Where do we fit in?

[jackieMD2007]

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I'm seeing a lot of confusing explanations about who exactly the non-trads are.

The mid-to-late 20's aren't non-trad? Or are we? 😕

We don't exactly "fit in" with the kids still in undergrad, but usually don't have as much life experience as the 30's and 40's group.

I feel like I'm in the "I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to med school in college and needed more time to check it out" group.

 

[Scottish Chap]

I'm seeing a lot of confusing explanations about who exactly the non-trads are.

The mid-to-late 20's aren't non-trad? Or are we? 😕

We don't exactly "fit in" with the kids still in undergrad, but usually don't have as much life experience as the 30's and 40's group.

I feel like I'm in the "I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to med school in college and needed more time to check it out" group.

"Traditional" students enter medical school after undergraduate with little else in between. It's not so much about age. I agree that the term "non-traditional student" is often subjective and nebulous.

 

[RxnMan]

I thought it was people over 25, but I've hear that it is anyone who does not enter med school right out of college. OldPreMeds defines it as people over 30. I consider myself non-trad because I'm 25, my story is very different from other pre-meds, and I've had a (short) career as a medical researcher.

 

[Law2Doc]

"Traditional" students enter medical school after undergraduate with little else in between.

Sort of. You can be nontrad with a stint between high school and college as well. So generally a nontrad is anyone who didn't go directly from high school to undergrad to med school.

 

[vtucci]

A non-trad has other life experiences besides the college to medical route. However, I would not normally consider one year off worthy of the title. Age 25 and older is more appropriate (4 year difference).

 

[Scottish Chap]

Sort of. You can be nontrad with a stint between high school and college as well. So generally a nontrad is anyone who didn't go directly from high school to undergrad to med school.

??

 

[asunshine]

I feel like I'm in the "I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to med school in college and needed more time to check it out" group.

Hi! I'm in the same boat. I'm 25, married, probably soon having kids, and have had a professional job the last 3 yrs. I definitely don't feel traditional, but hoping I look as young as them! And I am VERY glad I took the time to check it out.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

I'd agree that most definitions of non-trad mean anyone who didn't go straight from undergraduate school to med school (at around age 21 or so - I agree with Law2Doc - if you started or finished your undergraduate career at 30, you're a non-trad from the git-go). You're a young non-trad at 25, however. Applying at 43, I was an old non-trad. Or maybe a non-trad-non-trad. Non-trad squared? If we settle on new definitions, I think there almost needs to be a new term for the growing group of us over 35, who are still considered a little odd by some people.

 

[chrisjohn]

It's anybody who took the scenic route. 🙂

 

[bubbleyum]

It's anybody who took the scenic route. 🙂

i like that sentiment 👍

 

[sumozmom]

I'd agree that most definitions of non-trad mean anyone who didn't go straight from undergraduate school to med school (at around age 21 or so - I agree with Law2Doc - if you started or finished your undergraduate career at 30, you're a non-trad from the git-go). You're a young non-trad at 25, however. Applying at 43, I was an old non-trad. Or maybe a non-trad-non-trad. Non-trad squared? If we settle on new definitions, I think there almost needs to be a new term for the growing group of us over 35, who are still considered a little odd by some people.

hello...can you tell me at what age did u start ur pre-recs, how was it...how long did it take and finally did u work during this time?

thnx 😛)

 

[pmtdenna]

...growing group of us over 35, who are still considered a little odd by some people.

Considered "a little odd"? Every person I have spoken with thinks I'm completely insane. Some sort of mental masochist with a penchant for enormous debt and no sleep. No, I think we are stark raving lunatics. Isn't it great?!!!!

 

[Law2Doc]

Considered "a little odd"? Every person I have spoken with thinks I'm completely insane. Some sort of mental masochist with a penchant for enormous debt and no sleep. No, I think we are stark raving lunatics. Isn't it great?!!!!

They fear what they don't understand. They envy us so much they have to call us crazy.

 

[Orthodoc40]

They fear what they don't understand. They envy us so much they have to call us crazy.

I love it!! 👍 Totally true!!

