Too late for med school?

[Bebe12]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have a BS in community health/spanish and graduated in 2013 with an MPH (epi). After graduation, it took me 8 months to find a job...the wait was painstaking but I thought it would be worth it. I'm currently working as an epidemiologist- my work is important but I don't feel like I'm making a difference in anyone's life. I'm just working behind a computer and analyzing data all day. I've been at my current (and first) job for only 4 months.

I want to work with people and make them feel better or help them- especially women and children. I'm considering medical school now- but I'm 25 years old and don't have a strong science background. I would have to take pre-reqs and study for the MCATS (which would probably take a year and half at best)....IF I get into med school, probably the next 10 years of my life will be as a student with residency, fellowship, etc. (correct me if I'm wrong?). I've always wanted to be a doctor but dropped the idea after not doing well in organic chemistry in college and thinking I'm just not smart enough. A little older and wiser now, I know I can do it if I apply myself- I'm not necessarily smart but I am hardworking and persevering.

Also, at some point in the future, I would like to get married and have kid(s). Is it possible w/ med school?
Not to mention the fact that I already have a lot of debt from my masters program -this would be adding more layers to that debt.

So, looking at all that....what would you suggest? Am I too old for med school? Take the plunge and go for it? Or learn to be happy with the career I have?

 

[Flashfan]

Have you considered Physician's Assistant or nursing? Less education requirements and better work/life balance.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Not too late at all but get some good exposure to the medical field before you make this decision. Volunteer in the ER, find some doctors to shadow (and not just for a few hours), etc. People in my class have kids, are married, many are non-traditional. Don't let that discourage you.

 

[Bebe12]

I've thought about PA or nursing but haven't really delved into it....I should look into it a bit more

Great suggestion about the exposure. I have volunteered at a hospital in the past and gone through a 'medical explorers' program offered by a local hospital where they give you exposure to the different fields in medicine. I really enjoyed it. I'm thinking about volunteering or shadowing at a community clinic while I do my prereqs....even if it's a weekend thing.

 

[darkjedi]

What are you SATs/GRE scores and undergrad grades like? You can opt to do a structured postbac if you are a competitive candidate to begin with.

I didn't matriculate into med school until I was 26, there are people in my class in their early 30s. If medicine is what you want and you are passionate about it, it is certainly not too late.

 

[luiscastaneda25]

You are never too late to catch your dream, I'm 24 have a bachelors in Business, just sign up for a B.S in Microbiology. I also want to be a physician.

 

[Quizlet04]

I just got accepted. I'm 35. Head over to the non-trad forums and chat with the old people there. We can help you out.

 

[gorun]

I just got accepted. I'm 35. Head over to the non-trad forums and chat with the old people there. We can help you out.

Good suggestion about checking out the non-trad forum.

I had been thinking about making the jump to medicine for many years, and I finally quit my previous career in order to do so when I was 26. When I did that, I had never taken biology or physics EVER. Not even in HIGH SCHOOL. I also only had the equivalent of high school sophomore math. So I had to start by going all the way back to taking some high school courses before I could even start with my med school pre-reqs. You're EONS father ahead than I was in so many, many ways, and I'm going to be matriculating this fall at a Top 20 school (I'm now 31). If you want this, you can do it. There will be set backs, but keep your eyes on the prize. And don't ever let anyone or anything stop you.

That being said, the work/life balance is an important question to ask yourself. There are more things to life than a career. My personal reason for deciding to make the jump is that I realized 1) I had been thinking about this for years and years and this desire was clearly never going to go away and 2) I didn't want to wake up some day in the future when I was 50, or 60, or 70, and wonder, "What if?". Personally, I would rather epically fail and have to back track than wonder "What if?" but that's just from my situation. Just throwing that as fuel for your mental fire of decision making. You'll find what feels right for you.

 

[Goro]

Yes. I've had single parents as students. And some of my all-time best students have been in their 30s and 40s. Just graduated one of them.

Also, at some point in the future, I would like to get married and have kid(s). Is it possible w/ med school?
Not to mention the fact that I already have a lot of debt from my masters program -this would be adding more layers to that debt.

So, looking at all that....what would you suggest? Am I too old for med school? Take the plunge and go for it? Or learn to be happy with the career I have?[/QUOTE]

 

[Bebe12]

Wow thanks for all your encouragement and feedback! I think I'll start on my pre-reqs starting late summer or fall. I'm actually excited to start studying again 🙂
Love hearing stories from non-traditional students....super inspiring!

 

[osckey]

Average matriculation age for medical schools tend to be around 22-25. So you're really not that far off. I plan on matriculating by 26.