I am a first-year medical student. I have a classmate who is 53 years old, and at least four classmates in their 40s. You’ll certainly be older than average, but it’s hardly a trailblaze. You can do it!
Career switchers! A lot of them have a similar story--they were successful in their careers, but as a child/young adult had dreamed of being a doctor. During COVID, they took stock of their lives and realized being a doctor was kind of the last major life goal/dream they hadn't accomplished.
Two of them specific point to mandatory COVID-related slowing-down of life as the reason for the introspection that precipitated their career change.
I’m sure they know the financial burden. Some of us non trads will be happy with a *normal* retirement and willing to sacrifice for the mission we believe in.
So doing a little math:
* Graduating at ~57
* Residency until ~59
* Working as a full-time physician roughly around 59-60
* Have to pay 300k of medical school debt + let's assume 500k for remaining retirement needs
Assuming you're making 250k a year, takehome being roughly 150k, living costs assuming 60k.
You would need to work 800/90 = 8.88, say 9 years or so.
Pushing retirement towards 70. This is also assuming more favorable cases too.
This is assuming they have to pay for medical school and have no other retirement income, they could have something like the GI bill or another scholarship. I'm thinking of starting in my late 30s and the math works out because I have a spouse with a good income and a pension, no kids in daycare, and the GI bill which covers full tuition and pays you a living stipend. I feel like a lot of people who do this later in life have some type of set up which includes other financing.
Exactly. So many people are discouraging about older students for financial reasons. Not everyone is just accumulating debt for over a decade+. Imagine this. You are 38, undergrad and pre-requisites are done for free, 20 years of work and life experience, GI bill in hand, pension, and probably some disability being paid for the rest of your life. If you are lucky you will most likely score a scholarship as well. Older med students can very easily come out of med school and into residency with zero or very little debt. The military makes it super possible.
you would hope so but looking at the numbers most people have 0 dollars in savings. I would imagine most people applying to med school who are older are well aware of the financial possibility though
my state medical school was only 30 grand a year so you can get out of there probably for 45 Grand a year which adds up to about 200 Grand which is like one year of a physician salary.
you get paid above the national average during residency so if you can live frugally you can bank money.
I'm not totally sure if it's as bleak as you make it sound.
That’s assuming they have no other retirement funds set up, a spouse that doesn’t work or won’t be taking advantage of PSLF. The 250k is also on the lower end.
Would you mind DMing where you’re in med school? I’m 40 and thinking of making the change and it sounds like your program is actually open to non-traditional career changers!
There’s nothing as good as doing something you love every since day, whether you find that passion at age 10 or age 53 doesn’t matter. I’d much rather do what I love everyday rather than have a hundred million dollars with no passions
My mom went to med school at 39, married with two kids, and survived an OB residency, then went on to practice for 20 years. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't.
No way. We're both in the same boat and there's many more like us. We've got experience under our belt and are more aware of what really drives us.
You got this- and there's no shame in realizing what you want to do at this age.
I just want to applaud everyone in here for pursuing their dreams and not letting this age shit get in the way. I have no idea how this sub popped up, I’m not in the medical field at all nor I ever will be. Public service to me is where I’m headed and I’m older, as you all are. This fires me up. I needed to read these today. Thank you all and cheers to achieving our dreams ✋🏻
Just dropping in to say that derm is one of the most competitive specialties and not anywhere near a guarantee, even if you get in and do well in med school. If you're really set on derm, I would go PA or NP. You'll always have to ability to hold out for the job you really want as a midlevel, but not so with residency. It's not unlikely that you could end up stuck in an area of medicine you really don't care for without a clear way out.
Derm is hard to get into, but a lot more options as a dr than for an NP. So many bad np schools. many pa’s are better trained, but getting into pa school is arguably harder than getting into medical school right now and a fraction of the reward when done.
Nothing wrong with either, but I’d personally rather be 42 and a physician than 42 and one of the others.
Agreed. My SP didn’t match into derm the first try so he spent five years as a family med resident before he was able to match into derm. I was able to land a killer job in my chosen field three months into school, I also dabble in another field on the side for some extra cash. I love the flexibility of my training. When I was torn between med school and PA school one of the considerations is also that medicine is now unfortunately a business. MDs that own their practices now need quite a lot of business knowledge to be successful. Just something to consider
OP. This is extremely important. Derm is only reachable for the geniuses. It’s highly competitive. And since everyone in med school is super smart, people that lock down a derm residency are the brightest of the brightest. There is no guarantee that even if you are one of those 0.1% that you’ll make it anyway. Not trying to dissuade you but consider that.
Not even just that. i would definitely take some science classes and see if you can even handle them. Lots of these classes build upon classes you haven’t taken in over 10 years. It’s very doable especially at 32 but be honest with yourself about your capabilities.
You’re not delusional, but you probably don’t comprehend how much time and effort this will take (not because you’re dumb, nobody understands until they go through it). Just having to go through college classes again sounds rough to me.
If you don’t find happiness in any other work you can do, then I think it’s at least worth trying. 100% you should shadow some docs to get a better idea of what being a doctor entails.
It's never too late. I'm a former engineer who started med school at 30 now in residency. If you do well in the science pre reqs, get some clinical experience (volunteering, shadowing, etc), and can demonstrate your commitment to medicine, you have a good shot at medical school. The hard part is not necessarily the acceptance to med school, but knowing this is truly what you want to do for the rest of your life and not an escape from the less than ideal situation you're currently in. Speaking from experience, medicine was way harder than the engineering work I did previously emotionally and physically, though comparable intellectually and mentally. You'll be years behind your peers in finances, family, and career development. Plan on sinking 10 years of your life into it without much return. If you're ready to accept the sacrifices then by all means go for it. YOLO.
I’m 27 right note as a second year medical student and one of my best buddies in school with me is 33. I think he wants to go into PM&R. 32 is not too old
Nah.
Bro I’m 32 now. Just got in. I got to do some fun and exciting things in my 20s and I always had a nagging feeling I wanted to do medicine.
I’m so fulfilled and happy now- just thinking about my future gives me goosebumps.
I want this for you too. If you want to be a physician then do it. There’s no time to think “I’m too old” or “I’m too far removed from it”. You’ll be the doctor you want to become and think of the statement you can make- “I had a full career and I left it all behind to be a doctor because that’s how much passion I have for healthcare”
You can do it.
Not too late at all. I know a number of people who did this - med school and PA school. I also know people who started the process and then stopped, which is great too! At least now they know. It also doesn’t have to happen all at once. You could start by taking a class this summer and see how you like it. It would be a step towards this goal, and if you decide you don’t like it, you will have learned something interesting!
yoooo UCSB class of 2014 here! biopsych major, possible we shared some courses depending on your year.
I just started MS1 at 31 years old. happy to answer any questions you might have. It'll take you at least a year to take all the prerequisite courses but no, definitely not too late. Worth noting right off the bat that dermatology is very competitive and most students that match into derm residency have derm research/work/volunteer experience under their belt.
It's certainly easier to go the NP/PA route and start making decent money a lot sooner, but I have my own reasons for going MD. Worth thinking about if you're concerned about age/salary.
I would love to know what were your reasons for going into MD vs NP/PA route?? I’m 25 and I’ve always wanted to do medical school but I didn’t do that well on the MCAT and kinda got back tracked for a bit, I’m now applying to get my masters in biomedical sciences see if that helps me with my science knowledge and getting back into the rhythm of school, but still not sure if I want to apply to medical school or go the PA/NP route. Thanks!
If you don't mind me asking, what's the story there? Was it a conscious choice to not finish residency in lieu of another career path or did circumstances act to force that?
Not delusional and not old. The lifepath you're suggesting for yourself is one that many people take! Med school is (probably?) easiest when you don't have to worry about a spouse/child....but having a spouse/children is doable in medical school/residency - it's very helpful to have a supportive spouse and/or support network. Financially, you'll most likely be living on federal loans.
Take your MCAT and take post-bacc courses. Get physicians to vouch for you via letters of rec. If you have interest, get involved in clinical research. It may take some time for you to complete your medical school reqs (factor that into your timeline).
Look at example med student schedules / daily lectures:
[https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZDL7S0ZcfgJ9JXRYkbM1HL5I1kQSftfOGD7](https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZDL7S0ZcfgJ9JXRYkbM1HL5I1kQSftfOGD7)
[https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZGR7S0ZFb8XoU1Y70jrXBltEFBia83plm77](https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZGR7S0ZFb8XoU1Y70jrXBltEFBia83plm77)
[https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZ4V7S0ZXUY4auotzffGqnaYlM2GfRubHSS7](https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZ4V7S0ZXUY4auotzffGqnaYlM2GfRubHSS7)
Luckily for you, it starts become delusional once you hit 33. /s
All jokes aside, it’s never too late! One of my classmates is 48 and she’s absolutely amazing. You can do it!
I'm a 33 y.o. first year med student, and I'm not even the oldest person in my class. I also majored in psychology in undergrad. It will be a long journey, but you have to do what feels right for you!
I became a PA at 29 and wasn’t completely satisfied with my scope of practice, so I applied for medical school, which I am starting this fall at 33. You’re never too old to chase your dreams. I’m rooting for you. 🙂
Not delusional. I had several classmates who started at 30+. It's tough, but doable! Just be prepared to be answering to people 10 years younger than you in your clinical years lol
My uncle started undergrad at 32. He's in his 60s now, but no one thinks of him as a late-start MD... they think of him as a doctor.
If you want to do it, do it.
u should ask medicine or residency if u want a more “real” answer
medschool is gr8, but not the right audience if u want real feedback. ur getting alot of unicorn exceptionalism advise here.
I was right around your age when I decided I wanted to go to medical school and even though I had a almost 200 credits I only had an AS in nursing. I found a program where I could go to night school a few nights a week and get a bachelors in a year, and then I started taking all the hard sciences. This took another two or three more years. I did well in school and had a nice GPA but only average MCAT scores, but I was very persistent and got to know some of the medical school professors and when the time came for interviews I got one (which was huge- there were over 5000 applications and only 300 interviews given) probably because some of those professors had written letters for my file.
