PREmed at 32 should I give up?

[willl3]

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I have no job. I have to do my premeds an in this case I can only take one class untill the summer. I am 32 I have a wife and I have bills to pay. what can I do. Oh and I very scared about taking tests again. I was not a go test taker in college but I would like to be a doctor. What can I do?

How do people make money to eat?

 

[momof2]

If this post is a serious one - you are going to get seriously verbally abused here on SDN. It seems like a made-up post but if you are for real, you'd better be ready for a spanking. If you are looking to start a contraversial thread, you might just be successful with this one. By the way, I am premed at 32, a wife with 2 kids, but I work full time and go to school - if you are serious, it'll fall into place. You make time for what is important.

 

[Heal&Teach]

Hello,

Read this thread. If you're serious, there is more than enough support for you to learn and make it through this process.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93831

H&T

 

[KarateGirl]

Will, I've seen a lot of your posts on this board and it's always the same thing. We can't tell you whether or not you should be a doctor. That is a question only you can answer. It takes a lot of thought, discussion and soul searching. I always say, we know the answer to all of our questions on some level. It's about getting in touch with that part of you and being honest with yourself. You seem to want some outside validation, but we are not qualified to do that for you.

Talk to your wife, talk to your employer, talk to a premed advisor. The process of becoming a doctor is one of the toughest out there, and if you don't want it bad enough it's not going to be worth it. Figure out exactly why you're considering doing this, and then weigh that motivation with all the sacrifices you will have to make. It can be done, people in worse situations have made it work. It's just going to be very difficult.

I'd get off these boards and start working on a plan.

 

[Lab-Rat21]

We have several non-traditional students in our class, some are 38 and she has 3 kids, another is 33 with one kid, and we have other young single parents...if you want it, you will get it done.

One major advantage a non-traditional applicant has is that he/she is non-traditional and can say insightful things in interviews...I am "traditional" young single med student, but fellow classmates show it is possible to succeed no matter what. Good luck.😀

 

[exigente chica]

NEVER..If it's your dream...then do it

 

[willl3]

I want to be a doctor to help people to work in a place were I am looked upon as someone that can help. My choice is that I want to become a doctor but can I? am I smart enough? I did horrible on my sat and GMATs. but as a caring person and I know I would be very happy as doctor and as a student(meaning I rather be a med student going for a goal than some stupid sales person)

Thank You

 

[Heal&Teach]

Originally posted by willl3
I want to be a doctor to help people to work in a place were I am looked upon as someone that can help. My choice is that I want to become a doctor but can I? am I smart enough? I did horrible on my sat and GMATs. but as a caring person and I know I would be very happy as doctor and as a student(meaning I rather be a med student going for a goal than some stupid sales person)

Thank You

Dude,

If you put in the effort and work hard, you could move mountains. Believe me. So what you got a sucky SAT score, so did I. And I was able to make it through college and grad school with flying colors. YOU CAN DO THIS! Don't let your past failures guide your future and who you are to become. Be confident in your dreams and you WILL become a successful physician. There are obstacles to overcome, yes, but as long as you've got your family behind you, you can and will achieve this goal.

Know in your heart that you can do it, and by all means, you will.

Best of luck and sorry for the previous abrupt posting.
H&T

 

[BlueFalcon]

Despite the prevalence of "if you can dream it, you can do it" sentiment on this board, reality isn't bound by cliches. If as you said, you did "horrible" on both your SATs and GMATs, it's highly likely that you won't do well on your MCATs. Puruse your dreams. But with a family and 32 years old, be realistic about them. Get a job. Take care of your family.

 

[willl3]

Ok I'm thinking. Problem with one post is that I don't have a family to help me with money. I have a wife and no kids. She makes about 50k I am trying to get work at gym and I'm volunteering at a local hospital.

I did get one negative post which is fine I want someone to shake me tell you can or can't do this. See I want to become a doctor but can I? I have failed at everything I have tried (musician-film maker-sales person-private investor-) So with so many failures I am very scared that I will make another mistake. I do know that I when I first went to college I did want to be a doctor... and I kinda want to again. I can get work with a stupid BFA degree is really sad. Jobs are just stupid sales working for someone else helping them grow so that they can down size me later. IF I am a doctor I am more than a number and I would wake up feeling like I am something. Now is that enough to get me through pre/med school?

