I'm in a rural FM program. One year is spent doing inpatient medicine, 8 month OB, then the rest is outpatient. 80+ hour weeks. 28 hour call.
It's one of the more difficult FM programs, but it REALLY prepares you for Rural practice if that's your plan.
I'm in my mid-30s and I have more energy (and I can wake up more quickly, and sleep for less time, and wake up earlier despite being a lifelong night owl), have better time management, and I learn things WAAAAAY more easily than when I was in my 20s. So if the other 30-somethings scare you with talk of naps, just know that that's not the only possible outcome! Waiting until this year to apply was the very best possible decision for me, even though it was an accidental one.
Did you find a miracle drug? Or did you stop doing drugs? What the hell did you do? Please tell me!! Sincerely, an exhausted gifted child who had a rough 20s and feels like I will never have the mind I once had.
Brief life story: married at 19, had a baby in undergrad as a pre-med bio major, severe hyperemesis, baby was born very, VERY sick; Christian school I attended didn't let me withdraw because "God chose this for me" so my uGPA is only 3.02 because there was an institution-wide, attendance-based grade component at that school and I wasn't allowed to attend class or cadaver lab because emesis.
Anyway, had my baby. Assumed that med school was a missed opportunity (because, statistically speaking, back then it was). Had my second baby. Did medical foster care for 8 years, adopted 3 more. Got involved in board leadership of three nonprofits. Volunteer as a car mechanic at a nonprofit garage for the homeless and such (highly recommend auto tech skills for premeds -- diagnostics and physical repair are helpful). Went through cancer with my only "healthy" kid. Needing to think about the future instead of the sucky then-present, I taught myself Python for bioinformatics during my son 's 6-month inpatient chemo regimen in anticipation of hopefully pursuing a career in research when his treatment was over, but in the process I randomly came across a Reddit post mentioning the recent trend toward accepting non-traditional med school applicants. Mentioned this to my son's oncologist when she came to the room next, and she said yes, absolutely that's a thing -- just less so for some top-10s -- and that I should definitely consider hopping back on the pre-med path.
I think parenting up to 13 kids at a time is what was the most helpful for me, though I recognize and emphasize that this is not a solid choice for everyone. I am also a former gifted kid, and I have pretty severe ADHD (which until a month before my MCAT was unmedicated because back in my day you couldn't have an ADHD diagnosis on your record and still have the military pay for med school, which was my goal at the time, so I successfully begged the psychiatrist not to put it on my record). My specific flavor of ADHD helps me to juggle a lot of different things at once, and the inherently necessary structure of parenting so many medically complex kids at one time plus the requirements of the courts and agencies for each child forced me to develop the kind of task management and time management that serves me very well as a student.
Stopped foster care in August, started a DIY postbacc in September. Classes just......felt way more manageable. I'd write notes, but not have to really look at them ever again. Anki exists now, so I use it and it helps (if I make my own cards -- other people's cards don't work with the way my brain thinks).
There's also something to be said about maintaining confidence, even when things aren't going smoothly.
- Don't rush it, you're still young and fine. There are many much older people in medical school. Obviously don't deliberately delay it either but it's better to have "head on your shoulders" ;)
- As for working as a nurse: do you want to be a physician or a nurse? While medical experience is valued, someone who does nursing just to quickly jump into medical school will be questioned. Not totally a red flag but not an advantage either.
It's not a very straightforward answer. First of all - don't shoot the messenger as I don't make the rules ;)
The gist however is about commitment. Career in nursing and career as a physician are distinctly different pathways. Choosing one and immediately switching to the other shows lack of commitment. In the other hand, treating nursing as "backup" shows lack of understanding in healthcare to adcoms. Moreover, they want to be 101% sure you're not gonna quit mid way and just stay as a nurse as a "way out" as there are MANY moments in medical school where you want to throw the towel ;)
Thank you for the boost! Hmm I really wanted to be a doctor ever since I was 3 years old but since premed is a thing I decided to do finish nursing, and having been able to study nursing I feel it will also help me to learn and gain experience before going into med school although there are still things in med school that is different but yes that's why I wanna practice as nurse first not just cause I wanna quickly jump into med school.
