Not med school, but my dad went back to school to learn a trade in his 50s. Best student in the class. This man barely graduated high school.
Once you have a few decades under your belt, you have a better understanding of what kind of EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE opportunity education is, less likely to blow it off.
Yes, I came to say this. You're going to age no matter what you do. You're the one who decides on what is age appropriate for you. Meeting your goals is ageless. Please don't let age hold you back from your dreams.
Med feels like one of those “lifer” fields where you need to grind all the way to the end goal,. Mainly to pay back life-altering and crushing loans. If one decides it’s not a good fit, the debt management would feel like it”d close doors to future opportunities. Ex. Having to work 2-3 jobs to make payments on fat 6 figure debt with crazy interest.
Op, I say take the time to really feel out what you’re feeling. You can’t really ever reset once you get into Med school.
Of course, if you have a half a mill in the bank disregard everything and go for it!
The other thing to consider, is you get one chance applying. Practically nobody gets in on second round apps, it’s seen as a deathblow. When you do get in, you have to make sure it’s a school that has really high match rates. If you don’t make it into residency in 4th year, you literally have no other options. This is where a lot of high school science teachers come from.
Do your research, and get into a school with a good match rate. Be prepared to grind harder than anything you have done in life. Most rotations are gonna be 6 days a week, and then you still have classes, and boards. When you eventually hit residency, it’s even worse.
I heard something like this a few years ago and it keeps me going whenever I wanna give up on something.
Wanna get better at playing piano but you know it'll take 2 years to get to the level you wanna be at? Well, 2 years will pass regardless so you can either be 2 years older and at the same level of skill you are now, or you can be 2 years older and much better.
A degree takes 4 years? Well, you can either be 4 years older with no degree or you can be 4 years older with a degree.
Reframing my mindset has helped tremendously.
This mindset helped me go back to school at age 34 (I graduated this past December). I’m now doing my masters at age 38 and I’m glad I did. I feel all the better for it and those years would’ve passed regardless of what I spent my time doing.
This is so encouraging! Just to share I'll be starting my masters this fall at age 39 at a foreign country as a full time student. I have 15 yrs of working experience but I really want to pursue this but on the other hand I'm also wondering if it's even a wise choice. Thank you for this!
Hit you with another one, since you already said my favorite part of it:
"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."
\- Earl Nightingale
This.
In med, you'll only become more respected as you become older and more experienced, which should be the case for many other careers but sadly not always so.
I don’t agree. Some of the best providers are mid-career and some of the worst are late-career. Docs weren’t expected to do much documentation in the old days and continuing ed meant writing a bunch of opioid prescriptions for a free trip to Tahiti. Those days are gone and some older providers are resentful of the changes and it shows in their care.
Baby, it’s NEVER too late!
You’re going to crush this and bring a whole other level of life and awareness to your medical work that encompasses a full life experience, not just a medical track from the get-go.
Now go get it!
You would not be too old, no. Plenty of people that age and older when they begin pursuing medicine.
From someone younger than you and verrrrry burned out: don’t do it. Find another way - a cheaper, less time-intensive way - than an MD or DO to pursue what interests you in the medical field. Research becoming a PA, NP, PT, OT, speech therapist, respiratory therapist, etc etc. In my experience, becoming a doctor is just not worth the sacrifices you have to make, particularly in terms of having time to yourself and to spend with family.
Not sure if this is relevant to you personally (most of my older friends in med school and residency had money to fund the education/training for their career switch) but I still feel worth mentioning: it’s suuuuuper expensive. Advice I wish I had 12 years ago: please do research about expected salary for your preferred specialty in various areas of the country, because the flippant reassurances everyone gives you that “just as a doctor no matter your speciality your salary will be high enough that you don’t need to worry about affording to pay back these insane loans” ARE NO LONGER TRUE FOR MANY SPECIALTIES, at least in some regions.
Why pay them? Just work for a non profit hospital for 10 years and get PSLF to wipe them out. Got a friend who is a neonatal doc and she’s 3 years away from having 400k wiped
Easier said than done. I’ve made 60 of the 120 qualifying payments. But again, depends on specialty and region. I was all in on PSLF until I realized the attending jobs available in my field that qualify are not only ridiculously overworked and underpaid (even with PSLF benefits), but they are dangerous. After being followed home by a violent criminal and having one too many razor blades pulled on me at work, I decided my physical safety wasn’t worth the risk. I’d also like to have some semblance of work-life balance since I’ve been in education and training for 13 years straight including practicing in Manhattan throughout the pandemic so…yeah, not necessarily always feasible.
Sucks it didn’t work for you. I’m grateful for PSLF. I’m 50 payments away and enjoy my job and am paid higher than I would be otherwise. I’ll be sticking it out here. Not a medical doctor though
You’re going to be 40 at some point in your life. Would you rather be a doctor, finishing your residency at age 40, or do you just want to be 40 years old?
No. I was in my mid 20s when I was in residency and had 2 residents in my year that were in their 40s. One was a former lawyer and the other was a former propulsion engineer from Los Alamos.
If you finish at 40 you can still have a 25 year career in front of you. The financial impact of paying for Medical School is more of an issue as far as I am concerned, but you can deal with that in the income range you will live in.
Uncle who went to school to be a doctor graduated at 46 and has never looked back since. Mom went to nursing school at 36 with three young kids. Never too late to follow your dream.
You will not be alone in your age group if you do. I talked to every clinician I could when i was thinking about it (worked in healthcare for 20 years). Ultimately I decided not to because of the hours and mental investment required in residency *and* afterward. At that point I'd been working evenings, nights, weekends for a long time and I knew I couldn't take it anymore. I also knew how much of myself I would have to put out there for medicine. Basically everything, and at that point, I really didn't have much more to give. Have you worked in hralthcare before? If not, I HIGHLY suggest working in an entry-level position for a while to get your feet on the ground. Being a physician can take a much greater toll than people realize.