 

[Orthodoc40]

An advisor has told me that because more & more applicants are taking a year or two in between graduating and applying, the mid-late 20's people are no longer true non-trads. A person who has spent time (more than a year) in a previous, non-health related career is absolutely the true definition of a non-trad.

 

[Khenon]

??

I think Law2Doc's explanation fits me pretty well. I went to undergrad 5 years after high school (military first), then straight to grad school. Because I was older then most of my classmates and had a child, I certainly considered myself a non-trad. I also took 3 years off between grad school and the start of med school, so again . . . non-trad. 🙂

I also liked the "scenic route" defintion. That pretty much hits the nail on the head. 🙂

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

hello...can you tell me at what age did u start ur pre-recs, how was it...how long did it take and finally did u work during this time?
thnx 😛)

I absolutely agree with you, pmtdenna. I have quite a number of friends who think I've lost my mind completely - we *are* nuts. But, you know, many of us have had success in our professional careers and are searching for a deeper purpose in life - as long as I can be reasonably comfortable and pay off my debt before I start collecting Social Security, I'm good to go. I do think there is an element of envy - how many of us are brave enough to get a brand-new start at life at age 44??

For Sumozmom: Prereqs: I started in January, 2004 at age 42. Gen Chem I / Physics I (comm college at night). Summer 2004: Gen Chem II (cc at night). Fall 2004: Orgo I / Biology Survey for Majors / Physics II (cc, all at night). Spring 2005: Orgo II / Microbiology / Kaplan Review (all cc except Kaplan, all at night). I really don't know how I lived through that semester - I was in class six days a week, Monday through Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. April, 2005: MCAT. Fall, 2005: Cellular Biology (state university - night) and Anatomy (cc at night). September, 2005: turned 44. December, 2005: Accepted first round, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (hooray! Go Sooners!). Spring, 2006: Biochemistry (state university - night) and Physiology (cc at night). May, 2006: Intersession Spanish, to try to get it back from high school.

So, starting prereqs to MCAT was about 15 months - and that was pushing as hard as possible due to my age. I did work through the entire period - I'm a CPA and a financial planner for a major hospital. I have to admit, my hospital actively supported my med school ambitions and that was a huge help at times. If you're a non-trad and you need to work, this is an incredibly hard road to go on. I was (and am) often totally exhausted - medical school can't be that much harder than this. It's expensive (I spent easily $5,000 for books, tuition that work didn't cover, MCAT review, MCAT, etc...). There is no guarantee of success, especially for us older non-trads, but the reward is indeed a brand-new life.

 

[sumozmom]

I absolutely agree with you, pmtdenna. I have quite a number of friends who think I've lost my mind completely - we *are* nuts. But, you know, many of us have had success in our professional careers and are searching for a deeper purpose in life - as long as I can be reasonably comfortable and pay off my debt before I start collecting Social Security, I'm good to go. I do think there is an element of envy - how many of us are brave enough to get a brand-new start at life at age 44??

For Sumozmom: Prereqs: I started in January, 2004 at age 42. Gen Chem I / Physics I (comm college at night). Summer 2004: Gen Chem II (cc at night). Fall 2004: Orgo I / Biology Survey for Majors / Physics II (cc, all at night). Spring 2005: Orgo II / Microbiology / Kaplan Review (all cc except Kaplan, all at night). I really don't know how I lived through that semester - I was in class six days a week, Monday through Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. April, 2005: MCAT. Fall, 2005: Cellular Biology (state university - night) and Anatomy (cc at night). September, 2005: turned 44. December, 2005: Accepted first round, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (hooray! Go Sooners!). Spring, 2006: Biochemistry (state university - night) and Physiology (cc at night). May, 2006: Intersession Spanish, to try to get it back from high school.

