Becoming a Doctor at a late age

[Wastedyouth]

Hi CP,

I know there are many doctors that frequent the forums and I wanted to share this dream/idea I have had for a while that I am contemplating moving forward on.

The basics:

I am a middle aged man, 36 to be exact, I work in a technical position, as some of you know I've travelled around the world for work and been to some "fun" locales.

I've always found learning rather easy, whether by book or by experience and my technical school training I felt was quite easy because I came to it as an older student.

Since I was young the idea of being a Family Medicine Doctor has always tickled in the back of my mind, but because of financial considerations, I just didn't think it was an option.

The future:

I have worked quite a bit over the last 6 years to put myself into a comfortable financial position, I am still single, I can't seem to settle down into a long term relationship, to the point that I have given up trying.

I have been thinking of making another change to my future career. I have been contemplating Medical School.

I know to most this is a pie in the sky idea that I should just pass on, but I wanted some advice from Medical Professionals on here, as to their thoughts and maybe some guidance to moving forward to this goal.

As it sits now, my plan is to continue working in my current field and saving up a significant portion of money for the next 18 months (think, mid six figures). And then potentially beginning my journey in the fall of 2019.

I'll be 37 turning 38, probably still single, and in a strong financial position. The thought of returning to school does not fill me dread and the thought of such a challenge with what could be a great personal and professional payoff is exciting to me.

Anyways, enough of the meat of the idea behind the idea.

Any thoughts, advice, help, encouragement or discouragement from the group?

And if I do decide to continue with this idea, any direction as to how I should approach the next 1.7 years in preparation of returning to school in an attempt to do this? Literature, courses, methods or information I should seek to make my transition for the potential decade of struggle a little bit easier?

I can imagine quite a few people will roll their eyes at this post. And I don't blame them. It might be too crazy to pursue or too much of an ask, to ask.

I haven't told anyone close to me about this idea yet, I wanted to get a conversation going with those who have some experience and see where it goes.

BTW, I have had a lot of time to think about this lately, I am fresh off a rig in the Caspian Sea where I was the only person who wasn't a native Turkmeni/Russian speaker, so I had a lot of alone time thinking about it and now finally some internet access!

Thanks all!

[tkflames]

I am not a doctor, but a technical expert with a similar travel heavy career background.

Given your expected financial positioning going into this, I think the fundamental question you need to ask yourself is, "when you are 50 looking back, will you regret having worked another 15 years in your current field, likely had a lot of travel experience and close to an early retirement or would you feel more rewarded as an established family doctor with 10-15 years left to continue to practice if you so choose."

I will leave the doctors to describe to you what the next 10 years of your life would look like from an educational standpoint and what availability you will have for social aspects (relationships, kids if that is something you are interested in etc.)

[Flabbibulin]

Saw your thread title, looked for that key factor: single, no kids. I cant emphasize enough how much simpler your path would be because of this. That said, even the most disciplined, well funded, and motivated individual has the odds against them when pursuing a medical degree. It is tough and competitive, thats all there is to it. You didnt mention if you already have some post secondary education to work with? I would expect you would be starting with premed schooling regardless, but any type of degree or diploma from your younger days could dramatically lighten the load with regards to course requirements in a premed degree.

If your plan is to complete a full degree before applying for med school, I would encourage you to carefully consider what field before assuming that sciences is the way to go. Most people probably assume this is the best option (and they might be correct), but you also want to give yourself something to work with should you complete a degree, but just not able to get into medical school, have a change of heart, something happens in your life that prematurely ends this pursuit etc. Your best option would be to pick an area that could theoretically bolster your current field should the medical thing not work out.

Is your rationale in waiting another 18 months simply to save more money? Do you currently have the savings to fund at least the majority of this? If so, I would suggest not waiting. Start the journey while your age is if anything, an advantage- you have much more life experience to draw from and likely a much stronger work ethic than you did when 20.

Im not a doctor, but that was my aspiration at 18, completing a biology degree. Decided along the way it simply wasnt for me/was not going to be successful, but thankfully other interests and pursuits had come up anyway. I wont quite say you are left holding a giant bag of excrement should you attain a science degree, but fail to get into medical school, but the world certainly isnt your oyster either. Now married with kids and and can speak to how challenging it is to continue your education when you have a family... and that was with a fairly flexible master’s degree schedule and two sources of income.

