How old is too old to go to med school?

Long, long story short, I'm 24 years old and have started working on my 2nd bachelor's degree, this time for health sciences. For many personal reasons, I wouldn't be happy with just having this degree; I want... No... I NEED to make more of it, so I eventually want to make it into med school.

But in my mind I feel like I've already missed the chance to really do so. I'll be 27 when I get graduate, then add a few years of work experience and I'll be about 30 before I even get through the door. I can imagine my peers being a good 4-5 years younger than me, with more accomplishments under their belts than I can count, that's very intimidating.

Can anyone share insight on the journey to medical school, or what it's like when they finally get there? Am I just being paranoid?

 

Dead is too old...

An article about a 61 year old graduating med school;
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/06/21/prsb0621.htm

These are discussions with med students and staff about the same thing;

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=482527
http://www.oldpremeds.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/41108/

 

Medical school is no joke, if you're going to do it, put in all your effort... some programs are completely full time, working ontop of them can be impossible. It's worth it but definitely be ready for it.

 

24 is not too old in the slightest.
There is a pervading mentality among the younger generation that you absolutely MUST obtain a degree or get into school as soon as possible, and it just isn't true.
I realize that going to medical school is a lengthy task, but you need to think in the long-term. At 24 years old you are still a child in the eyes of a lot of people. You still have your whole life ahead of you and are way too young to be feeling regrets about what "could have been".

 

Society has us trained to think that so many things have to be accomplished before age thirty and the closer we get to it the scarier life seems because we keep thinking about all of the things we should have accomplished already. Long story short....you've got only one life to live. First off, 24 is still really young and I dont think that anybody would be like "Oh my god! This person is 30 and they are just starting training in this field." If anything you may even be given more respect because you will be older and have more life experience.


Keep working toward your goals and dont worry about what people might think or say. At the end of the day it's about you being happy. As long as you study and work your ass off you will have a lot of opportunities waiting for you.

 

Thanks for the encouragement, I really needed it.

oh I've got my eyes on the prize, guaranteed. I'm not going to let anything distract me from it

 

you're never too old to do anything,as the man says thats "stone cold"

 

I went to med school at age 35. I thought it wasn't too old at the time because I still felt young but in hind sight I think it is too old, although 30 may not be. Also, you have to really ask youself if you want to be a doctor because it is 8 yrs of training at least (including residency in that). I'm female, so the whole kid thing was an issue with being an older med student. May not be an issue in your case.

 

Lately I've been going through episodes of thinking that medicine is my true passion and what I should pursue career-wise. But, like you, I can't help but feel that the idea time to start preparing for med school has already passed, and I'm only twenty and I've only been in college for two years. The problem is I've already got my major and I do not have the credit hours or time to switch to a major that would prepare me for med school without having to delay my graduation and pay additional money or receive additional scholarships to do so. The other main thing that's holding me back is the astronomical cost of pursing a medical degree. I'm a bit lucky as it is in that it's looks as though I'll be able to scrape through four years of college without having too much debt to pay back, so I'm in a position I really don't want to exchange for anything else. And I'm sick of school in general, so going through additional schooling--whether graduate or medical school--is an unappealing idea to say the least. The job itself, despite my interest in it, is of concern as well. It would difficult and demanding, but rewarding nevertheless.

 

i suppose you're not too old if you've still got a pulse.

the only thing is, the number of years it takes vs the number of years that you're likely to remain living. so if you're over seventy or so it might not make too much sense except if you want to just out of curiosity.

no one under fifty is too old to study anything. even sixty if in reasonably good health.

 

Yeah, you're still really young, I've heard of people in their 40's going to med school for a career change, so don't worry about it. If you're single and got no kids, you're free to do what you want, so go for it!

 

24 is a good age to get into med school... you'll be finished in your mid 30's and have alot of life experience behind you.

If it's something you truely want and enjoy, your never to old.

 

I'm starting a degree now and I may need two years of experience afterwards before I try and get into medical school. I'll be 29-31 before I'm even ready to apply! I sympathise because I wish I'd done it younger too. But it's definitely not too old to study medicine.

 

You're not going to get far in medical school with that attitude.
Show no fear.