Med School at 30?

[Anonymous]

Can it be done?
In all likelihood I would start at 32 at the earliest.
No kids.
No spouse.
I am not independently wealthy so there is a funding issue.
I do have a college degree, but would need to complete 5 prereqs.
Is it worth it?
Has anyone here done it?

[Anonymous]

Go for it

[Anonymous]

Wasn't this exact same question posted just a few days ago?

[Anonymous]

A family friend went to med school after she was married with three children. She was in her mid 30s. She is now an established pediatrician in Atlanta. You should definitely do it!

[Anonymous]

Yes, do it

[Anonymous]

My father went to med school at 30...he had been working as a PhD scientist for 6 years before that.

[Anonymous]

Yes do it! You will never regret it seriously. If you've lived till 30 and you're still thinking about med school. you need to do this for yourself.

[Anonymous]

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/456439.page#6624633

[Anonymous]

I had 3 or 4 people in their 30's in my med school and residency programs. Personally, I would rather cut my hand off than redo medical school and residency at this age (I am in my early 30's). I will say that the older student in my program seemed happier (maybe because they had a better support system or because they knew what the real world was like and so didn't think medicine was all that bad).

[Anonymous]

Definitely not too late. Go for it! We know people who started in their late 30's.

DH started med school at age 21 and graduated at age 25. He was the youngest in his class. About 1/3 of his class were older.

[Anonymous]

Do it! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I mentioned this in the previous thread but going to medical school later in life was far more financially feasible 10 years ago than it is today.
Tuitions have skyrocketed---what was $25k 10 years ago (when I went) is now close to $70K. If you're going to medical school 10-15 years later than most, this investment becomes tricky because you're losing out on 15 years of salary.
Added to this, medical salaries have dropped.

It's doable to go to medical school in your 30's but it may not be financially wise. A previous poster mentioned a mid-thirties woman who became a pediatrician. To do that today (2015) the reality is that tuition would be $50k-80K/year x 4 years. (not counting any living expenses). Then 3 years of residency making $45K/year. Then the starting salaries of pediatricians are roughly $100k.
Those are the types of numbers you're looking at in 2015. A much different picture than 10 years ago when the debt burden was a fraction of what it is today.

[Anonymous]

Hey, the time will eventually pass anyway.

So make it worth it.

If you do nothing, it will still pass. And then you may have some regrets.

People are living longer now so thirty two is not that old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mentioned this in the previous thread but going to medical school later in life was far more financially feasible 10 years ago than it is today.
Tuitions have skyrocketed---what was $25k 10 years ago (when I went) is now close to $70K. If you're going to medical school 10-15 years later than most, this investment becomes tricky because you're losing out on 15 years of salary.
Added to this, medical salaries have dropped.

It's doable to go to medical school in your 30's but it may not be financially wise. A previous poster mentioned a mid-thirties woman who became a pediatrician. To do that today (2015) the reality is that tuition would be $50k-80K/year x 4 years. (not counting any living expenses). Then 3 years of residency making $45K/year. Then the starting salaries of pediatricians are roughly $100k.
Those are the types of numbers you're looking at in 2015. A much different picture than 10 years ago when the debt burden was a fraction of what it is today.

I'm not sure what you are talking about. Debt was horrendous 10 yeas ago too.
As for the numbers you might be correct in a vacuum or if OP plots life as you have.
OP is 30 so likely has at least 8 years in the workforce in the bank possibly more. We don't know what he/she does or what the financial situation for them is. Depending on what it is they do now could potentially continue earning on a partial basis even during school.
Living expenses both during and after med school are person dependent. If OP is inclined to live at the highest end of things while ignoring incurred debt that is an issue.
We also do not know the schools OP is intending to attend which could be less than the figures you gave.
Then there is the area of medicine OP plans on practicing and the area of the country/world OP plans to settle.
OP might also be okay with not having millions in the bank by age 50.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey, the time will eventually pass anyway.

So make it worth it.

If you do nothing, it will still pass. And then you may have some regrets.

People are living longer now so thirty two is not that old.

Agreed! In a one way you are in a great position you don't have children or a spouse to worry about and you are old enough to have a decent picture of the real world.
At the very least you should apply at least you can say you tried.
Some level of regret in life is going to happen, but no need to regret something you have the power to change or attempt.
Good luck and when you graduate please come back and tell us!