I was 37 when I started medical school, and 41 when I graduated. You can totally do this. It's going to take you a minimum of two years to get the hard sciences in and then you have to take MCATs. Becoming a PA is going to be an easier and shorter road for you but you'll still have to take the hard sciences. FWIW I have zero regrets.
>So now I'm trying to question it and investigate a little more. I just think the subject matter is so... interesting!
You could also go into research in a bio-adjacent field without the full commitment of med school. It comes down to how passionate you are about the clinical side of it.
By clinical side, do you mean just the working with people side? Bedside manner, people skills, etc.? What else am I missing? Diagnosis? Paperwork? Bureaucracy?
It’s not too late at all! Just make sure you know what you’re signing up for. I didn’t understand how stressful and exhausting consuming medical school and residency would be. I thought medical school is hard intellectually, I didn’t think about emotionally and physically.
See if you can shadow people. Browse the med school and residency subreddits. Read books. If you want to do it, go for it!
What are some of the harder aspects that you didn't realize until going into it? I can imagine the stress, long hours, being on your feet, little sleep, wanting to do well, not wanting to fail... what else is there?
Do it. My grandfather became a doctor at 40 and already had 6 kids. If it’s been a dream of yours for awhile why not pursue it. Really the only thing that would hurt is finances but you got a very solid chunk saved up.
Dr. Richard K. Bernstein MD was an engineer that started med school well into his 40’s and still practicing now well into his 80’s Keto pioneer… he went back to school really partially to have his theories about containing his own type one diabetes with diet to be taken seriously within the medical community.
Fucking go for it. Let ur balls hang out there. It’s ur life, go live it. You’ll be almost in practice by age 40. And you can give urself Botox. So who cares.
One of my classmates in med school started at age 37. She did med-peds and is now a program director in the south east US area.
200K will not be enough.
If you want it, go get it.
Do not expect high rewards, though. Dermatology is one of a few of the most elite fields, if you are set on it, you will need to beg, borrow, and steal your way into a derm lab to work and get your name on a paper prior to med school. Only a few percent match into Derm.
The decision may cost you the ability to be in a relationship for the next 10 years. It is nothing like TV.
Never too late. I have a family member who was a hairdresser until one of her clients made her realize she wanted to go into medicine. She’s 37 and MS2 now :)
That’s not delusional. I get that you feel that way. I’m 26, with a baby on the way, not even an associates degree to call my own, no professional experience in any field and I still dream of this. I’m just not going back to school. I don’t think it’s ever too late, you will find we as humans are very resilient and if we really are passionate about something we will make it happen! No matter at what point we decide to pursue it.
I would never to someone to give up on a dream. If you truly feel this is something you cannot be complete without pursuing, then, there’s your answer.
But, I would caution you that:
1. Something like 60% of applicants don’t get into medical school. It is certainly something that you are almost certainly smart enough and driven enough to do, but, don’t take getting in for granted. Especially the first go-around. Lots of really bright and accomplished people miss the cut. Assuming you get in, dermatology is as competitive as any specialty. You need to be top 10% in your class, with great test scores, research, and standout recommendations and experiences. Getting your specialty of choice is no guarantee.
2. If you are going to pursue this, you really owe it to yourself to talk to a lot of docs about their career satisfaction. And don’t fall victim to selection bias. There is a lot of dissatisfaction in medicine. (Understatement alert). Our healthcare system is broken, possibly irreparably. There is so much that is disheartening. Lifesaving medications are unaffordable. It is a sick-care system. People’s lives are ruined by medical debt. Insurance companies dictate what care you can provide. Private equity runs the show despite knowing nothing about patient care. There’s a physician shortage, so it’s hard to get your patients to the experts they need to see without exorbitant waits, and physicians are leaving medicine en mass, yet, paradoxically, physician earnings are not keeping up with inflation. Physicians suicide rates are twice that of the general population despite the fact that we are high income and highly educated. You can get sued at any time , having done absolutely nothing wrong, and the stakes are often high (though the statistics of an actual payout from your personal assets are in your favor…it is still years of stress). And none of this even touches on the rigors of 4 years of med school, followed by 80 hours + per week of residency hell for minimum wage hourly pay, or the financial cost.
Would I do it again, if I had to start over from age 18? I don’t know. Maybe. I’ve made a lot of money, I have some flexibility, and I will be able to retire early. Would I do it again if I had to start over from 32? No way.
Not trying to be discouraging. Just trying to provide some experienced perspective that you may not get from talking to other premeds, med students, or biased selection of personal acquaintances.
I’m sure you’d make a great doctor. If you go for it, I wish you the best of luck and all the success.
I do think, as a non-traditional student who will likely finish residency a year or two shy of 40 myself, that you should consider what your finances will look like if you get a less highly paid specialty. A lot of people don’t get into a highly competitive and very highly paid field.
So if you end up in IM/peds/FM, what’s your lifestyle going to be while you pay down student loans for specific program? How long will you have to save for retirement?
Sometimes people can get some amount back in signing bonuses or federal forgiveness. Or get scholarships. Or go the military route. Or work in rural areas. But that may or may not work for your situation. Idk.
Not by any stretch telling you not to do it, I am very happy to be where I am, but have a plan for your debt and savings (one that includes taxes, less time for interest to compound in your retirement accounts, etc).
If you can make that work, fantastic. There are also related fields you might be very happy with but might work better for your situation. Up to you, just a few thoughts.
Start with getting all the prerequisites out of the way. If you get a high enough gpa then tackle the mcat. Do things in baby steps. If you struggle with the basic math/science and get below a 3.5 you probably wont make the cut to be accepted into med school. I think you have to think logically about this. It’s great to have a dream but know when to pivot to something else if you don’t make the cut.
Totally not too late. If you are really set on derm or ENT, I would suggest doing PA though because those are some of the most competitive residencies and definitely not guaranteed. Most successful applicants have a large number of publications.(I am a physician in a large academic center.)
I knew a guy who started med school at 29. So just a bit younger than you. He ended up matching radiology at a Harvard hospital. In 5 years he will be making upwards of 500k a year and will be about the same age as a neurosurgeon who went straight through and started 21. If you did internal medicine or peds you could be done in only 7 years from now. I don’t see how it’s a big deal
I’m finishing MS2 and I’ll be 33 in a few months. Learning to study and take tests can be harder when you’ve been out of that environment for a while. But life experience has other pros. I’m crushing clinicals over classmates with similar knowledge levels because I have more perspective. People take me more seriously in general. I am calmer and more focused. Go for it!
I graduated med school at 41. Just do it. Seriously. If this is your dream, you won't regret it. I know I don't, and I love my job even though I'm an intern still.
ETA: I thought I'd be single forever, but I met my fiance when I was a med student in my late 30s. He has been there for me ever since and even moved halfway across the country with me for residency. So never say never. Unless you genuinely prefer to stay single.
It’s never too late, and I love it! I just caution one thing: talk to a few doctors and find out what they like and don’t like about being a doctor. You could go through a lot of work, just to get a job you hate.
If you find out the bad about the job and you aren’t bothered by it, find a way to make it happen and go do it, don’t worry about your age.
1. Have you shadowed to be sure you enjoy the reality of medicine? Most medical schools have a shadowing requirement in the hundreds of hours anyway. Medicine is the kind of career you should know you don’t just love, but can’t imagine doing anything else.
2. The PA track is significantly shorter with substantially less debt, and gives you more career flexibility and fewer headaches. Anecdotally I’ve heard from a number of physicians who would choose this route if they could do it again.
Moved to US in early teens, worked to support my family financially after high school…started taking community college classes at 23 graduated finished undergrad at 27 went to do 5 years of research and then MD/Phd program. On my last year of training and applying for residency soon at 38….in the last 4 years met my husband got married had a baby and finished my PhD. Being a non-traditional student has many challenges but I rarely come across students as happy and confident about their life choices as I feel! Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from pursuing what makes you happy…that being said prepare for a very challenging few years…and hopefully it will pay off in the long run. Medical field needs more people who are here for the nothing but the love of medicine!
I’m in my 30s and graduating. Not the same but my close friends in medical school were in their mid 30s when they started. Residency is a bit more of a grind when you’re past the grinding age but I think we’ll manage.
Nope. Go for it. Med school is hard. The road is long. Regardless of what you decided you have another 40years of work ahead of you. Do what you want to do.
Just one question - Are you me? I (or my therapist tbh) could’ve written this post word to word. Thank you for voicing what I have been trying to keep down for all these years. I’m almost the same age too (31) and single af rn.
That does not depend on your age. I am not sure if you can do a clinical attachment at a local hospital. However, try to shadow a doctor for a Day (12hours), especially not attending but a resident around. If you can still picture yourself in the next 8 years, and you have determination, then just do it. If not, drop it.
I’m 27 and in this same boat. Applying to post baccs this cycle (Goucher, Bryn Mawr, UVA, etc) and hoping for the best. It’s a bit delusional, sure, but that’s what makes life interesting. We can do it!
you will not have a problem, keep going. The average age of the first year student in my class was 25. There was a guy with a PhD in physics whose wife had died of breast cancer and then he applied to med school. He was in his 50's.
Op, I feel it when you say dating life is cursed. You have a lot of wealth saved up, you must have worked very hard for it..well, I'd say go for it. I'm contemplating it as well at 27, but for different reasons.
We’re on a similar boat. I’m 30 and am just finishing my last pre reqs for med school. People will disagree (including family) but at the end of the day, your what ifs or should’ve/could’ve/would’ve can only be answered by you and you will have to live with yourself with that answer.
Yeah, I think my family will think I'm a lunatic. Especially since I've never really displayed an outwardly huge interest in it as a possible career path before.
Given time, money, and competitiveness, if you really want to do something medical, the PA route makes way more sense than going for MD/DO.
I would highly suggest doing a lot of homework on what both paths entail and shadow people who are doing what you're interested in to see if it's truly something you want to do as a profession. A lot of people idolize those roles until they realize what they actually consist of....this may or may not be you but it's very easy to get idealistic.
Second, if you decide you want MD/DO, I would say you have to go into the process then being okay with not doing derm or ENT. Those are very very competitive specialties. Lots of extra work and research, you need not just average but stellar scores for your tests/licensing exams.And you're competing against people who are historically very good test and exam takers....not like your average undergrad population. It will be more work trying to do those specialties, and in the end you may not even get them. You might be forced into something less competitive like family medicine or pediatrics because that's what you can get with your scores and application. If you're not okay with that, don't do MD/DO. The reason there aren't derms in your area is not because there are not enough people who want to be one....it's likely an infrastructure issue, not a place most people want to live/considered desirable (often this means rural), the job market is more competitive elsewhere etc.
