#FeelingTooOldForMedSchool #OvercomingSelfDoubt #PursuingYourDreams
Hey there, friend! 😊 If you’re feeling like you’re too old to pursue your dreams of going to medical school, I totally understand where you’re coming from. It’s completely normal to have doubts and fears about starting a new chapter in your life, especially when it comes to a challenging and time-consuming endeavor like medical school. But let me tell you, age is just a number and it’s never too late to follow your passion and make your dreams a reality.
In fact, many successful doctors and medical professionals didn’t start their journey until later in life, and they’re now thriving in their careers. So, let’s debunk the myth that you’re too old for med school and explore some reasons why pursuing your dreams at 28 is actually a great decision.
Here’s why age should never hold you back from pursuing your dreams:
Experience brings valuable insights 👩⚕️
– With a few more years under your belt, you’ve likely gained valuable life experiences and skills that will make you an even better physician. Whether it’s managing finances, juggling responsibilities, or simply having a better understanding of people and their needs, your life experiences can be a significant asset in your medical career.
You’re more focused and committed 💪
– Unlike some younger students who may still be figuring out their career path, you have a clear goal in mind and the determination to see it through. Your maturity and focus can help you stay committed to your studies and overcome any obstacles that come your way during medical school.
Age is just a number 📅
– Remember, age is simply a measurement of time and doesn’t dictate your ability to succeed. There’s no expiration date on pursuing your dreams, and you have the power to create your own timeline for success. Whether you start medical school at 24 or 28, what matters most is your dedication and passion for making a difference in the field of medicine.
Here are a few things to consider as you prepare for this new chapter in your life:
Seek support and guidance 🤝
– Surround yourself with positive and supportive individuals who can uplift you during this journey. Whether it’s friends, family, or mentors, having a strong support system can make a world of difference as you navigate the challenges of medical school.
Prioritize self-care and mental health 🧘♂️
– It’s essential to take care of your well-being as you embark on this new chapter. Prioritize self-care, seek professional help if needed, and find healthy ways to cope with stress and anxiety. Remember, your mental well-being is just as important as your academic pursuits.
Explore alternative paths to success 🌟
– If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the traditional route of medical school, consider alternative paths to entering the healthcare field. There are various options such as physician assistant programs, nursing school, or even pursuing a career in healthcare administration. The important thing is to find the path that aligns with your goals and strengths.
It’s never too late to follow your dreams and pursue a career in medicine. Despite the challenges and doubts you may face, remember that your passion for helping others and making a difference in the world is what truly matters. So, take a deep breath, believe in yourself, and know that your journey to becoming a physician is just beginning. You’ve got this! 💪👩⚕️
As you prepare to take the next steps towards your dream career in medicine, keep these key points in mind:
– Embrace your life experiences and how they can benefit your future medical career
– Understand that your focus and determination make you well-equipped for success at any age
– Remind yourself that age is not a barrier to pursuing your dreams – it’s simply a number
– Seek support from friends, family, and mentors as you navigate the challenges ahead
– Prioritize your mental health and self-care throughout your medical school journey
– Explore alternative paths to success within the healthcare field that align with your goals and strengths
Remember, your journey to medical school is unique to you, and it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. Keep moving forward with confidence and determination, and know that the future holds endless possibilities for your success in the field of medicine. You’re capable of achieving your goals, and your passion for making a difference in the world will guide you every step of the way. Good luck on your journey to becoming a physician – the world needs more caring and dedicated individuals like you. 🌟👩⚕️
I promise if you don’t make a plan and start now, you’ll be wishing that you’d started now in 4 years. You’ve gained life experience and grown, just map out a plan and take it one step at a time. Having the option and ability to do med school means you aren’t a failure. Don’t let yourself get in the way of your future success, but maybe book a session with a counselor just to bounce some thoughts off to
The best time to start was 4 years ago. The second best time to start is right now.
Just code
Age shouldn’t hold you back from what you want to do. Unrealistic standards of age are put on people now because of social media.
Lol. Sorry to laugh, but starting at 28 is still very young. There are people who enter med school in their late 30’s. You have ~35 years of working ahead of you. That’s longer than you’ve been alive. So you might as well go for it. Other than the exam, it sounds like you’ve proven to be a worthy candidate. Study for that exam.
My best friend started med school at 33. He saves premature babies for a living now
My mom went to medical school in her late 30s/early 40s while she was pregnant with me. I’m 26 now and only recently decided that I wanted to become a doctor and I only started to build clinical experience in late August (I was previously an ESL teacher in Korea for 3 years and then a lab assistant at a hospital, which inspired my new career goals). My estimations are that I probably will not start medical school until I’m 28 or 29 at the earliest. If I can’t start until I’m in my 30s, I’m okay with that too. I don’t think it’s too late for people like us
Well if you become a doctor you will be able to live a modest life and afford a decent house . Don’t fret about age.
Don’t let age meddle in your ways!
