45 Year Old - Thinking About Medical School - Any Chance?

Nontraditional Premed Discussion
1

Hi everyone, I am so glad I found out about this website. I am 45 years old and have my BS (3.8 GPA) but I do not have any of the sciences. I am now enrolled in a community college taking chemistry and biology. If I manage to get through those courses with a “C” or better then I will take the remaining classes (Chem2, BIO2, Organic 1,2 and Physics) and then the MCAT.


Volunteer work in ER and 15 years as a personal fitness trainer.


With that said, I will be about 47 years old applying to medical school. Does anyone know if people that age have gotten into medical school?


Thanks!


Thomas

2

Yep, lots.


Aim higher than grades of “C”; no matter your ugrad GPA, those “C” grades will kill… most of us panic on here with "B"s. Don’t do CC unless you have to.


and Welcome!

3

A C or better will not do, you need to aim for A because applicants are dime a dozen. Your age may be an issue at some places but not at most of you meet the requirements and are a good candidate.

4

I hope so. I’m 47 and knocking out the pre-med science classes now.


The advice I received was to fulfill the undergrad science requirements at the best school at which you can get A’s. cc classes are not well respected unfortunately.

5

the age limit is yet to be determined – and a much debated topic here – I startedat 45 and felt like I was pushing the envelope a bit – you are definately the high end of the bell curve… but all you ca do is try

6

Thanks everyone for replying. It looks like I am not the only old one on here. Now, if I can just do well in my sciences and on the MCAT!

7

Go for it. I’m 47 and started medical school 3 months ago

8
  • thomasfx10 Said:
It looks like I am not the only old one on here.



You probably ARE the ONLY OLD one here, the rest of us just have chronological deviations compared to the standard population of pre-med students.
9

I am 50 years old, I just got accepted into UMDNJ-SOM today!!!

10

Awesome news! Go out and party but don’t kill those precious brain cells!

11
  • jkp2117 Said:
  • thomasfx10 Said:
It looks like I am not the only old one on here.



You probably ARE the ONLY OLD one here, the rest of us just have chronological deviations compared to the standard population of pre-med students.



ROTFLMAO!!!!!!
12

OUTSTANDING! This gives me hope! Thanks for sharing.

13

I am 45 as well though I’ve finished my pre-reqs. I had a great GPA for the pre-reqs (3.9) but want to warn you that AMCAS will average all of your pre-reqs together - even those from a quarter of a century ago. It’s really horrible. I signed up for premed classes in '86 and '89 but didn’t attend or drop those classes - so they turned into Fs. I started the premed thing again in 2007 and got 17 As and 2 B+s - but the med schools don’t see that 3.9 at all. They just see a 3.1. I guess that’s just something I want to warn you about. They don’t hold the traditional applicants for what they did 20 years ago (when they were in pre-school) but they’ll hold you accountable for every academic mistake you’ve made in your 27 year long collegiate career. I’m bitter - really bitter. But I still want to encourage you to work hard. It’s going to be difficult - really difficult - and you’ll get no slack whatsoever, but it just might pay off. I wish you the best of luck!

14
  • Still trying Said:
. . . but the med schools don't see that 3.9 at all. They just see a 3.1.



That's not exactly true. Med schools will see your transcript and they will see a strong upward trend. Also, AMCAS calculates GPAs out by year, total undergrad, post-bacc, cumulative GPA, etc, so if you have a 3.9 post-bacc, or a 3.9 GPA for your junior/senior year, they WILL see those numbers. It's certainly true that some med schools will just use overall GPA as a cut-off for screening and you may have little chance at those schools. However, many schools will look at the overall picture and excellent recent coursework and at least give you an interview.

My undergrad GPA was a 2.78, post-bacc GPA 3.98, cumulative undergrad ended up being around a 3.1. I applied to five schools and was accepted to all five. I know a few other non-trads with similar (or worse stats) who ended up in med school. It is a difficult challenge to overcome a poor GPA - you must make up for it a slew of excellent grades, LOR, and a good to great MCAT. It's far from impossible, though.
15

That is good new Emergency! I am just like “Still Trying” I have a high GPS for my B.S. at my Uni of 3.8 but 27 years ago I forgot to drops some classes and that turned into 4 “F”'s … Even if I do good on my req. sciences, the best I could get would be around 3.3. I wish they had a rule where bad college grades over 20 years old did not count. Can I get an Amen!

16

This may be a long shot, but perhaps you could petition the school to change those F grades into Ws? You didn’t take the class the whole way through and fail; you missed the withdraw deadline.

17

I called them up and asked the same thing. They said I should have done that within the first year but since it has been 27 years ago, it is too late. Thanks anyway!

18

I am 36 and the soonest I get into MedSchool would be 38. Am concern if they would even consider my application. Read ur discussion. Did u pass ur MCAT on May of 2011. Did you get into any med school yet? Any advice to share?


Thanks

19
  • IsItTooLateMedGal Said:
I am 36 and the soonest I get into MedSchool would be 38. Am concern if they would even consider my application. Read ur discussion. Did u pass ur MCAT on May of 2011. Did you get into any med school yet? Any advice to share?

Thanks



Rule 1: take a breath

We have students in their 30s, 40s and even 50s who apply and get accepted. Is is hard and difficult? Yes! It is impossible? No! If you don't try and apply you won't get in. If do work hard, get a high GPA, have good MCAT score, write an excellent application, and have a smashing interview, you might (I said might) get in. That is the bottom line for everyone, no matter the age.

Rule 10: beware of FUD - fear, uncertainty and and doubt.
20

Thanks Gonnif for inspiring some confidence for us oldies… I am in my early 50s and just considering whether I should be embarking on this perilous journey…still researching options at this point, particularly where to do my prerequisites.