I regret not going to med school
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Anonymous
| I'm 29, so I know it's not too late. I celebrated my 5 year anniversary with a financial services company a few months ago. I'm just not passionate about finance honestly. I have a possible offer for a better position with a more prominent company, but I realized during the interview process that I just can't continue in my current career path. Healthcare was always a secondary career interest of mine, next to business. I decided to pursue business because my dad was an entrepreneur at the time. I enjoyed most of my classes, although I struggled with the quantitative ones. I really enjoyed science. anyway, I have been speaking with people who I know in the field who are surprised that I chose the route that I'm in. I have been toggling with the idea of med school for a few years now. I could pursue Healthcare administration or work in the pharmaceutical industry as I do have a business background. However, I feel that my true calling is to work in pediatricorthopedics. I have a chronic condition and I have been exposed to this area since I was a toddler. I am thinking about enrolling into a post bacc program. Does anyone have any suggestions? |
Anonymous
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Two points: I don't know if you can categorically identify a specific area of medicine as a calling without some exposure to that facet of medicine.
Second, you are young enough to go to med school and become a doctor if you so wish. There are a surprising number of people who pursue medicine in their thirties. I know this because my son is currently doing his residency and he tells me most of his co-residents are in their early to mid-thirties. |
Anonymous
| Do it! |
Anonymous
| My cousin went back when she was mid-30s and is now a doctor in her early 40s. Definitely not too late. You can do an official post-bac program or try to do it thru state school on a class by class basis. |
Anonymous
| I have a friend who went from wall st to med school for pediatrics at 32. Six years later she's so so so much happier. |
Anonymous
OP here, you are correct about that. Being exposed to that side of medicine as a patient is different from being exposed to it as a provider. I should have mentioned that I can relate to that speciality instead The idea of accumulating enough debt that can purchase a house is daunting. As well as the fact that my disability includes stamina problems so I'm afraid that the career will take a toll on me physically |
Anonymous
| Please do it. I am 45 years old and not pursuing my dream of med school is my BIGGEST regret. I finished my BA in Biology, took the MCAT, and had applications filled out, but got scared. Starting doubting my ability to succeed, and never submitted applications to any schools. Years later, I went to an alternative medicine type of school, racked up hundreds of thousands in debt, and was so so unhappy. Because of that debt, and now sending my own off to college, it's a dream lost. I work in IT field now, and not a day goes by that I don't think about it. Do yourself a favor and just jump and do it!! |
Anonymous
| There are people who go to med school at 40 even 50! It's not too late for you. Start researching what you need to do now! |
Anonymous
| Go back now. I really wish I would have gone, but I didn't know then what I know now, and I am in my 40s now with kids and it's just too late. Do it! |
Anonymous
|
14:20, anyone can call anything a calling. It is not up to you.
Besides, OP was exposed to that facet of medicine as a patient. That is a pretty common way to find one's passion (some type of secondary exposure) OP, you should do it! Sign up for prerequisites, that will get your feet wet and give you some exposure. signed, 30 year old recent undergraduate planning to pursue an advanced nursing degree. |
Anonymous
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Op, I am an ambitious person with health related stamina issues as well. Just turned down an extra project at work due to stamina issues and it was really a struggle to decide so I get your dilemma.
Med school is really really hard on the body. I think it is ridiculous as it hardens doctors, and why should someone have to be super physically strong and have amazing stamina to be a doctor? Oh well, we can't change that. I wonder if being a physicians assistant would be easier. No idea, but you might want to ask around about that. |
Anonymous
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Op, what financial obligations do you have to others? If you don't have dependents, go ahead.
If you do, we need for information. |
Anonymous
I've looked into PA programs. I'm definitely interested, but they required 1,000 hours of patient contact (minus shadowing and volunteering) prior to acceptance. I'm not sure how I'd fit that in given my current job situation. I'm single, so I don't have outside financial support. |
Anonymous
From what I know, if you want to get into a decent med school, in addition to good MCAT scores, you need to have lots of research experience in a lab, shadowing or volunteering experience, and meet all the course requirements (such as organic chemistry and etc..). I know many many pre-med majors in a prestigious private school need to take a gap year to meet all these before applying to med school. But if you are just aiming for any med school, I know there are schools in the Caribbean that dont even need MCAT scores. |
Anonymous
| Do it. If you look on the student doctor forums you will see there is a forum for older students. Age doesn't matter, if you want to do it go for it. At 29 you still have a long working career ahead of you, may as well do something you like. |