<p>Hello...SO...I recently changed my major from Bio to Accounting(going to a CC-and also a transfer major). The reason why I am going into Accounting is because I have experience in the field and felt that i could establish my life sooner than i would trying to become a doctor, but Ive always wanted to go into medicine (specifically become a MD).</p>
<p>I had a late start going to school (i took a year off) and also stopped going full time because of work. So i always felt that maybe going into medicine now might not be a good idea...I am 23. Obtaining the grades is not hard, its the time part. </p>
<p>I need some guidance here. Would going back to medicine be worth it? I mean, because I am 23 and still not at a 4 year...</p>
<p>From a time perspective, presumably you could enroll next year at a 4 year and with your CC credits graduate in 2 years, right? So that puts you at 2.5 years until med school. Even with a glide year, you’re looking at 3.5 years until med school, 4 years in med school, and then depending on what specialty you want, potentially only 3 years of residency. So you’re asking if it’s worth giving up being a doctor because right now you probably wouldn’t be finished with residency until you’re 33 (or 34, maybe you’re only in your 1st year at CC, or 35 if you had to do a 4 year degree from scratch) - 4-6 years older than what is essentially the youngest you could be? I don’t feel like digging it up right now, but I believe the data says that 25% of people are at least that old (33) when they start medical school, let alone when they finish residency.</p>
<p>Only you can say if a 4-6 year lag is worth giving up a 40 year career you’re interested in.</p>
<p>Medicine is a long road to be sure. You’d need to complete your BA/BS degree, followed by 4 years of medical school and 3-5 years of residency and then another 1-3 years for a fellowship (if you want to specialize). At a minimum, that’s 7 years plus whatever you have left for undergrad before you’ll be able to start your career. Plus there are about a million hoops you’re expected to jump through to make yourself a strong applicant.</p>
<p>No one can tell you if it’s worth it. That’s a decision only you can make. </p>
<p>You need to ask yourself why you want to to go into medicine. If it’s for a secure, stable career—they are many quicker and easier routes to achieve that end than medicine. If you want to help people–great! But why medicine specifically? Why not _______? There are tons of ways to help people. Including being an accountant.</p>
<p>Have you done any clinical volunteering or physician shadowing? Both might help you get a better feel for whether medicine is something you really want or not. Many people have a very idealized view of what a physician’s career is like. (HINT: what you’ve seen on TV–not even close.) Clinical volunteering & physician shadowing are both expected [read: required] of med school applicants anyway so it will be time spent well. </p>
<p>Many medical schools are very welcoming to older (i.e. “non-traditional”) applicants. My older D started med school at age 26. She was neither the oldest or youngest person in her class.</p>