Starting Med school at 25, Gap year

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1AO KTG

1AO KTG

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So due to work, a few retakes, and other issues I'm going to be completing undergrad two years late. I'm also going to apply to med school my senior year. This means I'm going to have to wait a year and start at the age of 25. I don't want to do a SMP paying around 30 grand, increasing debt. I'd rather get a healthcare job to save a little money for med school. Will this be a disadvantage when I apply? Also what do you guys think of starting Med school at the age of 25? It often seems depressing that I'm not going on time. I'll be 29 and a half when I become a resident.~32-35 Attending. Will that look a little bad?
 
Just means that the more traditional applicants will have 3 more years working, or on the golf course, or waiting to die than you will.
 
I'll be 27 when I enroll into Md or DO programs...

relax. as long as you're not 50, you're fine 😛
 
You won't be discriminated against for starting a 25. In fact, that's close to the average student age (though skewed by much older non-trads) at many medical schools.
 
Nowadays everyone seems to take time off after college to do research or TFA or a Fulbright before applying to med school. Average age of first-year students at most of the top schools is ~24.
 
1AO KTG said:
So due to work, a few retakes, and other issues I'm going to be completing undergrad two years late. I'm also going to apply to med school my senior year. This means I'm going to have to wait a year and start at the age of 25. I don't want to do a SMP paying around 30 grand, increasing debt. I'd rather get a healthcare job to save a little money for med school. Will this be a disadvantage when I apply? Also what do you guys think of starting Med school at the age of 25? It often seems depressing that I'm not going on time. I'll be 29 and a half when I become a resident.~32-35 Attending. Will that look a little bad?
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LOL. You're not even close to having to worry. :laugh::laugh::laugh: I'm starting at an older age. Hell, I feel almost like PandaBear sometimes. :meanie: I guess I shouldn't of pursued other careers 🙄
 
Kaustikos said:
LOL. You're not even close to having to worry. :laugh::laugh::laugh: I'm starting at an older age. Hell, I feel almost like PandaBear sometimes. :meanie: I guess I shouldn't of pursued other careers 🙄
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haha likewise! OP i had an entire other career path before I started at 27. I have MULTIPLE 40+ y/o classmates!
 
Don't sweat it. The average age of first-year med students across the US is 24 or 25 (it bounces back and forth each year), so you'll be perfectly average. I was a couple years delayed (decided senior spring of college, did a postbac) and frankly the age difference hasn't been a big deal at all. Yes, a difference of a couple years was a big deal in high school or college when some friends could drive/drink/whatever and others couldn't--not to mention the maturity difference alone between a high schooler and a college student--but a couple of years when you're in your mid-twenties or later is pretty negligible...your level of training (M1 vs. M4 vs. resident vs. attending) will be the much bigger influence on how you're perceived (or define yourself) than your actual age.
 
27 in the house!

I feel like I am better prepared now than I was back at 24......you'll be fine
 
Please don't ever let anyone tell you that you're starting medical school late. There is no timeline. Just live your life. Make your decisions, live, learn and grow.

It's alllll good.
 
:hello:

I'll be 25 when I start my first year of medical school. Who cares when you go? As long as you go.

For me, I'm glad I even have the opportunity.
 
thomallama said:
Thanks 😛

For all the crap I've put up with, it's scary I'm even graduating college. I'll definitely be in tears that day.
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I almost cried when I got my degree. I framed that thing, and I stare it at everyday before I start working at the lab. Reminding myself that I earned that piece of paper.
 
Kaustikos said:
LOL. You're not even close to having to worry. :laugh::laugh::laugh: I'm starting at an older age. Hell, I feel almost like PandaBear sometimes. :meanie: I guess I shouldn't of pursued other careers 🙄
Click to expand...

You should start a witty, sarcastic blog!
 
Yeah thanks guys, seems like 25 isn't so bad. However what about the admission process.When I interview would they rather hear that I'm going to continue studying towards a masters? Or will a temporary occupation in the science or healthcare field be just fine?
 
1AO KTG said:
Yeah thanks guys, seems like 25 isn't so bad. However what about the admission process.When I interview would they rather hear that I'm going to continue studying towards a masters? Or will a temporary occupation in the science or healthcare field be just fine?
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Just tell them the truth. You worked through college. It's an admirable quality. You won't seem like the next gunner premed who did nothing but "the essentials."

EDIT: NOT quite the answer to your question. But still, just do what you think is best for you.
 
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1AO KTG said:
Yeah thanks guys, seems like 25 isn't so bad. However what about the admission process.When I interview would they rather hear that I'm going to continue studying towards a masters? Or will a temporary occupation in the science or healthcare field be just fine?
Click to expand...

As long as you have a plausible reason for doing whatever you're doing, it doesn't matter. Just don't sit on your ass.
 
I'll just be turning 21 if I get in and can matriculate! Hehe 😀
 
I'm turning 24 this week, and I start school a couple weeks after. These past two years have been the best of my life (living abroad) and I wouldn't trade them for aaaaaanything... especially not medical school two years early.
 
Yeah, I wasn't about to spend my early 20's in medical school.

Now that those are over...
 
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