So, starting prereqs to MCAT was about 15 months - and that was pushing as hard as possible due to my age. I did work through the entire period - I'm a CPA and a financial planner for a major hospital. I have to admit, my hospital actively supported my med school ambitions and that was a huge help at times. If you're a non-trad and you need to work, this is an incredibly hard road to go on. I was (and am) often totally exhausted - medical school can't be that much harder than this. It's expensive (I spent easily $5,000 for books, tuition that work didn't cover, MCAT review, MCAT, etc...). There is no guarantee of success, especially for us older non-trads, but the reward is indeed a brand-new life.

wow...can I ask if u have kids too?

well how did u do in your classes. I have a horrible GPA 2.*** so i need all A's. So far in Calc and chem I got A's.

I am taking Phys 1 and chem 2 this summer.
how did u study for the mcats with all those classes.....
finally what med school did you get into?
ur an inspiration to me 🙂

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

Nope, no kids except the furry one at left. I've been single for a long time and I only had to explain to the dog why I was so late every night - managing a family is tough, I know, but I have no experience with that.

I was able to pull A's in all my pre-reqs - I was lucky, the book work comes pretty easily to me most times. Studying for the MCAT was very tough - going to Kaplan every week forced me to at least glance over the material when I wasn't doing homework, and I did take a week off work before the test. I was pleased with my score but I like to think that I might have done better with more study time - can't prove it, though!

I certainly wish you the best of luck and hope you'll continue to post here when you need help or encouragement. One thing: if you're older like me, I know you don't feel that you have unlimited time for your prereqs but I would be careful about combining Phys I and Chem II in a single summer. Since you got an "A" in calc, you may be able to handle it OK - but Chem II has "quantitative analysis" which is going to involve some math. Combined with Physics I that's a lot of summertime math homework. Congratulations on the strong performance so far! Top-notch grades in your pre-reqs will help the importance of those older grades to fade.

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine - Class of 2010

 

[pmtdenna]

I absolutely agree with you, pmtdenna. I have quite a number of friends who think I've lost my mind completely - we *are* nuts. But, you know, many of us have had success in our professional careers and are searching for a deeper purpose in life - as long as I can be reasonably comfortable and pay off my debt before I start collecting Social Security, I'm good to go. I do think there is an element of envy - how many of us are brave enough to get a brand-new start at life at age 44??

That is a great way to put it. 😀

 

[jackieMD2007]

Very interesting.

I think that for the later career switchers, med school is more of a "Brand New Life" whereas when you're only 24 or 25 (me! me!), had considered med in college, did a little real-world experience and decided to go to med school, it is more of a "Switch" than "Brand New!"

It is my sincere hope that the mid-twenties non-trads in my future school and the other non-trads can all stick together-- 😀

 

[oldpro]

Yea I think Non trad is over 35 or someone who went to college worked for a while then decided "Hey I want to be a Doc! " then they are going for it!

I'm a 42 yr RN in medschool and sometimes I look at myself and say "Am I nuts?" "Is medschool my midlife crises?" My wife hopes not! LOL

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

"Is medschool my midlife crises?" My wife hopes not! LOL

When people ask me if I'm having a mid-life crisis, my answer is "absolutely." I've had a successful career, I'm reasonably financially secure (for another two months until I leave for school, anyway), and I basically enjoy my work. But I've always been attracted to healthcare and I've had this nagging feeling for years that there has to be more that I can contribute during this lifetime - personally, one-on-one rather than in my work as a hospital planner. Money and security are nice, but they've had very little to do with my happiness.

I think going to medical school is a very creative response to a mid-life crisis, especially with the looming physician shortage. Certainly it contributes more to society than does getting a face lift, a toupee, a divorce, and an overpowered two-seat convertible.

 

[oldpro]

When people ask me if I'm having a mid-life crisis, my answer is "absolutely." I've had a successful career, I'm reasonably financially secure (for another two months until I leave for school, anyway), and I basically enjoy my work. But I've always been attracted to healthcare and I've had this nagging feeling for years that there has to be more that I can contribute during this lifetime - personally, one-on-one rather than in my work as a hospital planner. Money and security are nice, but they've had very little to do with my happiness.

I think going to medical school is a very creative response to a mid-life crisis, especially with the looming physician shortage. Certainly it contributes more to society than does getting a face lift, a toupee, a divorce, and an overpowered two-seat convertible.

