Why would anyone do such a thing?

[cowgirl]

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Last summer when I was taking Kaplan to prepare for the MCAT, there was an older gentleman, probably around 54, who was also taking the class with us. I found out that he had been a dentist for several years and then all of a sudden decided that he'd rather be practicing medicine. I'll give the guy props, he was getting 40's on his practice tests. I'm just wondering why would anyone think it is worth it to go back to school after so many years when by the time you get out and actually begin to practice you will be tipping the age scale by so much and really having to start at the bottom of the food chain all over again. Just a thought.

 

[firebody]

as i recall, there are a couple six figure salary members on SDN that quit there jobs to pursue medicine. this answer could better be reached with a non-traditional.

 

[seacatch]

My guess is that he wants to be a doctor and has realized the journey to become a doctor is not hellish. It is not 7+ years unlived. What should he do with his time anyway? Some people enjoy learning and being challenged. He probably has done many things already and does not feel he will be missing out on anything. Why not figure out how you want to live the rest of your life and do it? I'm only a 41 year old premed... but 41, 54... what's the difference?

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

My guess is that he wants to be a doctor and has realized the journey to become a doctor is not hellish. It is not 7+ years unlived. What should he do with his time anyway? Some people enjoy learning and being challenged. He probably has done many things already and does not feel he will be missing out on anything. Why not figure out how you want to live the rest of your life and do it? I'm only a 41 year old premed... but 41, 54... what's the difference?

I give the guy props for following his dreams. But even with a 45 on the MCAT, what med school would want to train an individual that only has 20 years tops to practice medicine (assuming he will practice past his 80th birthday)? Good luck to him and those like him.

 

[futuremsfdoc]

41, 54... what's the difference?

54-41=13. 13 years is the difference.

 

[Scubadoc]

I'm just wondering why would anyone think it is worth it to go back to school after so many years when by the time you get out and actually begin to practice you will be tipping the age scale by so much and really having to start at the bottom of the food chain all over again. Just a thought.

My mother decided to go back to school when she was in her late 40s, early 50s. All of her friends and coworkers (where she was a VP,making a fat salary) said things like "Why would you want to do this, you'll be so old when you get finished!" She responded "Well, I'll be that old eventually so I might as well do what I love." She became a pharmacist, not the same as going through the MD program but she did have to go back to undergrad, do all the prereqs, then go through the pharm program. Now she is a pharmacist and couldn't be happier. Yes she may not have 40 years to work like we do and her younger classmates, but she's very happy all the same. As far as the application process, she had no problems getting in to both of the schools she applied to because she had life experience, very high grades, and super letters of recommendation.

 

[efex101]

WTF? there is no guarantee that anyone will practice medicine for X or Y years? that is the lamest argument that I have heard. There is no guarantee that some 20 year old will practice for a long time...

 

[Scubadoc]

WTF? there is no guarantee that anyone will practice medicine for X or Y years? that is the lamest argument that I have heard. There is no guarantee that some 20 year old will practice for a long time...

this is true. my orgo prof's son in law went to med school, got his degree, practiced one year then decided it wasn't for him (went to school because his dad expected him to become a doc). he quit and is now in business. 😱

 

[constructor]

I give the guy props for following his dreams. But even with a 45 on the MCAT, what med school would want to train an individual that only has 20 years tops to practice medicine (assuming he will practice past his 80th birthday)? Good luck to him and those like him.

if it's washu, hopkins, or columbia, they just might because we all know that they love to get the high scorers to themselves and pad their stats for the annual us news rankings. they probably wouldn't care whether or not he'll retire after practicing for two years; it makes no difference to them.

 

[efex101]

Actually many medical schools will accept folks why? they accept people based on their potential to do well in medical school *regardless* of age. If you have the grades, MCAT, LOR's, EC's, etc..anyone can be a good candidate.

 

[NubianPrincess]

Why do any of us go through this *sniff* *PMS*

 

[45408]

I give the guy props for following his dreams. But even with a 45 on the MCAT, what med school would want to train an individual that only has 20 years tops to practice medicine (assuming he will practice past his 80th birthday)? Good luck to him and those like him.

Name a med school that has said they'd refuse to train someone like that.

Oh, and 40's on the MCAT? Who wouldn't accept that? Is he re-taking any undergrad classes, or does he just have a GPA from his original degree?