Will3

 

[Swiper]

Originally posted by KarateGirl
Talk to your wife, talk to your employer, talk to a premed advisor. The process of becoming a doctor is one of the toughest out there, and if you don't want it bad enough it's not going to be worth it. Figure out exactly why you're considering doing this, and then weigh that motivation with all the sacrifices you will have to make. It can be done, people in worse situations have made it work. It's just going to be very difficult.

I couldn't agree more, especially the part about talking to your wife. The two of you have to sit down and figure out your future and your mutual goals. From here on out, it's a team effort - she must become a vital part of your overall success.

As evidenced by other threads, 32 is still relatively young. You and your wife must develop a long-term plan - by the way, this plan will take a few years - that will get you the required courses, lots of quality patient care, an excellent MCAT study plan, AND a bill-paying job. Be patient, but once you decide, be confident, and strive to meet the goals of your plan. I'm now shaking you - hard - and encouraging you to stop looking back at your past. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[BlueFalcon]

Originally posted by willl3
I do know that I when I first went to college I did want to be a doctor... and I kinda want to again. I can get work with a stupid BFA degree is really sad. Jobs are just stupid sales working for someone else helping them grow so that they can down size me later. IF I am a doctor I am more than a number and I would wake up feeling like I am something. Now is that enough to get me through pre/med school?

You're 32. You have an unstable history. You do "horrible" on standardized tests. In short, you have an excess of shortcomings. It seems that for want of anything better to do you "kinda" want to be a doctor. That low level of commitment won't overcome your shortcomings and put an "M.D." behind your name. The most compassionate thing I can tell you is to look elsewhere for your future. I don't think medicine is in the cards for you.

 

[Rendar5]

"but can I?"

Quit asking that question over and over and over. If you keep asking it, you will fail.

 

[xadmin]

Study hard, borrow money, go out and volunteer.

It takes a special someone to be a physician, so if you want it bad enough, you can do it. All those things you said about I am not a good test taker is just excuses for slacker. Go get to it and study

 

[willl3]

Thank for you input when I said "kinda" it more like I want to but I'm scared. If I put my mind to it I could go. I went to NYU film which is very hard to get into and I did by going to school at a smaller college I got my grades very high then I was accepted. I proved that I could go to film school... I was misinformed but the school that once I finished there would be no work and my degree is useless. I was very young and had no guidence from anyone (no parents) I worked so hard to be a film maker but inorder to do that you must have money,family in the business and in hide sight during that period people were saying the the televisionfilm industry would have a shortage of job becasue we were going to have 500 channels (little did we know of the same thing and realTV shows that are so cheap and make no money) So I made mistakes... but begin at doctor...it makes me feel like...good..very good...I know there will be alot of studying I did that in the past. I'm just scared. What I can do is that I can only take one class this semester CAL so if I do badly then I know I can't do it but if I do well I will continue. What do you think?

 

[willl3]

Sorry about all the mispelling here. Just need to calm down 🙂 I have to make a choice today

 

[snapdad]

Originally posted by KarateGirl
Will, I've seen a lot of your posts on this board and it's always the same thing. We can't tell you whether or not you should be a doctor. That is a question only you can answer. It takes a lot of thought, discussion and soul searching. I always say, we know the answer to all of our questions on some level. It's about getting in touch with that part of you and being honest with yourself. You seem to want some outside validation, but we are not qualified to do that for you.

Talk to your wife, talk to your employer, talk to a premed advisor. The process of becoming a doctor is one of the toughest out there, and if you don't want it bad enough it's not going to be worth it. Figure out exactly why you're considering doing this, and then weigh that motivation with all the sacrifices you will have to make. It can be done, people in worse situations have made it work. It's just going to be very difficult.