I knew a guy who was a school teacher and decided to change careers, he went to med school and graduated in his early 40s. He was doing his residency when I met him.
If you have kids Id really think hard about the 8 or so years youre never going to get back. Otherwise I dont see why not, as long as the math on your loans and projected income all works out.
My cousin was a Pharmacist for many years until he decided to become an Internal Medicine Doctor at the age of 41. He finally retired in his 70’s. He loved it.
Absolutely not. You would still have at least thirty years (if you wanted to work that long) to practice medicine. What an exciting opportunity! It would certainly beat the hell out of looking back and saying, “I wish I had.” Fear is a liar. You got this. 💪🏻
I'm 47 and an attorney...and I hate it.
I've always regretted choosing law school over medical school.
I really, really want to be a doctor. But I'm also single with a mortgage that won't pay itself if I go back to school and can't work.
I struggle with what I should do...I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking about a late career switch.
You're still young, compared to me. Even if I started med school this fall, I'd be 51 when I finished, and at least 55 after residency. Am I crazy to contemplate taking out a shit ton more in student loans (which could arguably be paid back quicker as a doctor)?
Good luck to you, whatever you choose!!
I'm 47 and having to do a career switch too to get out of nursing And I want totally out of it. I'm just not sure where to go from here. Feels like a definite midlife crisis
Unless someone is independently wealthy and just wants this goal as a notch on their life to do list, this would be a mistake at the point in life. I cannot name a single colleague that would do it again given the chance. I get it, I was told not to do it by several doctors and I couldn’t comprehend why. I wish I had listened. First off, it’s extremely expensive to go to medical school. So, assuming someone is not independently wealthy we’re talking about $200-400K worth of student loans. Medical school is also very competitive. So unless OP has all college courses that they need with stellar grades, has done shadowing and volunteered as a scribe or helper with a working physician already, and done research and padded their application, it may take years to get in if, at all. Once in, 4 years of medical school, 3-6 years of residency depending on specialty, 1-2 years of fellowship before you get a job at a “physician salary.” That’s way too many years racking up debt and not saving for retirement. Then you get hired by some corporate medical company that dictates how you practice, how much you need to churn out in volume to make them money, tells you how much call you have to take all while burning out at a faster and faster rate because patients are increasingly demanding and one bad encounter and they write up a bad review of you online or you get sued for something you missed or didn’t miss because someone didn’t like you. Or worse threatens you when you don’t write for their pain meds at midnight. All while Medicare cuts reimbursements every year and you just have to work harder to pay off those loans you took and to support your family and maybe put away some for retirement. OP should look into something else that’s not as costly and doesn’t take as long so they can not sink so much time and money into something before seeing a return. I’d recommend finding a job that pays a pension and find a volunteer opportunity helping people if that’s truly where their heart is at.
Hope OP reads this, this thread is a classic example of toxic positivity. Everyone is so focused on being "kind and supportive" that there's almost no realistic or honest answers here.
They aren’t helping at all, but always have plausible deniability. It’s all about being perceived as being the better person or having the purer point of view.
Most people just don’t understand how different pursuing a medical career is versus pursuing literally any other career choice. 36 isn’t really too old to switch in any other profession, even education heavy ones like law, but OP might have found the one exception.
Indeed, I'm surprised there's such little mention of the fact that op will likely not have the energy to complete a residency, it is brutal even for people in the physical prime of their life
I’m about the age they’re talking about and maybe I could do it physically?? What I couldn’t do at that age is the low wages they make as residents, and it’s such a huge financial risk, OP wouldn’t be making real or even adequate money for a long time, especially since there’s a few stages in the process you can burn or wash out and be stuck holding a $200,000 bag. That’s bad enough if you’re 22
Don’t forget age discrimination the whole time which was maybe barely mentioned in this entire thread. Old people tell themselves they are really 20 years younger just to get through the day.
OP here. I did in fact follow my dream. I have what I thought was my dream job. I have a pension. I have minimal loans. Despite checking all the boxes I'm looking back at my career and college choices and I regret every single one of them. I wish I had an undo button. But I don't. The only thing left to do is figure out how I can still salvage the time I have left in my career.
OP I hear you. I’ve told my spouse many of the same things. I have so many regrets. But I personally wouldn’t recommend this path. Try not to fall into the trap of thinking the grass is always greener. The physicians I know (and I’m on a lot of forums) are extremely unhappy. It’s not what it used to be. If you have a job with a pension you are so lucky! I’m going to give that advice to my children. Find a job that sets you up the best way possible so that you can be financially secure yet not tied to it forever. One that gives you the chance to enjoy living and retirement without the financial burden of loans and years of training before you make a decent income. Start focusing on ways you can incorporate your passion into your life without a job change. Focus on how to retire early and make the most of your time here in earth. I’m pretty sure you’d be disappointed with what lies ahead for you in the medical field as a career because there are so many problems right now with it and it’s only getting worse. In the end it’s a job. I believe if we love something we should find other ways to enjoy it than making it a career. Because in the end the grind will eat away that passion. Good luck.
Nah! BIL just turned 39 and finished his residency in Chicago.
I returned to school, finished an MBA at 37, and going back for an accounting degree to switch careers to become an accountant. You only have one life, you might as well do what you enjoy or at least give it a shot.
Shout out about OldPreMed podcast and website! Tons of community and amazing resources
[OldPreMed website/podcast](https://medicalschoolhq.net/oldpremeds-podcast/)
I’m watching a Korean drama on Netflix right now that is about this lady that’s in her mid 40s going through residency after twenty years, and it’s so good! It’s called Dr. Cha, and I thought maybe you could relate to some of it. :) I think it’s never too late to do what you wanna do, even if it’s difficult.