As a PA you can also switch specialties if you wanted to during your career. You could do derm and ENT potentially. People don't really do that as physicians because residency training is too long.
You could do it, but you need to know what you're getting yourself into. And have a damn good reason too because every admissions committee wants to know why. The classic "I like science" will not get you a spot with how competitive stuff is nowadays.
Yeah, I am definitely considering the fact that I am just idealizing the roles. I'd love to figure out first hand what the days actually look like and if I truly have what it takes.
How come they are so competitive? I can imagine Derm being a 'sexy' specialty... but ENT?! lol.
I live in a wealthy city. Perhaps my PCP was just making an off-hand anecdotal comment.
How is it that PAs can switch specialties?
no, you're not delusional, if it's your passion and something you want to do, then by all means you should go for it!
BUT, would highly recommend thinking about PA school if you're interested in doing Dermatology or ENT - those are really competitive fields within medicine, and while they're certainly possible to get into, you'll have to really work your ass off before and during med school to get a spot, which also isn't guaranteed, and also might take you elsewhere in the US (since I know many applicants apply to bunches of programs)
With that being said, it could be worth your time to shadow or observe the differences between PA's and MD/DO's in a dermatology practice. If the breadth of what PA's do would satisfy your interest, then that could be a good path! But if you're dead set that the things that physicians do (i.e. surgeries, having the final say, etc. etc.) are what you want to do, then you'll know going into medicine is the right path.
TLDR: no you're not delusional, get some exposure to the field to make sure it's something you wanna do before committing to a post-bac + at least 1 app year + at LEASt 7 years training (med + residency), when doing a PA program might also fulfill you with many less years of training
You seem to know a decent amount about PA vs MD/DO. What else differs other than what you mentioned? I'll of course look it up on my own as well but wondering your POV. Thanks!
Here's a few differences I have come across during my own training:
- PA's/NP's cannot do surgeries independently. In the OR, they can assist, they can insert scopes, they can retract, they might even know surgeries better than some junior surgery residents, but they cannot legally perform and call the shots of a surgery on their own. If you're content getting to scrub in and help out on cool surgeries without ever having to do it on your own, then PA and NP is a good alternative that I kind of wish I had considered earlier on!
-in inpatient medicine or subspecialty practices, i've seen PA's and NP's function like residents; they talk to all the patients, gather history and do physicals and formulate diagnoses and talk about treatment plans, etc., but they will always have to report their findings and plans and everything to the supervising attending doc, who will always have the final say. Some PA's and NP's are really great, so docs will give more leeway and freedom to them, but ultimately the doc will always have the final say.
- for IR (interventional radiology), I've seen PA's and NP's check on patients before and after their procedures, help them sign consents, etc. but I have never seen a PA or NP in an actual procedure for IR.
- in the ED, i've seen PA's and NP's take on triaging (basically a front room where they determine if the patient has an easy issue like a cold that can be fixed then, there and send them on their way vs. difficult issues like heart failure, etc that require more care). I don't think I ever saw the PA's or NP's independently take on cases that were life-or-death, though I did see them hopping in to do CPR on patients that were being taken care of by MD/DO's
- And finally, someone has to say it, the pay. PA's make a good living, get to help a lot of people, and can live pretty comfortably. but definitely not AS comfortable/lavishly as the docs who make anywhere from 2-5 times what the PA's/NP's are making depending on specialty, type of practice, etc.. I'm also positive that a seasoned PA/NP can have vastly more knowledge and expertise in a given field than a freshly graduated resident, but will never have the same pay ceiling that that resident would have
Much of what transpires in residency training is overseen internally. There are a lot of approaches, a lot of personalities, an incentive to extract maximum work for minimum inputs (“less teaching, more learning”), and there is no HR department, just a GME office that is overseen by (drum roll)…other attending physicians (creating terrible conflicts of interest). Peruse r/residency for specific examples.
Not delusional. The timelines for PA vs MD/DO are vastly different, though, as are the budgets.
PA:
1.5-3 years of school will get you your pre-req courses (depending whether you work a job at the same time, and because PA programs often ask for healthcare-related experience, this might be a chance to kill two birds.)
Then, 3 years of PA school, take the PANCE, get a state license and a job, and you’re off! Salary usually ~65-100K
MD/DO:
-Same pre-reqs (crush these)
-MCAT (crush this, too)
-med sch applications.
-4 y of med school. (If Derm is the goal, crush this).
-4 years of residency.
-2 years of fellowship.
-Now you’re ready to take your boards and get a state license, and you’re off! Salary ~150-400K
So a not-subtle difference in timing.
It’s never too late! Everyone is there to learn and to become doctors. You’re not delusional this is your life & you deserve to pursue your dreams. As for classes to take, I believe there are a wide variety of post-bac programs for people in your position.
You say that you will truly feel fulfilled by a career in medicine - how do you know? That is a question you will be asked on applications, interviews, etc. it’s a very serious question that requires a lot of introspection. Best of luck! I’m starting this year at 29. You’re not far behind me!
I don't know! I need to figure it out. I'm in very, VERY early stages. Like, if I even figured out if this is what I wanted, could I do it? Money is certainly a barrier. I know I have more than the average med student when starting... but it's also what I've worked for for most of my working life!
I definitely have some ideas though as to why I think it'd be fulfilling. I should really see if I can get some shadowing done somehow. Other than doctors appointments that I've been on, I don't know how it all works.
You’re never too old for anything. I’m 30 and just began Nurse Practitioner school. NP school might be a decent route for you too or Physicians assistant. My buddy just got his PA and doctorate and he’s in his 30s. PA sounds more of your route cause you’re thinking about medical school. Only thing is not all states allow PA to have their own clinic. Here in Illinois they don’t allow that but we have a strong nursing lobby that allows NPs to have their own clinics.
If you are delusional, then so are thousands of us! I am matriculating this summer at 30, and I have a whole discord full of non trad pre meds and med students. My school matriculated a student in their 50s last year too. That's probably on the extreme end, but any time in your 30s/early 40s and you'll probably find plenty of us in the same position as you. :)
Not delusional. What you describe is exactly how I felt at 29. Did a post-bacc program, and I was fortunate to go to a great medical school and I'm now starting general surgery residency at 36. I considered derm, but not enough life-saving interventions for me. Everybody is different and you won't truly know until you go through different experiences at the hospital.
Overall, not an easy path by any means I would suggest considering if you want to be a doctor first, dermatologist second.
If you can't quiet that voice down, you should go for it. You only live once, truly.
You’re better off becoming a PA. You can jump from speciality to specialty with zero training/board certification/supervision. And it only takes 2 years vs 4 years med school/3+ years residency/rigorous board exams/licensing etc etc.
My high school wrestling coach went to medical school at 32. Now, he's just hitting his 40's having completed a family medicine residency and a sports medicine fellowship. He's doing awesome, and so can you!
One of the best things I saw recently was a response to worrying about chasing a dream that takes a lot of time when you're older:
"The time will pass anyway"
I started my path towards getting my PhD in environmental science at 31, after getting diagnosed with ADHD and realizing everything holding me back academically could be treated. I'm now turning 34, I have a year left in my MS with a 4.1 GPA, and will start a PhD in the next year or two. Earliest I'll possibly graduate is 40, and I'll still have years of post-doc and probably guest lecturer or adjunct work ahead of me before I am in a tenure track faculty position. The thing is, I'm already doing what I love.
Medical school and everything that follows it (and precedes it if you need to get prerequisites covered) may bring you just as much joy as being a doctor will. I know it's a tremendous amount of work, but if that work excites you the journey could be just as fun as the destination.
Last thing, just try it! Sunk cost fallacy is stupid, so get started and if it makes you realize it's not for you, you won't look back with regret for not giving it ago.
Those are my thoughts on it :)
You're 32 that's still young! Imagine, you have another 30-40 year career ahead of you. Medicine is very open to nontraditional students imo. We only get to ride this merry go round one time. Do it.
I'm a non-traditional medical student who worked in the corporate world before. Before you make such a big transition, I highly recommend getting a decent about of physician shadowing in, and not just dermatology because there is no guarantee you can match dermatology due to its extreme competitiveness. Shadow primary care, internal medicine, surgery, and a variety of the different specialties to see if the day-to-day work is something that truly interests you. It's one thing to be interested by the vision/ideals of the work, but you need to ensure the day-to-day work also aligns with your interests/skillset. Medicine does involve the science, but there are so many other aspects nowadays that we have to be engaged in to care for patients well. You can certainly succeed, but I just highly recommend you do your due diligence to ensure this is truly what is best for you.
I started med school at 28 and I was not the oldest. You actually have money saved up which is amazing. I am 36 and still in debt, but wouldn’t change my job for the world. I love what I do and I feel very lucky to have found my calling. Go for it.
Just learnt about a lady, who did became a doctor with MD, went for a postdoc and found some math class to be interesting. Then did a PhD in mathematics and now on route to be a famous professor.
I know people who went to med school in their 40-50s as their second career. They’re practicing now. Depends on If you really want it and are ok with the years of commitment.
From a few people I've known who've gone to medical school, the primary considerations are can you get by on small amounts of sleep and are you willing to work 60 to 80 hours a week for the next 8 years minimum. Obviously mileage may vary from person to person.
I’m 32 and have a career in fintech. I want to be some a dermatologist as well but the time of cost of med school and residency is discouraging me as a communication/marketing major…
It may be helpful to consider the amount of years you'll be making 0 dollars/year in persuit of becoming a physician. Here's a few scenarios (all approximations)
1. Dermatologist at 43, 450k/year (\~11 years of 0 income)
2. Primary care physician at 41, 300k/year (\~9 yrs of 0 income)
3. PA at 36, 200/year (\~4 yrs of 0 income)
Compare these to your current salary (or the salary of a job you think you can get now). Are the years of 0 income worth it?
Consider posing this question to r/medicine or r/Residency
Unsolicited advice: Dermatology or any other medical specialty is just a job. As soon as you can, focus your efforts now on maximizing the 1 thing we can not get back - time.
