Advice On Attending Medical School In Late 30s/early 40s

Discussion in 'Education & Personal Growth' started by ChennaiExpress, Dec 2, 2017.

  1. ChennaiExpress

    ChennaiExpress IL Hall of Fame

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    For past few years I painted and did meditative art to heal from past scars.

    At my IT job, I started creating different types of colorful graphs and charts to depict our data. I find myself really into this.

    Now when I help my Dad with Doctor's appointments, I also draw lots of colorful graphs and charts to depict his medical conditions and histories.

    Yesterday when I accompanied my Dad to Dr's appointment, the Dr was so impressed by my medical drawings that he even showed his Medical students in office.

    One of the students even took picture on her smartphone. The young medical student asked if I was studying Medicine.

    The Dr suggested I write book (actually I'm more than 50% done) and write an app (was thinking of this afterwards).

    Dad said now if I go into Medicine, and then teach Medical students I will be really great because I have
    1. Maturity
    2. Life Experience
    3. Unique ability for explaining via drawing and painting


    Plus I really believe my skills can help my Dad. I wish to be part of the solution. Doctors in USA are great, but there is only so much they can do

    The field of Medicine I'd be most interested is something that looks at patient holistically. Because with my Dad I notice if one thing goes wrong in one part of health, it affects another part of health.

    Plus, I'd be interested in the Medical field that involves drawing and painting the most.

    Can you suggest how to get started.

    I did BS and CS in Computer Science, worked in IT field for nearly 15 years, came across all sorts of people, places, things along the way.

    Before this Dr's appointment I was thinking of doing PhD in Computer Science with emphasis on Data Visualization. If the Data Visualization is useful in Medicine and can help my Dad and countless others, I'd like to go into this field.

    Any advice is most helpful!

    BTW: I am in USA and keeping good health (ppl think I'm in early 20s). Esp with residency I know what foods to eat and what to avoid to keep healthy weight, and maximum alertness.
     
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  2. Sandycandy

    Sandycandy IL Hall of Fame

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    People do join medschool in their 30s/40s here . But it’s a long path. You will need to take prerequisite courses ( because of your CS background) to be even eligible to apply. Volunteer at hospitals / shadow a doctor and any other community service . Be able to demonstrate leadership skills . Have a good MCAT score and then have a really solid personal statement. Once your primary application is approved, work on the secondary application ( I believe it’s school specific SOP’s at this point ) . Attend interviews .
    Once you get in you are looking at about 6 yrs of medschool and then approx 5 yrs for specialization ( maybe more depending on the area of interest) .
    You are looking at spending 50K a year during and then getting a stipend of about 50K I believe until you finish. So it’s a good 10-15 years before you see the moolah .
    Add to it lack of sleep, being on call ,dealing with patients , nurses, insurance companies etc requires a great deal of energy , focus and motivation. If you have all of this , go for it ! Good luck !!
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2017
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  3. Shreema86

    Shreema86 Platinum IL'ite

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    I don't think its too late to do anything in life . but everything comes at a cost. I switched career path at the age of 24 , had to go back and study and get a new degree in my field. so I am roughly 6 years behind someone of my age who would have graduated with the required degree at 21 and started . you need to be mentally strong to accept that someone years younger to you will be miles ahead and you have to constantly catch up. getting a medical degree is not easy in the best of circumstances but if you really want to do , I don't see a reason why you shouldn't . since you are interested in holistic health why don't you think of specializing in something like acupuncture , homeopathy etc.. where you will still treat patients but you don't have to go through an intensive 5+god knows how many years course . also be sure what you want . sketching human anatomy is fun, but will you feel the same when you are going to dissect a dead body.
     
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  4. ChennaiExpress

    ChennaiExpress IL Hall of Fame

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    Such brilliant advice

    Oh wow, I like the volunteer part. Two Doctors hinted they want me to work for them so I can visually organize their data. May probably take them up on their offer.

    10-15 years ..... I believe I got the health to do it. God-Willing.

    As for dealing with people, it's a continual learning process. Right now I'm on the patient side of the fence trying to work harmoniously with Doctors, Nurses, Receptionists, etc. How interesting to see the other side!

    Of course moolah is really nice .... also my intent is to get deep into the knowledge so I can advise my Dad. Lot of times my Dad says he would rather have less money than these terrible health problems and pain he has to endure and tolerate.


    Oh wow, this is really great.

    So far, I've always been the youngest in class. And I guess it takes a shift to get used to being oldest in class.

    I was thinking of holistic as well --- if I can get both holistic and standard medical degree together that would really enhance my understanding on both sides of fence.

    Right now I'm thinking Internal Medicine or Family Medicine PLUS Holistic.

    I thought about dissecting dead body. Once I saw documentary on medical students and this girl started to get emotional and cry when she saw dead body.

    I believe someone going into medicine has to have Spiritual maturity.

    After all our scriptures say that God fashions the body, God reduces it to dust, and our Soul goes elsewhere, based on our Karmas.