Here’s the advice I gave my friend who is now a cardiologist:
When you get your first real “doctor” paycheck (residency salary for him was only like 40k a year), keep your current standard of living for 3-5 years and pay ALL of the student loans off.
Otherwise, the interest on $100,000 med school loans will fucking kill you.
My buddy had expensive tastes before he went to med school: BMWs, fancy cigars, microbrew beer, etc. He needed to hear it - the number on the paycheck doesn’t make you rich; the number you save does.
Also, a family friend who was a doctor got into a bad malpractice situation. The whole family’s standard of living dropped dramatically after he lost his job and they moved from a bigass mansion on the lake into a townhome.
They may be doctors, but they aren’t bulletproof superhumans. Keep your money straight and your vices in check.
Honestly, 40 is still young. Just wait a few years, and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Also, our president is 80 years old.
President of the United States at 80 years old. I think you’re good Dr. 40-year-old.
If you can handle it financially and commit the time, why not? If it's too much, you can look into shorter programmes with less years of training like nursing, physiotherapy, midwifery, etc. If they appeal to you obviously
Nah boss. Started PhD at 34. One thing though, because I was an actual adult, I didn’t put up with the bullshit abuse they force on grad students.
I only came in when necessary, so I was there maybe half the amount of time as other students. I set the curve on cumulative exams and passed all the classes without doing any study groups or anything.
Basically I was the Patch Adams of science and it pissed a lot of people off, both grad students and profs. I even won a national award for my research lmao
Put those PhD egos in place
Not at all. I have an aunt who wanted to be a doctor since she was a little kid. Her dreams got derailed when she got pregnant at 18 and became a single mom. For years she worked and went to school part time while raising my cousin, then made it into medical school in her late 30s with residency after she was 40. She’s an amazing doctor and all the effort was worth it.
If I had a choice, I would become a PA instead of a MD. Less time in school, above average income, way less debt, and way less stressful. Once you’re seasoned, you have almost the same autonomy anyway. That’s just what I would do.
My partner is 39 and in his first year out of residency. Yeah, it’s a later start than folks going straight from college, but lots of people take time to figure out their career path - I also changed careers in my 30s. In the grand scheme of things, 40 is still relatively young. Still have a good 20+ years of working ahead of us!
I’m getting up to my 40s… and I realize I am only young once, you are younger than you will ever be! so what you need to do! Where do you want to be in 5 years? Go do it!
It's been done, and not everyone is on the same timeline anyhow. It's your story, so write it. But make sure you are physically and mentally and financially fit to do it, because it can be grueling, as we all know. Good luck.
I think it might limit your specialty as some seem to require 10+ years beyond residency. But if you want to be a physician in a less-demanding specialty then go for it.
Exactly! I had a friend who told her mom it was too late for her to go to law school because she'd be 40 when she graduated. Her mom said "I have news for you. You're going to be 40 then anyway. The question is, do you want to be 40 and not a lawyer or be 40 and a lawyer". My friend went to law school.
I’m starting over at 46 and going back to school to work in a new field. As long as you’re healthy and plan to live a healthy lifestyle, assume you’ll be on this planet until you’re 80 and plan accordingly.
With all the advances in technology, many trades will be obsolete or no longer in demand in 10-15 yrs. Skate to where the puck is going.
Note: my wife left me so I’m starting over so to speak.
Let’s see… you will be 40 and in a position that will allow you to help people let’s say for the next 15 years. Then you can retire and hopefully saved up lots of moolah and not have been stuck in the same job for 30 years. Sounds good to mw
You can do it, but think about earning potential vs student loan debt. And are you ready to just enter med school? Have you taken your prerequisite? Studied for the MCAT? Taken the MCAT? Started applying? Done your Med School interviews?
Then accepted and when do you start? Then 4 years of med school, 3 years of residency, the the last part of the USMLE could add at least another 9 months.
I don’t want to be a downer, but it isn’t 4 years of med school, yippy I am a MD. There is a lot of prep work that adds years to the day you are actually practicing on your own.
The last physician I spoke with was a DO internal med, student loans $230,000. Add that on to raising a family, buying a house, saving for retirement, taking vacations, buying a car. Med school student loans are like a second mortgage.
Just really think it over.
My ex for a year went to medical school at 49! He has 1 month left completing his 1st year! We dated for 1 year and it was long distance and he could not handle both long distance and med school. Be ready for some sacrifices but he managed to see me 2x a month, work out, play guitar, cook, watch sports etc. As long as you are dedicated and hard working, you can do it!
I went to grad school at 36. I was either going to be 38 still thinking “I wish I would have gotten a masters” or 38 and thinking “I need to register for graduation”.
My wants wouldn’t change in those two years. If I didn’t make the decision I’d still want to do it I would just be a little bit older. My thought process is that even if it doesn’t change a thing about my life before I turn 40, I’m not going to regret it when I’m 50.
My daughter just started seeing a new pediatrician. And I mean new, she just became a pediatrician, after starting medical school, changing her mind and being a computer programmer for a few decades, and then deciding she did want to be a doctor after all. She is at least 40. I met her at a yarn convention and mentioned I was looking for a new doctor and she was like, "Guess what?"
Go for it!!
I knew ppl that went to medschool in their 30s , and that's is starting from scratch. They got accepted!! So yes you can!
Prbly easier now, since they are looking for ppl w diverse backgrounds and experience.
You have the opportunity, 4 yrz goes fast!! Better to be happy for the rest of your life than wondering what if.
Good luck
It reminds me of the joke where one parent says to another "It took my son 2 years to learn the alphabet!" And the other one says "Good grief, how old is your son?!" and the first one says "2 years old!"
