<p>My first year of university (last year) I had no idea what I was going to major in so I took some general ed courses and didn't have a definite plan. I made all A's and B's and ended the year with a 3.7 GPA. I did two internships - one in an information technology office and the other with a web design team. </p>
<p>Then this last Fall I freaked out. I had a complete crisis and ended up dropping my courses and coming back home. I was scared about accumulating debt, about not knowing my major, being homesick, feeling like I couldn't control what was going on around me, etc. I just didn't handle it well and made a mistake. I regret it but all I can do is move on from it.</p>
<p>So I moved back in with my parents, worked, went to counseling (found out I was suffering from depression) and figured out what I wanted to do with my life. Basically I feel like the biggest loser in the world for coming back home but I just want to know that it's not too late to fix things. </p>
<p>I got in contact with the university I was going to and I can sign up for courses and go back this Fall. If I go back, make straight A's, stay on track, and finish out strong would medical school still be a possibility? I haven't taken any pre-med courses and I know I'd be behind, but is it possible to catch up? </p>
<p>I've always been strong academically and I know I can handle the course load. I am positive that I want to become a doctor. I want to get into the pre-med program at my school, but looking at it, it's on a pretty strict schedule (like all the classes you should be done with your first year, second year, and so on). I feel like it's impossible for me to catch up now. Plus I haven't had any research, clinical experience, or anything that has to do with medical school! I'm 20 years old and there's 18 year olds who are closer to getting done than I am. </p>
<p>Can anyone give me advice on where I go from here? Please help me out!</p>
<p>It is not too late and you are not very behind either. The core of premed courses normally includes one year biology, two year chemistry, calculus 1, and one year non-calculus based physics. As long as you finish these courses with good gpa, you will be fine.</p>
<p>Noella-- Take heart. Nationally, the average age of a first year medical student is now 24-25. The trend in med school admissions is toward accepting slightly older students who are not fresh out of undergrad, but have been out in the world and have some ‘real life’ experience under their belts.</p>
<p>You have time to do everything you need to do. Just go back to school and do well in your coursework. Research. Volunteer. Shadow. And don’t forget to have fun. That’s part of the recipe too.</p>
<p>FWIW, D1 will be starting med school in July. She’s 25. Her road was a bumpy one and she really didn’t decide to try for medicine until she was second semester senior.</p>
<p>* Nationally, the average age of a first year medical student is now 24-25. The trend in med school admissions is toward accepting slightly older students who are not fresh out of undergrad, but have been out in the world and have some ‘real life’ experience under their belts.
*</p>
<p>WOWmom…where is this data listed? While I understand that many older students are going to med school, it would seem like there would have to be a lot of first years older than 25 to compensate for the many 22 year old grads going to med school (hence the 50%-80% acceptance rate that many undergrads boast). </p>
<p>Or maybe because the data is “average” and not “mean,” then that can mean that there actually are more 22/23 year old first years, but that there are enough 28-30+ year olds that are affecting the “average.”</p>
<p>I wonder what the “mean” age is for First Years. I’m guessing that it’s lower than 25.</p>
<p>Its never too late. Even if after you graduate from college, and you weren’t pre-med in college, you can still become a doctor through Post-Bac programs. You still have 2 years to complete your pre-med pre-req classes.</p>
<p>The idea that you’re behind at all? Ridiculous! Take heart, because I am a second year medical student and I am 26, turning 27 in August. Most of the incoming first year med students at my school are 24. The age ranges from 21 - 40. I’m not kidding. </p>
<p>The top-scoring student in my class is 30 (he worked in the pharm industry for several years before deciding to be a doctor). </p>
<p>It is most definitely, absolutely, not late at all to follow your dream. Medicine is a long, LONG road, so an extra year or two at the end makes no difference at all. </p>
<p>Take the pre-med courses, major in something you enjoy, and follow the process (good grades, taking the MCAT, applying, shadowing, doing research). </p>
<p>I didn’t volunteer at a hospital OR do serious research until I was a junior at UCLA! I spent the first 2 years concentrating on my core science classes and getting good grades. So to re-iterate - NO! It is not too late! In fact, med schools love slightly older students who have experience with real life (and the real ***** and crap it throws at us). If you can demonstrate that you’ve learned from all of this, and matured and grown as a person? Golden.</p>
Take heart, because I am a second year medical student and I am 26, turning 27 in August. Most of the incoming first year med students at my school are 24. The age ranges from 21 - 40. I’m not kidding. </p>