Podiatry School at age 44?

[RSSC15]

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I finished a year of Podiatry School 20 years ago and had to leave for family reasons. I always wonder what could have been and am (crazy I know) seriously considering returning to school. Any thoughts would be helpful.

I am aware of the School Loans and wondered - is Podiatry paying enough these days to warrant the risk and will there be enough residency spots for its graduates? Are jobs hard to come by for trained Podiatrists or are there options if geography is not a challenge?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Yes, I have a family and am a well compensated professional. Trying to minimize my regrets and do something meaningful with my life.

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

I finished a year of Podiatry School 20 years ago and had to leave for family reasons. I always wonder what could have been and am (crazy I know) seriously considering returning to school. Any thoughts would be helpful.

I am aware of the School Loans and wondered - is Podiatry paying enough these days to warrant the risk and will there be enough residency spots for its graduates? Are jobs hard to come by for trained Podiatrists or are there options if geography is not a challenge?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Yes, I have a family and am a well compensated professional. Trying to minimize my regrets and do something meaningful with my life.

You're going to have to retake the MCAT, which is probably your first indication of whether or not you are up to the challenge of pod school. Obviously, you have less time to pay back your student loans than most students and you won't be able to be done with your training until you are 51. That means your loans will be the determining factor as to whether or not you can retire.....

If i were you, I would NOT go to pod school unless you have enough money to pay for it out-of-pocket and you have the time to commit to it. If you don't have the money/time, go buy a motorcycle and tour the country or something else fun. Hell, I wish I could do that!

Also, don't double post your thread in different areas.

 

[podlover]

I'm a non trad finishing up undergrad and interviewing now. I know a MD/phD attending a great school in NYC who is 55 y/o and has 4 more years to go! Its up to what you can accomplish in your life but you have to be realistic especially about paying back the loans.

 

[NatCh]

If for some reason podiatry is your long lost calling and you think you would lay on your deathbed wishing you had become a foot doc then maybe you should go for it, but if you want to look at the career as a financial move then I don't know if you have enough time to get a good return on your investment.

Figure you would be about 49 by the time you finish school, 52 by the time you finish residency, then 62 by the time you pay back your loans (assuming you were to finance the entire cost of the education and could meet the typical 10 year repayment schedule). At 62 years old you would have a somewhat limited career life remaining. Factor in the income you would lose by leaving your current career, and see if you would even break even.

I attended a workshop today discussing insurance contract negotiations amidst some of the anticipated changes in the healthcare industry and I definitely did not leave there feeling all warm and fuzzy about the near future of specialty care, that's for sure.

Financial concerns aside, I'm 45 years old and frankly at this age I think I'd be a bit too pissed off to deal with some of the bulls**t I went through during residency. For you it might be the same since you're a successful professional and probably have a low tolerance for shenanigans.

I would only do it if you feel it's a calling rather than simply a second career choice.

 

[Shinobiz11]

You're going to have to retake the MCAT, which is probably your first indication of whether or not you are up to the challenge of pod school. Obviously, you have less time to pay back your student loans than most students and you won't be able to be done with your training until you are 51. That means your loans will be the determining factor as to whether or not you can retire.....

If i were you, I would NOT go to pod school unless you have enough money to pay for it out-of-pocket and you have the time to commit to it. If you don't have the money/time, go buy a motorcycle and tour the country or something else fun. Hell, I wish I could do that!

Also, don't double post your thread in different areas.

There is a non-traditional student in my undergrad classes now. She has a Bachelor's and can apply to med school, but they said she has to retake all of the pre-reqs because she took them some 30 years ago. He might also have to retake his pre-reqs if he wants to apply.

 

[dsoz]

There is a non-traditional student in my undergrad classes now. She has a Bachelor's and can apply to med school, but they said she has to retake all of the pre-reqs because she took them some 30 years ago. He might also have to retake his pre-reqs if he wants to apply.

Not true in all cases. I am 41, took all my pre-reques 20+ years ago, and am applying to medical school. Both MD and DO. I have a limited sample size, but there have not been any schools that I asked that have a time limit on pre-reques.

I say go for it. Don't listen to these young folk tell you that you will be too old. The age of retirement for our generation is 72. That gives both of us at least a 20 year practice.

Take a few classes to prove that you are not "brain damaged" and study for and re-take the MCAT. It is a different test now than it was back when you applied the first time. It is about to change again in a year or two...

dsoz

 

[NatCh]

I say go for it. Don't listen to these young folk tell you that you will be too old. The age of retirement for our generation is 72. That gives both of us at least a 20 year practice.

Keep in mind the job demands specific to podiatry. As long as your visual acuity and manual dexterity don't degrade then you could do work until 72.

 

[dtrack22]

Keep in mind the job demands specific to podiatry. As long as your visual acuity and manual dexterity don't degrade then you could do work until 72.

This is a good point. I know several clinicians that aren't even 70 and have given up surgery for the above reason.

I don't subscribe to the "do what makes you happy" philosophy in all instances. This is probably one of those. You have a family and if I were you, my responsibility would be to them. Their QOL, now and in the future, would trump mine. Are you going to have to uproot them? Three times, most likely. Are you going to be able to work for 20 years and retire? What happens if, heaven forbid, you pass away before you're able to pay off loans associated with school/practice/etc? Were you planning on helping your kids pay for college? If so, will you still be able to when your income drops to -$120K (minimum) over the next 4 years? Can you effectively study for the MCAT while working? Are you able to stop working for months at a time to study for the MCAT if the previous questions isn't possible? And let's not forget you will most likely start school at 46-47...assuming you score well enough (which isn't saying much for pod programs) on the MCAT the first time. Which means you really aren't generating any substantial income until you are 54. At age 50+ do you want to be busting your a** 80 hrs/week for $50k?