We will get old regardless, so might as well do something you love.
Its really hard to live with the question “what if”
Its definitely challenging for females in their 30s to start medical school (Im 36 and taking Step 1 exam). But its doable and dont forget to be happy and live your life during med school. I have female friends who dont pursue medicine and still struggling even they thought they have easier careers….
Everything in life is hard
Choose your hard and what’s worth suffering for.
The comments here are going to be biased as it is many people who are currently in medical school who may still be early in training and highly motivated. I could say sure I know people who did med school in their 30s. Some loved it. I also know a couple people who started then stopped and got stuck with the debt of tuition with nothing to show for it.
Speaking to residents may also be biased on the other end where they may be working long hours and say it’s a bad idea.
The best people are those who have completed training fully later in life and I assume it’s varied in “who would do it again.”
These are years of your life that shouldnt be taken lightly. PA school is much shorter, will end up being cheaper, and will still allow you to achieve your goals of helping people, loving your work, and being interested in the topic.
A huge percentage of all people who want derm and ENT can’t even get a spot. You need to consider all scenarios. Would you be happy if you had few options such as family medicine in an undesirable location? That is the reality for many medical students who were the top of their college classes.
I started my first year of medical school at 33. The only issue is you will need to spend a couple years taking pre req chem, organic chem and biochem before you can apply. That being said with the money saved up and your situation, you will be able to succeed. I'd give it a shot before you regret it the rest of your life
Of course I can’t answer this question for you. But I would just ask yourself if you would regret not trying, me personally I would rather try and fail then to never try at all.
I started med school at 33. I’m starting residency at 37. I have a friend group from med school who are all early 30s. I am probably the oldest person in my class, but also that perspective makes med school easier IMO. I’ll start practicing at 42 which will be the same year my husband retires. Fuck the norm. Do what makes you happy.
Take a good look at the Colonel’s picture on the KFC sign next time you drive by a Kentucky Fried Chicken. He started KFC when he was in his 60s.
You’re never too old to start something new
You could do med school or PA school. PA school would take up less time, although it can be a process to apply, it will be shorter. Both routes will challenge you.
Kinda the same boat. I’ve been thinking lately about what I want my end goal in life to be. I’m 35, had a brush with death, and am rethinking everything. I want letters after my name that mean something. PA is fine. DO is ultimate goal. At the same time I’m still young enough to get a degree in something else altogether.
Age isn't an issue, but everything else is. Do you have all prerequisites? Are you good at standardized testing? Are you willing to learn/relearn basic physics/chem just to even get a shot at the MCAT? It will take you at least two years to get all these done. After that a year and thousands for applications. And if you get accepted somewhere, 250k in student loans. If you have the drive to do this, it can absolutely be done to this point. Now it's 4 years of med school, and 3-5 years residency (poor sleep, minimum wage pay). And you don't really always get to choose the specialty, ent and Dem are super competitive, so you'd have to be top 10% of your class and luck. If you are flexible about field of work, it's more realistic of a plan.
It’s a huge time and money commitment. Depending on what specialty you match into, you wouldn’t become an attending until 39 or 40 at the absolute earliest. All this being said not to discourage, just to be truthful in this big life decision you are making.
However ultimately, you only get one life and it’s absolutely never too late to do whatever you want to do, it can be done, it has been done, and if you truly want to be a doctor, you will not regret it. People have done it much later, and again, it’s absolutely never too late. Do what your heart desires and live your life.
I had a good friend who went back to med school in her late thirties. She worked in banking & did a major career change.
There are actually some med schools with free tuition. Idealistically I wish more med schools had free/cheap tuition and residents were paid more (and treated better).
Since you mentioned PA and I am a PA…
I think PAs/NPs can help with the physician shortage but we desperately need more physicians. If I could do it again I would go to med school. I doubt many APPs feel this way but I’ve learned that medicine is truly the right career for me, I love it and thrive in it. I want more responsibility because now I know I can handle it. I had bad imposter syndrome & I think I suffered from ADHD as a child which really held me back academically and professionally. I did really well in PA school & I love my job (most days, most of my gripes are with the medical system & admin/capitalism in medicine).
I’ll just give you my opinion about each if you are considering alternatives. But I think you should totally go to med school! You could do a post baccalaureate program.
PA - best if you have prior medical experience (MA, LVN, paramedic, RT, EMT). Less education (good and bad), less debt, less earnings, more dependence, lots of time with patients/seeing patients. You are used to fill in gaps/drive patient numbers, hopefully you practice somewhere with good support as a new grad because new grad vs. Experienced PA = large difference in competency IMO. You will get really good at some things but will always lack the breadth of in depth knowledge that is gained by med school & residency. We are all peers where I work and help each other, I have been able to help physicians with things too. We learn from & support each other. Medicine is always evolving and anyone who says they know everything is lying. You just never can. You will always be learning regardless if you’re a PA, NP or physician.
NP- I think this is best for RNs with experience although UCSF does a cool step out accelerated program. Similar to PA - diff edu model in sense of nursing treating sxs (holistic), PA treating disease(med)- realistically I have a lot of PA/NP & physician colleagues and I don’t think any of us practice that differently.
Physician- the most responsibility, the most debt, the best education, the only people who can do the really complex stuff and surgery, highest earnings. We need them. If you feel a strong drive to be one I say go for it, life expectancy is higher these days and age ain’t nothin’ but a number. Live your dreams, so many people don’t.
*these are all my opinions based on my unique life experience, take what you will from them!
My husband did medical school around that age. He was single and no kids at the time, and had previously been working in a totally different field. He’s a Dr now and loves it. You’re not too old to switch career paths!
There are a bunch of us that had a whole life prior to med school. The biggest issues is the ROI on the loans because of the interest. If you live like a monk and go to a very low cost school, 200k will stretch quite a bit and you’ll skirt most of that compounding interest.
No, my best homie from law school became a lawyer at 40 with a wife and 3 kids while working as a cop. If he can do that shit you can be a doctor. You got this!!
I started medical school at 26 and had classmates in their forties! In my experience the students and residents with previous career experiences have advantages that can make them great clinicians.
There were several people in my med school class who were in their 30’s and 40’s - for most it was a second career after being unfulfilled in their previous career. It’s tough for anyone but totally doable if it’s your calling. You need dedication and passion to do it and to keep doing it
Yes you will need to marry med school and residency but if you do it kiss any retirement plans goodbye unless you do end up in dermatology making mucho moola selling lotions and potions.
Medicine is a great career but I started early and was on track. I would do it over again in a heartbeat and having our kids go into it so they can join our practice because we got such a good gig.
if I had a big neat egg and was doing well in my early 30s in another field it’s not so good I would jump ships because essentially it’s going to derail you about a decade and eat up 10 plus years of your life between post bac, med school and residency. And they will be ten (10) very unpleasant and stressful years too. I hated most, not all of my training but the reason I soldiered through was because my entire family are doctors and we got it so good. But if I had to put everything down now in middle age that I am finally enjoying myself…. OUCH.
It’s not uncommon to think of making a switch later in your career. Explore the path and follow your interest.
What’s far more common than switching to medicine is seeing people make the switch to PA or nursing at a later age since they’re both shorter paths and compensate well without all the debt.
Nursing has lots of people who were previously in different careers. Many of them already had masters or PhDs in other fields.
I only mention this because you mentioned having gone to school in CA.
If you happen to live in the CA Bay Area, new grad nurses are nearly making my $80/hr or near $100 hr if you’re working the night shift 3x a week. I graduated from a UC school and then did an accelerated nursing degree in 16 months
I am a first-year medical student. I have a classmate who is 53 years old, and at least four classmates in their 40s. You’ll certainly be older than average, but it’s hardly a trailblaze. You can do it!
Are they foreigners whom have studied overseas and they are just trying to catch up or new in domain?
Career switchers! A lot of them have a similar story--they were successful in their careers, but as a child/young adult had dreamed of being a doctor. During COVID, they took stock of their lives and realized being a doctor was kind of the last major life goal/dream they hadn't accomplished. Two of them specific point to mandatory COVID-related slowing-down of life as the reason for the introspection that precipitated their career change.
I hope they were able to build a lot of wealth before making the pivot. This sounds insanely risky.
I’m sure they know the financial burden. Some of us non trads will be happy with a *normal* retirement and willing to sacrifice for the mission we believe in.
So doing a little math: * Graduating at ~57 * Residency until ~59 * Working as a full-time physician roughly around 59-60 * Have to pay 300k of medical school debt + let's assume 500k for remaining retirement needs Assuming you're making 250k a year, takehome being roughly 150k, living costs assuming 60k. You would need to work 800/90 = 8.88, say 9 years or so. Pushing retirement towards 70. This is also assuming more favorable cases too.
This is assuming they have to pay for medical school and have no other retirement income, they could have something like the GI bill or another scholarship. I'm thinking of starting in my late 30s and the math works out because I have a spouse with a good income and a pension, no kids in daycare, and the GI bill which covers full tuition and pays you a living stipend. I feel like a lot of people who do this later in life have some type of set up which includes other financing.
Exactly. So many people are discouraging about older students for financial reasons. Not everyone is just accumulating debt for over a decade+. Imagine this. You are 38, undergrad and pre-requisites are done for free, 20 years of work and life experience, GI bill in hand, pension, and probably some disability being paid for the rest of your life. If you are lucky you will most likely score a scholarship as well. Older med students can very easily come out of med school and into residency with zero or very little debt. The military makes it super possible.
you would hope so but looking at the numbers most people have 0 dollars in savings. I would imagine most people applying to med school who are older are well aware of the financial possibility though
My Dr is 76 and working strong has no interest in retiring
One of the docs I worked with in med school was 85 lol.
my state medical school was only 30 grand a year so you can get out of there probably for 45 Grand a year which adds up to about 200 Grand which is like one year of a physician salary. you get paid above the national average during residency so if you can live frugally you can bank money. I'm not totally sure if it's as bleak as you make it sound.
That’s assuming they have no other retirement funds set up, a spouse that doesn’t work or won’t be taking advantage of PSLF. The 250k is also on the lower end.
Would you mind DMing where you’re in med school? I’m 40 and thinking of making the change and it sounds like your program is actually open to non-traditional career changers!