 

[N-toxicologist]

I give the guy props for following his dreams. But even with a 45 on the MCAT, what med school would want to train an individual that only has 20 years tops to practice medicine (assuming he will practice past his 80th birthday)? Good luck to him and those like him.

And good luck to you.

 

[MeowMix]

An interesting statistic that I recently heard: women who enter medicine later in life (>35) stay in the profession longer than men who enter young (<25).

(I don't have a reference for this.)

 

[tupac_don]

Last summer when I was taking Kaplan to prepare for the MCAT, there was an older gentleman, probably around 54, who was also taking the class with us. I found out that he had been a dentist for several years and then all of a sudden decided that he'd rather be practicing medicine. I'll give the guy props, he was getting 40's on his practice tests. I'm just wondering why would anyone think it is worth it to go back to school after so many years when by the time you get out and actually begin to practice you will be tipping the age scale by so much and really having to start at the bottom of the food chain all over again. Just a thought.

Maybe he went into dentistry b/c of family pressure or nice life or whatever other reason. Maybe he wanted to be a doctor all along and now is the time to do it for him. Maybe he has a fat account, financially secure and like another poster said feels like he woudln't be giving anything up. Being a physician is the ultimate in terms of time demands, and amount of schooling. Maybe this man has somehting to prove to himself. Who knows but reasons for going to med school are so varied and diverse. But I think this guy has a better chance of practicing for whatever many years he has left. B/c to even consider, let alone actually go to medical school at his age, you really have to have unbelievable motivation. This man obviously knows what he wants and maybe now finally things are right in his life to go and get it. Sometimes the time to do something is simply not right. Now finally the opportunity presented itself.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Name a med school that has said they'd refuse to train someone like that.

Oh, and 40's on the MCAT? Who wouldn't accept that? Is he re-taking any undergrad classes, or does he just have a GPA from his original degree?

I didnt make a statement - I posed a question. What school would accept an individual past their 50s into medical school? While there is no guarantee that a person in their 20s will practice medicine for an extended period of time, that person has the potential to work for 30 years longer than an individual in their 50s. I didnt say that was good or bad, but only that schools take that into consideration when admitting students. If a non-traditional student wants to be a doctor and apply to medical school, more power to 'em.

 

[eralza]

Maybe it is self-actualization or maybe just a delayed mid-life crisis. You know the routine...new motorcycle, 21 year old girlfriend, tattoo, career change.
Honestly though, a pathologist I used to work with once told me, "You can either be 40 years old and graduating from medical school or 40 years old wishing you were graduating from medical school". She was the most brilliant physician I have ever worked with, and she retired at 78.

 

[klgsatx]

I didnt make a statement - I posed a question. What school would accept an individual past their 50s into medical school? While there is no guarantee that a person in their 20s will practice medicine for an extended period of time, that person has the potential to work for 30 years longer than an individual in their 50s. I didnt say that was good or bad, but only that schools take that into consideration when admitting students. If a non-traditional student wants to be a doctor and apply to medical school, more power to 'em.

Also there is a little something about age discrimination

 

[fever5]

Maybe it is self-actualization or maybe just a delayed mid-life crisis. You know the routine...new motorcycle, 21 year old girlfriend, tattoo, career change.
Honestly though, a pathologist I used to work with once told me, "You can either be 40 years old and graduating from medical school or 40 years old wishing you were graduating from medical school". She was the most brilliant physician I have ever worked with, and she retired at 78.

or you could be a 58 yr old radiologist at Mayo who although is highly regarded, is burned out and wishing he went into finance...

 

[Psycho Doctor]

My mother decided to go back to school when she was in her late 40s, early 50s. All of her friends and coworkers (where she was a VP,making a fat salary) said things like "Why would you want to do this, you'll be so old when you get finished!" She responded "Well, I'll be that old eventually so I might as well do what I love." She became a pharmacist, not the same as going through the MD program but she did have to go back to undergrad, do all the prereqs, then go through the pharm program. Now she is a pharmacist and couldn't be happier. Yes she may not have 40 years to work like we do and her younger classmates, but she's very happy all the same. As far as the application process, she had no problems getting in to both of the schools she applied to because she had life experience, very high grades, and super letters of recommendation.

That's great; and she should pursue what she wants no matter how late in life. All the best to you and your mom!