Should I go back?

[pbsupra90]

This is a long story but I will try to keep it brief. I graduated with a 3.2 ave and 3.4 science GPA from Stony Brook, many years ago. Had above average MCAT scores. I applied to American medical schools but was not accepted. I guess they saw an immature kid who was not ready, when I was interviewed. I had to settle for Greneda. I was an immature kid back then and not ready to go to a foreign country. This was back in 1989. St. Georges had two campuses and was very primitive. Just a few buildings. Dorms that looked like steel garages. Not even a lecture hall. The main campus was Grand Anse and it consisted of an old church(acted as lecture hall), shabby old hotel(acted as dorm), and an anatomy lab that was primitive. I felt like I was going to a fly by night school and it looked it, back then. Unfortunately, my immature mind was wrong. I see they have done a lot of building since then. The place looks nice. I regret leaving as I should have been a doctor. I am not a people person and would probably have thrived in path or radiology. My life has essentially been downhill since I left that school. I came back to a nice home/family but never really found a career. I did become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, but I really don't like working with people with mental health problems. My MCAT is quite old. I know SABA does not require an MCAT. I hated it down in Greneda back then. We had no water, electricity would go out, no place to get food, no Student Center, and I couldn't deal with the heat. I grew up too spoiled and could not adjust to the environment. I am used to water coming out of my shower when I turn it on. I hated it and left after 6 weeks. I never really gave the place a chance. I should have stayed, but I was NOT getting used to it. I am currently in between jobs and really don't see going back into Clinical Social Work. I am never married/no kids, mainly because I have never had a stable career. I am a bright guy, but have never handled stress well. When I am under a lot of stress I go into a panic and make impulsive decisions. Like leaving Greneda. What I saw back then as suffering, I see now as a great opportunity. . I have an overall GPA from Stony Brook of 3.2, with 3.4 in the sciences. My MCAT is old, from the 80's, but it was above average. Any advice as to what I should do?Should I take the MCAT over and go back to ST. George? Or apply to SABA? I am 51 but look could pass for 35-40. I guess not having kids, good genes, not to many responsibilities and having a lot of time to run, sleep and eat well has helped me to look young for my age. Is it too late?

[cardiomegaly]

It seems like medical school will not resolve your problem. Medical school is extremely expensive and it requires all of your mind. You learn a large amount of information in 3 months and have to know it really well just to pass. I studied for 8 hrs after class during the week and 14 hrs on the weekend and in a couple of classes are just received average grades. You need to be dedicated to this clinical social work is a great field. I know two social workers. They both enjoy the jobs but not the pay. Maybe you should relocate to a place with a lower cost of living or maybe pursue a degree that might allow you to teach. Dont apply to medical school though until you are 150% sure you want to do it.

[thxleave]

You have a nice lady friend. You have a tough decision. To stay with someone and sacrifice a potential career. I have never had any woman offer to pay my bills to keep me. This girl wanted me to pay HER bills. She saw a good looking, bright guy from a wealthy area and assumed that I had my you know what together. As she got to know me better, she realized that was not the case. When I came clean and told her my age, and that I was not working, she saw there was not future. However, even after knowing my age and whole story she still wanted to meet my parents. She was the right girl for me, but I had to move in. She felt the relationship was not going anywhere and left.These are issues I am going to have with any woman. The anxiety comes from my present circumstances. Age, living with parents, not working. If my circumstances were better i.e. employed and anxiety would lessen considerably. My social anxiety has lessened over the years, now it has to do more with what do I say about myself. But yes... I have always had excess anxiety and low self esteem. It has affected my ability to work and have relationships. However, if I had stayed in Grenada and finished school I would have had better self esteem. My anxiety comes from the fact that I feel I have a lot to hide. And yes... I have seen psychiatrists and have been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. I am smart, but only hurt me and holds me back. Other people don't think so much, they just take action. Any job in life is stressful. But there was a time when I was more clear headed, could study and ace organic or any other science class. Med school is not a panacea. But I do need a goal. My anxiety can be managed with medication. When I was in Greneda back in 1989, my roommate was taking something to help him cope. And I don't like lying to girls. But if I was totally honest I never would have met this person. I have not met any woman who is willing to support a guy. I think you have a keeper. But it's a tough decision that only you can make. And leaving her for 2-7 years will probably end the relationship. Curious how old you are?