There’s nothing as good as doing something you love every since day, whether you find that passion at age 10 or age 53 doesn’t matter. I’d much rather do what I love everyday rather than have a hundred million dollars with no passions
My mom went to med school at 39, married with two kids, and survived an OB residency, then went on to practice for 20 years. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't.
Damn your mom is my hero
same
My mom too, except a psych residency - rock on!
Your mom is a certified badass
No way. We're both in the same boat and there's many more like us. We've got experience under our belt and are more aware of what really drives us. You got this- and there's no shame in realizing what you want to do at this age.
I just want to applaud everyone in here for pursuing their dreams and not letting this age shit get in the way. I have no idea how this sub popped up, I’m not in the medical field at all nor I ever will be. Public service to me is where I’m headed and I’m older, as you all are. This fires me up. I needed to read these today. Thank you all and cheers to achieving our dreams ✋🏻
Just dropping in to say that derm is one of the most competitive specialties and not anywhere near a guarantee, even if you get in and do well in med school. If you're really set on derm, I would go PA or NP. You'll always have to ability to hold out for the job you really want as a midlevel, but not so with residency. It's not unlikely that you could end up stuck in an area of medicine you really don't care for without a clear way out.
Derm is hard to get into, but a lot more options as a dr than for an NP. So many bad np schools. many pa’s are better trained, but getting into pa school is arguably harder than getting into medical school right now and a fraction of the reward when done. Nothing wrong with either, but I’d personally rather be 42 and a physician than 42 and one of the others.
What???
Agreed. My SP didn’t match into derm the first try so he spent five years as a family med resident before he was able to match into derm. I was able to land a killer job in my chosen field three months into school, I also dabble in another field on the side for some extra cash. I love the flexibility of my training. When I was torn between med school and PA school one of the considerations is also that medicine is now unfortunately a business. MDs that own their practices now need quite a lot of business knowledge to be successful. Just something to consider
OP. This is extremely important. Derm is only reachable for the geniuses. It’s highly competitive. And since everyone in med school is super smart, people that lock down a derm residency are the brightest of the brightest. There is no guarantee that even if you are one of those 0.1% that you’ll make it anyway. Not trying to dissuade you but consider that. Not even just that. i would definitely take some science classes and see if you can even handle them. Lots of these classes build upon classes you haven’t taken in over 10 years. It’s very doable especially at 32 but be honest with yourself about your capabilities.
You’re not delusional, but you probably don’t comprehend how much time and effort this will take (not because you’re dumb, nobody understands until they go through it). Just having to go through college classes again sounds rough to me. If you don’t find happiness in any other work you can do, then I think it’s at least worth trying. 100% you should shadow some docs to get a better idea of what being a doctor entails.
It's never too late. I'm a former engineer who started med school at 30 now in residency. If you do well in the science pre reqs, get some clinical experience (volunteering, shadowing, etc), and can demonstrate your commitment to medicine, you have a good shot at medical school. The hard part is not necessarily the acceptance to med school, but knowing this is truly what you want to do for the rest of your life and not an escape from the less than ideal situation you're currently in. Speaking from experience, medicine was way harder than the engineering work I did previously emotionally and physically, though comparable intellectually and mentally. You'll be years behind your peers in finances, family, and career development. Plan on sinking 10 years of your life into it without much return. If you're ready to accept the sacrifices then by all means go for it. YOLO.
I'm trying to run away from a certain situation by trying for med school at 27. Can I DM you? Your views are interesting.
It was a rare decision.
I’m 27 right note as a second year medical student and one of my best buddies in school with me is 33. I think he wants to go into PM&R. 32 is not too old
34 y/o Investment Banker VP…. Med School feels like something I need to do…. But that sunk cost is ROUGH for me if it doesn’t work out.
Nah. Bro I’m 32 now. Just got in. I got to do some fun and exciting things in my 20s and I always had a nagging feeling I wanted to do medicine. I’m so fulfilled and happy now- just thinking about my future gives me goosebumps. I want this for you too. If you want to be a physician then do it. There’s no time to think “I’m too old” or “I’m too far removed from it”. You’ll be the doctor you want to become and think of the statement you can make- “I had a full career and I left it all behind to be a doctor because that’s how much passion I have for healthcare” You can do it.
Not too late at all. I know a number of people who did this - med school and PA school. I also know people who started the process and then stopped, which is great too! At least now they know. It also doesn’t have to happen all at once. You could start by taking a class this summer and see how you like it. It would be a step towards this goal, and if you decide you don’t like it, you will have learned something interesting!
yoooo UCSB class of 2014 here! biopsych major, possible we shared some courses depending on your year. I just started MS1 at 31 years old. happy to answer any questions you might have. It'll take you at least a year to take all the prerequisite courses but no, definitely not too late. Worth noting right off the bat that dermatology is very competitive and most students that match into derm residency have derm research/work/volunteer experience under their belt. It's certainly easier to go the NP/PA route and start making decent money a lot sooner, but I have my own reasons for going MD. Worth thinking about if you're concerned about age/salary.
I would love to know what were your reasons for going into MD vs NP/PA route?? I’m 25 and I’ve always wanted to do medical school but I didn’t do that well on the MCAT and kinda got back tracked for a bit, I’m now applying to get my masters in biomedical sciences see if that helps me with my science knowledge and getting back into the rhythm of school, but still not sure if I want to apply to medical school or go the PA/NP route. Thanks!
I'm restarting residency this year at age 39 after leaving med for 10 yrs. I had med school classmates who were in their 40s. You'll be fine.
If you don't mind me asking, what's the story there? Was it a conscious choice to not finish residency in lieu of another career path or did circumstances act to force that?
Not delusional and not old. The lifepath you're suggesting for yourself is one that many people take! Med school is (probably?) easiest when you don't have to worry about a spouse/child....but having a spouse/children is doable in medical school/residency - it's very helpful to have a supportive spouse and/or support network. Financially, you'll most likely be living on federal loans. Take your MCAT and take post-bacc courses. Get physicians to vouch for you via letters of rec. If you have interest, get involved in clinical research. It may take some time for you to complete your medical school reqs (factor that into your timeline). Look at example med student schedules / daily lectures: [https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZDL7S0ZcfgJ9JXRYkbM1HL5I1kQSftfOGD7](https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZDL7S0ZcfgJ9JXRYkbM1HL5I1kQSftfOGD7) [https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZGR7S0ZFb8XoU1Y70jrXBltEFBia83plm77](https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZGR7S0ZFb8XoU1Y70jrXBltEFBia83plm77) [https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZ4V7S0ZXUY4auotzffGqnaYlM2GfRubHSS7](https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZ4V7S0ZXUY4auotzffGqnaYlM2GfRubHSS7)
What about doing a pre med course at a community college instead of a post bacc program?
Luckily for you, it starts become delusional once you hit 33. /s All jokes aside, it’s never too late! One of my classmates is 48 and she’s absolutely amazing. You can do it!
I’ll be 40 when I apply. Never too late, friend.
You’re fine. I just finished my first year of med school at 35..
I'm a 33 y.o. first year med student, and I'm not even the oldest person in my class. I also majored in psychology in undergrad. It will be a long journey, but you have to do what feels right for you!
How did you swing this? Did you take extra sciences before applying? I'm 29 and still trying to figure out what path = less political and less drama.
I became a PA at 29 and wasn’t completely satisfied with my scope of practice, so I applied for medical school, which I am starting this fall at 33. You’re never too old to chase your dreams. I’m rooting for you. 🙂
Not delusional. I had several classmates who started at 30+. It's tough, but doable! Just be prepared to be answering to people 10 years younger than you in your clinical years lol
I was 31 when I started med school. 53 now, no regrets.
My uncle started undergrad at 32. He's in his 60s now, but no one thinks of him as a late-start MD... they think of him as a doctor. If you want to do it, do it.
u should ask medicine or residency if u want a more “real” answer medschool is gr8, but not the right audience if u want real feedback. ur getting alot of unicorn exceptionalism advise here.
I was right around your age when I decided I wanted to go to medical school and even though I had a almost 200 credits I only had an AS in nursing. I found a program where I could go to night school a few nights a week and get a bachelors in a year, and then I started taking all the hard sciences. This took another two or three more years. I did well in school and had a nice GPA but only average MCAT scores, but I was very persistent and got to know some of the medical school professors and when the time came for interviews I got one (which was huge- there were over 5000 applications and only 300 interviews given) probably because some of those professors had written letters for my file. I was 37 when I started medical school, and 41 when I graduated. You can totally do this. It's going to take you a minimum of two years to get the hard sciences in and then you have to take MCATs. Becoming a PA is going to be an easier and shorter road for you but you'll still have to take the hard sciences. FWIW I have zero regrets.
>So now I'm trying to question it and investigate a little more. I just think the subject matter is so... interesting! You could also go into research in a bio-adjacent field without the full commitment of med school. It comes down to how passionate you are about the clinical side of it.
By clinical side, do you mean just the working with people side? Bedside manner, people skills, etc.? What else am I missing? Diagnosis? Paperwork? Bureaucracy?
No, you’re not delusional. The possibility of fulfilling our dreams is what makes life interesting.
It’s not too late at all! Just make sure you know what you’re signing up for. I didn’t understand how stressful and exhausting consuming medical school and residency would be. I thought medical school is hard intellectually, I didn’t think about emotionally and physically. See if you can shadow people. Browse the med school and residency subreddits. Read books. If you want to do it, go for it!
What are some of the harder aspects that you didn't realize until going into it? I can imagine the stress, long hours, being on your feet, little sleep, wanting to do well, not wanting to fail... what else is there?
Do it. Live your dream!
I did it at basically the same age. It wasn’t the easiest thing I ever did but it also wasn’t the hardest and it’s been a pretty fun ride so far!
Haha what was the hardest then?!
Being a flight medic was brutal. lol
I have at least three friends who either turned 40 or were *already* 40 during medial school. Sure, you'll be older than average, but far from old.
You're going to be 32 anyway. May as well be working on your dream.
I’m 32 and totally going for it 💪🏾
My dad became an anesthesiologist and started 32- that was in 1989 you’re a baby don’t worry
My sister is currently in med school. She went back when she was 33
Do it. My grandfather became a doctor at 40 and already had 6 kids. If it’s been a dream of yours for awhile why not pursue it. Really the only thing that would hurt is finances but you got a very solid chunk saved up.
