Professionalization of the older medical student

While older applicants have traditionally had difficulty being admitted to medical schools, they slowly are gaining easier acceptance at some institutions. Little is known, however, about whether or not older medical students experience the same professionalization process as younger ones and whether or not the extensive literature developed over the past 40 years is useful in understanding older students' developmental processes. Structured interviews were conducted with 26 University of Cincinnati students who were 28 or older when they matriculated as freshmen in medical school. The findings indicated not only that these students experienced different stresses from their younger classmates but also that they cope with problems and view the professionalization process differently. These results are discussed in relation to the literature. Some suggestions for educational and counseling policies are offered.