They found their way to medical school along circuitous paths, propelled by life experiences their younger classmates can only imagine. Kirsten Pickard, 41, had grown disenchanted with her telecommunications career and aspired to become a doctor after marrying one.
Cat-Tuong Vu, 44, felt inspired by doctors whom he watched guide his wife through a frighteningly complicated pregnancy with their twins. These students are part of a tiny cohort: medical students age 40 or above.
From the through academic years, 1, such students matriculated into medical schools β comprising about 0. My family is proud of me. And it was one of the best days of my life when I walked across the stage. Older students tend to face challenges that differ in intensity and type from those of traditional medical students, but they also bring different assets.
Largely due to their long absence from college, admissions officers say, older students typically face particular struggles on the admissions test. In school, older students often face special stressors, such as the loss of income from their previous careers, significantly less time with spouses and children at home, and the added pressure on their spouses to run the household.
Their time away from the rigors of higher education can make their new academic demands especially daunting. The path is eased by support networks that nontraditional students establish, providing everything from friendship and advice to parent-child activities, social events, and peer-led panel discussions.
