u/Prestigious-Skin5676

Got into 2 MD schools and also got into 2 CAA schools. No family/haven't settled down.

I know this sub is young, but at my unc age, do you think it's more practical to do the CAA option?

Everyone has told me not to do CAA. However, I value the ability to have a life and maybe get settled down one day.

MD school costs 500k, compared to 200k. I am very much am appreciative and extremely grateful to even have the option to become an MD.

I was focused on family medicine, psychiatry, or something less cutthroat and invasive. I did apply to medical school to actually help people in my community for the rest of my career. But they say you would be 43 either way, so that's a reason to just go.

I would be around 43 years old before I become an MD. I also never planned on anesthesiology.

It would be cool to have an MD and have all this knowledge but I am worried about the financial destruction once I get to the USMLEs and pressure to succeed and what it will do to me.

I struggle with school, as I am slow - for example, I had to study 3 separate times to take the MCAT before I nailed it (514).

Any thoughts please. Am I being unreasonable or too pessimistic?

I do feel like I am quitting at the start line in some sense, but I also want to be realistic and speak to the non-trads here as well.

If I was 26, I'd say yes to the MD IMMEDIATELY. I applied to medical schools not knowing about CAA schools as an option and just got off the waitlist for medical school.

I am a bit worried about my age, though. I do struggle with some of this material and the vast amount of information I need to retain. I am worried that if I fall behind in medical school, or fail, my life is over.

I have a personality where when I study, I give everything else up to make sure I have good grades because I am slow. To get to this point I gave up everything - friends, family, not financially doing well.

Some people told me "you get a good job faster but then what?". There is a guilt I am taking a short cut if I do the CAA option.

What do you all think? Is age unfounded? I am not depressed or sad, maybe because I am used to not having much, but I am stressed about how much longer I will have to keep giving everything up because I'll be mid 40s when I'm finally done.