This is something I want to address. Firstly, youre correct. The vast majority of medical students come from VERY privileged backgrounds and it shows. Hell, applications fees can run from 75 to 300+ bucks a pop and the MCAT itself is almost 400 dollars.

That being said, if youre smart enough to get into med school, you should do it. I grew up about as poor as you could, I graduated early and immediately went into working fulltime. After the dotcom burst I became an EMT then a paramedic and started working 72+ hour weeks to save up for my premed. I was MUCH older than your standard 23 year old med school applicant.

But even if you have a relatively decent job (65k in a low cost of living area), the finances work out to pull the trigger and get your MD. Without doing any self doxxing, I can say a relatively uncompetitive specialty paid more in one year than I made in 5 years as a medic. I took 2 years for premed, a gap year, 4 in med school and 3 for residency. 10 years total. Which I made back in 2 years and thats not including the pay as a resident which was actually a bit higher than medic pay.

Your circumstances might prevent you from being a traditional applicant, and AAMCAS needs to work on the financial gatekeeping. You can absolutely swing going to medical school if you have the desire, will, and capability to though. It will be hard as hell though.