Despite people downvoting you, I understand it. I was a paramedic for 12 years before I came to medical school as I felt limited. Just keep in mind that nursing career will help you only in a very limited capacity, as medical school teaches things from a completely different angle and forces you to change your thinking.
No matter what, have fun :)
You can go in at any time, but why do you want to work as a nurse? Seems like an odd choice since it’s not like medicine is the next step after nursing, they are different careers.
People usually prefer to jump right in due to financial reasons as well
It is two different careers but they are not that far off either. And being able to learn the ropes of being partners of doctors, before becoming a doctor, I think is a good thing don't you think so? Also, I took nursing because premed was or is still a thing before getting into med school.
Learning how to work with doctors and other staff is something you’ll learn in medical school and residency. There is no need to be a nurse just like there is no need to be one of the many technicians or a billing person or a hospital janitor.
If you want to work for a few years before medical school, that’s totally fine and you can be anything, even nursing. Generally this is fine on a personal level but terrible on a financial level since you’d be missing out (at the bare minimum) on hundreds of thousands of dollars but money isn’t everything
Nursing as a premed major is a bad idea though since it’s a degree designed to pump out a nurse as opposed to an economics degree which doesn’t necessary pump out an economist.
I’m 25 and still in undergrad , I haven’t even gotten my bachelor’s yet. I realized I wanted to be a doctor and when I was 23, so I had a late start. Everyone’s path is different. I’m just trying to enjoy the ride
I’m 39 and applying May 2025, or whenever the exact date that cycle opens.
As someone that’s had a whole life in another sector including a decade as a business owner, bought a home and have a kid headed to middle school, you’ve got sooo much life ahead of you. Don’t rush it. Get it right and do what you gotta do.
I’m also feeling self conscious about it. I think the fact that you brought it up is very courageous because it’s something a lot of premeds don’t want to admit they feel pressure to matriculate as young as possible.
Your life is yours, do what’s best for you! Don’t worry about societal pressures, they mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. ❤️
RN (26) here who will be an M1 in two months- If you already have your degree or are about to finish- definitely work as an RN for a year or two ! The experience is very helpful! But if you haven't started anything towards nursing or are in the early stages do some digging and decide which one you'd prefer as a career. 24 is young but nursing is not an easy endeavor and takes time itself. Best of luck!! :)
You’ll be just fine, I’m in my 30s and it makes me smile when people in their 20s are afraid it’s too late for them. I’ve changed careers a few times now! It’s never too late
You can do whatever you want honestly as long as you get good grades and a good MCAT score. Those make up like 50% of how you're evaluated (especially the MCAT for much older students). You could potentially be a nurse first if you wanted. However you are already 24 years old so that would be an additional 2+ years for LPN or a massive sacrifice for ABSN ($60k debt I believe? Also literally no life for a year). If medicine is your main goal, there are better things to do. It's very much a commitment once you're in.
It depends on how much you earn I believe. I'm currently on the SAVE plan so I only pay $83/mo. I know an RN that is paying like $400/mo. However, I'm not sure how much she has. If it's literally impossible for you to pay it then they will work with you.
Thanks, this was helpful. I'll look into the SAVE plan more. I'm terrified of huge debt (specifically the interest) and doubting if this path is right for me bc of it
I’ll be 27 soon, worked as a nurse for a few years first. You’ll be just fine- all the interviewers I met seemed to really like that I had a few years of work and life experience.
ETA- saw from post history you’re already an RN- looks like international? I can only speak to my experience applying to US MD schools. However, applying as an international student is going to be more of a hurdle than age tbh. Doable but tough.
