While many people dream of becoming doctors or pursuing the medical field, it is not for everyone. One thing many people have thought about was their age, and if they were too old to enter the best medical schools. If you are wondering the same thing, you aren’t alone!

Older students have been discouraged from this, thinking that there is less of a chance to get in, given their age. But is that really the case?

This article will tackle whether or not one can be too old for medical school.

Are You Too Old For Medical School?

It’s normal to feel intimidated about being over the ‘traditional’ age for medical students. However, this shouldn’t be a common concern, as there is NO age limit. One can be a doctor in their 30s to 60s!

Age doesn’t matter, and as you learn how to get into medical school, you’ll realize that age isn’t a factor. End of the day, these institutions focus on accepting students who they believe will make amazing healthcare professionals in their respective fields.

You can even find many success stories and statistics of people finishing medical school at an older age! Here are a few facts and figures to consider:

• 5%, or around 1,000 MD students that begin the academic year are over 30 years old
• From the percentage above, around 200 are over 35 years old
• Around 350 students older than 31 years old begin studying in osteopathic medical schools
• Around 10-12 people over 50 years old begin medical school

Again, you are not alone!

Besides this, there are various benefits to reap when studying medical school at an older age, such as:

• You have the real-world experience from previous jobs and extracurricular activities you’ve pursued in the past. Admissions officers admire this and want someone who knows what the real world is like, and someone who understands what it takes to earn a medical degree. More mature students took the time to think about where they want to be, have a better perspective, and bring their valuable life experiences to their academics.
• When you are an older doctor, patients will more likely see you like experienced, trusting you over youngsters. With your age, you can also create a better connection with your patients and have more understanding
• Studies show that emotional intelligence will increase with age, and because of that, you will be less swayed by various emotions. If you were to go through the hurdles of medical school, you are better equipped and can make the appropriate judgment calls, from studying down to practicing as a doctor already.
• You might have the ability to customize a study plan while avoiding the post-bacc program if you graduated with a science degree and work in related fields.

Wrapping It Up

Short answer: You are not too old for medical school, and there are immense benefits to reap when you pursue your dreams now. Use this information to further encourage you to begin the application process!