Hi,

Okay, let me tell you a little bit about my situation. I am currently in school and will start my program as a DMS (diagnostic medical sonographer) this fall. But, in the back of my head I keep thinking about how I would really like to become a doctor. I just have felt that it is too late for me to go into premed. Since I discovered MomMD, it truly has inspired me to hear that there are lots of women of all ages who pursue premed, not just the ones right out of highschool. Well, I got married when I was 17 years old in my senior year of highschool and had my first child at 19. I went to college after highschool, but I did not finish. I did take classes in between. I found work and took care of my children. Now I have seven children I guess I am backwards in my life. Instead of finishing college, I got married in my senior year of highschool, then I became pregnant and I didn't finish. I had my children in the time most people would be finishing their degrees and starting their careers.
I have been able to focus more with my schooling now that my children are older(14,11,10,9,7,3,8 months) and able to do some child care and help out with the responsibilities and growing up nicely. It has been easier.
I want to know if anyone has any advise on whether I should just stay with what I am doing or will I be wasting my time if I pursue premed?? I have really been thinking a lot about it and I can't stop thinking if I can do it or not. :weeping: I would greatly appreciate any advise.

Thanks!

Hi,
I'm a mom of 5 and I just finished my first year of college premed. Its a big decision on whether or not to start the journey, but if you really want to pursue medicine, than you should! or should at least try. Having children makes it harder, but anything worth having is hard. Its important that you have a game plan when planning to go into medicine. childcare, family support, good study habits ect...its not impossible to do but you just need to start! I am 27 and I know first had how hard it can be. my first quarter of premed classes was the hardest, then it got easier. there's still obstacles every corner i turn, I once described it to a friend as "getting up everyday and fighting from early in the morning until its time to go to bed, then waking up and doing it again!" but i can't complain, this summer i was chosen be in a summer premed program with a bunch of other premed students, and next summer I'll be doing research.I'm making progress because even though i have 5 kids, i took the first step in fulfilling MY dreams of becoming a doctor, and you can too!
GOOD LUCK!

Thank you so much j.lasaundra!

It's very encouraging to hear that. You don't know how everyday since I have been back in school, that I always think about whether I should apply to the university and take premed or should I just finish what I am doing and forget about premed??!! Then days go by, months, then years!! :ouch: But, you know I have not been able to forget about doing premed!! That's what is getting to me!

I know it will be harder when you have children and like you said, I will need to plan ahead with child care, family support, etc. So, you have young children also. If you don't mind, can you tell me what your days are like? So, that I will know what to look forward to! :yikes:

Thanks again, your post means a lot to me. :grouphug:

I wish you the best of luck and take care of yourself and your family!

Oh, I just wanted to add that I have 7 girls, and dad is not the type who helps out much with me and the girls at home. Ofcourse, he works a lot! He just expects to come home to a spotless house! :goodvibes:

spotless house? sounds like you two will have to do some talking about expectations...

or put those kids to work cleaning up after themselves!

that is so funny! thier dad is the same way. He works alot and expects everthing spotless and dinner cooked when he gets home too! Yea, if I were home all day with nothing to do then maybe!!! well, a typical day for me during school is......
up a 6:30am, dress and groom myself, then the kids, fix breakfast, drop the kids off at school and daycare, get to school, go to class, finsh at around 2pm, pick the kids back up from school and daycare while grabbing lunch somewhere in between. Home by 3:30pm start picking up around the house, start dinner, help kids with homework. do math homework while dinner is cooking, 6:30pm serve dinner, bathe youngest kids put kids to sleep by 8pm. from 8-12midnight study time. Quick shower, then off to bed by 12:30. Wake up and do it again.
Some days, usually on wednesdays, i fall asleep fully clothed on top of my books around 10pm.
see! its crazy, but it's doable!!
that is so funny that you have all girls and I have all boys!
today i started my summer premed program and i'll be on that same schedule because i have two classes, chemistry and physics. Crazy but Doable!!

spotless house? sounds like you two will have to do some talking about expectations...

or put those kids to work cleaning up after themselves!