I'm the fresh young age of 22-25 (gotta keep it broad, it's the internet and prefer anonymity). It wasn't too hard, as I keep reading that relationships that would of last would last, while relationships that would end would just end at an accelerated pace. Been with current lady friend for 2 years, and the last ex was another 2 year relationship. As for $28hr, that's a pretty nice income. Not going to lie, that's the median income of a HOUSEHOLD.

Shoot if I can land a $28hr job instead of becoming a doctor, I might reconsider...... MIGHT...... As for PA school being hard. I would say that's a good choice instead of medical school. Man.... I shadowed some doctors and they said they respect PA a lot!

[axiomofchoice]

Seriously, your posts, or rather ramblings, indicate that you going to a foreign med school are the absolute worst thing you can do with your life. You are 51, if that bothers you so much (which it clearly does) why would you want to put yourself in a position where you are surrounded by superiors younger than you? Not to mention that you have a problem with authority. You are a self proclaimed "not a people person", but you want to work in clinical medicine? Maybe something like laboratory science would be more for you.
Why are you trying to date women decades younger than you? Do think wearing a long white coat will give you the chance to keep dating 33 year olds? Grow up.
You should stop feeling sorry for yourself and try to get your life together, and a 250K gamble is not the way to do it.

[cardiomegaly]

Oh yeah, becoming a medical technologist would be great. You still get to be in the medical field. You dont have to deal with patients you just deal with physicians and nurses depending on where you work. Or you could consider a pathologist assistant also.

[MerlinDoc85]

Watch this

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAE271ABF1BA7A9E4

[thxleave]

Oh yeah, becoming a medical technologist would be great. You still get to be in the medical field. You dont have to deal with patients you just deal with physicians and nurses depending on where you work. Or you could consider a pathologist assistant also.

High unemployment rate though. Looked into that field along with Clinical Lab Scientist. Called up local public health director and talked to him. He told me that he laid off 10 people already, and only places that are hiring are larger cities. It's a 2 year program minimum, some require you to get a bachelors in CLS alone. Salary will be the same for OP, around $28hr but a bit more hours for per diem work in hospitals.

[rokshana]

let me get this straight...you were 28 yrs old in 1989, right? and yet you were "immature" at that time but now have grown up?

sorry, but you seem to have the shoulda, coulda, wouldas...and going back 20 yrs isn't what is going to fix the problems you are having now (and if you think coming out of the caribbean , 55 yrs old and looking to get into radiology is gonna happen, you haven't done enough research...its not 1989...).

im not saying looking for a career shift isn't a reason people switch to medicine (former A&P professor here!), but you have to be running TOWARDS something, not running away from the life you have...

and even if pathology and radiology were viable options, don't think for a moment that people interaction isn't important...even if its not patients, you still have to interact with other physicians, nurse, administration, etc...you still need to want to and like people to some extent.

i agree with thxleave, you need to talk to someone professional...and vmd does not fill that role...

and yes, you would have to take the MCATs again and that GPA is on the lower end of sgu applicants...

[TheCanadian]

To answer your question OP, Yes it is too late.

[pbsupra90]