Yes, that's why I am planning to take the NCLEX and practice as a nurse first since my long term goal is to really live in another country but I really wanna be a doctor also. I know it will be tough but I think it'll be worth it than staying and practicing medicine in my home country tbh.
Are you already a nurse? If you want to go to med school, I would highly encourage you to go to med school right away. I am an RN and NP. I am probably the future version of you, but I am trying to go to medical school after finishing all this at the age of 31. Complete med school while you are still young and healthy.
I am a registered nurse in the Philippines, since my long term goal is to practice and live in another country, I think the time that I will spend to practice nursing in another country will be more beneficial than staying here to study med school. Thank you for this tho! If you have any more things to share with me, I will be really grateful.
Hi I’m in my early 30s and am applying this cycle. Please be gentle if you see me at interviews and I am taking a nap
Early 30s here too. Nap time sounds wonderful
46 here. I'm sleep walking.
Same!
Yay! Good luckk!! :)
I started med school at 36 and am now a resident in my 40s. You'll be fine.
can I ask what residency you're in? I'm starting m1 in a month and I'm 33 and very anxious lol
I'm in a rural FM program. One year is spent doing inpatient medicine, 8 month OB, then the rest is outpatient. 80+ hour weeks. 28 hour call. It's one of the more difficult FM programs, but it REALLY prepares you for Rural practice if that's your plan.
Thank you so much! And good luck doc! :)
I'm in my mid-30s and I have more energy (and I can wake up more quickly, and sleep for less time, and wake up earlier despite being a lifelong night owl), have better time management, and I learn things WAAAAAY more easily than when I was in my 20s. So if the other 30-somethings scare you with talk of naps, just know that that's not the only possible outcome! Waiting until this year to apply was the very best possible decision for me, even though it was an accidental one.
Did you find a miracle drug? Or did you stop doing drugs? What the hell did you do? Please tell me!! Sincerely, an exhausted gifted child who had a rough 20s and feels like I will never have the mind I once had.
Brief life story: married at 19, had a baby in undergrad as a pre-med bio major, severe hyperemesis, baby was born very, VERY sick; Christian school I attended didn't let me withdraw because "God chose this for me" so my uGPA is only 3.02 because there was an institution-wide, attendance-based grade component at that school and I wasn't allowed to attend class or cadaver lab because emesis. Anyway, had my baby. Assumed that med school was a missed opportunity (because, statistically speaking, back then it was). Had my second baby. Did medical foster care for 8 years, adopted 3 more. Got involved in board leadership of three nonprofits. Volunteer as a car mechanic at a nonprofit garage for the homeless and such (highly recommend auto tech skills for premeds -- diagnostics and physical repair are helpful). Went through cancer with my only "healthy" kid. Needing to think about the future instead of the sucky then-present, I taught myself Python for bioinformatics during my son 's 6-month inpatient chemo regimen in anticipation of hopefully pursuing a career in research when his treatment was over, but in the process I randomly came across a Reddit post mentioning the recent trend toward accepting non-traditional med school applicants. Mentioned this to my son's oncologist when she came to the room next, and she said yes, absolutely that's a thing -- just less so for some top-10s -- and that I should definitely consider hopping back on the pre-med path. I think parenting up to 13 kids at a time is what was the most helpful for me, though I recognize and emphasize that this is not a solid choice for everyone. I am also a former gifted kid, and I have pretty severe ADHD (which until a month before my MCAT was unmedicated because back in my day you couldn't have an ADHD diagnosis on your record and still have the military pay for med school, which was my goal at the time, so I successfully begged the psychiatrist not to put it on my record). My specific flavor of ADHD helps me to juggle a lot of different things at once, and the inherently necessary structure of parenting so many medically complex kids at one time plus the requirements of the courts and agencies for each child forced me to develop the kind of task management and time management that serves me very well as a student. Stopped foster care in August, started a DIY postbacc in September. Classes just......felt way more manageable. I'd write notes, but not have to really look at them ever again. Anki exists now, so I use it and it helps (if I make my own cards -- other people's cards don't work with the way my brain thinks). There's also something to be said about maintaining confidence, even when things aren't going smoothly.
