Question for those who have been at it for while.

[NyWood]

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Quick background.

- 30+ Career changer : Systems engineer for about 10 yrs
- Took pre-reqs about 8 yrs ago & volunteered & MCAT
- Applied in 2008 with minimum qualifications - no acceptance of coarse
- Continued working full-time but couldn't ignore the idea I wanted to be a doc
- Finally in 2013 quit my career, went to school full-time, did some health care work, trying to retake MCAT , doing a little research

All seemed well on a path living the dream...

Until recently been plagued with doubt, started with not making it into the local Post-bacc , then not being able to find a decent job to pay for apps and new MCAT & kids stuff (single parent of a 12 y/o)

Every now and again I find myself thinking WTH have you done???

You had a decent job, life wasn't perfect but your bills were paid and you were good at what you did. Just go back and forgot about this foolishness.


So with all that being said. I'm curious has anyone else been at this for a while?

Did you keep pushing forward? Were you successful?
Did you give up and resume you previous career? If so how has that worked out? Do you regret it? Does the passion ever leave your heart or the what if's in the back of your brain?

Would love to hear others take on this. It is such a unique journey especially for non-traditional applicants.

Best wishes
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My Journey : http://andsoitbeginsnywood.blogspot.com

 

[DreamingDoc]

I'm younger than you, but it literally took me over 5 years of applying and doing extra work to finally get an acceptance.

If it's truly in your heart you'll find a way to keep pushing forward. I think we all have our doubts and it's so easy to want to go back to your comfort level. Every now and then I get thoughts about how I will be leaving a comfortable salaried job to become a broke student again, but when you really think about it the benefits will always outweigh the bad when you follow your dreams.

 

[fireflygirl]

I give you a lot of kudos . The position you are in is undoubtedly rough but like everyone else here, I highly encourage you to follow your dream if this is what it is supposed to be. I left a cushy I-banking job and it took me 4 years to get into medical school and then another 5 to complete it. I essentially had to repeat my undergrad because I hadn't taken a science class since high school and since then, everyday has been a struggle because it's taken me a while to get to where I am. In the end though, I got into my first choice residency and am now finally getting closer to achieving what I imagined for myself in medicine. Keep at it, no matter how long it takes you, because in the end, it sounds like you will be happier. Talk to someone about the financial situation so that if you do go to medical school and/or post bacs that you can have the best set up so that you accumulate the bare minimum of debt that you need. There are also a lot of ways to use any money you might have invested in 401Ks or company match programs towards your education. That's in part how I did things....good luck to you!

 

[doyouhaveaflag]

I have been at this for the last eight years. This was my fourth application cycle. Like other posters above me, along the way I became successful in a lucrative career in a long-hour, high stress job. I took a year and a half long post-bacc while working full time (in the meantime forgetting what it felt like to be fully rested) and I volunteer most weekends that I am not working. Each time I applied, I had significant improvements in my application, and this year I have finally been successful. I kept at it because I have felt a passion for medicine for 20 years now and I know that, while I like my career now, being a doctor is the career that I believe best suits me.

Now that the reality of going to medical school has set in, I am surprised by how mixed my feelings are about it. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely happy that I'm going. However, staying where I am and doing what I'm doing now is definitely the path of least resistance. I feel guilty knowing that my husband has to move across the country for me (it's difficult to get into CA schools!) to a place he doesn't want to live, and that he will have to adjust to a different lifestyle at this point in his career because of my debt burden (he is considerably older than I am). However, he has been hugely supportive of me and I think we're making the right decision. We'll see in four years!

 

[deleted480308]

gpa/mcat?

also, I'm all for digging deep and not giving up but we have kids that must be fed so maybe you need to work too if you are going to do this for awhile

 

[NyWood]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. And congratulations on staying the course and making things happen. 🙂