<p>Ok. Straight to the point. I am 28 years old. I didn't finish college for reasons that escaped by power, but I recently re-enrolled in college. I want to study medicine, but 1).-I'm not sure I'm still in good age for this career; and 2).-My councilor spoke to me about this B.A. Biology/MD program UMKC offers and I'm entertaining the idea of pursuing it. It's only 6 years long. </p>
<p>Does anyone know if this program is the bachelor's and M.D. combined or if it's premed? And given my age, should I pursue this program or will I be better off going for the B.S. first and then applying for M.D.? Also, is it harder to get accepted to this program than it is to get accepted to the regular M.D. program? And let me just finish by throwing a curve, how about the U.S. Navy? Do they have a good medical program? Would it be a better option?</p>
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<li>Um, to be blunt you are a bit old. You still need to finish college, attend medical school and complete a residency (as well as a specialized residency depending on what you plan to do). You won’t start working/be truly done with your education until not earlier then your late 30s and it could be as late as your early 40s.</li>
<li>I don’t know much about the specific program, though I can tell you that BA/MD and BS/MD programs are extremely competitive and I am not sure if you qualified for it (you did not post your qualifications). They also look for very specific things and you will need to have them, these things usually include things like extensive volunteering in hospitals, advanced classes (with good grades) in math and science and some level of lab experience.
Now to answer your other questions…</li>
<li>If the program is BA/MD it means that in six years you will complete both the college and medical school components of your education.</li>
<li>Yes, BA/MD programs are more competitive then if you just applied to the medical school when you were in college.</li>
<li>I don’t think the US Navy even has a medical school or a particularly strong science program in general. So no it would not be a better option, though I know almost nothing about them, so you probably want to ask somebody who is more knowledgable on the topic.</li>
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<p>Thank you for your quick and honest response. I appreciate it. Well, I don’t know if it makes any difference if I say that the admissions lady told me this program is only for students who have less than 24 college credits, if I was to have more than 24 credits I’d have to first complete my B.S.</p>
<p>Thank you for replying. Do you think I would have a hard time finding a job as a physician if I graduate in my late 30’s/early 40’s? How about pursuing a surgeon specialty after I graduate?</p>
<p>And also, I know that a lot of BA/MD programs (7- or 8-yr) are only for competitive high school seniors to apply. So I think you have take the regular route.</p>
<p>You won’t be too old. Average age of beginning medical student now is about 26. Some people even go to med school as second career.</p>
<p>Surgical residency is extremely competitive to enter and stay in. Primary care specialties will be easier to get, and you might need to move to an area of the country that is underserved.</p>
<p>What appeals to you about this? The science, the patient care, the hospital environment? If you can identify the specific interest, you can find other medical jobs that require less school and offer excellent opportunities.</p>
<p>This website has a whole section for premed discussions. Please read it now to learn more.</p>
<p>Wordworker, exactly, OP won’t be entering medical school until they are somewhere between 30 and 32 (4-6 years later then the average person). I would not recommend surgery, which requires an even more extensive residency then most specialties. For a person who starts on time and does not take a gap year or anything like that they still won’t be done with residencies until they are around 35 (you would probably be closer to 45 since you still have college to complete before even start everything else).</p>
<p>I doubt any place will flat out say it, but your age will probably make it harder to find a residency. Hospital residencies involve the hospital devoting plenty of time, money and other resources to educating and training you and if you end up working there they will get less years out of that investment they made (in comparison to a traditional applicant who will be younger).</p>
<p>If I were you I would focus on a medical based career that is not a doctor/surgeon just because of your age. Have you considered something like a nurse or phlebotomist?</p>
<p>I was 38 when I entered medical school and I had two classmates who were older. Third year clinical rotations were difficult but manageable, as was my residency in pediatrics, but my medical career has been fulfilling and rewarding. </p>
<p>Your age would likely work against you in more competitive residencies such as surgery, orthopedics, OB/GYN, and others, but there are other options.</p>
<p>I agree that you should also look into PA and NP programs, but I want to assure you that your age will definitely not prevent you from becoming a physician if that it is dream.</p>
<p>I first want to thank you all for your great insight and advice. I appreciate you all.
This program is for people who have less than 24 college credits. I’ll barely have 22, so I’m ok there. I still have to complete the MCAT, of course. </p>
<p>@Wordworker: I checked out the premed discussions. Thanks for the advise. I like all, the science, the hospital environment, the patient care, the personal satisfaction of saving people’s lives. If I had to pick, though, I’d go for the science and the hospital environment. As for primary care specialties, I did consider ob/gyn very seriously. A friend of the family is a gynecologist and he got me interested in this particular specialty, but I’m just too in love with neurology and neurosurgery. The hands-on part of surgery excites me, but after med school, I might decide to become a neurologist. I’m just weighing my options. And I’m sorry, what do you mean “and you might need to move to an area of the country that is underserved.”? Do you mean I might have to move for surgical residency or for primary care specialty?</p>
<p>@Irishdoctor: Thank you so very much for your insight. I absolutely appreciate your advise and encouragement. I did a lot of research in nursing and I considered becoming a nurse, but I found that it wasn’t as fulfilling for me. Nothing against nursing programs. I love nurses and I believe we couldn’t do without them, but it just wasn’t my thing. I need more theory. I am still to look into P.A., which I will totally do.</p>