Hey Everyone
I’m at a bit of a crossroads.
A little background I’m 28 right now and have decided to go back to school after working as a medical technologist for the last 3.5 years.
However I’m a bit conflicted whether or not I should pursue the MD route or PA route. Based on my age I won’t really be able to enroll in either medical school or PA school until I’m at least 30 years old.
I feel that I might be a little too old to pursue an MD due to the years of schooling plus residency, as I have a greater opportunity cost in comparison to younger people who are in their early 20s. By the time I’m working as an attending I’ll be in my late 30s at the earliest or even my early 40s (if I manage to get into a competitive specialty) with a large six figure debt hanging over me.
I was thinking that PA may be the better option as an older person as the schooling and debt is a lot less. Though I don’t know if that will hurt me in the long term, in terms of vertical mobility.
I have older parents as well that will be approaching retirement age soon and I want to be able to support them financially, more easily.
Would love some advice on how to approach this situation.
Thanks
I’m at a bit of a crossroads.
A little background I’m 28 right now and have decided to go back to school after working as a medical technologist for the last 3.5 years.
However I’m a bit conflicted whether or not I should pursue the MD route or PA route. Based on my age I won’t really be able to enroll in either medical school or PA school until I’m at least 30 years old.
I feel that I might be a little too old to pursue an MD due to the years of schooling plus residency, as I have a greater opportunity cost in comparison to younger people who are in their early 20s. By the time I’m working as an attending I’ll be in my late 30s at the earliest or even my early 40s (if I manage to get into a competitive specialty) with a large six figure debt hanging over me.
I was thinking that PA may be the better option as an older person as the schooling and debt is a lot less. Though I don’t know if that will hurt me in the long term, in terms of vertical mobility.
I have older parents as well that will be approaching retirement age soon and I want to be able to support them financially, more easily.
Would love some advice on how to approach this situation.
Thanks
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