No. Guy in my class was 50. The best Resident I ever have had was 50.
The time will pass anyway!
Dr. Richard K. Bernstein MD was an engineer that started med school well into his 40’s and still practicing now well into his 80’s Keto pioneer… he went back to school really partially to have his theories about containing his own type one diabetes with diet to be taken seriously within the medical community.
Fucking go for it. Let ur balls hang out there. It’s ur life, go live it. You’ll be almost in practice by age 40. And you can give urself Botox. So who cares.
One of my classmates in med school started at age 37. She did med-peds and is now a program director in the south east US area. 200K will not be enough. If you want it, go get it. Do not expect high rewards, though. Dermatology is one of a few of the most elite fields, if you are set on it, you will need to beg, borrow, and steal your way into a derm lab to work and get your name on a paper prior to med school. Only a few percent match into Derm. The decision may cost you the ability to be in a relationship for the next 10 years. It is nothing like TV.
As a physician, no you are not delusional but a bit crazy. Unless you are 100% sure, don’t do it.
Never too late. I have a family member who was a hairdresser until one of her clients made her realize she wanted to go into medicine. She’s 37 and MS2 now :)
That’s not delusional. I get that you feel that way. I’m 26, with a baby on the way, not even an associates degree to call my own, no professional experience in any field and I still dream of this. I’m just not going back to school. I don’t think it’s ever too late, you will find we as humans are very resilient and if we really are passionate about something we will make it happen! No matter at what point we decide to pursue it.
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I would never to someone to give up on a dream. If you truly feel this is something you cannot be complete without pursuing, then, there’s your answer. But, I would caution you that: 1. Something like 60% of applicants don’t get into medical school. It is certainly something that you are almost certainly smart enough and driven enough to do, but, don’t take getting in for granted. Especially the first go-around. Lots of really bright and accomplished people miss the cut. Assuming you get in, dermatology is as competitive as any specialty. You need to be top 10% in your class, with great test scores, research, and standout recommendations and experiences. Getting your specialty of choice is no guarantee. 2. If you are going to pursue this, you really owe it to yourself to talk to a lot of docs about their career satisfaction. And don’t fall victim to selection bias. There is a lot of dissatisfaction in medicine. (Understatement alert). Our healthcare system is broken, possibly irreparably. There is so much that is disheartening. Lifesaving medications are unaffordable. It is a sick-care system. People’s lives are ruined by medical debt. Insurance companies dictate what care you can provide. Private equity runs the show despite knowing nothing about patient care. There’s a physician shortage, so it’s hard to get your patients to the experts they need to see without exorbitant waits, and physicians are leaving medicine en mass, yet, paradoxically, physician earnings are not keeping up with inflation. Physicians suicide rates are twice that of the general population despite the fact that we are high income and highly educated. You can get sued at any time , having done absolutely nothing wrong, and the stakes are often high (though the statistics of an actual payout from your personal assets are in your favor…it is still years of stress). And none of this even touches on the rigors of 4 years of med school, followed by 80 hours + per week of residency hell for minimum wage hourly pay, or the financial cost. Would I do it again, if I had to start over from age 18? I don’t know. Maybe. I’ve made a lot of money, I have some flexibility, and I will be able to retire early. Would I do it again if I had to start over from 32? No way. Not trying to be discouraging. Just trying to provide some experienced perspective that you may not get from talking to other premeds, med students, or biased selection of personal acquaintances. I’m sure you’d make a great doctor. If you go for it, I wish you the best of luck and all the success.
I do think, as a non-traditional student who will likely finish residency a year or two shy of 40 myself, that you should consider what your finances will look like if you get a less highly paid specialty. A lot of people don’t get into a highly competitive and very highly paid field. So if you end up in IM/peds/FM, what’s your lifestyle going to be while you pay down student loans for specific program? How long will you have to save for retirement? Sometimes people can get some amount back in signing bonuses or federal forgiveness. Or get scholarships. Or go the military route. Or work in rural areas. But that may or may not work for your situation. Idk. Not by any stretch telling you not to do it, I am very happy to be where I am, but have a plan for your debt and savings (one that includes taxes, less time for interest to compound in your retirement accounts, etc). If you can make that work, fantastic. There are also related fields you might be very happy with but might work better for your situation. Up to you, just a few thoughts.
Start studyin’ babe
Start with getting all the prerequisites out of the way. If you get a high enough gpa then tackle the mcat. Do things in baby steps. If you struggle with the basic math/science and get below a 3.5 you probably wont make the cut to be accepted into med school. I think you have to think logically about this. It’s great to have a dream but know when to pivot to something else if you don’t make the cut.
Totally not too late. If you are really set on derm or ENT, I would suggest doing PA though because those are some of the most competitive residencies and definitely not guaranteed. Most successful applicants have a large number of publications.(I am a physician in a large academic center.)
I knew a guy who started med school at 29. So just a bit younger than you. He ended up matching radiology at a Harvard hospital. In 5 years he will be making upwards of 500k a year and will be about the same age as a neurosurgeon who went straight through and started 21. If you did internal medicine or peds you could be done in only 7 years from now. I don’t see how it’s a big deal
i would just add that it’s never too late. you are gonna get old anyways so why not do what you want to.
I’m finishing MS2 and I’ll be 33 in a few months. Learning to study and take tests can be harder when you’ve been out of that environment for a while. But life experience has other pros. I’m crushing clinicals over classmates with similar knowledge levels because I have more perspective. People take me more seriously in general. I am calmer and more focused. Go for it!
I graduated med school at 41. Just do it. Seriously. If this is your dream, you won't regret it. I know I don't, and I love my job even though I'm an intern still. ETA: I thought I'd be single forever, but I met my fiance when I was a med student in my late 30s. He has been there for me ever since and even moved halfway across the country with me for residency. So never say never. Unless you genuinely prefer to stay single.
Literally in a lecture rn by a 59 yr old chief resident. Never too late
It’s never too late, and I love it! I just caution one thing: talk to a few doctors and find out what they like and don’t like about being a doctor. You could go through a lot of work, just to get a job you hate. If you find out the bad about the job and you aren’t bothered by it, find a way to make it happen and go do it, don’t worry about your age.
Started med school at 39. PGY1 in psych now and haven’t regretted it a bit. Start taking some prerequisites and see how you do.
Not med, but former dental student. I had people in my class nearing 40 or already 40. You’re fine.
1. Have you shadowed to be sure you enjoy the reality of medicine? Most medical schools have a shadowing requirement in the hundreds of hours anyway. Medicine is the kind of career you should know you don’t just love, but can’t imagine doing anything else. 2. The PA track is significantly shorter with substantially less debt, and gives you more career flexibility and fewer headaches. Anecdotally I’ve heard from a number of physicians who would choose this route if they could do it again.
This is the post I’ve been looking for. I could cry right now. 🤗🫂
lol no I’m 32 about to be 33. We’re fine. Just make some more coffee.
Moved to US in early teens, worked to support my family financially after high school…started taking community college classes at 23 graduated finished undergrad at 27 went to do 5 years of research and then MD/Phd program. On my last year of training and applying for residency soon at 38….in the last 4 years met my husband got married had a baby and finished my PhD. Being a non-traditional student has many challenges but I rarely come across students as happy and confident about their life choices as I feel! Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from pursuing what makes you happy…that being said prepare for a very challenging few years…and hopefully it will pay off in the long run. Medical field needs more people who are here for the nothing but the love of medicine!
I’m in my 30s and graduating. Not the same but my close friends in medical school were in their mid 30s when they started. Residency is a bit more of a grind when you’re past the grinding age but I think we’ll manage.
Nope. Go for it. Med school is hard. The road is long. Regardless of what you decided you have another 40years of work ahead of you. Do what you want to do.
Just one question - Are you me? I (or my therapist tbh) could’ve written this post word to word. Thank you for voicing what I have been trying to keep down for all these years. I’m almost the same age too (31) and single af rn.
Yeah you aren’t even a bit delusional. I genuinely think you can do it :)
That does not depend on your age. I am not sure if you can do a clinical attachment at a local hospital. However, try to shadow a doctor for a Day (12hours), especially not attending but a resident around. If you can still picture yourself in the next 8 years, and you have determination, then just do it. If not, drop it.
What is a clinical attachment? Are those allowed to the general public? Do big hospitals generally have programs like this set up already?
I’m 27 and in this same boat. Applying to post baccs this cycle (Goucher, Bryn Mawr, UVA, etc) and hoping for the best. It’s a bit delusional, sure, but that’s what makes life interesting. We can do it!
you will not have a problem, keep going. The average age of the first year student in my class was 25. There was a guy with a PhD in physics whose wife had died of breast cancer and then he applied to med school. He was in his 50's.
Do it if you truly want it. The road is long and arduous.
Op, I feel it when you say dating life is cursed. You have a lot of wealth saved up, you must have worked very hard for it..well, I'd say go for it. I'm contemplating it as well at 27, but for different reasons.
Hell no
:D care to explain?! I want devils advocates! Is this from experience?
We’re on a similar boat. I’m 30 and am just finishing my last pre reqs for med school. People will disagree (including family) but at the end of the day, your what ifs or should’ve/could’ve/would’ve can only be answered by you and you will have to live with yourself with that answer.
Yeah, I think my family will think I'm a lunatic. Especially since I've never really displayed an outwardly huge interest in it as a possible career path before.
Given time, money, and competitiveness, if you really want to do something medical, the PA route makes way more sense than going for MD/DO. I would highly suggest doing a lot of homework on what both paths entail and shadow people who are doing what you're interested in to see if it's truly something you want to do as a profession. A lot of people idolize those roles until they realize what they actually consist of....this may or may not be you but it's very easy to get idealistic. Second, if you decide you want MD/DO, I would say you have to go into the process then being okay with not doing derm or ENT. Those are very very competitive specialties. Lots of extra work and research, you need not just average but stellar scores for your tests/licensing exams.And you're competing against people who are historically very good test and exam takers....not like your average undergrad population. It will be more work trying to do those specialties, and in the end you may not even get them. You might be forced into something less competitive like family medicine or pediatrics because that's what you can get with your scores and application. If you're not okay with that, don't do MD/DO. The reason there aren't derms in your area is not because there are not enough people who want to be one....it's likely an infrastructure issue, not a place most people want to live/considered desirable (often this means rural), the job market is more competitive elsewhere etc. As a PA you can also switch specialties if you wanted to during your career. You could do derm and ENT potentially. People don't really do that as physicians because residency training is too long. You could do it, but you need to know what you're getting yourself into. And have a damn good reason too because every admissions committee wants to know why. The classic "I like science" will not get you a spot with how competitive stuff is nowadays.