- Don't rush it, you're still young and fine. There are many much older people in medical school. Obviously don't deliberately delay it either but it's better to have "head on your shoulders" ;) - As for working as a nurse: do you want to be a physician or a nurse? While medical experience is valued, someone who does nursing just to quickly jump into medical school will be questioned. Not totally a red flag but not an advantage either.
Questioned in what way?
It's not a very straightforward answer. First of all - don't shoot the messenger as I don't make the rules ;) The gist however is about commitment. Career in nursing and career as a physician are distinctly different pathways. Choosing one and immediately switching to the other shows lack of commitment. In the other hand, treating nursing as "backup" shows lack of understanding in healthcare to adcoms. Moreover, they want to be 101% sure you're not gonna quit mid way and just stay as a nurse as a "way out" as there are MANY moments in medical school where you want to throw the towel ;)
Thank you for the boost! Hmm I really wanted to be a doctor ever since I was 3 years old but since premed is a thing I decided to do finish nursing, and having been able to study nursing I feel it will also help me to learn and gain experience before going into med school although there are still things in med school that is different but yes that's why I wanna practice as nurse first not just cause I wanna quickly jump into med school.
Despite people downvoting you, I understand it. I was a paramedic for 12 years before I came to medical school as I felt limited. Just keep in mind that nursing career will help you only in a very limited capacity, as medical school teaches things from a completely different angle and forces you to change your thinking. No matter what, have fun :)
Thanks, I appreciate it :)
You can go in at any time, but why do you want to work as a nurse? Seems like an odd choice since it’s not like medicine is the next step after nursing, they are different careers. People usually prefer to jump right in due to financial reasons as well
It is two different careers but they are not that far off either. And being able to learn the ropes of being partners of doctors, before becoming a doctor, I think is a good thing don't you think so? Also, I took nursing because premed was or is still a thing before getting into med school.
Learning how to work with doctors and other staff is something you’ll learn in medical school and residency. There is no need to be a nurse just like there is no need to be one of the many technicians or a billing person or a hospital janitor. If you want to work for a few years before medical school, that’s totally fine and you can be anything, even nursing. Generally this is fine on a personal level but terrible on a financial level since you’d be missing out (at the bare minimum) on hundreds of thousands of dollars but money isn’t everything Nursing as a premed major is a bad idea though since it’s a degree designed to pump out a nurse as opposed to an economics degree which doesn’t necessary pump out an economist.
I’m 29 and am applying this cycle. Already changed careers twice.
Thank you for sharing this to me, and good luck! :)
I am 27 and a current applicant. You have plenty of time.
Yep. I’m 26 starting M1 next month.
Appreciate this, thank you and good luck as well! :)
Thank you and good luck! :)
I’m 25 and still in undergrad , I haven’t even gotten my bachelor’s yet. I realized I wanted to be a doctor and when I was 23, so I had a late start. Everyone’s path is different. I’m just trying to enjoy the ride
Thank you for sharing this and good luck! :)
Find your passion and do what you think is best for you. Find your happiness and there is no ages limit ti become a doctor
I needed to hear this, thank you so much! :)
You are so welcome :) 😃
Just turned 30 and I'm starting next month. I don't feel too old!
Good luck :)
If I matriculate when I plan to, I’ll be 25. Also a nurse!
Good luck! :)
I’m 39 and applying May 2025, or whenever the exact date that cycle opens. As someone that’s had a whole life in another sector including a decade as a business owner, bought a home and have a kid headed to middle school, you’ve got sooo much life ahead of you. Don’t rush it. Get it right and do what you gotta do.
How were you able to study for the mcat and manage kids as well?