    Probably the biggest hurdle for me would be dissecting dead body. At the same time, that can be an opportunity for growth. After all, God put us on Earth so we can grow.

    Something I really need to ponder and come to grips with.

    After all, only reason I wish to go into medicine is so that my Dad lives another 100 years. If that can be achieved with studying Holistic medicine alone, I'd do it.

    As they say, more knowledge is better.

    Probably I would be most happy studying decent medical school (no need for any big name).

    These are great things to think about.
     
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  5. DDream

    DDream Finest Post Winner

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    OP, if there is a will there is away. But are you ready to spend another 10 yrs for medical course plus specialisation? May be other doctors in IL can give you a better idea.

    I know a person who attended medical school at this age. He came to USA after completing Ph D in India. He worked here as post doctotal scientist for many years. Got his GC too. But he realised that there is lot of uncertainty in his field of research. So he joined for medical course . He is now a specialist working in one of the leading hospital in my area. His wife and family adjusted a lot for this. They are happy with that decision. Now his daughter is getting ready to join medical school. If he can do it any one can.

    Once you are ready, don't look back, proceed with full determination. Good luck.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2017
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  6. ChennaiExpress

    ChennaiExpress IL Hall of Fame

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    Wow! Powerful advice: Don't look back.

    It seems Medicine is a labor of love. Giving a great chunk of your life to learn this science, and perfect it to an art.


    At this point, I have the time to give 10+ years.

    Once I start to study for MCAT, there's no going back!
     
  7. DDream

    DDream Finest Post Winner

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    Sorry for typing errors. (Pl read as " post doctoral").
    I don't know much about finance needed or how to handle loan etc...
    please explore well.
    Good luck.
     
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  8. ChennaiExpress

    ChennaiExpress IL Hall of Fame

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    Of course, I certainly shall.
     
  9. GoneGirl

    GoneGirl Gold IL'ite

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    Hi CE,

    That’s inspiring to hear! Its great that you are exploring this option.
    If you are determined, you can do it.

    As far as the timeline goes, you would be spending 4 years in med school..and 3 years in residency for specialties like internal medicine and 5 years for most surgical fields.. then you have the option of doing a fellowship (1,2 or 3 years) to superspecialize in a field of choice. I think you would have to think about the four years in med school, you may have to plan ahead for the school fess and your living expenses.. once you graduate and become a resident, you would get paid approximately 50,000$ per year, so that is a bit easier.

    As for age, it doesn’t matter much as long as you are able to put in the hours/ effort required to work and study and give up some of the personal time that you now have to pursue your other interests..

    Financially I am not sure this career path would make a big difference, as you would be losing almost 4-5 years of your current pay and doctor’s income now is not comparable what it was few years ago....also try volunteering at a hospital and see if you truly like to be a part of this.. as things may not seem as rosy from the inside... But if this is what truly interests you, then you should go for it, but do keep in mind it’s a really long journey and a tough one at that..

    Good luck!
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2017
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  10. Sunburst

    Sunburst Platinum IL'ite

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    . What exactly are these medical drawings ? How do you show your drawings to a doctor . All the doctors I have ever met are generally so busy and always in a rush. You are damn lucky to have a doctor like that . Jokes aside , I am not sure if these reasons are convincing enough to join medicine at this stage of your life .

    .

    Becoming a doctor and your interest for visual representation of data or your artistic bent of mind are 2 different things . People become doctors because they REALLY want to be a doctor and not for anything else . You are thinking of switching your career mid life and don’t underestimate the hours and loans that will go into becoming a doctor . You are thinking of 70-80 hours a week of residency . There will be crazy on calls , lack of sleep and if you don’t have anyone else to help out with family your family life does take a beating . Surgeries are not easy and it requires lot of physical and mental strength . Also , your colleagues would have already moved up when you will be just starting. The huge student loans will take a good few years to get rid of . So before you go through the drill , make sure you are entering in this field for the right reasons .


    so is the input in terms of years of educations, hours and you will be neck deep into loans . Are you sure you can commit to 70 hours residency weeks with an ailing father by your side . Please don’t get into medicine thinking that the money is great . That’s the biggest mistake a lot of medical aspirants do . If you are at a mid-senior to high level position in IT , you can take home as much as a doctor does with your salary + bonus+ ESPP+ 401 k and other components of the package . There are many in Silicon Valley working for the top giants and holding 100,000s worth of stocks alone . IT also offers a lot of flexibility in terms of hours and work from home option (at least once a week ) , weekends to yourself which is hard to get in medicine . Think about the pros and cons of each field especially because you have an ailing father who is your no 1 priority as you always say .

    Leave it to the experts and consult them instead of attributing this as one of the motivating factors to join medicine .


    How do you plan on getting this kind of degree ?

    Not really . When you will be out of school with huge loans and face real bureaucracy, insurance hassles , on calls , lack of sleep , all this spiritualism will go out of the window .

    With this juxtaposition you have given for your love for visualization / creativity and becoming a doctor , I don’t think you are going in for the right reasons . There could be alternative fields probably that you should be looking at . Consult a career counselor
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2017
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