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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Reviving this year old thread as I embark on my own path to becoming a doctor...I'm 45! I'm divorced with kids, although they aren't super young. I'm starting a DIY post bacc this fall and hoping to app by 47. If I complete med school and residency by 55 even I'll be happy (overjoyed really) spending 10-20 years practicing.

As for cost, I enrolled as a second degree seeking student, which opened federal student loans (there is a cap for undergrad students that I didn't reach with my first degree). Then I will likely apply for NHSC loan forgiveness as a primary care doc in a rural area. I've also considered the military option where they pay for school AND give you a stipend in exchange for a commitment of X years.

I've been fortunate to spend lots of time with my kids not working too much outside the home. I've volunteered, went on more field trips than I can count, helped with homework, cooked fresh, healthy meals, listened to and counseled on friend dramas and had many cool experiences with them....all things that are important to me as a parent. Now they are older and more academically independent I feel as though I can get back to me a little.

I'm not adding to this old thread for any sort of encouragement, but instead to offer some to anyone who asks themselves this very question. There is lots of support  and advice at oldpremed.org. Good luck! [/quote]
Not to be a downer, but you do know that getting into a residency program is not guaranteed, right? It's basically the med school interview/admission process all over again (flights, hotels, application fees) but even more competitive because spots are much more limited than med school. The "we'll pay you back" rural programs only happen if you get into residency. Hours can be grueling as a med student and more so as an intern/resident. 
signed,
-someone who has worked in medical education for 10+ years[/quote]m
What happens to Med school graduates who don't get a residency?[/quote]
I'm the pp who works in medical education. 
Those who don't get into residency on their first try generally apply again the following year (more $ for interviews, flights, hotels, applications). They often use that year "off" to do research and/or gain clinical experience. However, the odds are against them statistically in terms of obtaining a spot that second time. Program directors can be hesitant to seriously consider someone who didn't match the previous year. There are legitimate reasons for taking a year off (serious illness in family, having a kid (although most plan for summers or times when they can take off)), but it's a big gamble for a program to take someone who went unmatched the previous year. [/quote]

[b]Doctor here.  I don't know of anyone in my medical school class who didn't get into residency. A few didn't match on match day, but then they scrambled for the open spots and all in my class went somewhere. Unless you are tied to an area, if you are willing to travel, some place will take you, especially if you passed parts 1 and 2 of your boards, us med school grad, decent recs, no disciplinary issues etc.[/b]

Should consider being a PA or NP, you get to treat patients, but less school and stress. In some places, you can make more than primary care doc.

[/quote]
Just curious - when did you graduate med school? Competition, even among what used to be the "safety" programs (family medicine and internal medicine), is pretty fierce.  You have US grads competing with DO grads (for those DO students that take USMLE Step 1, Step 2-CK and Step 2-CS) and IMGs IMG = International medical graduates, some of whom are US citizens who chose to study abroad - not all go to Caribbean Med schools. Some attend excellent programs in Canada, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, etc. 
It's no longer enough to just get "decent recs" and pass your boards with decent scores. Even mid-tier programs look for excellent recommendations (and reading letters it's easy to tell how they really feel about the candidate), above average scores, high pass - honors in acting internships (especially for the rotation associated with their chosen field),  and usually some kind of community service and/research. 
Sure, some might go unmatched because they picked a specialty out of their reach (scores not high enough), didn't apply to appropriate programs (again, top-tier programs with mid to low-tier scores), didn't rank enough places, etc. If they go through SOAP (supplemental offer and acceptance program - it hasn't been "the scramble" for several years;) ) they might find a position - but you're right in that it might be in a location that they hate. 
2017 - record number of applicants for The Match (2016 was also a record breaking year): http://www.nrmp.org/press-release-2017-nrmp-main-residency-match-the-largest-match-on-record/

What happens to those who never get accepted to a residency program?: research, pharmaceutical company, go back for another degree...[/quote]

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