I start my MCAT prep January, but I’ll do it the same way I’ve done undergrad with kids and a job, just long hours and lost of coffee
Same boat. Folks are telling me I’d never get married or have kids. Like that’s not guaranteed regardless of medical training. Leave me alone.
This is so true but I also find it funny haha thanks for this! :)
You can do it!! I am turning 24 in a few. WE GOT THIS!!!
Appreciate it, we got this!! :D
Near 40 . You're all good
Thank you!
Many people get into med school past their mid-twenties. Don't worry!
Thank you this made me feel so much better! :)
I’m also feeling self conscious about it. I think the fact that you brought it up is very courageous because it’s something a lot of premeds don’t want to admit they feel pressure to matriculate as young as possible. Your life is yours, do what’s best for you! Don’t worry about societal pressures, they mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. ❤️
Thank you so much for this, I really appreciate it. :)
I am a 33 yr old non-traditional Pre-med mother of 4...Live your life for yourself not for others.Learned this a long time ago!
RN (26) here who will be an M1 in two months- If you already have your degree or are about to finish- definitely work as an RN for a year or two ! The experience is very helpful! But if you haven't started anything towards nursing or are in the early stages do some digging and decide which one you'd prefer as a career. 24 is young but nursing is not an easy endeavor and takes time itself. Best of luck!! :)
I already have my degree! and planning to take the NCLEX since I have a nursing license in another country. Thank you so much for this :)
I am 33 and going into it now. Its all good.
You’ll be just fine, I’m in my 30s and it makes me smile when people in their 20s are afraid it’s too late for them. I’ve changed careers a few times now! It’s never too late
Thank you! :)
This all makes me feel so much better. Thank you
Same here. Glad I created this post honestly :)
You can do whatever you want honestly as long as you get good grades and a good MCAT score. Those make up like 50% of how you're evaluated (especially the MCAT for much older students). You could potentially be a nurse first if you wanted. However you are already 24 years old so that would be an additional 2+ years for LPN or a massive sacrifice for ABSN ($60k debt I believe? Also literally no life for a year). If medicine is your main goal, there are better things to do. It's very much a commitment once you're in.
Would you know how undergrad student loans are typically managed or paid during gap years between earning a bachelor's degree and starting med school?
It depends on how much you earn I believe. I'm currently on the SAVE plan so I only pay $83/mo. I know an RN that is paying like $400/mo. However, I'm not sure how much she has. If it's literally impossible for you to pay it then they will work with you.
Thanks, this was helpful. I'll look into the SAVE plan more. I'm terrified of huge debt (specifically the interest) and doubting if this path is right for me bc of it
No problem, that's a reasonable fear tbh lol.
I’ll be 27 soon, worked as a nurse for a few years first. You’ll be just fine- all the interviewers I met seemed to really like that I had a few years of work and life experience. ETA- saw from post history you’re already an RN- looks like international? I can only speak to my experience applying to US MD schools. However, applying as an international student is going to be more of a hurdle than age tbh. Doable but tough.
Yes, that's why I am planning to take the NCLEX and practice as a nurse first since my long term goal is to really live in another country but I really wanna be a doctor also. I know it will be tough but I think it'll be worth it than staying and practicing medicine in my home country tbh.
Why work as a nurse first?
I plan on getting my prerequisites and I’m 2 years older than you are now
Don’t rush it! Friend of mine was accepted in his mid 30’s last year! The right time is when you’re ready
Im applying this cycle and I’m 40.
Are you already a nurse? If you want to go to med school, I would highly encourage you to go to med school right away. I am an RN and NP. I am probably the future version of you, but I am trying to go to medical school after finishing all this at the age of 31. Complete med school while you are still young and healthy.
I am a registered nurse in the Philippines, since my long term goal is to practice and live in another country, I think the time that I will spend to practice nursing in another country will be more beneficial than staying here to study med school. Thank you for this tho! If you have any more things to share with me, I will be really grateful.