A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

I feel like I'm too old to go back to school - but I need to make a change

Posted: May 08, 2013

I'm 36 years old. Yes, still somewhat young. I need/want to get out of MTing. My dream is to work in clinical psychology, which requires a master's degree. I already have an Associate's degree. So, if I go back to school it would take me about 5 years to reach my dream. This would make me 42. When I think of getting my first job in the pyschology field at 42, sometimes I think that would be too old or I would be going up against 20 somethings fresh out of college. I'm hesitating taking the next step to go to school, and I'm wondering if I would be making a mistake?!?!?!?

even if you fininsh school at 42 - you still have 25 years of work ahead of you

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GO DO IT...

Do it! - sandst

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I'm 38 and I'm certain my husband and I will be in trouble financially if I continue to be an MT. I've gone back to school and I can tell you I was NOT the oldest person on my class. I'm getting into rad tech or sonography. Should be plenty of those jobs around where I live, but will require 2 years of school. I say get out as soon as you can.

If you don't go back to - school

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how old will you be in 5 years?

I was nearly 60 when I went back to school to become a physician assistant. My classmates were decades younger but I had more life experience to draw on, which made much of the training easier for me. I had a lifetime of juggling priorities to help me manage my time. My age was no barrier to finding a job, either. I had three job offers by the time I graduated. Nearly everyone who interviewed me said they viewed life experience as a plus. I would think the same would be true in clinical psychology. If you have the means to reach your dream, do it.

Good luck.

Wow, amazing story! - nm

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nm

Thank you so much for posting this inspiring story!! - melimel - nm

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-

I'm framing your post! - MTSearching

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I'm getting ready for school, but my one hurdle is my age as I'm turning 54 very soon, and I worry about not finding a job when I finish school, yet having piles of student loan debt going into retirement years. Your story is absolutely uplifting for me! Thank you for sharing this.

Physician's Assistant Grad - mtmom23

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To the poster who went on to become a PA at 60...Did you have a Bachelor's already? Could you give me a basic idea of what your studies entailed? Though I went to a jr college, I did not get my associates. Wondering what the minimum requirements are.

Thank you and continued success and happiness!

My PA program - required

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at least a BA or BS degree for admission. Because the program also conferred a Master's Degree in addition to the PA certification, candidates had to have acceptable GRE scores. There were also core curriculum requirements which had to be completed no longer than 5 years before admission. My BA included all the requisite science courses, but it was nearly 40 years old. Fortunately, I was able to score high enough on the placement tests for the core curriculum courses, so I didn't have to repeat the classes. The PA program was 25 months and covered academics in the first half and clinicals in the second half. The program continued year-round, no summer breaks.

If you don't go back - Old Pro

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I just wanted to offer my hearty CONGRATULATIONS to you. You sound like my kind of person! I think you are an excellent example for all of us on here, including me (I am nearly 700). Thank you and again--CONGRATULATIONS!

Old Pro's FACE IS RED - Old Pro

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ADDENDUM: I know I am old, but I am not nearly 700--I am nearly seventy. Our household ran out of coffee this morning--can you tell? I think I need to go to the grocery store right now.

This is how I try to solve problems like this.... - melimel

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I too am thinking of going back to school. I'm 32 and also thinking of going somewhere into the psychology field.

This is how I break it down: What would I regret more, going back to school or not going back to school?

When I'm 80 years old and looking back on my life, I am almost certain I would regret NOT going back to school. I believe I would be proud of myself for facing my fears of the unknown and going to school to see what more I could become.

Good luck to you!!

Absolutely - sandst

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Absolutely! I am one who believes that schooling is valuable anyway whether or not it ultimately leads to a job. It would not hurt to go talk to an adviser at the school you are interested in. By the way, I was one of those making tons of money as an MT at a local hospital until about 3 years ago. Now I'm barely surviving. Not going to work for me! And I think I'm ready to get out of the house for awhile. : )

Never too old - education is never wasted

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I finished my BA in 2004, I was 47. I finished my MS in Counseling Psychology in 2010 at age 53. In my state there are 3 more years of supervisory training before you can fly on your own. Unfortunately, where I live, pay for a master's level therapist is about $45k.

Right now, I still make more than that as an MT. But I have the education and I keep up with field changes, etc. I'm thinking in the fall of maybe taking a job part time.

You're NEVER too old to learn. Just make sure you really research requirements, etc for your state, know what the pay structure is (I kept telling myself those numbers quoted me in undergrad had to be wrong - they weren't).

Look into social work - lot easier to get a job and at the master's level you can counsel.

Hard to know - so...