[OutOfTheCube]

I’m in such a drastically different place in life (wife, two young kids) that I couldn’t possibly give a measured opinion. I mean, what the hell, why not right? If it’s your dream to be a doctor and you would find reward in the journey, go for it.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Knowing a bunch of doctors and people in medical school, there are very few who are in their thirties/forties. The amount of work required, the number of hours, and stress make it so that it is a young persons game. On top of that you are looking at 6 years (minimum) of schooling and residency. So you will be looking at starting a career at 45-50 years old.

[OMG!WTF!]

Of course you do it. I'm a bit too dumb to do anything else. Use them brains, son.

Medical knowledge will be so valuable as you age if for no other reason than being an advocate for you and yours.

Depending on your BA you might be shocked at how quickly you're in a hospital actually working/training in your field.

You'd be more likely to meet the love of your life in med school than hanging out with Russians on the Caspian sea.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Are your prepared for a world where a B+ won't cut it, at least in Canada?

Academic competition to get into medical / dental programs is fierce, and as other have put it, options are limited if you don't get in.

[Amethyst]

I'm actually more surprised that you would think everyone would be against the idea or think that it's crazy. As long as you're honest with yourself about expectations (dedicating a lot of time and money to the pursuit and giving up the idea of making money and travelling) and that's what you want to do, why not? Even if you had kids, I wouldn't write off the idea completely, but it would require a harder look. But it sounds like you don't have any big financial obligations to take care of someone. One thing that may be worth thinking about is do you have older parents who you might want to help and not be in a position to do so?

I'm not in a medical position, although I did consider it when I was younger. However, after volunteering for short time at a hospital, I discovered it wasn't for me. I have a couple friends who considered becoming doctors, but ended up going into fields like physiotherapy and occupational therapy instead. Something like that might be a consideration.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Knowing a bunch of doctors and people in medical school, there are very few who are in their thirties/forties. The amount of work required, the number of hours, and stress make it so that it is a young persons game. On top of that you are looking at 6 years (minimum) of schooling and residency. So you will be looking at starting a career at 45-50 years old.

I'm also not a doctor, but given those ages to start a career it would dissuade me. The reality is that a lot of us are going to work until we're 70-75. Not because we have no choice from a financial perspective, but because you can't just do nothing for what will be about a third of your life. I see this more and more from clients; they work and retire and then a year or two later are looking for work of some kind.

My point is that starting something like this a decade or two late doesn't sound ideal, but if you have 20-30 years of work left it might as well be working in a position you really want to.

[metallicat]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you have to build up independent wealth before going into medical school. I think you'll be able to get student loans pretty easily and then the idea is you'll make buckets of money and pay them off easily in the end.

[taco.vidal]

Take a look at the requirements to get into Canadian medical schools (if Canada is your starting point). Evaluate yourself where you stand in relation to those criteria. Talk to admissions at the schools. Im guessing these days theres no shortage of applicants that all exceed the requirements, so you'll need to now what youll need to have a competitive chance.

If Canada doesnt work out, or America, the other option is to go to foreign country with lower standards and get a degree there. As an example:
The University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry
http://ug.edu.gh/announcements/admis...-academic-year

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

If Canada doesnt work out, or America, the other option is to go to foreign country with lower standards and get a degree there. As an example:
The University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry
http://ug.edu.gh/announcements/admis...-academic-year

I'd imagine there are some issues with foreign degrees in Canada that would make it a difficult road to take. I think universities decide who gets residency so if you're an established doctor in a foreign country you wouldn't have as much to worry about as a new grad looking for a training position. But just a hunch.

[Peanut]

Do it!! Why the hell not. I’m assuming from your technical career currently you already have an undergrad degree of some sort.

I’m slightly biased though. I’m a 35 year old mother of 4 and I’ve always tossed around the idea of going back to school to get into the medical field. I like to believe I could still do it if I really wanted to. So I think the same logic applies to you, except you’re in an even better position with regards to freedom of your time. Do it!!

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

I'd imagine there are some issues with foreign degrees in Canada that would make it a difficult road to take. I think universities decide who gets residency so if you're an established doctor in a foreign country you wouldn't have as much to worry about as a new grad looking for a training position. But just a hunch.

Absolutely, I used to work in a hospital as a summer job and several of my coworkers had been doctors in eastern European countries but weren't qualified to be doctors here. I can't imagine a degree from Ghana would cut it. You'd need to make sure it was a country where a medical degree transfers here (i.e. education is recognized as equivalent to a Canadian university).