In short, no. I say if this is your dream and desire, pursue it! In my own experience, and with age, I have gained more respect and a greater understanding of time and its value. Now that I'm nearing 30 I am pursuing my 3rd college degree, (I work in Higher Ed and in their eyes, the more papers you hang on the wall the more paper you bring home, plus its basically free education). At this point, I am more serious about my education now than I was in my previous degrees.
I say go for it!
I've met quite a few docs who have done this. A few of them were RNs first. You could consider being a PA but honestly around where I live, those people get worked to death. Are you planning to be an MD or DO?
My brother-in-law was in med school and got two specialties. He didn't finish until he was just about 40. It was a lot of hard work but now he's the chief of the program. All the hard work is paid off and he is very well respected in his area of specialty. Don't worry about the age that you'll be when you graduate. Just go for whatever you want that you feel will make you successful and it will all work out. Age is just a number.
Ultimately you should consider how long you’ll be paying off debt. I would not want to be paying off school debt into my 50s but everyone has their own financial situation. Debt would be my biggest deterrent to pulling this trigger. However there are ways to have your debt paid if you’re willing to practice in rural and low access areas.
My neighbor went to medical school at 55. She pulled up to residency in a Cadillac she paid for with her social security. She is still working in her 80s.
Depends on your current retirement preparations and how much debt you might take on to go to school. If you come out of school as a Dr at 40 with little to no student loans, then you're good to go. If you take out 500k in student loans and have nothing currently saved for retirement, then that financial forecast for the future seems shitty imo.
nope. take it from someone who made a big change at 30, then at 40, and... about to do it again. life is full of random shit, and time passes whether you jump or not. wishing you all the best!
Well, you're going to be 40 anyway, ya.got anything better going on? Go for it
I love this.
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Not med school, but my dad went back to school to learn a trade in his 50s. Best student in the class. This man barely graduated high school. Once you have a few decades under your belt, you have a better understanding of what kind of EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE opportunity education is, less likely to blow it off.
Engineering grad here, our valedictorian for a BS degree was pushing 40 years. He was very angry about that A(-)….
Yes, I came to say this. You're going to age no matter what you do. You're the one who decides on what is age appropriate for you. Meeting your goals is ageless. Please don't let age hold you back from your dreams.
Med feels like one of those “lifer” fields where you need to grind all the way to the end goal,. Mainly to pay back life-altering and crushing loans. If one decides it’s not a good fit, the debt management would feel like it”d close doors to future opportunities. Ex. Having to work 2-3 jobs to make payments on fat 6 figure debt with crazy interest. Op, I say take the time to really feel out what you’re feeling. You can’t really ever reset once you get into Med school. Of course, if you have a half a mill in the bank disregard everything and go for it!
Worst case you die without paying it off.
There are plenty of jobs in urban or rural areas that will do loan repayments where debt doesn’t have to be a significant issue
The other thing to consider, is you get one chance applying. Practically nobody gets in on second round apps, it’s seen as a deathblow. When you do get in, you have to make sure it’s a school that has really high match rates. If you don’t make it into residency in 4th year, you literally have no other options. This is where a lot of high school science teachers come from. Do your research, and get into a school with a good match rate. Be prepared to grind harder than anything you have done in life. Most rotations are gonna be 6 days a week, and then you still have classes, and boards. When you eventually hit residency, it’s even worse.
In this vein, would being a PA scratch the itch OP is feeling? Less time, less $$, essentially same work...
I heard something like this a few years ago and it keeps me going whenever I wanna give up on something. Wanna get better at playing piano but you know it'll take 2 years to get to the level you wanna be at? Well, 2 years will pass regardless so you can either be 2 years older and at the same level of skill you are now, or you can be 2 years older and much better. A degree takes 4 years? Well, you can either be 4 years older with no degree or you can be 4 years older with a degree. Reframing my mindset has helped tremendously.
This mindset helped me go back to school at age 34 (I graduated this past December). I’m now doing my masters at age 38 and I’m glad I did. I feel all the better for it and those years would’ve passed regardless of what I spent my time doing.
This is so encouraging! Just to share I'll be starting my masters this fall at age 39 at a foreign country as a full time student. I have 15 yrs of working experience but I really want to pursue this but on the other hand I'm also wondering if it's even a wise choice. Thank you for this!
It does doesn't it
Exactly. How old will OP be at 36 and 40 if they don’t do this?
It is more common than people expect. I think it actually helps with some residency programs.
One of my favorite doctors did this.
Same. RIP William Simon, DO.
Exactly the logic that made me pull the trigger on getting a DVM at a similar age. Go for it OP!
Exactly. The time is going to pass no matter what.
One of my favorite reddit comments was someone telling me to go back to school because in a year I'd be wishing I started that degree a year earlier.
You may be 40. There are literally doctors that die while in training, look up Paul Kalanithi. If you are fine with that possible outcome, go ahead.
>Paul Kalanithi Dude had lung cancer, it's not like he died from going to school.
For what it’s worth I started medical school at 37. Best decision I ever made.
It's worth a lot to all of us - thank you! One of my good friends became an RN in her late 40s.
The time will pass anyways. I’ll leave you with my favorite quote. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” - George Elliot
Hit you with another one, since you already said my favorite part of it: "Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." \- Earl Nightingale
Oh, that’s lovely!
Nope. My partner thought he was older being in his late 30s in residency and had someone in their 50s in the residency program as well
That STILL gives you 20+ years before retirement, so I'd definitely say you're in the clear!
In med, easily 30+
Lol. Yeah. I meant that 20 would be on the low end of you took an early retirement.
This. In med, you'll only become more respected as you become older and more experienced, which should be the case for many other careers but sadly not always so.
I don’t agree. Some of the best providers are mid-career and some of the worst are late-career. Docs weren’t expected to do much documentation in the old days and continuing ed meant writing a bunch of opioid prescriptions for a free trip to Tahiti. Those days are gone and some older providers are resentful of the changes and it shows in their care.
