What is a Traditional Applicant?
Forty years ago, most medical school applicants shared certain traits. The "traditional" medical school applicant was white, male, and just older than twenty. Most likely, he majored in biology or chemistry while in college. Although he knew that medical school would be difficult and that his career would be challenging, he looked forward to choosing from a wide range of medical specialties and being financially secure. As a trained professional, he would possess real skills and expertise and, as a result, could expect to enjoy authority and autonomy.

Recent Changes
The past few decades have seen substantial changes both in the composition of the medical school applicant pool, and in the professional opportunities available to medical school graduates. Based on the previous idea of the "traditional" medical student, women and minority applicants could be considered "nontraditional," but the term is currently used to describe applicants who are older than most med students. Of the applicants to the recently entering medical school classes, about 50 percent are between twenty-one and twenty-three years old. However, the mean age of applicants nationwide is almost twenty-five. About 30 percent of applicants are between twenty-four and twenty-seven years of age, and 16 percent are older than twenty-seven. Thus, although most people apply to medical school during or directly after college, a significant and increasing proportion of applicants are several years older.

What Type of Nontraditional Applicant Are You?
Some of these older applicants, always intending to apply to medical school, completed pre-medical requirements during their years as undergraduates, and simply postponed medical school to work, travel, or start a family. Others were unsuccessful at gaining admission directly out of college and are attempting a second or third time. Another group considered medical school in college, but did not complete requirements or the application process. Some older applicants never seriously considered medicine until after they graduated college and were involved in another occupation. Whatever the reason for postponing, older applicants now represent a significant proportion of the medical school candidate pool.

So You Weren't a Pre-Med...
Aspiring doctors who did not take the prerequisite science courses in college or did not excel in them face a formidable challenge. These individuals have a minimum of seven years of medical school and residency on the horizon and, in addition, must complete (and do well in) one to two years of basic science courses before even applying to medical school. Nonetheless, thousands of adults, despite the arduous path ahead of them, decide to tackle this challenge.

If you fall into this category, don't despair--there are others like you. It is important to gather as much information as you can about the medical school admissions process so you can make sure your expectations are realistic. Locating applicants from similar backgrounds as you will provide you with a helpful support network.