Just go apply right now or regret it later
the best is now! Forget the past and focus on now!
Rocky Marciano started boxing in his late 23
and became one of the biggest hits in boxing.
Age is just a number. Your main concern is your peers or social dilemma, or what would people say.
Isolate yourself from these negative things and start your career now!!
Best of luck 👍 ✨️ 💓
If you’re not motivated enough to finish the MCAT prep course, med school might not be the path for you.
Anytime you look for excuses not to start, you don’t start!
You can start at 28 or you can never start. The years will pass by anyway.
So ask yourself: would you rather 7 years pass by and you’re still not a doctor or would you rather be a doctor in 7 years?
Oh come on. There are ppl in their 40s in med school, and even older. If you really want to be a doctor, age is definitely not an excuse. Maybe you don’t want to do it?
Also, so many foreigners who were doctors in their countries have to repeat residency programs when they immigrate here. They don’t mind starting over, even in their 40s. You can do it, and the time will fly by.
7 years are going to go by either way. Would you like to be 35 and graduating from med school or 35 and debating whether or not you should start med school?
You better get that depression controlled before med school. It’s very intense and the stress can bring it on. It’s difficult to get in for several reasons but one big reason is that it’s very HARD!. You can always consider DO school; it’s not quite as competitive.
Motherfucker if you’re in any position to do it. And it sounds like you are and additionally want too
Just shut the fuck up and do it. Your 28 not fucking dead. And you could be fucking dead. You could not care or want anything at all. Go live your damn life. Move the pieces around and don’t worry about your timing so much. Its arbitrary. Don’t see failure. Just life.
Graduated college the first time in 1996, the second time in 2019, and now starting my masters in January.
I also felt like my life was a failure when I was 28 – in a dead end job and going into a divorce from the person I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with. Crawled into a deep dark place and almost ended everything.
But I made a few changes in my thinking, started taking better care of myself, changed jobs, met a new girl and now living a better life than I could have ever imagined. There is no magic solution other than to just keep living.
I started college at 18, struggled immensely the first couple years from just being irresponsible, non-dependable, and just not knowing what I wanted in life. Took some gap years, finished undergrad at 24. I personally wish I didn’t start college til my mid 20s, it wasn’t til later on did I figure out what I wanted, did I actually start taking life seriously. I would of done better had I of waited or went into the military first.
You may be doing yourself a massive favor by waiting, especially if you’re going figures into debt for this. Lots of young people go into this very unprepared, but you will have a better idea of yourself and you will carry yourself with much more ease.
You are not any age, you are alive! Still in your youth! Good luck!
Never too old. You could live til 90.
>I’m feeling like starting med school at 28 rather than when I was supposed to (24) just tells me I’m a fucking failure
>I feel like the life I wanted to build is gone. It’ll take me 4 years of medical school and 3 years of residency to become a physician.
Hon, my dad did a whole degree in Linguistics before deciding he wanted to become a doctor, and basically had to start from scratch because there isn’t a lot of overlap in those two fields. He was around your age when he got into medical school. He had a career as a physician that lasted 25 years, and is still working part time as a medical reviewer for disability benefits applications. He met my mom in med school and they built a life and raised a bunch of kids. They had their first just as they finished residency. Many of their peers had kids while going through residency. My own PCP got married and had two kids during her residency.
My dad wasn’t even the oldest person in his cohort in medical school or residency, by far. Some people even go into medicine as a second career, in mid life.
You’re not a failure. Everyone has a different timeline and different things to deal with. If you want to be a doctor, bust your butt and do the thing. Go for it. You’ll be mid thirties when you’re a fully fledged doctor and that’s totally fine. Life doesn’t end at 35. You can mope and be miserable and not be a doctor at 35, or you can get up and do it and be a doctor at 35. You’re in charge of your future.
ETA: if you want to be in medicine but want to start the practicing part sooner, consider going to school for Physicians Assistant rather than MD. Both my parents actually recommended that to any of their children and grandchildren who expressed interest in medicine despite being MDs themselves.
How do people not learn discipline and coping skills? If you’ve always wanted to be a Dr and have a chance, grow up, quit goofing around and get on it. If you think it is hard now wait until you bring that lack of focus and laziness to medical school.
My neighbor just started med school and she’s in her early or mid 30s. This was her plan. She wanted to have kids and go back to school once they were older.
She said it’s a little strange being an older student but she isn’t letting that distract her from her goal.
It’s way better to start at 28 than NEVER. We need doctors. You are still very young. Good luck kid.
I’m in my 40’s and am about to graduate from law school. 28 is NOT too late. Go…do it!’
[Car Mechanic went back to school became doctor by 51](https://www.npr.org/2022/10/05/1126661330/carl-allamby-mechanic-to-physician)
You would become a full attending at around 35 years old and work as a doctor for another 35 years (if you don’t want to retire early). You are going to reach 35 years old anyway, so why not try fulfill your dream? You only have one life
You are definitely not too old. You still have plenty of time. And it’s probably to your advantage that you took a few years in between graduating college and medical school to get some experience and figure out if you still wanted to become a doctor. And the answer is, yes! You do! It’s your calling!