[Ducay]

Having known and mentored a number of people starting their accounting articling at later ages (late 30's/40s), it is a hell of a lot tougher. I can only imagine the impacts are even bigger for medical school. Not just from an hour perspective (48 shifts), but also from a social and learning side of things. Memory isn't quite the same and you'll be grouped with a bunch of young kids who generally hang out together and forms a lot of the support system that gets them through residency, etc.

Not that it is impossible, there are plenty of people who have done it successfully, just beware it will be tougher than you might think.

[Weitz]

I would think the chances of getting into medical school in Canada when your almost 40 is very low. But probably not zero.

[CaptainYooh]

My former colleague's son was a bit of a troubled young man since teen years. Left home at 20, screwed around for a while, then became a framer. Worked as a framer, became good at it, made some money and saved some money. Bought a house mortgage free. At 29 went to UofC. At 33 got into med school. At 39 finished at the top of his class and went for specialization. At 42, he is now one of the highest rated specialists.

You're 36. It will take 8-10 years to become a family doctor, if you have what it takes. Then you'd still have 15-20 years of a productive career. Go for it!

[Maritime Q-Scout]

First off: You're never too old to follow your dreams. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be a doctor at 36.

Me personally, putting aside the fact that I only comprehend modern medicine by believing it's magic, I'd ask if being a doctor is something you truly want to do.

There's long hours, like foolishly long hours. You're on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sure you're not technically "on call" the whole time but it's not really a profession that you leave at the door.

Sure the pay is good. But it'd be stressful, fast paced, and emotional.

If you want to work in the medical field, have you thought about nurse? The pay is very attractive, lots of opportunity for overtime (I like in Sydney, NS where there's a handful of nurses that make more than the senior administrators of the hospital), it's a shorter education path, guaranteed employment (no seriously, I can't speak for Alberta, but the two closest universities to me, Cape Breton University, and St. FX both have 100% placement rates for their nursing programs), and there's no technical 'on call'.

Looking at a very specific example. When my son was born we went to the hospital at 11:45pm. There were the nurses scheduled in the maternity ward who were awesome. At about 2:00am the OGBYN was called. Our baby doc (who was also beyond amazing though the entire pregnancy) worked that day with her regular appointments, went to the hospital in a snowstorm, and was there with us and in the OR when my wife had to have a c-section because the little fella got stuck behind her hip bone.

Did the doctor then go home to bed? Well she had appointments that day, not to mention the family, spouse and kids at home.

At 7:00am what happened to the nurse that was with us all night? She tagged out and another came in. The nurse that was with us that night (again who was amazing) went home to bed, the nurse that came in for the day shift (who was also fantastic) had a full night sleep.

The day-day-night-night, 4 on 4 off model is great. There are positions that are M-F 9-5. Also great. Doctors don't have that.

I tell this story not to discourage you from becoming a doctor. We need them... DESPERATELY.

But, to give context that it isn't all Scrubs and ER. I'd rather play a doctor on TV than be one in real life.

That said, I'd chat with a few doctors around, try and get a sense of what they hate about the job as well as like.

I'd give this same talk to someone who's 18 as someone who's 36.

If you want to become a doctor, go for it. Honourable profession, a job we need, and one that I couldn't go no matter how hard I tried.

I fully support your decision. Age isn't a factor, just make sure that you're aware of the drawbacks.

[Igottago]

I can't speak for the medical profession but I'm the same age as you and have recently made significant life changes including moving to a different city and starting to transition away from my current career. Its certainly a bit daunting at times but at the end of the day when you break it down its not like its life or death. We tend to magnify the risks in our own minds.

If you find its not for you in a couple of years, could you go back and do what you were already doing? I know I probably could.

Tim Ferriss talks about an exercise called fear setting. Look it up. Basically it gets you to write down all the worst case scenarios of your decision and get an understanding of their impacts on your life -- usually the impacts are not as bad as you think or at least have a solution.

[Zevo]

It's so competitive to get in to med school that good grades alone won't get you in. If you decide you are serious, start volunteering now. you need things on your application to med school to differentiate yourself from the other 100s of applicants that have straight A's.

Anecdotal and a more that a few years ago my step-daughter, who graduated near the top her class in medical anthropology applied to a couple of schools and didn't make the cut, and she had top grades. Her dad is also an orthepedic surgeon and her Aunt is a GP.

Also, since Canada can't seem to graduate enough GPs, I think your age would work against you in the selection process as they would favor the students who would have a much longer career. If spots are limited they will invest in people who would contribute 30-40 years over someone with only 15-20 years.

If you really are passionate about it, it doesn't hurt to apply. Just know that the odds of getting in are stacked against you, IMO.