Basically, you can't afford a single misstep like a 20-30 year old could. It's one thing to take a risk when you are young and single, its another thing when you're middle aged with a family. One failure in this whole process not only messes up your life, but also your family's...sorry to sound so doom and gloom, but you asked for advice/opinions 😉

 

[NatCh]

This is a good point. I know several clinicians that aren't even 70 and have given up surgery for the above reason.

I don't subscribe to the "do what makes you happy" philosophy in all instances. This is probably one of those. You have a family and if I were you, my responsibility would be to them. Their QOL, now and in the future, would trump mine. Are you going to have to uproot them? Three times, most likely. Are you going to be able to work for 20 years and retire? What happens if, heaven forbid, you pass away before you're able to pay off loans associated with school/practice/etc? Were you planning on helping your kids pay for college? If so, will you still be able to when your income drops to -$120K (minimum) over the next 4 years? Can you effectively study for the MCAT while working? Are you able to stop working for months at a time to study for the MCAT if the previous questions isn't possible? And let's not forget you will most likely start school at 46-47...assuming you score well enough (which isn't saying much for pod programs) on the MCAT the first time. Which means you really aren't generating any substantial income until you are 54. At age 50+ do you want to be busting your a** 80 hrs/week for $50k?

Basically, you can't afford a single misstep like a 20-30 year old could. It's one thing to take a risk when you are young and single, its another thing when you're middle aged with a family. One failure in this whole process not only messes up your life, but also your family's...sorry to sound so doom and gloom, but you asked for advice/opinions 😉

These are all good points to consider. The OP's current financial health plays a big part in this decision.

 

[RSSC15]

Financial concerns aside, I'm 45 years old and frankly at this age I think I'd be a bit too pissed off to deal with some of the bulls**t I went through during residency. For you it might be the same since you're a successful professional and probably have a low tolerance for shenanigans.

I would only do it if you feel it's a calling rather than simply a second career choice.[/QUOTE]

Is Podiatry Residency 80 hours a week for three years? Any specific examples of the 'shenanigans' you dealt with?

Thanks for the input!

 

[HowRUDoing]

Not only is residency that rigorous, but if you intend on being a successful practitioner, you will have to work just as hard. Lots of hours, lots of work...etc.

Big egos, getting emotionally and verbally abused because they can do that to you...etc, everything you hear about on TV.

I hate to put it this way, but your age is a HUGE factor when you're done school. Most residency directors will look at you and wonder "can he hack it?". That is a big strike. Also, many big egos want to train the youngest and brightest because they will likely carry on their legacy. You may not have that attraction to them even if you're the top of the class. Also when looking for a job down the road, you may not be as attractive as even though you are "seasoned" age wise, you don't have the skill yet. Would be okay with a MUCH younger boss than you?

I'm not saying not to do it, but these are all factors to consider.

Just being honest.

 

[whatsawhatsadmp]

I finished a year of Podiatry School 20 years ago and had to leave for family reasons. I always wonder what could have been and am (crazy I know) seriously considering returning to school. Any thoughts would be helpful.

I am aware of the School Loans and wondered - is Podiatry paying enough these days to warrant the risk and will there be enough residency spots for its graduates? Are jobs hard to come by for trained Podiatrists or are there options if geography is not a challenge?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Yes, I have a family and am a well compensated professional. Trying to minimize my regrets and do something meaningful with my life.

The profession of Podiatry or should I say the financial incentives that drove many of us to this field years ago have long gone. The quick buck, easy buck, gone! Increased competition amongst other Podiatrists, nurse practitioners, phys assts, every type of other doc, etc... combined with pathetic reimbursements and outrageous overhead has made this a profession that a man your age should think twice about. If money is no object, independently wealthy already, no obligations, responsibilities, go for it, do whatever you want. You dont realize it yet but despite what condition you keep yourself in as you start getting into your fifties and beyond there a just certain psychological and biochemical events that begin occuring that you cant deny. I would say no, not even a hesitation, no, but we all march to our own drummer. Wish you the best -

 

[flyhi]

It is obviously a very personal decision. I'm a first year and we have one student who is older than you and a couple more within striking distance. You come from a different place than a 20-something year old and if you have the financial security and it is something you are committed to, then it absolutely can be done. Being over 40, you will find that you cannot pull the late night hours as some of your classmates, but having been in the corporate world, you will treat it like a job and get it done. I'm absolutely loving the experience and doing quite well. It's a grind, but I would not change a thing. Taking the MCAT years and years after the prerequisites was honestly the worst part. Brutal. But, defiintely doable. I committed 4 months full time to studying and succeeded. As far as pod school, it took awhile to get back into the groove of school, but after the rust wore off, it's like I never left except that I'm way more committed and have much better habits.

If you want to chat more, just send me a PM and I'd be more than happy to share my experience.

Good Luck

 

[RSSC15]

Thanks everyone for there feedback. This is a huge life altering decision and I appreciate hearing the good and the bad of schooling, residency and the DPM profession.

One thing is for sure - no matter what I decide, there are a lot of bright DPM's, Residents and Students on this board. I have some great Podiatrists in my community as well. This is a great diversified profession.

Best to All!