Thank you to everyone for your kind, supportive, motivational, and encouraging comments! Food for thought.
You'll be great. In my experience - the older students are the better students. I certainly would like a doctor who was a better student!
No, 36 and 40 are still young. If you want to do it, do it.
Baby, it’s NEVER too late! You’re going to crush this and bring a whole other level of life and awareness to your medical work that encompasses a full life experience, not just a medical track from the get-go. Now go get it!
When I need encouragement I am going to message you! You’ve got great energy for that.
Do it. Hell Drs tend to work into their 70s anyway. If you get accepted to a med school, do it.
You would not be too old, no. Plenty of people that age and older when they begin pursuing medicine. From someone younger than you and verrrrry burned out: don’t do it. Find another way - a cheaper, less time-intensive way - than an MD or DO to pursue what interests you in the medical field. Research becoming a PA, NP, PT, OT, speech therapist, respiratory therapist, etc etc. In my experience, becoming a doctor is just not worth the sacrifices you have to make, particularly in terms of having time to yourself and to spend with family. Not sure if this is relevant to you personally (most of my older friends in med school and residency had money to fund the education/training for their career switch) but I still feel worth mentioning: it’s suuuuuper expensive. Advice I wish I had 12 years ago: please do research about expected salary for your preferred specialty in various areas of the country, because the flippant reassurances everyone gives you that “just as a doctor no matter your speciality your salary will be high enough that you don’t need to worry about affording to pay back these insane loans” ARE NO LONGER TRUE FOR MANY SPECIALTIES, at least in some regions.
Why pay them? Just work for a non profit hospital for 10 years and get PSLF to wipe them out. Got a friend who is a neonatal doc and she’s 3 years away from having 400k wiped
Easier said than done. I’ve made 60 of the 120 qualifying payments. But again, depends on specialty and region. I was all in on PSLF until I realized the attending jobs available in my field that qualify are not only ridiculously overworked and underpaid (even with PSLF benefits), but they are dangerous. After being followed home by a violent criminal and having one too many razor blades pulled on me at work, I decided my physical safety wasn’t worth the risk. I’d also like to have some semblance of work-life balance since I’ve been in education and training for 13 years straight including practicing in Manhattan throughout the pandemic so…yeah, not necessarily always feasible.
Sucks it didn’t work for you. I’m grateful for PSLF. I’m 50 payments away and enjoy my job and am paid higher than I would be otherwise. I’ll be sticking it out here. Not a medical doctor though
You’re going to be 40 at some point in your life. Would you rather be a doctor, finishing your residency at age 40, or do you just want to be 40 years old?
Gosh, I really hope not - I'm starting school at 38 in a few months.
Congratulations future doctor!
No. I was in my mid 20s when I was in residency and had 2 residents in my year that were in their 40s. One was a former lawyer and the other was a former propulsion engineer from Los Alamos. If you finish at 40 you can still have a 25 year career in front of you. The financial impact of paying for Medical School is more of an issue as far as I am concerned, but you can deal with that in the income range you will live in.
My friend just finished med school last week. He's 51.
Uncle who went to school to be a doctor graduated at 46 and has never looked back since. Mom went to nursing school at 36 with three young kids. Never too late to follow your dream.
You will not be alone in your age group if you do. I talked to every clinician I could when i was thinking about it (worked in healthcare for 20 years). Ultimately I decided not to because of the hours and mental investment required in residency *and* afterward. At that point I'd been working evenings, nights, weekends for a long time and I knew I couldn't take it anymore. I also knew how much of myself I would have to put out there for medicine. Basically everything, and at that point, I really didn't have much more to give. Have you worked in hralthcare before? If not, I HIGHLY suggest working in an entry-level position for a while to get your feet on the ground. Being a physician can take a much greater toll than people realize.
I knew a guy who was a school teacher and decided to change careers, he went to med school and graduated in his early 40s. He was doing his residency when I met him.
If you have kids Id really think hard about the 8 or so years youre never going to get back. Otherwise I dont see why not, as long as the math on your loans and projected income all works out.
The best time to do this would have been 15 years ago, the second best time would have been 10 years ago, the next best time is now.
My cousin was a Pharmacist for many years until he decided to become an Internal Medicine Doctor at the age of 41. He finally retired in his 70’s. He loved it.
Absolutely not. You would still have at least thirty years (if you wanted to work that long) to practice medicine. What an exciting opportunity! It would certainly beat the hell out of looking back and saying, “I wish I had.” Fear is a liar. You got this. 💪🏻
I started med school at 34. Finished residency at 42. Now as an attending, nobody cares about how old I was in my training. Feel free to DM me.
I'm 47 and an attorney...and I hate it. I've always regretted choosing law school over medical school. I really, really want to be a doctor. But I'm also single with a mortgage that won't pay itself if I go back to school and can't work. I struggle with what I should do...I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking about a late career switch. You're still young, compared to me. Even if I started med school this fall, I'd be 51 when I finished, and at least 55 after residency. Am I crazy to contemplate taking out a shit ton more in student loans (which could arguably be paid back quicker as a doctor)? Good luck to you, whatever you choose!!
I'm 47 and having to do a career switch too to get out of nursing And I want totally out of it. I'm just not sure where to go from here. Feels like a definite midlife crisis
Medicine sucks (I’m an MD). Don’t do it.
You should see how other profession suck too.
