The short and straightforward answer to the question, “Am I too old for medical school?” is no. Age doesn’t define whether you will be a great doctor or not. The only thing that matters in medical school is how you study and learn new things.
Donald Trump became president of America at the age of Barack Obama’s retirement. Did anyone mention their age? No. Everyone has their own time zone, and great things will come to them at their specific time. So age doesn’t matter.
Challenges Older Students can faces In Medical School?
As I mentioned, age doesn’t matter in medical school. But here are some problems explained that you can face during med school. So let’s discuss them and also give you some pro tips on how to handle them.
1.Time Management
One of the main problems that you can face is time management. Of course, if you are starting med school in your 30s, 40s, or above, you will have a happy family. So, giving enough time to study and family can be a problem for you.
But there are great ways of managing time. If you don’t know how to manage your time, then it’s best to go through the time management lectures. There are plenty of podcasts available on YouTube where students share their thoughts on how they manage their studies with family.
2. Financial Burden
Another problem which may cause hurdles is financial burden. As you know medical school is so expensive in the US, Canada and some other countries. Affording medical school fee and family expenses could be difficult.
To overcome this, you must apply for scholarships, financial aid programs, or part-time jobs.
Check Out – How Do Med School Students Make Money?
3. Slow Learning
Books need a relationship to be read and learn fast. If you have left studies after pre-med and didn’t study for years, then it will take some time to get back to normal studies.
But if you have already passed the MCAT exam recently, then it’s mean you are back to normal routine studies. You will learn like traditional students. I have seen older students doing great as compared to the other students in my med school.
4. Low Feeling
In the start you will feel low because you will hardly find classmates of your own age. But as time passes, you will find your classmates more friendly despite of age differences.
Advantages of Starting Medical School Later in Life
1. Good Communication With Patients
2. Strong Network
3. Advanced Skills
4. Clear Goal
5. Financial Stability
Doctors Who Proved Age Is Just a Number
List of doctors who completed the medical school in old age.
1.Nimet Suner Torun(74)
2. Toh Hong Keng (70)
3. Atomic Leow (66)
4. Michael Butler (63)
Residency Programs That Accept Old Graduates
You can apply to any programs you like but if you still want to explore best residency programs that accept old graduates then check here.
How to Decide If Medical School Is Right for You at This Age
To better understand whether medical school is for you or not at this level, follow these pro tricks.
1.Self-Assessment
Key questions to ask yourself about motivation, finances, and readiness.
Ask your self will you do a regular study for seven to nine years, will you afford the med school expenses and are you ready to travel if you matched in a far way residency program.
2. Shadowing and Volunteering
Shadowing and volunteering is the best thing to do. It will expose you to to medical knowledge and daily doctors lifestyle. If you feel comfortable and enjoyable then you are good to go.
3. Speaking to Advisors and Mentors
Last, but not the least, reach out to other non traditional medical students. You can easily find them on Reddit and Instagram.
FAQs: Answering Common Questions About Age and Medical School
What is the oldest age to start medical school?
There is no specific age for starting medical school. You can start at your 20’s, 30’s,40′ etc. The only thing that med school want is commitment and dedicated study.
How do older medical students finance their education?
There are multiple options for older medical students to finance their education, such as scholarships, financial aid programs, student loans, part-time work, online and offline teaching, and much more.
Is it harder for older students to get accepted into medical school?
No, until you are a tough competitor like other young students. Medical schools select candidates based on their performance, not on their age.
Conclusion
To conclude, “Am I Too Old For Medical School”, there is no specific age for medical school. You can get admission at any age if the med school requirements are full filled.
What you need to do is dedicate yourself to studying and set a goal. It doesn’t matter if you achieve it in your 30s or 40s, but make sure you do. Best of luck.