Medical School after 30?

[Nebor]

So I decided a couple months ago that I'd really like to get into medicine when I get back to the states. I could start school again in the fall of 2013 to knock out the pre-reqs I need.

My back story is as follows: I'm currently deployed to Afghanistan, having chosen to stay beyond my initial obligation in the Army to serve a second tour over here. Prior to joining in the Army, I was an information systems group manager in the IT department of a large international retailer. Having personally designed some of the proprietary POS & inventory backends, I'm still on a retainer of sorts to provide emergency support\advice to my group back in Dallas. Frankly this is easy money, paying roughly a third of my former salary for very little work. It was offered to me when I announced I'd be leaving to join the Army, in hopes that I would go back to work for them when my obligation was up and I had the Army out of my system.

So now here I am, roughly 4 years later with the Army thoroughly out of my system. For a variety of reasons, I have no desire to continue on as an active duty Army officer. But my eyes are open to how easy it is for people to waste their lives, doing things of little importance that are totally inconsequential in the greater scheme of the world. I don't want to go back to office work. I want to work in a field that's truly challenging, and meaningful, where I can make a difference in other people's lives and the wider world.

So I took the free online MCAT offered by the AAMC and scored a 33. I've never taken organic chemistry before in my life, and I've only taken one year of chemistry and physics. I ordered a couple hundred pounds of text books plus some MCAT prep books, in the hopes that I can study up on my own here in Afghanistan for the next 7 months and take the real MCAT prior to actually taking the required science undergrad courses I'll need. My hope there is that I can avoid a "gap year" between finishing my undergrad courses, taking the MCATs, and waiting for scores & applications.

I'll still owe 3 years in the ready reserves, so I'm looking at joining a US Army Reserve Medical Services unit so that I can get clinical experience while I'm taking undergrad courses. If I don't join the Reserves, I could very well get called back to active duty while I'm going to school.

Also, FWIW, my undergrad GPA was ~3.5 and my MBA GPA was 4.0. My "science" GPA is a 4.0.

So is there anything I'm missing here, or any big considerations? I know it's a serious commitment, but I'm single, no kids, a dog that's used to living with my parents and I'm accustomed to working 20 hours a day.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I ordered a couple hundred pounds of text books plus some MCAT prep books, in the hopes that I can study up on my own here in Afghanistan for the next 7 months and take the real MCAT prior to actually taking the required science undergrad courses I'll need.

This is a MAJOR mistake; do not do this. Take your org-chem classes first!

What's your "math" GPA? (under-grad only)

Also, what's your distribution on sub-scores on the MCAT (number and percentile, so I don't have to look it up please)

http://www.mibazaar.com/education/medical_school.html

Looks like Baylor (in Houston NOT Waco) is the best bang-for-the-buck.

 

[Nebor]

This is a MAJOR mistake; do not do this. Take your org-chem classes first!

What's your "math" GPA? (under-grad only)

Also, what's your distribution on sub-scores on the MCAT (number and percentile, so I don't have to look it up please)

http://www.mibazaar.com/education/medical_school.html

Looks like Baylor (in Houston NOT Waco) is the best bang-for-the-buck.

I figured since I seemed to hit above average on the MCAT before even studying, that after I study on my own I should be able to make it to the high 30s range.

I'm not sure on the math GPA. I never got less than a B in a math course though.

I'm looking at UT Southwestern, since it's well regarded and I have a lot of personal and family connections to staff & faculty. Cost isn't really a factor.

 

[bluearyus]

Don't forget about the huge debt you'll owe not to mention the 'time' sacrifice.
Figure let's give an optimistic view that in 2 years ( since you need a year of orgo and a year of bio plus whatever other prereqs) from now you'll have taken your mcat and required coursework and be in process for applying for a fall 2014 spot. Then add to that 4 years of medical school. Then add to that 3-5 years of residency (depending on the field). Then add to that 1-3 years of potential subspecialization.

So you're looking at anywhere between 9 to 16 years before you finish all your schooling/training.

 

[Nebor]

Don't forget about the huge debt you'll owe not to mention the 'time' sacrifice.
Figure let's give an optimistic view that in 2 years ( since you need a year of orgo and a year of bio plus whatever other prereqs) from now you'll have taken your mcat and required coursework and be in process for applying for a fall 2014 spot. Then add to that 4 years of medical school. Then add to that 3-5 years of residency (depending on the field). Then add to that 1-3 years of potential subspecialization.

So you're looking at anywhere between 9 to 16 years before you finish all your schooling/training.

No debt involved, as I can self-finance undergrad & medical school. I also have some Army benefits (Post 9\11 GI Bill, Hazelwood Act) that I could use.

I realize there's a huge time sacrifice, and that it'll be ~10 years before I'm done, but at least I'll be doing something challenging that isn't a total waste of my life.

 

[Nintendesert]

You only get one life man, if this is what you want, then do it. You'll have sacrificed enough of yourself over there. There is going to be an even greater demand for anyone in the medical field, so if it makes you happy it's a win win.