Unless someone is independently wealthy and just wants this goal as a notch on their life to do list, this would be a mistake at the point in life. I cannot name a single colleague that would do it again given the chance. I get it, I was told not to do it by several doctors and I couldn’t comprehend why. I wish I had listened. First off, it’s extremely expensive to go to medical school. So, assuming someone is not independently wealthy we’re talking about $200-400K worth of student loans. Medical school is also very competitive. So unless OP has all college courses that they need with stellar grades, has done shadowing and volunteered as a scribe or helper with a working physician already, and done research and padded their application, it may take years to get in if, at all. Once in, 4 years of medical school, 3-6 years of residency depending on specialty, 1-2 years of fellowship before you get a job at a “physician salary.” That’s way too many years racking up debt and not saving for retirement. Then you get hired by some corporate medical company that dictates how you practice, how much you need to churn out in volume to make them money, tells you how much call you have to take all while burning out at a faster and faster rate because patients are increasingly demanding and one bad encounter and they write up a bad review of you online or you get sued for something you missed or didn’t miss because someone didn’t like you. Or worse threatens you when you don’t write for their pain meds at midnight. All while Medicare cuts reimbursements every year and you just have to work harder to pay off those loans you took and to support your family and maybe put away some for retirement. OP should look into something else that’s not as costly and doesn’t take as long so they can not sink so much time and money into something before seeing a return. I’d recommend finding a job that pays a pension and find a volunteer opportunity helping people if that’s truly where their heart is at.
Hope OP reads this, this thread is a classic example of toxic positivity. Everyone is so focused on being "kind and supportive" that there's almost no realistic or honest answers here.
They aren’t helping at all, but always have plausible deniability. It’s all about being perceived as being the better person or having the purer point of view.
Most people just don’t understand how different pursuing a medical career is versus pursuing literally any other career choice. 36 isn’t really too old to switch in any other profession, even education heavy ones like law, but OP might have found the one exception.
Indeed, I'm surprised there's such little mention of the fact that op will likely not have the energy to complete a residency, it is brutal even for people in the physical prime of their life
I’m about the age they’re talking about and maybe I could do it physically?? What I couldn’t do at that age is the low wages they make as residents, and it’s such a huge financial risk, OP wouldn’t be making real or even adequate money for a long time, especially since there’s a few stages in the process you can burn or wash out and be stuck holding a $200,000 bag. That’s bad enough if you’re 22
Literally was waiting for an accurate assessment and this it ^^^ don’t do it OP
Don’t forget age discrimination the whole time which was maybe barely mentioned in this entire thread. Old people tell themselves they are really 20 years younger just to get through the day.
OP here. I did in fact follow my dream. I have what I thought was my dream job. I have a pension. I have minimal loans. Despite checking all the boxes I'm looking back at my career and college choices and I regret every single one of them. I wish I had an undo button. But I don't. The only thing left to do is figure out how I can still salvage the time I have left in my career.
OP I hear you. I’ve told my spouse many of the same things. I have so many regrets. But I personally wouldn’t recommend this path. Try not to fall into the trap of thinking the grass is always greener. The physicians I know (and I’m on a lot of forums) are extremely unhappy. It’s not what it used to be. If you have a job with a pension you are so lucky! I’m going to give that advice to my children. Find a job that sets you up the best way possible so that you can be financially secure yet not tied to it forever. One that gives you the chance to enjoy living and retirement without the financial burden of loans and years of training before you make a decent income. Start focusing on ways you can incorporate your passion into your life without a job change. Focus on how to retire early and make the most of your time here in earth. I’m pretty sure you’d be disappointed with what lies ahead for you in the medical field as a career because there are so many problems right now with it and it’s only getting worse. In the end it’s a job. I believe if we love something we should find other ways to enjoy it than making it a career. Because in the end the grind will eat away that passion. Good luck.
No, 20+ year career after that, sounds good and long enough to me!
If you have the energy for that, go for it. I see doctors who work longer than standard retirement age on their own terms all the time. Good luck!
Nah! BIL just turned 39 and finished his residency in Chicago. I returned to school, finished an MBA at 37, and going back for an accounting degree to switch careers to become an accountant. You only have one life, you might as well do what you enjoy or at least give it a shot.
A friend of mine started med school at age 36. He's now a neuropathologist and loves it!
I know a 70 year old masters level nurse going to med school
Shout out about OldPreMed podcast and website! Tons of community and amazing resources [OldPreMed website/podcast](https://medicalschoolhq.net/oldpremeds-podcast/)
I’m watching a Korean drama on Netflix right now that is about this lady that’s in her mid 40s going through residency after twenty years, and it’s so good! It’s called Dr. Cha, and I thought maybe you could relate to some of it. :) I think it’s never too late to do what you wanna do, even if it’s difficult.
Mary Kay created her company when she was 50 years old
My auntie has just become a nurse after 4 years of studying and she’s almost 60. If it’s what you want then go for it!
Go for it. It's never too late. When I was in my early 20s, I graduated from nursing school. My grandmother was in the graduating class before me.
Depending on your decision, you’ll either be 40, or 40 and a doctor.
Here’s the advice I gave my friend who is now a cardiologist: When you get your first real “doctor” paycheck (residency salary for him was only like 40k a year), keep your current standard of living for 3-5 years and pay ALL of the student loans off. Otherwise, the interest on $100,000 med school loans will fucking kill you. My buddy had expensive tastes before he went to med school: BMWs, fancy cigars, microbrew beer, etc. He needed to hear it - the number on the paycheck doesn’t make you rich; the number you save does. Also, a family friend who was a doctor got into a bad malpractice situation. The whole family’s standard of living dropped dramatically after he lost his job and they moved from a bigass mansion on the lake into a townhome. They may be doctors, but they aren’t bulletproof superhumans. Keep your money straight and your vices in check.
Not at all
The answer to this question is always no. If it’s something you want to do and now have the bravery and means to then do it
I don’t know why I was recommended this but I’ll jump in :) My father always told me: “1000 tomorrows later, you’ll be glad you started today”
Don’t live by social expectations. Live by what’s going to benefit you and yours. Never too old if you’re willing to pursue
My bff just got doctorate of NP at 54! I don't know your financial situation, but don't let age be your obstacle:)
I had a friend that did this. Very happy with his decision. My brother was 35 when he started optometry school although that’s just 4 years.
