now 30 and submitting my applications for residency... so there IS a light at the end of the tunnel!

hang in there everyone!
 
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