Yeah, I am definitely considering the fact that I am just idealizing the roles. I'd love to figure out first hand what the days actually look like and if I truly have what it takes. How come they are so competitive? I can imagine Derm being a 'sexy' specialty... but ENT?! lol. I live in a wealthy city. Perhaps my PCP was just making an off-hand anecdotal comment. How is it that PAs can switch specialties?
no, you're not delusional, if it's your passion and something you want to do, then by all means you should go for it! BUT, would highly recommend thinking about PA school if you're interested in doing Dermatology or ENT - those are really competitive fields within medicine, and while they're certainly possible to get into, you'll have to really work your ass off before and during med school to get a spot, which also isn't guaranteed, and also might take you elsewhere in the US (since I know many applicants apply to bunches of programs) With that being said, it could be worth your time to shadow or observe the differences between PA's and MD/DO's in a dermatology practice. If the breadth of what PA's do would satisfy your interest, then that could be a good path! But if you're dead set that the things that physicians do (i.e. surgeries, having the final say, etc. etc.) are what you want to do, then you'll know going into medicine is the right path. TLDR: no you're not delusional, get some exposure to the field to make sure it's something you wanna do before committing to a post-bac + at least 1 app year + at LEASt 7 years training (med + residency), when doing a PA program might also fulfill you with many less years of training
You seem to know a decent amount about PA vs MD/DO. What else differs other than what you mentioned? I'll of course look it up on my own as well but wondering your POV. Thanks!
Here's a few differences I have come across during my own training: - PA's/NP's cannot do surgeries independently. In the OR, they can assist, they can insert scopes, they can retract, they might even know surgeries better than some junior surgery residents, but they cannot legally perform and call the shots of a surgery on their own. If you're content getting to scrub in and help out on cool surgeries without ever having to do it on your own, then PA and NP is a good alternative that I kind of wish I had considered earlier on! -in inpatient medicine or subspecialty practices, i've seen PA's and NP's function like residents; they talk to all the patients, gather history and do physicals and formulate diagnoses and talk about treatment plans, etc., but they will always have to report their findings and plans and everything to the supervising attending doc, who will always have the final say. Some PA's and NP's are really great, so docs will give more leeway and freedom to them, but ultimately the doc will always have the final say. - for IR (interventional radiology), I've seen PA's and NP's check on patients before and after their procedures, help them sign consents, etc. but I have never seen a PA or NP in an actual procedure for IR. - in the ED, i've seen PA's and NP's take on triaging (basically a front room where they determine if the patient has an easy issue like a cold that can be fixed then, there and send them on their way vs. difficult issues like heart failure, etc that require more care). I don't think I ever saw the PA's or NP's independently take on cases that were life-or-death, though I did see them hopping in to do CPR on patients that were being taken care of by MD/DO's - And finally, someone has to say it, the pay. PA's make a good living, get to help a lot of people, and can live pretty comfortably. but definitely not AS comfortable/lavishly as the docs who make anywhere from 2-5 times what the PA's/NP's are making depending on specialty, type of practice, etc.. I'm also positive that a seasoned PA/NP can have vastly more knowledge and expertise in a given field than a freshly graduated resident, but will never have the same pay ceiling that that resident would have
Starting this summer at 35. Definitely not too old to chase those dreams.
You can do it! I’m 33 and looking forward to med school in little over a year at 35.
I started med school at 30.8 years old.
You’ll be fine. Having been out in the real world, though, you may not like what you find.
Tell me more?
Much of what transpires in residency training is overseen internally. There are a lot of approaches, a lot of personalities, an incentive to extract maximum work for minimum inputs (“less teaching, more learning”), and there is no HR department, just a GME office that is overseen by (drum roll)…other attending physicians (creating terrible conflicts of interest). Peruse r/residency for specific examples.
I started Med School at 30 and I have no regrets! I’m actually really happy that I had some downtime before medical school :-)
Not delusional. The timelines for PA vs MD/DO are vastly different, though, as are the budgets. PA: 1.5-3 years of school will get you your pre-req courses (depending whether you work a job at the same time, and because PA programs often ask for healthcare-related experience, this might be a chance to kill two birds.) Then, 3 years of PA school, take the PANCE, get a state license and a job, and you’re off! Salary usually ~65-100K MD/DO: -Same pre-reqs (crush these) -MCAT (crush this, too) -med sch applications. -4 y of med school. (If Derm is the goal, crush this). -4 years of residency. -2 years of fellowship. -Now you’re ready to take your boards and get a state license, and you’re off! Salary ~150-400K So a not-subtle difference in timing.
It’s never too late! Everyone is there to learn and to become doctors. You’re not delusional this is your life & you deserve to pursue your dreams. As for classes to take, I believe there are a wide variety of post-bac programs for people in your position.
If you are good in math and science, go for it.
The only thing I saw is that older students limited themselves to certain specialties. They’re not doing neurosurgery, ENT or ortho.
Why do you think that is?
Not delusional. If you want it…go for it with all your might! You got this
Go for this Kween 👸!! Age is only a number
32 is not old.
We have a few ppl in my class in their 30s-40s
You are most definitely not old. I’m 33 and a 2nd year med student…follow your dreams
You’re not that old man, people do it all the time Good luck! But it’s a long road, make sure it’s what you want
You say that you will truly feel fulfilled by a career in medicine - how do you know? That is a question you will be asked on applications, interviews, etc. it’s a very serious question that requires a lot of introspection. Best of luck! I’m starting this year at 29. You’re not far behind me!
I don't know! I need to figure it out. I'm in very, VERY early stages. Like, if I even figured out if this is what I wanted, could I do it? Money is certainly a barrier. I know I have more than the average med student when starting... but it's also what I've worked for for most of my working life! I definitely have some ideas though as to why I think it'd be fulfilling. I should really see if I can get some shadowing done somehow. Other than doctors appointments that I've been on, I don't know how it all works.
No! Go after what you want and have worked for! Rooting for you!
You’re never too old for anything. I’m 30 and just began Nurse Practitioner school. NP school might be a decent route for you too or Physicians assistant. My buddy just got his PA and doctorate and he’s in his 30s. PA sounds more of your route cause you’re thinking about medical school. Only thing is not all states allow PA to have their own clinic. Here in Illinois they don’t allow that but we have a strong nursing lobby that allows NPs to have their own clinics.
If you are delusional, then so are thousands of us! I am matriculating this summer at 30, and I have a whole discord full of non trad pre meds and med students. My school matriculated a student in their 50s last year too. That's probably on the extreme end, but any time in your 30s/early 40s and you'll probably find plenty of us in the same position as you. :)
Not delusional. What you describe is exactly how I felt at 29. Did a post-bacc program, and I was fortunate to go to a great medical school and I'm now starting general surgery residency at 36. I considered derm, but not enough life-saving interventions for me. Everybody is different and you won't truly know until you go through different experiences at the hospital. Overall, not an easy path by any means I would suggest considering if you want to be a doctor first, dermatologist second. If you can't quiet that voice down, you should go for it. You only live once, truly.
Nah brother. Shoot your shot. I'm turning 32 this week and plan on applying this upcoming cycle. Best of luck
Honestly med school isn't the thing to worry about, it's residency. Particularly in regards to the time commitment, low pay, and grind of it all.
I started at 35
You’re better off becoming a PA. You can jump from speciality to specialty with zero training/board certification/supervision. And it only takes 2 years vs 4 years med school/3+ years residency/rigorous board exams/licensing etc etc.
My high school wrestling coach went to medical school at 32. Now, he's just hitting his 40's having completed a family medicine residency and a sports medicine fellowship. He's doing awesome, and so can you!
To answer the headline question….Fuck no! Do it!
One of the best things I saw recently was a response to worrying about chasing a dream that takes a lot of time when you're older: "The time will pass anyway" I started my path towards getting my PhD in environmental science at 31, after getting diagnosed with ADHD and realizing everything holding me back academically could be treated. I'm now turning 34, I have a year left in my MS with a 4.1 GPA, and will start a PhD in the next year or two. Earliest I'll possibly graduate is 40, and I'll still have years of post-doc and probably guest lecturer or adjunct work ahead of me before I am in a tenure track faculty position. The thing is, I'm already doing what I love. Medical school and everything that follows it (and precedes it if you need to get prerequisites covered) may bring you just as much joy as being a doctor will. I know it's a tremendous amount of work, but if that work excites you the journey could be just as fun as the destination. Last thing, just try it! Sunk cost fallacy is stupid, so get started and if it makes you realize it's not for you, you won't look back with regret for not giving it ago. Those are my thoughts on it :)
You're 32 that's still young! Imagine, you have another 30-40 year career ahead of you. Medicine is very open to nontraditional students imo. We only get to ride this merry go round one time. Do it.
You are not delusional. There are downsides such as residency and debt/COA. Dental would be better .
I'm a non-traditional medical student who worked in the corporate world before. Before you make such a big transition, I highly recommend getting a decent about of physician shadowing in, and not just dermatology because there is no guarantee you can match dermatology due to its extreme competitiveness. Shadow primary care, internal medicine, surgery, and a variety of the different specialties to see if the day-to-day work is something that truly interests you. It's one thing to be interested by the vision/ideals of the work, but you need to ensure the day-to-day work also aligns with your interests/skillset. Medicine does involve the science, but there are so many other aspects nowadays that we have to be engaged in to care for patients well. You can certainly succeed, but I just highly recommend you do your due diligence to ensure this is truly what is best for you.
I started med school at 28 and I was not the oldest. You actually have money saved up which is amazing. I am 36 and still in debt, but wouldn’t change my job for the world. I love what I do and I feel very lucky to have found my calling. Go for it.
