u/honeypip

Hi! I am looking into working as a Medical Assistant while saving up for medical school. My current plan is to enroll in my local adult school for my certification, which will run from January - May 2027. Until then, I am applying to a ton of other jobs to save money for the certification + my future with medical school.

I am very eager to start, and January is a bit far. So, for now, I just started two online courses. One is a Medical Terminology course with Des Moines University, and then an Anatomy & Physiology course with Carnegie Melon University (both free). I obviously won't get a certification or anything for these, but it's to hopefully familiarize myself with the content I will learn at the adult school. I'll still be working during the program, and I have free time right now, so I figured this might make the content easier on myself. For anyone who has done a program to get their MA certification, do these courses sound beneficial for the time being as I prepare? Any other advice for this path/preparation would be super helpful!

Hi! I just wanted to share my current plans for my path to medical school to see if anyone maybe had any advice/think this sounds normal.

I am currently 25 and I just graduated with my M.A. from Dartmouth, but my educational background is pretty much fully in the humanities. I am struggling to finance my prerequisites, a formal postbacc seems very out of budget, especially anytime soon. So my plan is to work from now until next fall to save up.

I am considering taking a class, which would run from January - May, to get my Medical Assistant certificate. This would be a bit of an investment, but if I work a different job from now until then (applying literally everywhere right now), I will be able to afford the program + gain extra savings to continue saving for my prerequisites. Hopefully I'd be able to get a Medical Assistant job after that so I can start working in a healthcare setting as quickly as possible.

Then, I am planning on starting my prerequisites in August 2027 at a 4-year university near me. They have two programs I am looking into, one is "open enrollment" where you can take classes without being a student, but it's extremely expensive with no aid offered. They also have a "second baccalaureate" program, where I could work toward something like a Bio degree and get my prerequisites that way (and this one does offer some aid). I am thinking this would likely take about two years. Then the medical school application process is year-long itself (I believe) (and I'd likely continue my medical assistant job through this year), so I would be looking to start medical school August 2030, and I would be 29.

I just want advice on if this seems sound, financially and time-wise. I am also okay with anyone suggesting something different, for example, if you think enrolling in a formal postbacc for 2027 is the better option even if I have to take out a loan. I am a little insecure about the idea of starting at 29, and having to wait so long, but as most of you know, it is a very difficult career change to fund. Any comments would be appreciated!