Hello all. I was an RN for 5 years and have been a PA for 10 years. I have often thought about and desired moving to the next level(MD or DO) but being 45, married with 3 kids and a mortgage, I thought it unobtainable. I recently received an email solicitation from IUHS (a Caribbean med school) telling me I could obtain an M.D. from home with no MCAT( given I am a PA). This has certainly gotten my attention but……distance learning for med school? With no MCAT? I started doing some research and the school does have graduates in residency in the U.S. I also came across LECOM’s APAP which is much more desirable but there is the MCAT and it has been 12 years since my last college science class. What is the best and quickest way to prepare for the MCAT after such a gap since prerequisites?
I am trying to talk myself out of and into this IUHS thing but, if you can sit for the USMLE and match (or scramble) for residency is it that bad? Plus, we have been trying to sell our house for 2 years, initially to move up, more recently to prepare for 7 more years of school. No bites.
LECOM is preferable but IUHS tempting, any thoughts?
Oh, this is a great forum, glad I came across it.
- patodoc Said:
I am trying to talk myself out of and into this IUHS thing but, if you can sit for the USMLE and match (or scramble) for residency is it that bad? Plus, we have been trying to sell our house for 2 years, initially to move up, more recently to prepare for 7 more years of school. No bites.
LECOM is preferable but IUHS tempting, any thoughts?
Oh, this is a great forum, glad I came across it.
IUHS exhibited at our conference a few years ago and I wasn't impressed, nor were most of the senior members of OPM. However, with your background, I would speculate that you know what you need to learn so it could hypothetically work As for LECOM, they may want some updated science classes and then MCAT.
Lets talk about basic science classes for a minute. Both IUHS and LECOM as well as any other school have primarily book learning in difficult science the first two years. While your capacity for applying that is well entrenched as an RN and PA, do you still have the student skill set to study, learn, and most importantly take exams. The ability to place in a residency is STEP 1/USMLE exams. That is the hurdle you have go over. It will still be hard as many residency programs may dismiss IUHS, online classes, etc. On the other hand. Those are my thoughts as non-physician
As I remember, 18 states will not medically license IUHS graduates. That’ll further limit your residency options.
Although, I did know a DC-to-MD and a PA-to-MD from IUHS. One was a chief resident. The other was already practicing. Both readily admitted they were willing to accept the severe limitations of being IUHS graduates in order to somewhat maintain their current lifestyle and practice.
At the risk of resurrecting an old topic,
Is this a viable option?
I’m an active duty officer and would like to pursuas medicine as a second career once I become retirement eligible 4 years from now. I’ll be 39 then, just can not justify becoming an MD at an age above 47. In essence I’m looking to accelerate the path to getting there and have the stamina to practice and enjoy the fruits whe the time comes. Any suggestions?
- blackhawk_pilot Said:
Um. I realize 47 seems haggard and ancient to you.
I'm 47. I will be 48 at application to allopathic schools only. I may be 49 at 2nd round if I do not get in first time. Given that, I will be 53 or 54 at PGY-1.
Never come to board and disparage us "old folks" with canes and hearing aids, for we are liable to beat you with it.
That said, never do distance learning. Never, ever, ever. It looks like a cop out... especially when you'd be using that distance learning to compete against old farts like me... who gets mostly As at a land-granting university.
I second that motion Adoc2be. At 48, I face a good 2 good years before applying to med school which means I will be around 55 when starting residence life, however, it will not deter me from pursuing the dream.
IMHO blackhawk_pilot, you must make sure this is the path you want to take, or at least be ready to get rid of prejudices that might get the best of you.
One thing is certain, one must be careful with what one expresses in fora, such like this one.
Best luck in your search on-line or not,
Generally I agree with “no distance courses” however as an active duty officer, perhaps you could get away with it if there are no other legitimate options. That said, you do need lab courses and those really can’t be done through distance learning.
Before going down that path though I would call up a couple of adcoms at med schools you are interested in and present your situation and your desire to do some preparation via distance learning and get their feedback directly. If they are OK with it you may want to weave the rationale into your personal statement. Also if you do go this route, pick your distance course provider carefully - preferably a very reputable one which offers both bricks and mortar classes and distance classes (and perhaps who do not distinguish distance courses from class room courses on their transcripts). Don’t try to hide the distance courses though.
Just my thoughts for your situation.
blackhawk_pilot,
Read the following link:
http://www.oldpremeds.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?t…
Letting go of military ageism is first thing you need to do. Secondly, your thinking about being “useless and unproductive” till 47 isn’t correct: You begin treating patients starting your third year of medical school and earn a salary (albeit a lousy one) in residency.
blackhawk_pilot,
Distance learning is a non-option in this process as the other posters have alluded in the above responses. Medical schools won’t cut you any slack because you are active duty military either. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) is run by the military and their MD program (Hébert School of Medicine) requires that course work must be taken in a traditional classroom setting. Online courses, CLEP and AP are not acceptable to fulfill the prerequisites.
Here is the link:
http://www.usuhs.mil/medschool/admissions/ admissio…
Ok, first thanks for the replies. Did not mean to insult or berate people based on age. The key word on my question was “justify”. Meaning that although I know it is very posible to become anything one wants no matter the age, there’s also the side of reality and considerations that one must weight responsibly before jumping after a “dream” career. Some of those being life style and work balance/demand during the early years after residency, ROI such as the finances, and outlook to truly retired eventually debt free and enjoy the fruits. I know I’ll find the answer as I read more.
Again thanks for taking the time, I’m here because this is exactly the place where I know I’ll learn if this is the right decision or not. Not here to down talk based on age or such silliness.
BP,
Many of us, most of us, have felt the direct hit of “ageism” which is why it resonates so quickly amongst us… and also, why it irked me to read that quote, I also poked fun saying I’d beat you with a cane.
There are many on this forum who have decided, for just the reasons you listed, that the med school path is not for them. so instead of trodding the path, they stay here and help the crazies that decide there is no other path… at any age.
Welcome!
balckhawk_pilot,
Is not about what you say but how you say it, perhaps that’s because your intro resonated the wrong way around here.
Reading you reply reminded me of a phrase I read at some point in this forum of wisdom. It was something along these lines: “There is a difference between convenience and commitment”, the former will analyze complex factors such as ROI, time to break even, etc…, the latter will not stop until achieving the goal.
Everyone knows what really makes their hearts tick, so the answer you are looking for is in your hands.
At the risk of beating a dead horse…don’t do distance learning to fulfill medical school requirements.
Cheers,
Judy
@PAToDoc: Judy is right: distance learning is no substitute for book learning within an accredited academic setting. Engaging in distance learning will diminish your chances of getting into a residency, and, as stated above, a residency. As far as the MCAT is concerned, most U.S. medical schools require the MCAT, but not all (for example, I think Johns Hopkins does not).
@Blackhawk_pilot: Don’t let your age or your projected age dissuade you from pursuing medicine. However, rushing things may not work in your best interest. There have been lots of premeds that have gone to medical school in their 40s and 50s and are practicing successfully. Depending on where you want to go and what you want to practice, being an older applicant may limit your choices of schools, residencies, and jobs – but there are still opportunities, and there may be ways you can still achieve your dream career or something close. But, I also agree with you that one should not fool oneself that one can be anything they want at any age; some jobs have age restrictions, whether written and outspoken or subtle and hidden. But the upper limit for medicine is still well above age 47.