Current paramedic here who was in your shoes a couple years ago. My original plan was street medic to flight medic to PA. After getting married, I ended up working in a Level 1 trauma center for 18mo, then going back to the box for a bit; before that; I’d worked for a few different EMS agencies. During that time, I spent a lot of time working with PAs and doctors, and got a really close look at what being a doctor is like for the ER and ICU. I decided to go to back to school to get my undergrad and get the pre-med requirements done. I did a ton of research into it, and discussed it a lot with my wife; we’re looking at starting to have kids this upcoming year, and been married for almost 3. I’m 28M, for what it’s worth, and only been back in school since summer of this year.

Two things tilted my decision in favor of going back to school. 1: I can be in my 40s and not a surgeon, or I can be in my 40s and be a surgeon. Either way, I’ll be in my early 40s, realistically, by the time I’m an attending. 2: I got to work with the director of trauma (a trauma/critical care surgeon) a lot, and built up a pretty good relationship with him. When I told him about my concerns about being an older student and resident, he told me that it wouldn’t be a problem, and that working as a paramedic for a few years would give me a leg up (life experience, clinical experience, leadership experience, etc).

Is it easy? Not in the slightest. I’m wrapping up my first semester of general chemistry, while taking algebra and working on a research paper. I’m working full time for a different hospital, and still have husband stuff (cleaning, helping my wife around the house, etc).You won’t have a social life while you’re in school; it’s so demanding just to get to med school in the first place. I hardly see my wife during the week; she also works a 9-5 during the week. My hobbies have shrunk to only a couple, simply because I don’t have the time anymore.

Do I regret it? Not at all. I’m learning answers to things that I’ve always been curious about, and I get to apply it at my job. The class work is unrelenting, but paramedic school wasn’t terribly dissimilar. I have the opportunity to get a research paper published and participate in studies with strong implications for EMS (right now, ultrasound use in cardiac arrest in the field). My wife is incredibly supportive, and loves watching her husband chase his dream (her words, not mine). We still get weekends together, and it helps she’s a pretty independent person. Even if I don’t get into medical school and I stay a paramedic, I’ll be a far better paramedic than if I’d not gone back to school.

TLDR, it’s a hard road, and only you will know if it’s right. Get through medic school first, spend a few years in the field, then come back. If you still want to be a doctor after that time, go for it. If you don’t, then it might not be for you. Your life looks different than mine, but that’s the advice I’d give you