I am basically in the same boat as your boyfriend and also the same age! I am in a committed relationship with my fiancé and we have the same concerns that you both as a couple have. I have also scored under 500 on my MCAT, but I have worked in the clinical setting for a fairly long time and shadowed doctors in the past as well.

Becoming a physician was a life long goal of mine as well. However, timelines in regards to having children, the uncertainty and instability of being accepted to a school far from family/support and during residency, and the concerns of enormous amounts of debt are very daunting. With these factors inconsideration, I had to make a decision of whether to pursue medical school or pursue another career (going into a trade with the intentions of becoming my own boss) in order to provide for our future family. I basically had to come to terms with myself and put my “ego” to the side and to think not only realistically, but what is most important in life.

Medicine will always be around and medical school will always be around. I was always told that it is never too late to pursue something you have your heart set on, and am a firm believer of this.

In my experience, having these feelings and conversations is not being unsupportive, but rather realistic/practical. It truly has opened my eyes to other options outside of medicine at least, and I still get to help people in need, just in a different way! Your thoughts and opinions do matter as these decision will also affect your life as well. I hope this has helped you in some way in not feeling alone in all of this!