Should I even try?

[ElenaV]

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Hi! I'm 27 years old and am currently in my third year of college, I will be entering clinical laboratory science program next year. I planned on getting a master's in Molecular Pathology once I get my bac. But now I'm wondering if I should try to apply to med. school. By the time I get my bac. I'll be 29, and then by the time I'm done with med school I'll be in my mid 30's, then the residency...paying off the loans, e.t.c. I am married and have two children under the age of 5. My husband currently had to get on disability and now stays home with the kids. This is what made me decide to finally go back to college and finish what I started a long time ago. I am so mad at myself for not finishing when I had a chance. Is it too late for me to even think about medical school? I believe you need to volunteer a lot, e.t.c. and we're currently relying on my husband's disability to pay the living expenses. Is it even worth it? I have been thinking about this for months.

 

[J ROD]

Hi! I'm 27 years old and am currently in my third year of college, I will be entering clinical laboratory science program next year. I planned on getting a master's in Molecular Pathology once I get my bac. But now I'm wondering if I should try to apply to med. school. By the time I get my bac. I'll be 29, and then by the time I'm done with med school I'll be in my mid 30's, then the residency...paying off the loans, e.t.c. I am married and have two children under the age of 5. My husband currently had to get on disability and now stays home with the kids. This is what made me decide to finally go back to college and finish what I started a long time ago. I am so mad at myself for not finishing when I had a chance. Is it too late for me to even think about medical school? I believe you need to volunteer a lot, e.t.c. and we're currently relying on my husband's disability to pay the living expenses. Is it even worth it? I have been thinking about this for months.

You have to answer that question for yourself. We can only help tell you how to get there. 🙂

 

[vc7777]

You have to answer that question for yourself. We can only help tell you how to get there. 🙂

Quoted For Truth (QFT)

He's right. You CAN do it. The question is to you want to?

You will be 40 on your 40th birthday, whether you are a doctor or not.

If, after looking at the costs (personal, financial, etc.) you still say 'yes' -- if this is truly what you want, then there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, you have said (or possibly could say) that would outright prevent you from pursuing medicine.

Just walk through the non-traditional forum and you will come across posts from some of the most inspiring and unlikely success stories out there.

And No, the short answer is you are never too old.

If your husband supports and understands the long road ahead, then go for it. I've got 3 kids and I am going back next year. It can be done. Take care.

vc7777

 

[just one]

Finishing med school in your mid thirties leaves you with 30-40 years of practice, sounds like plenty of time to make it "worth it".

 

[J ROD]

Finishing med school in your mid thirties leaves you with 30-40 years of practice, sounds like plenty of time to make it "worth it".

I hope I am retired by 75! 😱

 

[ElenaV]

I really want to do it, I'm just afraid I won't be able to handle it. What are the steps I should take right now? I'm very new to this and am just now starting to find different sources. There are many students in my ochem class who are planning on applying to med school next year, they make it sound so easy "take MCATs and apply to as many schools as you can and one of them will accept you".

 

[J ROD]

I really want to do it, I'm just afraid I won't be able to handle it. What are the steps I should take right now? I'm very new to this and am just now starting to find different sources. There are many students in my ochem class who are planning on applying to med school next year, they make it sound so easy "take MCATs and apply to as many schools as you can and one of them will accept you".

First, shadow a few docs and see how much you really like it.

Then, go from there!!

 

[ElenaV]

What does that mean? Can I get a volunteer position like that?

 

[tigress]

I really want to do it, I'm just afraid I won't be able to handle it. What are the steps I should take right now? I'm very new to this and am just now starting to find different sources. There are many students in my ochem class who are planning on applying to med school next year, they make it sound so easy "take MCATs and apply to as many schools as you can and one of them will accept you".

First off, I definitely agree you should shadow a doctor or two for as much time as you can, and talk to lots of doctors, to decide if you really want to do it.

Second--here's a huge secret: it is a heck of a lot easier than reading posts at SDN will make you think it is. Truly. No, it's not *easy* to get into med school, but do okay on the MCAT, have a solid GPA, look interesting on paper and interview well, and apply widely--it's not as ridiculously impossible as it can seem if you hang out here too much 😉

I'm 27 and hoping to start school next year, and I have kids also. I think in a lot of ways already having kids makes me not worry as much about my age when I finally finish residency. We have plenty of time to have really great medical careers. People go to med school through their 30s and sometimes even into their 40s or older. 🙂

 

[J ROD]

What does that mean? Can I get a volunteer position like that?

You find a physician that will let you see what they do on a daily basis to see if you like it. Hence, "shadow" the doc.

You can volunteer with patient contact with some interaction with docs. But, most times you are working with the midlevels....

 

[tigress]

What does that mean? Can I get a volunteer position like that?

Do you know any doctors personally? Find a doctor you think is nice and has an interesting job, and ask if you can go hang out with him or her for a while, just standing there while she sees patients or whatever. Basically just observe to see what a doctor really does in a day.

 

[lawyerdoc2b]

27 years old and too old? Balony. I am 52 years old and just got accepted to medical school. I start in August 2010 one month shy of my 53rd birthday.

I worked 50 hours a week (still do) and took all of the pre-med courses at night at a community college. I managed all A's (well one B in Physics II).

It can be done but you have to have a fire in your belly that burns like no other desire. Only you can decide if you are having a mod-life crisis or a mid-life calling.