And you’ll be a better doctor for it because you have real world experience, more compassion, more to pull from that will help you relate better to your patients.
Think about it this way: better to have taken some time to get experience and start a little later, than to have rushed right into medical school and then realize you didn’t want to do it and then have to start all over with zero real world experience!
Go for it, OP.
Dude. Get some fucking perspective here. You asked for some tea, so I’m going to spill it for you.
You have a lifetime of excuses as to why you didn’t study and do the exam.
And you are going, if I do all this, it will take so many years, and do I want to do it.
First, examine your goals. Do you really want to go to med school. Really? Because if you did, I think you might have cut through all those other excuses and done it.
Perhaps you really do want to be a physician. So if you do, then do it.
I’m 57. By your math, when you are 57, you would have been a doctor for 22 years by now.
But if you started at 24, you’d be a doctor for 26 years by now.
Really? 57 year old you is going to go, damn I wish I could be happy because I’ve only been a doctor for 22 years instead of 26. Those 4 years would have changed my life.
Do you realize how fucking ridiculous this sounds coming out of my mouth?
It’s a bit comical really.
So what I’m saying is. If you really want to be a doctor..and to help people. Then become a doctor for yourself first. Look at yourself objectively and diagnose why you are sabotaging yourself.
Dude. Just do it if it is what you want. You can’t change the past. Period. And if you keep beating yourself up saying ‘oh I’m to old..woe is me’, then you still won’t be a damn doctor.
I’m restarting my career at 57 as an artist. Having been a Chief Technology Officer for 25 years. I lost everything in the past year. Divorced. Starting my life as a gay man since I didn’t realize it till 56.
If I can restart and not be all woe is me, so can you.
And here’s the thing. I never thought I was fully qualified to be a CTO either. I have 25 years of chronic imposter syndrome.
I could have gone to MIT when I was young but I said ‘I’ll never get in, and I didn’t apply.’ Even though I got accepted to Georgia Tech at age 16. Self doubt will fuck you up.
You have worth. You have value. You are smarter than you think.
You posted his as a cry for help. And here it is. I’ve given you everything you need to pick yourself up and living your life INTENTIONALLY versus compromising on everything and yourself.
Fuck that. Your happiness is the ONLY thing that matters to you.
I will leave you with two things. First, a poem I wrote on healing. And second, my website.
Broken people can’t heal broken people
Only healed people can heal the broken
because if you don’t want to heal people for the joy of healing
you are not healed
and are still broken
because you do not fully know what joy is
https://be-self-evident.com
You’re not too old. That’s just what pride and attempting to live on everyone else’s timeline is telling you. I just saw a reel where the doctor started medical 🏥 school when she was 43. It’s only ‘too late’ when you’re 😵. Please work on your limiting mind and self esteem. If and when you do start, Remember that you deserve and earned right to be there.
You’re not a failure and it’s definitely not too late, unless you truly can’t imagine yourself still on residency in your mid-30s. But you are not alone in waiting and lots of times people who do other things for a couple of years before med school are much more able to handle the stress of it.
The one thing giving me pause about your post, though, is not about your age. You said that doubts, mental health concerns, and other responsibilities prevented you from studying and going forward to apply. If those issues aren’t mostly resolved, you should know that med school may just be one more onslaught of stress. It’s hard enough without the other issues you mentioned also happening at the same time. Just putting this out there because it might not be a good idea to go forward if you aren’t in a better place with all the rest yet.
And I know it’s not the same, but as you probably know, PAs can do so much of what MDs can do, for far less time in school and a lot less money. Maybe a different path to mostly the same place, if you are really concerned about the delay and how old you are.
All the best to you!
One of the most successful Doctors I know started med school at 46. 28 is nothing
So 28 plus 7 is 35… you’ll only be 35 when you become a doctor which gives you like 30 years of being a doctor before you retire. You’re still young af. Get it done
You’re not too old and it’s definitely not too late. But studying to be a doctor is still very demanding and takes a long time. You are at a prime age. You might want to spend the next 10 years starting a family as well. I have multiple friends that went into the medical field. And it is very challenging to balance med school and residencies with a partner and family life. So it depends what your priorities are and how much you can handle.
Maybe you want to do something else in the medical field that requires a shorter amount of schooling.
Lmao, dude nobody who gets into med school is a failure. Lighten up. You’re doing fine.
28 is young, give yer balls a tug!
Skip doctor and become an RN. Lots of demand for nurses everywhere, and way less time/effort/cost required to get qualified.
When you graduate med school you’ll be the same age as everyone who got an MD/PhD
Age ain’t nothing but a number. You have ppl that’s 80+ years old that just got their high school diploma and bachelor’s 🤷♀️. If that’s your dream then go for it.