As for the details of it all, I can't say. I'm not in the medical field. But you'll have done tougher things in your life than school so I figure you'll be fine.

 

[silverpig]

A good friend of mine just finished his first year of med school at 33 or 34. He was in physics/engineering before doing stuff for WMAP and other related cosmology measurement missions.

It's definitely not impossible.

 

[SP33Demon]

Hopefully you can excel in high stress environments. Especially considering that our country has the lowest doctors per 100,000 people out of the First World (aside from Japan) and the fact that the ACA now means millions more who will need care. Personally I'd go with the easy money, more free time and less stress to do what you really want to do. But if medicine is that passion, then go for it. It seems like you have the grades/intelligence.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Hopefully you can excel in high stress environments. Especially considering that our country has the lowest doctors per 100,000 people out of the First World (aside from Japan) and the fact that the ACA now means millions more who will need care. Personally I'd go with the easy money, more free time and less stress to do what you really want to do. But if medicine is that passion, then go for it. It seems like you have the grades/intelligence.

i assume you missed his thread where he awoke to a dud RPG crashing through his roof? at least i think it was nebor lol

 

[Bulk Beef]

Have you thought about USUHS?

 

[Saint Nick]

I think a lot of people go to medical school after thirty. If you want it, you can get it.

 

[Doppel]

You're smart and motivated, and getting through medschool without debt is superb, but do you really think it's your only option to avoid wasting life? There must be other ways.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

I want to work in a field that's truly challenging, and meaningful, where I can make a difference in other people's lives and the wider world.

There are plenty of fields other than medicine that allow this satisfaction...

I recommend checking out SDN forums for a better opinions: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/index.php

 

[zinfamous]

It's never too late.

If research appeals to you at all (and you don't have to go for an MD/PhD for this), then you could work your butt off and apply for a Hughes Fellowship. That will fund a year of school for you, wherever you go.

 

[MisterJackson]

No advice for ya, I just stopped in to say thanks for your service!

 

[PricklyPete]

No advice for ya, I just stopped in to say thanks for your service!

:thumbsup:

OP: you're single, have the mental capacity, and the means. Follow your dream.

 

[ManBearPig]

dfdsfsdf

 

[Nebor]

Have you thought about USUHS?

Briefly, then I realized that attendance virtually obligates a career in the Army, which I'm not interested in. The seething cauldron of hate that is the Military Medicine forum on studentdoctors may have contributed too.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

No advice for ya, I just stopped in to say thanks for your service!

Ditto as well. Good luck!

 

[IAteYourMother]

As someone who is currently applying to medical school, I'd say that a 33 is very good, although the AAMC ones that you took are far easier than the current interations (due to relative changes in difficulty over the past decade). HOWEVER, there is a new MCAT that is coming out 2013, that will be far more time consuming, so if you're up for it, it's not a bad idea to plan to take your MCAT before the new changes (be sure to sign up early, as slots fill up very quickly).

Also, while it might be nice from your perspective to attend UT Southwestern, med school acceptances are a massive crapshoot. Think college admissions x 1000. So be sure to apply to a variety of schools, and understand that you might have to attend a school far from home if you want to be a doctor.

Which science classes do you need to still take?

 

[ManBearPig]

dasdas

 

[Printer Bandit]

don't do it. you will regret it and have a miserable life.

 

[mattpegher]

Good luck, I find its "the worst job you'll ever love". One word of advice for late bloomers, is consider Osteopathic (DO) schools, they tend to appreciate your life experience more than the Allopathic (MD) ones.
My advice however, you need to be as prepared as possible before you take the MCATs, dont try to rush it through, you will only benefit by taking an extra year to have the courses needed before you take the test.

 

[Nebor]

As someone who is currently applying to medical school, I'd say that a 33 is very good, although the AAMC ones that you took are far easier than the current interations (due to relative changes in difficulty over the past decade). HOWEVER, there is a new MCAT that is coming out 2013, that will be far more time consuming, so if you're up for it, it's not a bad idea to plan to take your MCAT before the new changes (be sure to sign up early, as slots fill up very quickly).

Also, while it might be nice from your perspective to attend UT Southwestern, med school acceptances are a massive crapshoot. Think college admissions x 1000. So be sure to apply to a variety of schools, and understand that you might have to attend a school far from home if you want to be a doctor.

Which science classes do you need to still take?

Organic Chemistry 1 and 2, Chemistry 2, Physics 2 and some random biology classes. I figure I'll take a year and make sure I do well, and enjoy being back in civilization before I put myself back in a stressful situation.

Texas holds 90% of their medical school slots for Texas residents, and with my grades\scores I should be good to go.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

So you're looking at anywhere between 9 to 16 years before you finish all your schooling/training.

forgoing benfitis now for gains in the futurure is how people become winners at life.

Some ass-hat 15 years from now is going to argue that is 200k+ salary is unfair.

bullshit.