Is it worth it. Bet on it. It's worth every late night; every hour of lost sleep and every tear and frustration.

The road is long and hard but you can prove to yourself and an Admissions Committee that you have the right stuff and can and will succeed.

Only you can decide. Good luck.

 

[vc7777]

...a fire in your belly that burns like no other...

Ha! Full disclosure...I'm gonna steal this line from you...

What does that mean? Can I get a volunteer position like that?

Think about what you want to do, and ask around campus (put the word out to those ochem people in your class). If its pediatrics, maybe your own kids' doc? In general, most doctors are happy to let someone who is courteous and enthusiastic shadow them. Most larger hospitals have a volunteering coordinator/office, they might know who regularly has students shadow.

 

[lawyerdoc2b]

Ha! Full disclosure...I'm gonna steal this line from you...




Think about what you want to do, and ask around campus (put the word out to those ochem people in your class). If its pediatrics, maybe your own kids' doc? In general, most doctors are happy to let someone who is courteous and enthusiastic shadow them. Most larger hospitals have a volunteering coordinator/office, they might know who regularly has students shadow.

Feel free to steal my "fire in the belly . . ." line. No quotes necessary. I hereby grant you full license. It is a good description though.

 

[ElenaV]

I am getting negative feedback from everyone around me about this. My mother in law just laughed in my face. Thank you all so much for keeping my spirits up. I'm not going to let anyone change my mind. I am very determined. I graduated from a private science school with honors. Never got a chance to finish my degree, I was an international student and eventually ran into financial problems which lead to depression, e.t.c. I am now taking three classes, ochem, trig and biology, I am making all A's, to be more specific, I have the highest grades in all three of my classes 😀 (i have many pre-med students in my classes as well). I want to be important in this life time, I know that sounds far-fetched, but I don't care. I want to put my abilities to use. I need challenge from my career, as well as satisfaction. Now I'm just trying to figure out how to get the ball rolling.

 

[EdLongshanks]

... My husband currently had to get on disability and now stays home with the kids. This is what made me decide to finally go back to college and finish what I started a long time ago. I am so mad at myself for not finishing when I had a chance. Is it too late for me to even think about medical school?... .

Elena, you're actually in a pretty good shape. You are plenty young enough for this and apparently your scholastics are good enough. You have a full-time caregiver for your children and a partial income to offset your living expenses.

Your age is not the problem that you think it is. When I was 23, I was in a much worse situation than you and I went back to school and ended up with a career in software engineering that has treated me well. Not only did I have time to go back to school and start that career, I now even have time for a second set of schooling and yet another career in medicine. 27 may seem very old to be a student, but it is still very young in the career world.

You don't hear about it very often, but there is class prejudice in the academic world. The other students will be driving nice cars and dressing in name-brand clothing. If you are living on your husband's disability, you probably won't be able to live up to their standards unless you are an incredible money manager. They will be snobbish. This becomes more pronounced the further along you go. Financial hardship takes the lower-income students out of the education system. At the graduate level you have a high percentage of silver spooned kids from doctor's homes.

Remember, over time, academic success trumps all - and your children will someday have just as much money as them.

Since your income is geographic independent, you can apply to many medical schools and move to whichever one gives you the best financial deal.

 

[faith2]

first of all do it I am happy I have my daughter and doing it now because I do not have to worry about kids and I am sure that this is what i want I did it I have my acceptance in hand. I struggled financially I worked full time tutored volunteered shadowed yes it was hard But when i got the first acceptance I was like wow I am going to be in school next year by the third acceptance my ego was stroked so laugh at that mother in law when you are at your white coat ceremony. You need to start shadowing now though

accepted 2014 UCF is my home

 

[BennieBlanco]

Should I even try?

Yes, because life belongs to those that care and those that care try.

 

[trackcutie25]

Elena

Try your local hospitals to see about their volunteer programs, yes applicants to med school do volunteer, but a short amount of time per week over the course of the two years you have to finish school would be more than enough.

Only you know your family situation, but you should definitely sit down with your husband and review the time and financial constraints you will be expecting should you decide to apply and attend medical school.

But 29 is definitely not to old to be entering medical school! Follow your dreams!

 

[AlexxusMichelle]

Im glad i read this. Im projecting that Ill be the same age when I start med school. Ive been feeling kind of old and discouraged by it but Im not letting it get me TOO down. I heard somewhere that regardless of age, med school kinda levels the playing field. Dont know how true it is but its what ive heard. Good Luck.

 

[futureboy]

I am getting negative feedback from everyone around me about this. My mother in law just laughed in my face. Thank you all so much for keeping my spirits up. I'm not going to let anyone change my mind. I am very determined.

Most of us on here probably have had a friend or relative tell us we're nuts for trying to do this. In the end, it's YOUR life, not theirs. I would bet that most people on their deathbead don't regret failing at the things they tried to do; they regret the things they never tried.

 

[futureboy]

By the time I get my bac. I'll be 29, and then by the time I'm done with med school I'll be in my mid 30's

Ah, to be only 29 again...

 

[RANE]

Psstt I wish I was 29 again. I am 35 and I just started college so umm no your not too old 🙂 good luck

 

[voitokas]

36-year-old first-year here, and doing quite well, thanks. You're not too old - and it will be an advantage to have your husband home to take care of the kids!