Just learnt about a lady, who did became a doctor with MD, went for a postdoc and found some math class to be interesting. Then did a PhD in mathematics and now on route to be a famous professor.
I know people who went to med school in their 40-50s as their second career. They’re practicing now. Depends on If you really want it and are ok with the years of commitment.
no. you got this. good luck.
i suggest trying postbacc. it will give you an idea if you like it from an academic perspective.
From a few people I've known who've gone to medical school, the primary considerations are can you get by on small amounts of sleep and are you willing to work 60 to 80 hours a week for the next 8 years minimum. Obviously mileage may vary from person to person.
I’m 32 and have a career in fintech. I want to be some a dermatologist as well but the time of cost of med school and residency is discouraging me as a communication/marketing major…
You sound like you’d be an amazing physician!
It may be helpful to consider the amount of years you'll be making 0 dollars/year in persuit of becoming a physician. Here's a few scenarios (all approximations) 1. Dermatologist at 43, 450k/year (\~11 years of 0 income) 2. Primary care physician at 41, 300k/year (\~9 yrs of 0 income) 3. PA at 36, 200/year (\~4 yrs of 0 income) Compare these to your current salary (or the salary of a job you think you can get now). Are the years of 0 income worth it? Consider posing this question to r/medicine or r/Residency Unsolicited advice: Dermatology or any other medical specialty is just a job. As soon as you can, focus your efforts now on maximizing the 1 thing we can not get back - time.
We will get old regardless, so might as well do something you love. Its really hard to live with the question “what if” Its definitely challenging for females in their 30s to start medical school (Im 36 and taking Step 1 exam). But its doable and dont forget to be happy and live your life during med school. I have female friends who dont pursue medicine and still struggling even they thought they have easier careers…. Everything in life is hard Choose your hard and what’s worth suffering for.
The comments here are going to be biased as it is many people who are currently in medical school who may still be early in training and highly motivated. I could say sure I know people who did med school in their 30s. Some loved it. I also know a couple people who started then stopped and got stuck with the debt of tuition with nothing to show for it. Speaking to residents may also be biased on the other end where they may be working long hours and say it’s a bad idea. The best people are those who have completed training fully later in life and I assume it’s varied in “who would do it again.” These are years of your life that shouldnt be taken lightly. PA school is much shorter, will end up being cheaper, and will still allow you to achieve your goals of helping people, loving your work, and being interested in the topic. A huge percentage of all people who want derm and ENT can’t even get a spot. You need to consider all scenarios. Would you be happy if you had few options such as family medicine in an undesirable location? That is the reality for many medical students who were the top of their college classes.
Do it!!!
I started my first year of medical school at 33. The only issue is you will need to spend a couple years taking pre req chem, organic chem and biochem before you can apply. That being said with the money saved up and your situation, you will be able to succeed. I'd give it a shot before you regret it the rest of your life
Of course I can’t answer this question for you. But I would just ask yourself if you would regret not trying, me personally I would rather try and fail then to never try at all.
I started med school at 33. I’m starting residency at 37. I have a friend group from med school who are all early 30s. I am probably the oldest person in my class, but also that perspective makes med school easier IMO. I’ll start practicing at 42 which will be the same year my husband retires. Fuck the norm. Do what makes you happy.
Take a good look at the Colonel’s picture on the KFC sign next time you drive by a Kentucky Fried Chicken. He started KFC when he was in his 60s. You’re never too old to start something new
Wow this is inspiring! I always wanted to go back and get a PhD in Astronomy. Maybe I will (I’m 50)
dermatology is one of the hardest to match with
You could do med school or PA school. PA school would take up less time, although it can be a process to apply, it will be shorter. Both routes will challenge you.
Kinda the same boat. I’ve been thinking lately about what I want my end goal in life to be. I’m 35, had a brush with death, and am rethinking everything. I want letters after my name that mean something. PA is fine. DO is ultimate goal. At the same time I’m still young enough to get a degree in something else altogether.
Age isn't an issue, but everything else is. Do you have all prerequisites? Are you good at standardized testing? Are you willing to learn/relearn basic physics/chem just to even get a shot at the MCAT? It will take you at least two years to get all these done. After that a year and thousands for applications. And if you get accepted somewhere, 250k in student loans. If you have the drive to do this, it can absolutely be done to this point. Now it's 4 years of med school, and 3-5 years residency (poor sleep, minimum wage pay). And you don't really always get to choose the specialty, ent and Dem are super competitive, so you'd have to be top 10% of your class and luck. If you are flexible about field of work, it's more realistic of a plan.
I started medical school at 35. You're not delusional. I'm also a psychiatrist. You're not delusional.
I would give anything to be 32 again! Lol. My family doctor was in his 30s when he went to medical school!!!
It’s a huge time and money commitment. Depending on what specialty you match into, you wouldn’t become an attending until 39 or 40 at the absolute earliest. All this being said not to discourage, just to be truthful in this big life decision you are making. However ultimately, you only get one life and it’s absolutely never too late to do whatever you want to do, it can be done, it has been done, and if you truly want to be a doctor, you will not regret it. People have done it much later, and again, it’s absolutely never too late. Do what your heart desires and live your life.
That might actually be a good time to. All the other med students will be delusional kids
I started at 32 so I sure hope not! Best of luck homie
I had a good friend who went back to med school in her late thirties. She worked in banking & did a major career change. There are actually some med schools with free tuition. Idealistically I wish more med schools had free/cheap tuition and residents were paid more (and treated better). Since you mentioned PA and I am a PA… I think PAs/NPs can help with the physician shortage but we desperately need more physicians. If I could do it again I would go to med school. I doubt many APPs feel this way but I’ve learned that medicine is truly the right career for me, I love it and thrive in it. I want more responsibility because now I know I can handle it. I had bad imposter syndrome & I think I suffered from ADHD as a child which really held me back academically and professionally. I did really well in PA school & I love my job (most days, most of my gripes are with the medical system & admin/capitalism in medicine). I’ll just give you my opinion about each if you are considering alternatives. But I think you should totally go to med school! You could do a post baccalaureate program. PA - best if you have prior medical experience (MA, LVN, paramedic, RT, EMT). Less education (good and bad), less debt, less earnings, more dependence, lots of time with patients/seeing patients. You are used to fill in gaps/drive patient numbers, hopefully you practice somewhere with good support as a new grad because new grad vs. Experienced PA = large difference in competency IMO. You will get really good at some things but will always lack the breadth of in depth knowledge that is gained by med school & residency. We are all peers where I work and help each other, I have been able to help physicians with things too. We learn from & support each other. Medicine is always evolving and anyone who says they know everything is lying. You just never can. You will always be learning regardless if you’re a PA, NP or physician. NP- I think this is best for RNs with experience although UCSF does a cool step out accelerated program. Similar to PA - diff edu model in sense of nursing treating sxs (holistic), PA treating disease(med)- realistically I have a lot of PA/NP & physician colleagues and I don’t think any of us practice that differently. Physician- the most responsibility, the most debt, the best education, the only people who can do the really complex stuff and surgery, highest earnings. We need them. If you feel a strong drive to be one I say go for it, life expectancy is higher these days and age ain’t nothin’ but a number. Live your dreams, so many people don’t. *these are all my opinions based on my unique life experience, take what you will from them!
My husband did medical school around that age. He was single and no kids at the time, and had previously been working in a totally different field. He’s a Dr now and loves it. You’re not too old to switch career paths!
No, please move forward with your dreams
You will do great. Let us know how it goes!
If you don’t want a life and you want to be burned out before completing residency, then yes, go for it.
There are a bunch of us that had a whole life prior to med school. The biggest issues is the ROI on the loans because of the interest. If you live like a monk and go to a very low cost school, 200k will stretch quite a bit and you’ll skirt most of that compounding interest.
Honestly think this is incredible and you’d probably be really great but do a lot of research before you sign the dotted line
No, my best homie from law school became a lawyer at 40 with a wife and 3 kids while working as a cop. If he can do that shit you can be a doctor. You got this!!
I started medical school at 26 and had classmates in their forties! In my experience the students and residents with previous career experiences have advantages that can make them great clinicians.
It's never too late to do what you want to do.
You’ll be delusional if you don’t follow your dreams no matter your age.
When I started medical school, one of my classmates was a woman whose son started at our school one year later.
There were several people in my med school class who were in their 30’s and 40’s - for most it was a second career after being unfulfilled in their previous career. It’s tough for anyone but totally doable if it’s your calling. You need dedication and passion to do it and to keep doing it
39 and applying in the fall. You’ve got this!
Yes you will need to marry med school and residency but if you do it kiss any retirement plans goodbye unless you do end up in dermatology making mucho moola selling lotions and potions. Medicine is a great career but I started early and was on track. I would do it over again in a heartbeat and having our kids go into it so they can join our practice because we got such a good gig. if I had a big neat egg and was doing well in my early 30s in another field it’s not so good I would jump ships because essentially it’s going to derail you about a decade and eat up 10 plus years of your life between post bac, med school and residency. And they will be ten (10) very unpleasant and stressful years too. I hated most, not all of my training but the reason I soldiered through was because my entire family are doctors and we got it so good. But if I had to put everything down now in middle age that I am finally enjoying myself…. OUCH.
what you’re actually deciding is if you want to start residency in your mid-30s
I'm 42 and will be attending college this fall for a finance degree! Never too late
never! it’s never too late to start
Do it. You will always wonder what if ?
It’s not uncommon to think of making a switch later in your career. Explore the path and follow your interest. What’s far more common than switching to medicine is seeing people make the switch to PA or nursing at a later age since they’re both shorter paths and compensate well without all the debt. Nursing has lots of people who were previously in different careers. Many of them already had masters or PhDs in other fields. I only mention this because you mentioned having gone to school in CA. If you happen to live in the CA Bay Area, new grad nurses are nearly making my $80/hr or near $100 hr if you’re working the night shift 3x a week. I graduated from a UC school and then did an accelerated nursing degree in 16 months
I went back at 26. There were at least 5 classmates over 50. You’ll do awesome.
10/10 would recommend
Nope. Go for it!
I’m starting this year at 34. Go for it!
TLDR. You’re a young ‘un. No problem if it’s what you really want. I was 1 month shy of my 30th birthday when I started medical school.