Am I crazy for going back to school at 27 to pursue medicine?
Hey everyone,
I’m 27 and seriously considering the premed path, but I’m struggling with a lot of insecurity about it.
I have a nontraditional background. Earlier in college, I wasn’t focused, didn’t take school as seriously as I should have, and my GPA reflects that. I was diagnosed with ADHD later on, which helped explain some of my academic struggles, but ultimately the responsibility is mine. Recently, I’ve gone back to school (transfer) and things feel different. I’m more disciplined, motivated, and genuinely enjoy learning. I’m currently taking statistics and plan to complete a Psychology BS while finishing the prerequisite science courses for medical school.
If everything goes according to plan, I’d probably start medical school around age 30 and finish training in my late 30s.
My biggest fears are:
Being too old.
Having my past academic mistakes hold me back.
Spending years pursuing a goal that ultimately isn’t attainable.
Falling behind my peers in life while I’m still in school.
At the same time, I can’t shake the feeling that if I don’t at least try, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.
I’ve spent time working in community mental health, and those experiences have drawn me toward psychiatry. The combination of medicine, psychology, and helping people through some of the hardest moments of their lives is incredibly meaningful to me.
For those who started later or had rough academic beginnings:
How realistic is this path?
How much weight did admissions committees place on your older grades versus your recent performance?
What do you wish you had known before starting?
I’m looking for honest feedback, good or bad. Thanks in advance.
- A nervous 27 year old future student wondering if he’s crazy or just late to the party. Please excuse my terrible formatting!