Anonymous wrote:Only you can answer this OP.

I have a friend from college, she went to the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown, but from day one wondered whether she shouldn't be doing pre-med. She continued down the SFS path, partly because that was the path she was already on. She became an economist, but still felt the medical field draw. Figuring that it was too late to become an MD, she got a masters in public health. However, this didn't quench the desire to become an MD. Ultimately, she did go through medical school & residency (with young children) and is now an MD. She's happy now.

My general advice would be to say that it sounds like a pretty crazy investment at this time of your life, but maybe you won't be happy unless you do it - and in that case, you should.

Thanks for sharing. Advice noted.

Anonymous wrote:You should join the student doctor forums, they have a forum for non-traditional students. You'll see people on there who went to med school at age 40.

I myselft have thought about going to med school. I would love to be able to own my own doctor's office.

Thanks. I do peruse the site from time to time--just wanted a perspective from people not necessarily invested in the profession.

Anonymous wrote:Go for it.

The time will go by whether you do it or not. Fast forward to 2023, are you still an accountant? You should be in scrubs by then.

You kids will learn huge lessons from you.

No dress rehearsals, just life.

Thanks for your perspective!

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on your specialty- all residencies are brutal, but some are worse than others. If you do any kind of surgical residency, you will never see your children

From what I hear I think you're right in that training is brutal. I'm not even near the point of deciding on a specialty. I am interested, however, in primary care.

Anonymous wrote:There was another thread like this not long ago. I think most advice was don't do it. But perhaps look at doing something allied to medicine. I recall someone mentioning that you'd have to move for the residency and that could be difficult on your family, no?

Thanks for pointing it out the other thread--I'll look into it. I should've probably done a search before posting, actually. From what I know about applying for residency, moving is a distinct reality and can be hard on a family. Some have managed to stay on at the med school they attended, but I'm not assuming this will happen to me

Anonymous wrote:Have you explored other health care professions, like becoming a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant? If I already had two kids, I don't think I would want to commit to the very long training necessary to be an MD.

Thanks for your response. I have considered these two professions. Time wise, though, I don't necessarily think they're shorter than becoming a physician. To become a NP, I would need 1 yr to get into nursing school. I would then complete 2 yrs of nursing school and work for at least 1 yr before going to grad school to become a NP, which is an additional 2 years. If I wanted to do a fellowship or NP residency, that will also take additional time. On a practical level, though, they are good alternatives. They provide patient care, they are cheaper on average, and the job outlook looks favorable.

You should join the student doctor forums, they have a forum for non-traditional students. You'll see people on there who went to med school at age 40.

I myselft have thought about going to med school. I would love to be able to own my own doctor's office.

I would absolutely advocate for becoming a Physician's Assistant. You can do a much shorter program and have the same meaningful relationships with patients as a doctor. There are lots of job opportunities and it pays well. Not as well as a doctor, but you'd also incur less debt in paying for it.

Only you can answer this OP.

I have a friend from college, she went to the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown, but from day one wondered whether she shouldn't be doing pre-med. She continued down the SFS path, partly because that was the path she was already on. She became an economist, but still felt the medical field draw. Figuring that it was too late to become an MD, she got a masters in public health. However, this didn't quench the desire to become an MD. Ultimately, she did go through medical school & residency (with young children) and is now an MD. She's happy now.

My general advice would be to say that it sounds like a pretty crazy investment at this time of your life, but maybe you won't be happy unless you do it - and in that case, you should.

Go for it.

The time will go by whether you do it or not. Fast forward to 2023, are you still an accountant? You should be in scrubs by then.

You kids will learn huge lessons from you.

No dress rehearsals, just life.

What about a physician's assistant? You will probably need a Masters degree but you can choose your specialty.

I think it depends on your specialty- all residencies are brutal, but some are worse than others. If you do any kind of surgical residency, you will never see your children

There was another thread like this not long ago. I think most advice was don't do it. But perhaps look at doing something allied to medicine. I recall someone mentioning that you'd have to move for the residency and that could be difficult on your family, no?

Have you explored other health care professions, like becoming a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant? If I already had two kids, I don't think I would want to commit to the very long training necessary to be an MD.

I'd like to get some unbiased feedback on this

I've been working as an accountant for the past several years. Lately, I've been actively working towards becoming a physician. This isn't a linear, quick, or inexpensive change, I know, but I'm fascinated by the science and practice of medicine. I could see myself as a physician for the rest of my professional life. I'm also aware that the profession has its challenges. It is becoming increasingly bureaucratized and monetized. I still, however, respect and admire the physician patient relationship.

Anyway, including prerequisite coursework, it would take me 6 years to complete an MD and an additional 4 years for residency. My DW and I have 2 small children, and while I would be in school, she would be the sole bread winner. We have some savings, but it isn't a lot. I would have to finance my education and subsidize our expenses using loans. DW is supportive and with extreme planning and frugality we probably could make it work. But I'm concerned that I'd be putting too much of a burden on DW and the children. Do you think this is a wise move? I'd also appreciate feedback from anyone in a similar situation.

Thanks!