MzzMisty said:
😕 Hi everyone. I don't want to make this a long story so I'll cut it short. I started community college at the age of 23 and have been going on and off since then. I'm 26 going on to be 27 soon. I'm still not done with community college and still have a while till I can transfer to a university. I know that I can get through school but I'm struggling to support myself along the way so I was thinking about becoming a nurse for a while and continuing my education later in pursuit of medical school. I've heard some mixed comments about medical schools not wanting to accept RN's because it takes away from that field and makes the shortage even worse. I was wondering if any of this is valid? I was also hoping for an opinion on my plan.. At least I'll be able to have a stable job and income while I continue school, right now I just don't know what to do. It seems to make ends meet I have to put off a semester here and there to get a second job and work 160 hours a week. Any advice would be appreciated.. Thank You Misty
I don't think med schools have anything against nurses...or any other profession. The only flaw that I can see in your plans is your idea of continuing education later. Many professors, and physicians have told me that it may look good now, but when it comes time to go back to school, it can be VERY difficult.
(1) you've been out of the classroom for some time. Heck just taking 3 months off for summer vacation totally reduces my study skills when fall quarter comes around. I can't imagine what it would be like to take a year off
😱.
(2) other things might come up between now and then (e.g., kids, family, etc). There's ALWAYS something. Even when you are going to school there's something.
(3) cost and difficulty of getting into med school will always increase. I remember when I first started as an undergrad. Med school here at UC Davis cost like $12k/year, and an MCAT score of 32 was the average. Today, it costs something like $25k/year, and the average MCAT score for admitted students has gone up to 33!
Everyone goes into debt, everyone has money issues. Work more, go to school less, I don't know. But I would recommend weighing things out and endeavor to push as far as you can before stopping school and working. I for one had to work 2 jobs as an undergrad, and my grades suffered for it. However during that time I also ended up in a great research lab at our university (UC Davis) which allowed me to continue my education as a post-bacc and now as a PhD student. As a PhD student, my tuition is paid for by the department, and a salary is provided. This allows me to earn a doctorate degree, conduct clinical research, and rehabilitate my undergrad GPA. Luck has a lot to do with it, but at the same time I was also proactive in finding such opportunities. It appears you are from CA, so you know already how hard it is to get into school, even at the undergrad level.
I'm saying these things not to discourage you, but it is the truth. Its a difficult process regardless of how old you are.
but then I see the age everyone is on here and the experience and wisdom that comes when your a little older 