I assume you are a woman. You have to understand I was a very late bloomer. Looked about 12 when I went to college, had a very late puberty and was still growing while in college. I have discovered much later that not only my physical growth was delayed, my emotional/psychological growth was delayed. So no I never really did grow up. And I have had the wrong priorities for a long time. This pattern of dating women 15-20 years younger than me, started in my late 30's. I always looked young for my age and acted it. I don't like women close to my age as they have been through too much. A marriage that didn't work out, a guy who did not pay child support etc. If a woman is single and in her 40's she is usually very bitter, because she has been let down/manipulated/dissapointed by a lot of men. I like younger because I can get them for a while, they are more fun, look better and are much happier in general than older women.
This is all off topic and immature to discuss in a public forum. But I do have regrets not finishing way back when. And it is hitting me real hard now. I could have had a totally different life. I do NOT like the field I am in. Have not worked for a year and a half. I interview and never get hired. Or if I do get hired, I usually hate the place after a few months. Clinical social work is not for me. You work with people with a lot of problems and the dregs of society. Also the supervisors usually have as many issues as the patients. I had one actually inappropriately touch me, and thru comments like about how I looked. He sounded like a 15 year old and this was coming from a 60 year old man! So I would like to get into something else. I have more of a personality of a pharmacist. Someone who works behind the scenes. There are areas in social work which would be a good fit. Doing utilization reviews. Pretty much you are on the phone with the insurance company and have the patient's chart. Something that is not people intensive. As I find working with a lot of people very stressful. Yes... I am anti-social. But if you were treated like I was growing up, you would be bitter and anti-social too. I was short/fat from about 14-21 and look about 12 when I graduated high school. I also was too nice and let the wrong people into my life. I missed out on a lot of the "fun" with the opposite sex and have been trying to make up for it ever since. I guess that's is what these relationships with younger women is all about. But I met someone I could have settled down with, and wanted to. But was not working and not able to support a family. I didn't expect that she would get so serious so quickly. Again, I maybe 51, but look 35-40 and act like I am 25. Yes medical school would not solve this. I have been in an out of therapy for years, and it has not solved this. My emotional development got stuck at some point. But I need to do something so I can offer somebody I like a life and get out of this situation I am in. I don't expect to be working any time soon. Just thought I am going to be 55 anyway. Why not do I originally wanted to do while in college. SGU took me back then. Guess it's harder to get in now. Yes, I do ramble but I have not been doing well since this girl got rid of me. And time is not helping.

[pbsupra90]

I assume you are a woman. You have to understand I was a very late bloomer. Looked about 12 when I went to college, had a very late puberty and was still growing while in college. I have discovered much later that not only my physical growth was delayed, my emotional/psychological growth was delayed. So no I never really did grow up. And I have had the wrong priorities for a long time. This pattern of dating women 15-20 years younger than me, started in my late 30's. I always looked young for my age and acted it. I don't like women close to my age as they have been through too much. A marriage that didn't work out, a guy who did not pay child support etc. If a woman is single and in her 40's she is usually very bitter, because she has been let down/manipulated/dissapointed by a lot of men. I like younger because I can get them for a while, they are more fun, look better and are much happier in general than older women.
This is all off topic and immature to discuss in a public forum. But I do have regrets not finishing way back when. And it is hitting me real hard now. I could have had a totally different life. I do NOT like the field I am in. Have not worked for a year and a half. I interview and never get hired. Or if I do get hired, I usually hate the place after a few months. Clinical social work is not for me. You work with people with a lot of problems and the dregs of society. Also the supervisors usually have as many issues as the patients. I had one actually inappropriately touch me, and thru comments like about how I looked. He sounded like a 15 year old and this was coming from a 60 year old man! So I would like to get into something else. I have more of a personality of a pharmacist. Someone who works behind the scenes. There are areas in social work which would be a good fit. Doing utilization reviews. Pretty much you are on the phone with the insurance company and have the patient's chart. Something that is not people intensive. As I find working with a lot of people very stressful. Yes... I am anti-social. But if you were treated like I was growing up, you would be bitter and anti-social too. I was short/fat from about 14-21 and look about 12 when I graduated high school. I also was too nice and let the wrong people into my life. I missed out on a lot of the "fun" with the opposite sex and have been trying to make up for it ever since. I guess that's is what these relationships with younger women is all about. But I met someone I could have settled down with, and wanted to. But was not working and not able to support a family. I didn't expect that she would get so serious so quickly. Again, I maybe 51, but look 35-40 and act like I am 25. Yes medical school would not solve this. I have been in an out of therapy for years, and it has not solved this. My emotional development got stuck at some point. But I need to do something so I can offer somebody I like a life and get out of this situation I am in. I don't expect to be working any time soon. Just thought I am going to be 55 anyway. Why not do I originally wanted to do while in college. SGU took me back then. Guess it's harder to get in now. Yes, I do ramble but I have not been doing well since this girl got rid of me. And time is not helping.