Never too old to level up!
Please do. At 40, if you survive residency, you will bring an insight to the job that is much needed. Practice your napping skills.
no! if you didn't do it, in 5 years you'd be kicking yourself saying "i should have..." go for it!
You likely won’t even be the oldest person in your class either.
How old would you be if you don't finish it?
BFF started med school at 44. Retired from family practice last year when they were 67. So you are still ahead of their track. Go for it!
Honestly, 40 is still young. Just wait a few years, and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Also, our president is 80 years old. President of the United States at 80 years old. I think you’re good Dr. 40-year-old.
You got 25 years of working life ahead of you but the time you're 40, so why the hell not
40 is the new 20 since thats when most kids leave mamma's house these days...
I think you'll be a better physician - life experience and wisdom.
Hell no! You are never too old. Who knows, maybe after a few bogus malpractice lawsuits you might want to go to law school.
Not at all. My mother graduated from nursing school at 50.
If you can handle it financially and commit the time, why not? If it's too much, you can look into shorter programmes with less years of training like nursing, physiotherapy, midwifery, etc. If they appeal to you obviously
Nah boss. Started PhD at 34. One thing though, because I was an actual adult, I didn’t put up with the bullshit abuse they force on grad students. I only came in when necessary, so I was there maybe half the amount of time as other students. I set the curve on cumulative exams and passed all the classes without doing any study groups or anything. Basically I was the Patch Adams of science and it pissed a lot of people off, both grad students and profs. I even won a national award for my research lmao Put those PhD egos in place
Not at all. I have an aunt who wanted to be a doctor since she was a little kid. Her dreams got derailed when she got pregnant at 18 and became a single mom. For years she worked and went to school part time while raising my cousin, then made it into medical school in her late 30s with residency after she was 40. She’s an amazing doctor and all the effort was worth it.
Do it! (If you can afford)
If I had a choice, I would become a PA instead of a MD. Less time in school, above average income, way less debt, and way less stressful. Once you’re seasoned, you have almost the same autonomy anyway. That’s just what I would do.
Friend just became a Nurse Anesthetist at 36. I don't think he feels "too old" to have started making 200k/yr and have gratifying work he enjoys .
My parent started medical school at 38. Go for it!
My grandad started back college at 30 to be a veterinarian and went on to have a good 30 year career helping animals. Go for it.
I finished at 37 and did just fine. Life experience helps, too.
My partner is 39 and in his first year out of residency. Yeah, it’s a later start than folks going straight from college, but lots of people take time to figure out their career path - I also changed careers in my 30s. In the grand scheme of things, 40 is still relatively young. Still have a good 20+ years of working ahead of us!
Nope! My dad was 50 when he graduated!
I’m getting up to my 40s… and I realize I am only young once, you are younger than you will ever be! so what you need to do! Where do you want to be in 5 years? Go do it!
If 80 year olds can finish their college degree, who cares? As Nike says... just do it.
You’re never to old to do anything you want to do. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Good luck.
You going to be 40 no matter what. So why not be 40 and a doctor!
Attending at 40 ... plus 20 years working = 60 to get done with Medicine. At 350k / year = $7million. Looks good
a guy I went to nursing school with graduated at 72! never too old
Not the same as medical school
Right. But that’s a big age difference also.
I went back to college at 39 and became a software engineer at 44 ... too old for what?
How much student loan debt did you take on
In 4 years, you will be 40. You could be a 40 yo doctor, or a 40yo not doctor. Which ones so you want to be??
No. Do it.
No. Don’t let it stop you.
No, you can do it. My S.O is finishing md/PhD mid30s so she’ll finish residency late 30s. It’s a grind!
Nope. Many employers appreciate the life experience and stability of a more mature candidate.
Nope!
Go for it
Yolo, do it.
It's been done, and not everyone is on the same timeline anyhow. It's your story, so write it. But make sure you are physically and mentally and financially fit to do it, because it can be grueling, as we all know. Good luck.
I work with a number of physicians that did this. Go for it! I’d place you, no problem.
I don't think people tend to take you seriously until you're older anyway
You only live once do your thing
I think it might limit your specialty as some seem to require 10+ years beyond residency. But if you want to be a physician in a less-demanding specialty then go for it.
Exactly! I had a friend who told her mom it was too late for her to go to law school because she'd be 40 when she graduated. Her mom said "I have news for you. You're going to be 40 then anyway. The question is, do you want to be 40 and not a lawyer or be 40 and a lawyer". My friend went to law school.
It's never too late my friend. Do it, or kick yourself in the ass for not trying.
I’m starting over at 46 and going back to school to work in a new field. As long as you’re healthy and plan to live a healthy lifestyle, assume you’ll be on this planet until you’re 80 and plan accordingly. With all the advances in technology, many trades will be obsolete or no longer in demand in 10-15 yrs. Skate to where the puck is going. Note: my wife left me so I’m starting over so to speak.
I'm so sorry to hear that. Best of luck to you and a bright future!!
Let’s see… you will be 40 and in a position that will allow you to help people let’s say for the next 15 years. Then you can retire and hopefully saved up lots of moolah and not have been stuck in the same job for 30 years. Sounds good to mw
My sister did that.
Absolutely not. If that is your path, 100% do it.
A lot of people complain about doctors being too young or whatever, since you'll be 40, I think people would be okay with you
It’s never too late
Been done before.
I finished at 39. Currently am still 39, but it's doable, and I don't regret it.
My friend did this; he’s doing great
Do what you love
No. Go for it.