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If there's a pretty good chance that you'll get a job in your chosen field (straight out of school) and still make back what you put into school within your first year of working, I say go for it.

While education is never a waste, if the idea is to make money after in your chosen field, I would talk to a lot of people already in the field (and not the professors at the college--they have a stake in it) and see what the projection is and how easy or hard it is to get a job.

Starting your own practicer definitely requires a lot of money, but if it's easy enough to get a job in some sort of clinic setting as an employee or IC, I say go for it!

Good luck!

So, it's very telling... - MTSearching

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when the school's counselor tells me it would be "prudent" to get out of medical transcription and the school has dropped the program...

Go For IT!!!!! Be a role model for other young women! - MTSearching

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I'm going back this fall and I'm 53. Really, you'll look back at your 30s and realize you were still very young at that point. Reach for the stars and what you want to do 'cause this is your one life--I say go for it!!

You would only be making a mistake by NOT - going back to school...see msg

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If you turn 42 and are still doing MT you would be kicking yourself wondering about all the opportunities you missed out on and where you could have been at that point. Go back to school. If editing/MT is still around in 20 more years, chances are it wont earn you much money (if it is not all overseas by then); go back to school. 36 is young, I know of people that did not go back to school till their 40s and 50s. Its never too late.

Go for it! - Okmt

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I had been an MT for 13 years, lucky enough to be one of those who made enough money to support the family. The bottom dropped out for me last year, and I went back to school at 38. I was scared that I was not only too old but also not strong enough, having had breast cancer, double mastectomy, etc., 2 years ago. But I am so glad I went back. I applied for the RN program and didn't hold out much hope for getting in when I heard they were only accepting 30 out of approximately 400 applicants, but I learned earlier this month I was accepted! So, I guess my point is that being scared is normal, but I think it will be worth it in the end, so go for it if at all possible! Good luck!

Wow!! Another inspirational story! - nm

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nm

Wow! - mtmom23

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Incredibly inspirational! It is so heartwarming to see the uplifting encouragement there can be on this board!

Congratulations to those who have faced their fears and are on their way to make their dreams come true!

I think I might dust off my own dreams and start planning :0)

I'm not exactly a young guy - Nick

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but I can see where MT is going, so I am studying law. I want to jump off the Titanic before it sinks. Who knows, I may spend the rest of my life in some tiny office drafting briefs and doing research for the big wheel senior partners in their Brooks Brothers suits, but at least I will (hopefully) have work. And yes, I am having to go into debt to do this, but I look at the debt as an investment both in my future and as a key to getting out of MT (which I once loved, despite taking a lot of razzing for being a guy--and a former football player at that--in a "women's field.";)- I really admire all of you who have stepped forward and moved ahead. Too bad we are not all geographically close and we could hold a mock "funeral" for the MT industry. I'd even buy the keg so we could give it one last toast!

I, too, am going into debt to follow my dream - sm

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but I believe it's better than going down with the sinking ship of MT. I just got my RN and will be going for my BSN and then become a nurse practitioner. I will be in a lot of debt when I finish, but I will pay it back slowly and I will love my job and my life.

You will do fine - PA

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The trend is towards increasing the role of NPs and PAs as extenders for the much more expensive MDs. I had no trouble finding a job when I completed my training, and I am confident that you, too, will have your choice of positions.

Best of luck to you.

amen, brother - anon

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Good for you. Dream big. And best wishes.

37 and back in school - anon

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Just finished my first year back in school, I'm 37. Go for it!

I went back to get out of MT, pursuing my dream of becoming an American Sign Language interpreter. I love it. It has changed my whole outlook. I had college classes from the past that transferred, so I wasn't starting from scratch.

I need/want to get out of MT, too. I was terrified of going back to the classroom, and terrified of thinking about working in a career out of the home. But I asked myself if I wanted to stay on the MT hamster wheel until I'm retirement age...and the answer was heck no.

I have found in my classes that the 20-something age group do not take the courses seriously. They miss class, don't do the work, don't take it seriously. So my bet would be you would be the more focused, motivated age group in classes.

I say go for it. It's not too late at all to go for your dream. I've been stuck in the MT rut, and it has taken its toll on my life in many aspects. I'm not going back to school for a career to make me rich. I want to do something that I love, have a passion for, is rewarding. Not walking a tightrope every day, hoping I have work, hoping I have a job next week.

Use your want/need to get out of MT as the springboard to go for what you REALLY want to do. Do your best, outshine the "younger" ones, and get on a path to something REWARDING and SUCCESSFUL.

Too old? - telluride

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Too old? No, no, no! Go for it!

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