Hey all. I'm a new member but have been a lurker for awhile, and have gotten alot of encouragement from all of you! I'm a mom of four, and returned to college after 15+ years out wondering if I could handle the premed classes (I had been music/psych before, with no degree). I just completed all the prereqs, kept my 3.5gpa (okay its not stupendous, but adequate I hope), and took the MCAT in April. I wish now I had waited til August, but a recruiter encouraged it since I'm "old" - I'm 44. My brother kept telling me "Its NOT hard!" Actually its the toughest thing I've done so far, but SO gratifying!

Now I'm awaiting the committee's "last minute decision meeting", and hoping to get in this fall. If not, I'll just wait a year and most likely repeat the MCAT in Aug - not my idea of fun, but with an average of 9(S) but an 8 in PS, I'm not real happy.

So any of you considering doing this great thing called becoming a doctor - don't give up when it gets tough, when you think your brain can't possibly wrap around whatever ridiculous thing (like Physics - yuck!) you're asking it to understand. If you can't do anything else and be happy - become a doctor. Its never too late!

Hi J.Lasaundra,
Do you go to school full-time or part-time? And what classes did you take your first year. I am enrolling this fall but only part-time and will only be able to take 2 classes. I wanted to get a feel for what others started out taking.

hi,
I sent you a lengthy pm

Hi J.Lasaundra,

Thanks so much for sharing your busy day with me! I am happy to hear that it is doable!

Especially knowing that you have so many children also. Many people I know, sadly give up going to school completely when they have children. Since my oldest was 11(she is now 14)she gets a baby sitting job, my other daughter who is now 11 years old takes care of the youngest one(my 11 year old is like a little mommy!) and they all have household responsiblities, which has given me some time to go back to school and finish.

Oh, that is so funny that you have all boys! Maybe we should move to your state to make some boys!

How is your summer premed program coming along?

Well, Thanks to all of you and good luck to our future doctors! :goodvibes:

I LOVE MOMMD!! :grouphug:

Hi,

I have eight children. I had my first when I was 18 and I wasn't able to go to college according to my plans. I had eight children over 20 years. When my youngest went to Kindergarten, I went back to school as well.

I started off part time because she was a half day student. I took a bunch of CLEPs and I am now a full time student (I already have 59 credits, yeah.)

I am a Biology major and have a GPA of 3.7.

I applied into pre med, but they haven't given me a response.

Anyway, yes, you can do this, but its going to take a lot of work and support from your family.

I just took a summer Zoology course, and, let me tell you, getting support from my family is an entirely new thing. I had people take turns with the kids (only one time per week per person, as not to overwhelm any one person.)

I've been giving all these years and its time for everyone to start helping me out as well.

My one big concern for the moment is my first year in medical school. My youngest will be in fifth grade and there will be a block of time where she will be at home and I will already be in class (th med school I want to attend is a good 45min-1 hour away and my undergrad school is a mere 15-20 minutes away,) Again, people in the family are going to be needed.

7-8 kids! I have to admit- that is a lot of kids!
Not trying to be mean but just being honest. I come from India where the middle class just stops with 1-2. These are the same people that hold two jobs, with both wife and husband working. (I know, India still has 1 billion people!)

Hi Empi,

Wow!! You don't know how it is so inspiring to hear from so many Mom's with children, that it is possible to achieve this goal. I have decided that I am going to go for it. If it is meant for me to achieve this goal in my lifetime, then it will happen smoothly. :crossfingers: If not, then I will at least feel better knowing that I tried.

Thanks to all of you here on MomMd!!

Empi, I wish you the best of luck! Keep us posted.

I'm so glad to hear that you are going to go for your dream! That's fantastic! You are going to do great! Just remember to beleive in yourself, and you can do it! My summer program is going great! its very hard work though. the dean of the med school expects great things from us, and he pushes us hard!! I like it though, being in school from 8-5pm m-f, getting home at 6:30, and trying to fit in cooking, kids, and studying, is crazy, but its good because it is teaching me about time managment. I got my acceptance letter into a local university yesterday, so i'll be leaving my community college and going to the university this fall! I'm so excited! I never thought I would of made it this far!! Its like --full speed ahead!!! I'm loving every minute of it!! I'm so glad i decided to follow my dreams!! you will be too!!
Congradulations and good luck!!