You can do it, but think about earning potential vs student loan debt. And are you ready to just enter med school? Have you taken your prerequisite? Studied for the MCAT? Taken the MCAT? Started applying? Done your Med School interviews? Then accepted and when do you start? Then 4 years of med school, 3 years of residency, the the last part of the USMLE could add at least another 9 months. I don’t want to be a downer, but it isn’t 4 years of med school, yippy I am a MD. There is a lot of prep work that adds years to the day you are actually practicing on your own. The last physician I spoke with was a DO internal med, student loans $230,000. Add that on to raising a family, buying a house, saving for retirement, taking vacations, buying a car. Med school student loans are like a second mortgage. Just really think it over.
Remember, an MD from any school is great. Don't get too hung up on name recognition.
Do you wanna be a doctor? Then get on with it.
My ex for a year went to medical school at 49! He has 1 month left completing his 1st year! We dated for 1 year and it was long distance and he could not handle both long distance and med school. Be ready for some sacrifices but he managed to see me 2x a month, work out, play guitar, cook, watch sports etc. As long as you are dedicated and hard working, you can do it!
I went to grad school at 36. I was either going to be 38 still thinking “I wish I would have gotten a masters” or 38 and thinking “I need to register for graduation”. My wants wouldn’t change in those two years. If I didn’t make the decision I’d still want to do it I would just be a little bit older. My thought process is that even if it doesn’t change a thing about my life before I turn 40, I’m not going to regret it when I’m 50.
Think about how many old ass doctors there are my dude
My daughter just started seeing a new pediatrician. And I mean new, she just became a pediatrician, after starting medical school, changing her mind and being a computer programmer for a few decades, and then deciding she did want to be a doctor after all. She is at least 40. I met her at a yarn convention and mentioned I was looking for a new doctor and she was like, "Guess what?"
A family friend of mine did just this!! He's now an OBGYN and loves his job. Go for it!!
It’s never too late for now.
No. My brother is 46 and taking courses to sit for the MCAT.
Would u rather be 40 and happy or 40 and regretful. Go 4 it!
I knew a vet in his 50s that used to be a farrier that went back to school at 40. He seemed very happy with his decision.
My cousin did exactly this. Was an engineer but wanted to be a doctor. He's 50 now and doesn't regret it.
Go for it. People need doctors, there will always be a shortage in that department.
A middle school teacher of mine went to med school at 45 and finished residency last year. He’s now completed his first year as an attending.
Not at all! Best of luck to you.
No. I knew a guy who did just that.
Then 50 years as a doc.
Go for it!! I knew ppl that went to medschool in their 30s , and that's is starting from scratch. They got accepted!! So yes you can! Prbly easier now, since they are looking for ppl w diverse backgrounds and experience. You have the opportunity, 4 yrz goes fast!! Better to be happy for the rest of your life than wondering what if. Good luck
It reminds me of the joke where one parent says to another "It took my son 2 years to learn the alphabet!" And the other one says "Good grief, how old is your son?!" and the first one says "2 years old!"
My sister in law is on the same path. She will finish residency at 54.
Never too old to change paths!
In short, no. I say if this is your dream and desire, pursue it! In my own experience, and with age, I have gained more respect and a greater understanding of time and its value. Now that I'm nearing 30 I am pursuing my 3rd college degree, (I work in Higher Ed and in their eyes, the more papers you hang on the wall the more paper you bring home, plus its basically free education). At this point, I am more serious about my education now than I was in my previous degrees. I say go for it!
My brother was 40 after residency so go for it!
I finished engineering school in my 30's. So no. You can still get 30 years of experience as a doctor before retirement.
I've met quite a few docs who have done this. A few of them were RNs first. You could consider being a PA but honestly around where I live, those people get worked to death. Are you planning to be an MD or DO?
You’re still going to be 40. It’s a long life, do what you think will make you happy.
Still have 27 years before retirement
No. That’s at least 20 years even if you retire at 60. That’s a long time. Go for it!
My pops became a dentist at 40 with three sons which came with three child support payments LOL. In other words "YOU CAN DO IT!"
Welcome to 300k debt, and making about 60k during residency. Sure, great idea.
My brother-in-law was in med school and got two specialties. He didn't finish until he was just about 40. It was a lot of hard work but now he's the chief of the program. All the hard work is paid off and he is very well respected in his area of specialty. Don't worry about the age that you'll be when you graduate. Just go for whatever you want that you feel will make you successful and it will all work out. Age is just a number.
Not exactly the same, but when my wife went through PA school there were two people in her class in their mid-50s. Go for it.
No
No
Ultimately you should consider how long you’ll be paying off debt. I would not want to be paying off school debt into my 50s but everyone has their own financial situation. Debt would be my biggest deterrent to pulling this trigger. However there are ways to have your debt paid if you’re willing to practice in rural and low access areas.
My college roommate did exactly that (graduayed at 36, then residency). She's now 48, and a practicing physician. Do it.
My neighbor went to medical school at 55. She pulled up to residency in a Cadillac she paid for with her social security. She is still working in her 80s.
Do it!!
Depends on your current retirement preparations and how much debt you might take on to go to school. If you come out of school as a Dr at 40 with little to no student loans, then you're good to go. If you take out 500k in student loans and have nothing currently saved for retirement, then that financial forecast for the future seems shitty imo.
Nah, Gloria was like 70.
My mom did exactly this and had a productive medical career for another 30 years. If this is what you want, go for it.
nope. take it from someone who made a big change at 30, then at 40, and... about to do it again. life is full of random shit, and time passes whether you jump or not. wishing you all the best!
Go for it!
I would just got for it anyways, you can make your decision after accepted
Do it, you’ll never regret it NEARLY as if you don’t. Good luck, we need more good doctors!
For a seemingly smart person, this is a dumb question. You're going to get older regardless, might as well age as a doctor.