What she said. I just have a quick thing to add to this. I know what it's like to wonder "what if," to question whether or not you're good enough to pull it off, and to want to not have regrets down the road. Here's a way to figure it out, quick and dirty: If you're not employed now (or underemployed), perhaps you ought to think about jumping in and taking a full load of science classes for one semester, and seeing how it goes. You can enroll for a second bachelor's degree, and then you can get financial aid to help with the bills. It may be tight living like that, but it's something you'll have to do if you want to get into med school. Just one semester, and see what happens. If you want it badly enough, you'll figure out the money for that semester, and you'll make the classes work. If you do well, then continue on to the next semester. If not, maybe you should look at something else, because med school performance is generally similar to pre-med performance, and the tests don't get any easier in med school.

Sorry...I don't mean to be harsh. It's just that I know from experience if you want it badly enough, you'll move heaven and earth to get in. You can't be on the fence with it. Good luck! 🙂

 

[willl3]

Thank you for your responses.
What I am allowed to do this semester is only take one class and that is calulus because I am starting in the middle of the semester. If I put everything into it and do not do well then I will know I can't do it. So I am taking your advice but its something I thought of before. What do you think? I can't take a full time semester and a second bac because of the middle of the semester thing.

Willl3

 

[willl3]

Are there any chat rooms in the forum or any other website

 

[snapdad]

Originally posted by willl3
Thank you for your responses.
What I am allowed to do this semester is only take one class and that is calulus because I am starting in the middle of the semester. If I put everything into it and do not do well then I will know I can't do it. So I am taking your advice but its something I thought of before. What do you think? I can't take a full time semester and a second bac because of the middle of the semester thing.

Calc is a good start. You'll be starting in the middle of the semester? The thing about this is that you're at a big disadvantage jumping into a class like calculus halfway through the semester, as it builds on itself. I'm assuming you don't have a previous background with calculus. If you can pull that off and get a good grade, especially if you're juggling work and home commitments, you should be able to do fine in any science courses you take.

The flip side is that if you jump into the middle of the semester in calc and *don't* do well, that might not mean that you can't do well in med school. If you get a poor grade, you don't know that you might not have done just fine if you had been in the class from the beginning. The risk here is getting a poor grade that will have to be overcome when you apply to med school, and also, as importantly, discouraging yourself.

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by willl3
Are there any chat rooms in the forum or any other website

If you look towards the bottom of the forum homepage, you'll see chat.

 

[gary5]

Originally posted by willl3
I want to be a doctor to help people to work in a place were I am looked upon as someone that can help. My choice is that I want to become a doctor but can I? am I smart enough? I did horrible on my sat and GMATs. but as a caring person and I know I would be very happy as doctor and as a student(meaning I rather be a med student going for a goal than some stupid sales person)

Thank You

If you did horrible on SAT and GMATs, you probably won't do well enough on the MCAT. If you're serious about this, take premed classes and make sure to get all As. Then take an MCAT prep course until you're scoring high. Regarding money, you have to make it work on your own. Maybe work full-time and take night classes, try financial aid. Also, there are many helping occupations that are not M.D.

 

[willl3]

thank you for your posts
I will be taking cal 1

Its not like taking bioII that's what I'd be doing if I went in this semester which is why my only options is CAL 1

Willl3

 

[Califlower]

Wow. I think before you decide anything, you need to do a bit of a soul searching. I'm sure pretty much anyone can find success at being a premed and then in med school, but your determination and motivation is critical. You don't seem very motivated to be a doctor -- how do you know if this isn't something you'll do for a few years than put down to rest? The road to med school and beyond is an EXTREMELY LONG road and it's not exactly a pretty one, especially with a background history like yours. I'm sure you have good reasons why you did the things you did and why you had a hard time seeking what you want to do, but BE COMMITTED before you jump in.

By the way, there are so many other professions in the health industry where members are revered and respected. Getting an MD is not the only answer -- if you're interested in the health field, look into nursing (pays great these days), physical therapy, pharmacy, dental schools.... some require graduate education, and some, like nursing, is a lot shorter to complete (no 4 year loans + many years of prereq's). Please don't be the guy who jumps around from being premed to graphic artist, to acting, to cooking, and running for Governor. Don't be a yuppy -- decide WHAT you Want and how much you want it. And for goodness sake, be SURE of yourself man!