Can You Start Medical School at Age 30?

My thoughts on starting medical school at 30 years old.

Have a question you'd like answered in a future video? Comment below!
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Dr. Buck Parker, MD is a Board Certified General Surgeon and can be found online at:

IG: @drbuckparker
Twitter: @drbuckparker

[WhereTheBeaversLive]

My classmate in first year uni was 42. He said he was going to be a doctor. He was very determined.
Fast forward, years later, I move back to my hometown and end up in hospital and there he was. Full fledged hospitalist/MD. So happy for him.
Apparently he applied to med school four times before they believed he was serious.

[gdaymates]

Babes, I'm 37. First year medical student. 9 weeks in. Time goes by regardless of your age. By your 30s you know what you're capable of, so if you want to give it a go, just do it. It's been really hard. Hard feeling dumber than people who are 20 but who cares.

[affzor]

It worked out for me, I started at 30, and I'm graduating this June at 35 years old.

[detroitplaya]

36 and starting residency in a few weeks. You are exactly where you're supposed to be. Don't let society tell you otherwise.

[adernain]

For us in Germany it's totally normal to see people in their late 20s and lots in 30s to be studying med. I had a lot that were for years nurses, physiotherapists, physics etc and then turned into med school.

[virtualshell]

I was 25 when i started med school. now im a plastic surgeon resident. just believe in your dreams.

[tobisalako]

I started at 27. Just make sure you know you really want it.

[StudentDoctorAntonioPatterson]

I am 50 and I will be starting my second year in August. I will finish residency at 56. I will probably only practice medicine long enough to pay off my loans and die. I wouldn't have it any other way. One of my classmates from a previous master's program started at 52 and he is starting 3rd year and going out on rotations in 2 weeks. We are old farts and we know it but we also know that there is a shortage of primary care physicians so we have some leverage there. Also, look for Dr. Carl Alamby who was a former car mechanic and went to medical school at 45. It is possible but it is HARD.

[littleraeofsunshine]

Started postbacc at 32, Med school at 33. Everything you said is true! The burnout, the challenge, the knowing how great having a solid career is. And the imposter syndrome...

[uniqwiab]

30 is young to me. Some people go back for their Bachelor’s. I’ll be 29 starting, fine with me. I don’t see myself doing anything else.

[Splash]

Want to push back slightly on the second point. I could argue that if you decide to go into medical school at 30, then chances are you are leaving a job and a career and making a change. With that said you have even a STRONGER level of commitment to the work and education because you are more matured, know what you want, and therefore can take it more serious.

Writing this as someone who just turned 29 and has been in corporate America drowning.. medicine and helping others is truly calling to me.. hoping there are others like me.

[rushi]

Thanks for posting this. I will start residency at 31 and have intrusive thoughts of regrets or doubts, but then I remember that everyone has their own path, and I'm happy with the path I chose. It's definitely a struggle but so is life. It sucks to compare yourself with others but it's inevitable, and everyone has their own path. As you long as you enjoy it, there is no reason to doubt your path. Learning and helping people at the level of a physician is an absolute privilege that I am blessed to have.

[MrTheTomahawk]

dont focus on others. it does suck, but ultimately u are just competing with yourself in life. you dont know the complications that come with someone elses lifestyle. change that perspective and do what u need to to feel fulfilled in your career

[liveprudently]

I started at 41 and am about to graduate. Former lawyer.

[bluephoenix]

Excellent! A lot of good advice here even if you aren't planning on going to medical school.

[damonsmigielski]

The legend has returned. I thought you’d left YouTube. This absolutely made my day.

[Naturebeautyandcalmness-eqzg]

I am 44 years old. I started medical school this year. My first day at medical school will be 9 March, 2024.

[TheDarkSideOfMedicine]

Great topic Dr Parker! We all know that energy may decline, and at a certain age, your priorities will change. I think we have to start revising the whole education system. Today we spend 18 years of education in random subjects, 3 years pre-med, 2 masters, 5 years medicine, 5 years residency, this leads to middle-aged men and women becoming actual specialists. Wouldn't be great to graduate as a surgeon when you are 26 or 29? and you have all the energy to perform and do more, like research? I honestly think that elementary school and high school are a waste of time for those who really want to become doctors. Our lifespan is 70-80 years graduating as a specialist at 35 (best case scenario) doesn't even make sense. When you know you are going the medicine path, highschool should be 1 year.

[HoloAdictos]

Thanks for the inspiring story and some comments out there, im hoping to apply at my 23 years to med school
Wish me luck

[glencmac]

I started med school at 58yo. I graduated at 62yo. I applied to 300 residency programs. I got 4 interviews. I got ZERO matches, I got ZERO scrambles. Meanwhile one of the 20 something students that had failed pharm not once but twice, got a residency. So did the students who had disciple actions against them for cheating. I was not the top in my class and my step score were not stellar, but ... bottom line, don't start med school, even just for family med, after 40.