I too am considering becoming an MD, I'm in nursing school right now and in my mid 20's. My main concern isn't whether I can get through the MD program but my age by the time I get around to it. So right now it's kind of a toss between MD & CRNA.
I borrowed these comments below from the other thread.
Originally Posted by CityLights
I lurk on the anesthesia forum here as I'm interested in the specialty. You may get better advice there though they can be hostile to CRNA's posting. There is one poster there who made the transition from CRNA->MD, though decades ago when the climate was different (I think his username is Dejavu?).
Anyway, some questions:
-How old are you? Do you have a family? Do you want one?
- Do you have any of the medical school prerequisites completed? How competitive are your stats so far (GPA, etc.)?
- Are you open to moving across the country for medical school? For residency?
- Are you considering pursuing other specialties besides anesthesia, or are you only interested in becoming an anesthesiologist?
As a CRNA, I would guess that you have some of the pre-requisites completed. But if not, that could add another two years before you can apply. Add that to four years of medical school, 4-5 years of residency (if you pursue a fellowship), and you could be looking at just over a decade before practicing as an anesthesiologist. Depending on many factors such as your age, current ability to pay for school, and the practice environment in ten years... financially speaking, this is likely to be a "wash" at best and likely something you won't ever benefit from (financially). However, it's hard to put a price on career satisfaction, and if this is something you really want to do, then it's better to do it sooner rather than later.
If you're curious about how this would affect you financially, I would suggest creating an excel spreadsheet with two scenarios -- one if you continue as a CRNA, and one if you choose to pursue medicine. This will better help you visualize the opportunity cost of pursuing medicine (or potentially, the long-term opportunity cost of remaining as is).
This is all very true.
I am that guy mentioned in the CRNA to MD thread who did what you are thinking about doing, CRNA to MD (not, by the way, MDA).
Much of what I have to say may be interesting and, hopefully helpful, to anyone thinking of med school.
I was unprepared for the amount of work that Med school and residency were. The first two years of med school are about 27 credit hours each semester of hard core science, not music history. I studied from 0800 to supper time, ate with my family then studied till 2200, each night and weekends for two years. There is no comparison of work involved between CRNA school and Med school. None.
Then you are a peon med student on the wards for the last two years. So low on the totem pole that nurses consider it okay to just grab a chart out of your hands without asking, since you are a non-entity. And every day you submit to grilling from every doctor you meet. Believe me, you get no credit for all the experience you gained as an RN and CRNA. They don't care.
You will gain no retirement benefits for those years, and no salary, since you are a student, not an employee.
Then you get out and into internship year. I was in the Marine Corps for 4 years and I would rather do those 4 years over again than my internship year.
And, depending on the specialty, the 3-6 more years of residency aren't much better. Again, you gain no retirement benefits, work long hours for little pay.
You better really want to be a physician. I wasn't prepared for all the work and BS involved.
Am I glad, now, that I did it? I would answer with a qualified "yes". But not without regret and second thoughts. My family and I were clinically depressed as we all went through it. If you have kids, my biggest regret of doing this was having moved my son in the middle of high school. That was 20 yrs ago and I think he is still angry about the upheaval in his life, just to follow my dream.
If you want this, do it and do it now. It will take 10 yrs, but you will be 10yrs older whether you do it or not.
Being a physician is pretty nice, but a hard road to get there. I don't care what schooling you have had in the past, this pathway is harder by many multipliers. At least go into it with your eyes open, and, if you are married, with your family fully prepared.
. I'm very interested in actually pursuing medical school right after my BSN since i already have health care experience i don't think that i would need to do volunteer work but definitely open to it 
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