What do you think?

[Jperdomo]

Hi,

 

I just turned 45 and am just getting back into the swing of things due to a back injury that had me on SSDI for 5 years. My background: I am a veteran, joined the USAF at 17 right out of HS. After separating from the AF I came back home and started working in IT. I was married young at 21 and worked in IT for about 18 years. Had many jobs requiring a College degree but never got one. I am still happily married to a Nurse. She has been an RN for over 25 uears and is now in Managment in one of the top Hospitals in NYC. I have always loved science and did very well in school and found science to be my passion. I have started and stopped college a few times. Stopping usually because of time demands of my IT jobs. But I did maintain a 4.0 GPA in all my courses incouding A&P 1&2, Biology etc. Working FT and taking 15-18 credits at the same time. But then my job woul demand my time and college had to stop due to bills.

 

So then I hurt ly nack amd have been out for 5 years. My wife has insisted I should go back to school and is willing to allow me to go to school FT and not work. I have always loved science and being married to a medical professional for so long it has worn off on me and I would love to be a medical professional myself. MD would be ideal but PA seems more realistic and faster. When i ask my wife she is extremely supportive and she says with my brain PA school would be perfect and assures me academics wuld not be a problem. I have always been academically inclined and even in the AF I graduated top in my class as an F-15 Aircraft Technician. So my question is this? My back is what it is and without surgery I will deal with in and off pain for life. Am I too old to go to school? I live in NYC and live right next door to me ne of the top hospitals in the country. Know plenty of MD's and medical mgmt and they assure me I would have a job if and when i graduate. I am interested in Surgery so I would like to pursue a Surgical PA program. My concern is that the school would look at my disability time and hold it against me for fear of it flaring up again. So i am seeking advice and thoughts of anyone that has been in similr predicaments. Any help wouldI be appreciated. Sorry for any typos but typing on my phone with big thumbs is a pain in the butt. So thoughts, advice?? Thanks in advance

[UGoLong]

First of all, you aren't too old (though some of you prereqs might be!) I started my preqs at 51 and graduated at 60. I'm sure there are others like me, and perhaps even older.

It's definitely a journey. You need a BS, the right preqs (similarities and differences between programs), healthcare experience, etc. You can learn quite a bit from this forum.

This is not meant to be a plug, but I wrote about what it was like as an older student in Old Man on Campus. The first chapter (which you can read for free at the Amazon site) describes my journey getting to PA school. Your route will be your own.

Finding a local PA or a few to shadow would help you decide if the journey is for you.

Good luck!


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[Jperdomo]

I appreciate your reply. Will have to get the book and read it. Have a lot of thinking to do in the coming weeks. Really appreciate it. Guess gonna have to go into some serious debt, hahaha. But I guess doing what your passionate about and helping people has no price. Thx!!