Start medical school in 2010? What do you think?

[ManimalJax]

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Hello, everyone.

I just met with my undergraduate school's pre-med advisor and it seems like I won't be able to start medical school until 2010. Right now, I am debating whether or not I should press onwards. Let me give you my background and I am hoping you can give me some advice or encouragement.

I started as an undergraduate student back in 2001. During the first three years of my undergraduate career, I messed around as I did not know what to do. I considered a few majors such as pre-medicine, journalism, and kinesiology. During these first confusing years, my grades tanked and I didn't do too well. However, during my last two years as an undergraduate, I found my calling in the liberal arts and graduated with two majors, political science and history. I did really well during the last two years, consistently gettings A's.

Right after graduating, I began to explore the idea of pre-medicine again. (The job market is rough with liberal arts graduates.) I immediately enrolled into a post-baccalaureate program and took the four basic pre-med pre-requisites. I did well in all of the classes and I finished the post-bac program December of 2007.

For the past few months, I have been studying for the MCAT exam and I am about to take them in two weeks (August 26th). I met with my pre-med advisor today who told me that I am too late to start for 2009 and so I should focus on 2010. Also, she looked at my CV and despite good shadowing and volunteering experience, she told me I shoudl shoot for more. I ran the news of me possibly starting in 2010 by my parents, my family, and some friends. The whole lot of them just told me to forget it all and do something else like law school. Each one of them gave me the whole bit about how I will be starting medical school when I am 27 years old, getting out by 31, doing x number of years of residency, and so on and so forth. It's somewhat discouraging especially since they think that forgetting the whole medical school idea is the practical thing to do. I just need some advice from anyone so that I can clear the confusion in my head. I have to admit that it's somewhat discouraging to be standing here at 25 years old while so many of my peers and friends are just finishing their stints at professional schools and I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my life.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[majiatas]

I really think you should continue with the process and just apply next year for 2010, if medicine feels right for you. You've already completed your post-bac, you've volunteered, shadowed, you're taking the MCAT soon. I just can't see how one year will make a difference in the long run.

I know doctors who are still practicing in their late 60s and early 70s. Hell, one ER doc at my hospital has to be in his 80s and he's still chugging along. You're going to be doing this for a very long time, and if it's what you want to do, I don't see how starting one year later will adversely affect your career. Go for it!

 

[Bacchus]

Don't listen to your family. They're not going to be making a life for you in the future, but you will be. The reason your advisor told you 2010 is that you will be applying late in the cycle. Since your grades won't disappear from before when you "tanked" its best to apply early and wisely. However, you're past that threshold now. One year more is not a big difference. As said in another thread, if you're worried about age head on over to the non-trad forum and see how young you are.

 

[ManimalJax]

Majiatas,

I like the intereting perspective you offered as far as my confusion is concerned. Thanks!

Bacchus,

Thanks for your advice. Sometimes it's hard to tune out one's family, but you are still right.

 

[teddybear]

They think 27-31 is old??? What are they planning on doing, putting you in the old folks home when you're 35???

 

[ManimalJax]

Hahaha! Good point, littlebastard. Sometimes, when you're surrounded by so much negativity, it's good to come here on SDN and communicate with folks who actually know what they are talking about.

 

[TehDoc]

SDN and communicate with folks who actually know what they are talking about.

Oh boy..

 

[ManimalJax]

So I am guessing I shouldn't hold everyone here in high esteem, huh?

 

[glamqueen]

I'm glad your family would think I am too old. I am 27 - about to be 28 - and am applying for this year. I happen to think I am not too old. Perhaps you should tell them that not everyone applies right after undergrad. Or maybe you should just run your own life and make your own decisions.


*Just my two cents*

 

[Gut Shot]

Each one of them gave me the whole bit about how I will be starting medical school when I am 27 years old, getting out by 31, doing x number of years of residency, and so on and so forth.

I started med school at 27, now I'm a 34 year-old PGY-4. I'm doing one fellowship and I'll be in practice at the ripe old age of 36. When I was in your shoes I figured that, God willing, I would turn 40 whether I wanted to or not, and I'd rather be a practicing physician when that day comes. There has been some element of delayed gratification, which has sucked from time to time, but I still feel I have the coolest job of any of my friends. Well, except that one guy, but he was just damned lucky.

 

[glamqueen]

Sorry if my post came across kind of mean - I'm actually not that way, but I suppose I always get irritated when I hear of people being critical of nontraditional applicants. Not everyone applies when they are 22 and that is ok. I hope you make your own decision here, and I wish you the best of luck with whatever it is.

 

[ManimalJax]

To glamqueen and GutShot,

Thank you so much for your input. And you know what? I'm going to forge ahead with my plan to be a doctor, regardless of what my family or others are going to say about it. I just needed a bit of encouragement, which you two were able to give to me. And if I make it, everyone that replied to this thread will be thanked and remembered.

 

[MADocMaybe]

Hey ManimalJax - I'm 25 and was in the same boat - started undergrad in 2001, and applying for this year. My goal was to apply early and often, and I'm working on it, but it is difficult with a full time job etc to turn those 2ndarys around in less than a week like everyone else seems to... I think your advisor may be correct in saying that you have a better shot in 2010, but that being said, you should definitely go for it. My brother-in-law just graduated from med school last year, and is in his intern year right now. He just turned 39. He's extremely happy with his life, the craziness, etc, and feels like the best decision he ever made was to pursue an MD even at his late age. 27? Not too old.

 

[ManimalJax]

MADocMaybe,

Good to see someone in the exact same boat as I am in!