Hello there. I've lurked here a few years ago when re-contemplating med-school, but never posted. This is now my third time to have seriously contemplated pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor, and this time... I'm going for it.

I'm a firm believer in where there's a will, there's a way. Perseverance will be my #1 strong suit in this journey.

The first time I "decided" on this path I was just starting college. I majored in chemistry and loved it. At the same time, I got married and lured away by the prospect of having a nice income (I had obtained a well-paying job).

Fast forward 5 years to the second time. At this point in my life I was married with two babies. I made plans, was enrolling for the next fall and then my company outsourced. My job became crazy and at the same time I went through a divorce. At the conclusion of it all, I accepted my fate to work in IT for the rest of my life. I mean, a single mom? It seemed impossible.

Three years later, here I am. I'm ready to give it my all. I've done as much research as I can as far as the workload involved + residency. I've read books, googled, you name it. I get it. It's going to be intense for the next 10 years... ok, for the rest of my life.

I'm now a single mom of two girls - ages 4 and 5. I'm 28... soon to be 29. As of this time next year, both of them will be in school. For the first time I'm beginning to see a possible light in this tunnel. Now that they will both be out of daycare I can afford to go to school full time (I hope).

The biggest piece to this puzzle is finding a good college to finish my undergrad. I'm at a sophomore status, but unfortunately along the way also changed my major to business. I'm fine with essentially starting form scratch. What I'm looking for now is where to go. I'm wanting a 2BR apartment on campus. I plan on minimizing living expenses as much as possible. I also want a good area to provide me with plenty of opportunities to be a well-rounded student. I'm open to moving anywhere at this point. If I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it all the way.

This is doable, right? RIGHT? I've not completely lost my mind... right?

Anyone with any thoughts/suggestions/feedback/warnings?

If your kids are now school-age, it's more doable than if they were small. It would help to maximize your support network for child care and to make sure you have a plan B. Just by sheer statistics a very few percentage of pre-meds are going to end up in med school. Fortunately the pre-med curriculum will prepare you for just about any health-care degree if you plan well.

I wouldn't worry too much about med school and residency right now - just focus on getting into a good school and doing well in your coursework. Good luck!

Hi there,
I'm a bit older than you but in a similar boat. I'm a single mum of 4 year old twins.
I think megboo's advice to not worry too much about med school/residency is spot on. I get myself in all kinds of panic about things which are a long way off and then I get discouraged and frustrated. I can't tell you how many times I have registered and re-registered for classes-I drive myself NUTS!
My focus for the term is to relax and know that I am on the path to something. By getting solid grades in Bio undergrad, doors will open and who knows...one of them might be med school.
One thing that has allowed me to chill out a little is having a long list of babysitters that I trust and that my kids enjoy spending time with. I don't have family near me and not many friends who have kids.
The other thing I struggle with is feeling that my extra curricular activities are not "enough." This really gets my underpants in a bunch often. Again, deep breathing, and try to relax into the belief that I will get where I'm supposed to be going as long as I work hard and give what I can do my maximum effort. For me, it is very easy to get caught up in the "stats" I'm supposed to be achieving and it was starting to ruin the journey and, frankly, my enjoyment of my crazy little kids' lives.
There is much support on this forum and old pre-meds as well, although you are not that "old!" But there are also people who will think that you are making a bad decision. That is always hard for me to hear because I already doubt myself so much. I think that as I sink further into the identity of pre-med that the doubting thoughts will dissipate. If they don't then that might actually be some good intuition that needs to be investigated. If that time comes, then I hope to have significant classes and volunteering under my belt so that I am making decisions based on experience rather than my knee jerk assumption that I'm not going to be able "to do this."
It's a long old road, today, just take the first step. Who knows where you might end up!
Good Luck

Nowadays the medical schools have become very costly, because it has become one of the most opted career. But still few schools have provision for financial aids and scholarship for the needy ones. You can look out for such a school. But then in order to avail such schemes you have to study hard and excel in examinations.

thoughts: go for it
suggestions: go for it
feedback: go for it
warnings: don't listen to naysayers

the things you have been through, the different paths you have been on, all serve to make you more well rounded and it will make you a better physician/mom/person.

surround yourself with positive uplifting people, books, signs - whatever you need to do to remind yourself of what you are aiming for and that it is, in fact, within your reach.

this blog helps me:
http://journeysinmedicine.blogspot.com/

good luck to you!

Yes you can. By the time you get accepted into medical school, I would give yourself 3-5 years conservatively since you are still undergrad, your kids will be old enough to be able to entertain themselves. My kids were school age when I went through and I was able to utilize before school care and after school programs to lengthen the day where I had study time. It will be hard being single but if your kids work with you on the goal it should turn out ok.