Quote: I’m new here and not sure how to post a new thread so posting it here.
Out of frustration with my career as a chiropractor, a few months back I applied to Caribbean school sans MCATs thinking I’m too old to apply to U.S. medical school and very intimidated by the MCATs. It was only after being accepted that I started really doing the research and found forums like this one showing that much older folks do apply and sometimes actually get in to stateside schools. Now, I’m kind of wallowing in the quagmire wondering what I really should do. I’m still far from sure I want to do this at my age, young 40s, and with family. Not sure I have the stamina for med school and residency and a bit concerned about the realities of real world managed care practice. Also, I’m frightened by the realization that I wouldn’t be starting my new career until almost 50. That aside, which makes more sense? Suck it up, eat another year, take the MCATs hoping for a competitive enough score for a shot at 2007 class, or just go to the Caribbean with all that entails. By the time I could even matriculate at a U.S. school, I would be just about ready to come back from the rock for rotations. Is it that much harder for Caribbean grads that it’s worth another year to at least go for it. Would very much appreciate feedback from those that have been there, done that.
It’s funny how people put such a stigma on the Carib. I’m at a carib school do to circumstances but doing well and I have met dozens of Docs while I practiced as an RN for 18 years who were FMGs. If they can do it I can do it. But 1st choice should be US schools because the road to practice is easier for US students but most Carib students will practice just not in great numbers in some fields, my choice of FP is wide open and I expect little trouble wih a residency once I do well on the Step 1. Go with what your gut tells you and make the choice that is right for you and welcome.
Hi, everyone! I’ve been browsing this site for a long time. Thanks for the background information on how it began. The best of things in life are generally unplanned and as we say in art, happy accidents!! I’m really discouraged today because I bombed a Physics test that I hoped to do really well in. Right now I’m putting off writing my paper on concave/convex mirrors and the reflection of light. Other than that, I am loving being back in school full-time at 36!! Thanks for the site…it is so nourishing…I’ve browsed for a year and a half before I joined…good to know there are other people pursuing the dream of medicine.
Quote: Hi, everyone! I’ve been browsing this site for a long time. Thanks for the background information on how it began. The best of things in life are generally unplanned and as we say in art, happy accidents!! I’m really discouraged today because I bombed a Physics test that I hoped to do really well in. Right now I’m putting off writing my paper on concave/convex mirrors and the reflection of light. Other than that, I am loving being back in school full-time at 36!! Thanks for the site…it is so nourishing…I’ve browsed for a year and a half before I joined…good to know there are other people pursuing the dream of medicine.
Hi Artist2Doctor, I know the feeling of bombing a test that I hoped and needed to do well on. Don’t worry; put it behind you and keep moving forward because you can’t change the past, only the future (at least with current technology). Keep working toward your goal and you’ll get there.
I have been lurking in other topics and I feel very at home.
BTW One stupid question: When you guys say “Caribbean Schools” which schools exactly are you referring to? Does that include the schools in Puerto Rico?
Well, the American Association of Medical Colleges includes these schools (scroll down to find listing) in Puerto Rico on their member listing so I would presume that they are under AMCAS and are NOT considered Caribbean schools. However, I don’t know exactly how their applications process works. That’s where you’ll be able to tell - do they participate in AMCAS (American Medical College Admissions Service) or not?
I will assume that this is the appropriate area for me to post a hello.
Hello everyone from Saint Louis, Missouri. I descend from 16 generations of physicians and wanted to be as far away from medicine as I could, until last year. But, alas, I suppose this apple did not fall far from the tree. I’ve since returned to pre-medicine with the hopes of starting medical school in the fall of 2009. I have a 4.00gpa so far, but as all of you remember, that could change at any time. I hope to milk you guys for information over the next few years and I also want to thank whoever came up with this oldpremeds.com idea. More to come I’m sure.
I just recently got back into going to school after a detour of several years and allot of stupidity. I am currently finishing my Associates degree in Criminal Justice. I have a 4.0 and have the education bug. So I have been thinking about all the times while I was growing up that I thought about being an Emergency Medicine Doc. The explorer program, the nurses and doctors that I meet encouraging me to become a doctor and the interest in medicine that I have allways had.
So as many of you probably have guessed, with the success of my current education, I have been re-evaluating the idea of going to medical school after I complet my Associates degree (which should be in november of this year.)The one thing that was keeping me from really persuing medical school was my age. I am 33, going on 34 this May and I thought that I would be too old to start. I am so glad that I found this site. It has really helped me to understand that there are others out there that are the same age as me or older shooting for their dreams.
I hope to pick everyone’s brains for the medical school application process and pre-med classes, which I am trying to find at UC Davis. So if anyone has info on the Pre-Med classes at UC Davis that would be great. I’d love to be able to visit an ER to observe for a day, but that may not happen until I get into med school. ANy advice would be helpful and appreciated.
I am so grateful for this site. I was lost and had so many questions and this site has really put my mind to ease about the direction I’m taking. Thanks.
I’m really grateful that I found this site. I avoided message boards after lurking on studentdoc. I attended Rutgers Engineering a long time ago, and there were not many “pre-meds” at Rutgers then. The journey to becoming a physician seemed to be relegated to a select few who really valued medicine. Years later, Stony Brook appears to be nearly 1/5 pre-med, and while many are academically capable, few actually understand what medicine is. I greatly dislike the cutthroat attitude that I see, and on that particular message board. Even more, I dislike hearing that older pre-meds either have an “unfair” advantage, or have less of a chance for success due to the multitude of reasons that so many students wish existed.
I’m really happy to have found a place where there is more of a team mentality. After all, isn’t medicine all about working together to reach a common goal?
Just heard about this site from a professor of mine…its nice to see, I’m 34 and just began taking some pre-med courses, most people tell me I’m nuts, I just try to stay focused and enjoy the ride, I hear its quite a long one. For the first time in a long time, I’m enjoying myself.
And the access to this AWESOME group has quite honestly made my dreams become closer to reality. As an older pre-med a lot of the journey seems daunting if not impossible. This group makes all the difference in the world!!
Hi everyone. I am nervous and very excited about the journey ahead. I am 32 and will be starting pre-med courses in the fall. The only people I have told are my husband and mother (both are very supportive) and I am very grateful to have found this group.
Welcome to OPM! And congratulations on starting your pre-med coursework in the fall. I wish you the best of luck as you begin your journey. Be sure to keep us all posted as you progress!
