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Original poster

Medicine at university - waste of time?

107 replies

whoosit · 21/02/2025 02:52

There was a thread the other day about how difficult it is for UK trained doctors to get jobs here which got quite heated. I'm not trying to reignite that flame but I have a DC who is making decisions about their future and seems to have set sights on medicine. They're very high achieving academically and do competitive sports outside of school and are generally an all round good egg. My main concern isn't whether academically they can get into med school but more to ask is it not worth them doing it because there are no jobs further down the line. It shocked me to read that thread hut wasn't sure whether that was just a bit of a mad scare mongering thread with an ulterior motive and actually training to be a doctor in this country is hard but essentially there's a job at the end of it?

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LJGFD · 21/02/2025 04:57

I’d encourage it as a ticket out of the U.K.! In your heart of hearts, do you feel that the U.K. will be able to offer your daughters generation a fabulous life or would they be better to set themselves up elsewhere? Medicine will give them so many visa options, and I think that’s a benefit that is often underestimated - the ability and flexibility to just go!
I was torn between investment banking and medicine. I chose the former, and wish I’d have chosen the latter! I’m encouraging my children to take up a ‘trade’ - be it medicine or plumbing or whatever!

LameBorzoi · 21/02/2025 04:45

BlondiePortz · 21/02/2025 03:05

I suppose it depends on the motive of why someone wants to be a doctor in the first place? have a practice on Harley Street because it sounds good to their mummy and daddy's friends and their trust fund requirements, work for the NHS wouldnt be becuase of the money? and a million other reasons

That's a very clear way to show that you understand nothing about medical training.

LameBorzoi · 21/02/2025 04:44

I would be steering my kids away from medicine right now. It was bad before, and it's gotten worse.

I hope that things will be better in a few years, but it's a huge gamble. If your kid can get into medicine, they have far better options.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 21/02/2025 04:44

If it's all you want to do than it is all you want do to. I don't think I could have been happy doing anything else and DD age 18 feels the same.

timetodecide2345 · 21/02/2025 04:39

I teach nurses and this is the first year the students have not secured jobs prior to finishing their degree. A few years ago they would have had the choice of 3-4 jobs each.

Lordofmyflies · 21/02/2025 03:13

Both DH and I are doctors. Our youngest DC wants to go into medicine and honestly, I wished he wanted to follow an alternative path. The cost of £50k tuition fees, plus living expenses is just the start. On obtaining the degree, to be posted anywhere in the UK to do specialist training or immigrate overseas for a sustainable lifestyle is also a concern. We both have had colleagues who committed suicide due to the stress and pressure of the job - it is not a healthy occupation. It plays havoc on your social and family life. However, it is not my choice to make. All I can do give my DC a balanced exposure to the job and support his choice. It is not a waste of time but it is a challenging and often misunderstood occupation.

BlondiePortz · 21/02/2025 03:05

I suppose it depends on the motive of why someone wants to be a doctor in the first place? have a practice on Harley Street because it sounds good to their mummy and daddy's friends and their trust fund requirements, work for the NHS wouldnt be becuase of the money? and a million other reasons

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