Well sports car would be nice...............................lol

 

[Orthodoc40]

When people ask me if I'm having a mid-life crisis, my answer is "absolutely." I've had a successful career, I'm reasonably financially secure (for another two months until I leave for school, anyway), and I basically enjoy my work. But I've always been attracted to healthcare and I've had this nagging feeling for years that there has to be more that I can contribute during this lifetime - personally, one-on-one rather than in my work as a hospital planner. Money and security are nice, but they've had very little to do with my happiness.

I think going to medical school is a very creative response to a mid-life crisis, especially with the looming physician shortage. Certainly it contributes more to society than does getting a face lift, a toupee, a divorce, and an overpowered two-seat convertible.

I'm going to apply to Oklahoma now, just so I can meet you, Non-TradTulsa! Plus your doggie is very cute! 🙂

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

I'm going to apply to Oklahoma now, just so I can meet you, Non-TradTulsa! Plus your doggie is very cute! 🙂

Awww... thanks. Come on down! I think people with backgrounds in the arts often make very fine doctors. Actually, I think the University of Oklahoma is a fine school (ranked for primary care with growing research) that ought to be added to the next "non-trad friendly" list. I think I was excluded from some interviews simply because I was too far outside the "normal age range" and my MCAT/GPA didn't matter. OU uses a very straightforward MCAT+GPA screen to grant interviews. This, I think, worked to my advantage - it's objective. I was in the first interview group and, once you're interviewed, you can dazzle them with your personality and motivation for medicine! I think the trick for older non-trads sometimes is to get your foot in the door. Age neither helped nor hurt at OU - it was a level playing field. Anyway, they seemed to like me, I was totally sold on them, and I couldn't be happier. OU likes for OOS to have a tie to the state, but I'll vouch for you...

I've told my Shepherd that she's been admired from coast to coast, but she's still far more interested in what's for supper.

 

[old_guy]

As Non-TradTulsa said, I'm just looking to get a foot in the door. I'm 47, a 19-year Federal employee with a good salary, but my job doesn't engage my heart. I was a Bio major when I graduated 25 years ago, but the last 19 years have been strictly non-science employment. My undergrad GPA was 2.YUCK, but I did earn an MS in Information Systems 10 years ago with a 3.83 GPA. I'm sure I'll be considered borderline when I apply, but I'm going to do my best to blow the MCAT out of the water. I've always been good at standardized tests - even when my GPA was not so sterling - and I'm busting my butt for the Summer '07 MCAT. Even though there are several colleges within commuting distance, none offer undergrad courses at times convenient to my work schedule. I'm re-learning old material on my own, through the Web and study guides. Hard way to go, I know, and the worst part is convincing the family that "now is NOT a good time for interruptions!!". Throw in the responsibilities of a FT job, chores, 2 kids in HS and soon to enter college, and the obstacles seem insurmountable. But determination is my middle name, and failure is not an option. I'll be applying to my alma mater (about an hour away), and a local DO school. To reiterate my first sentence: All I need is my foot in the door.

TT

 

[cfdavid]

I'm seeing a lot of confusing explanations about who exactly the non-trads are.

The mid-to-late 20's aren't non-trad? Or are we? 😕

We don't exactly "fit in" with the kids still in undergrad, but usually don't have as much life experience as the 30's and 40's group.

I feel like I'm in the "I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to med school in college and needed more time to check it out" group.

It's all a matter of perspective. Look on the bright side. You're not starting late by most standards. So, you'll still be young (another matter of perspective lol) when you finish residency.

Don't worry about the experiences you don't have. Think of those that you DO have. It can be tough sometimes, for those of us that consider ourselves humble. But, if you spent some time reflecting, you could "spin" those post-undergrad years into some good learning/life experiences. For sure, you've learned more about yourself during that time.

Also, don't take a back seat to anybody. Who cares if some dude was a champion race car driver-turned pre-med at 35. Great, but that doesn't make YOUR situation any less attractive. Everyone has a different story. None is "better" than any other. And I'm sure yours is equally as interesting as the next person's.