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Original poster

DS keen on being doctor - advice welcomed!

54 replies

sydenhamhiller · 05/01/2018 14:51

Hoping, as ever, Mumsnet can give its usual sage advice.

We are not a family of medics - DH and I are first gen of our families to go to Uni, and have Arts degrees.

DC1 is at a boys' grammar, and is a good all-rounder. He'd say his favourite subjects are PE, Latin and English in that order. He has just started doing the 3 separate sciences this school year (Y9), and quite likes them, but sadly (understandably with current teaching crisis) not the best teachers.

And to our surprise, since last year he's quite set on being a doctor. We're not quite sure where this came from - as I mentioned above, we're not a 'medic' family. The two doctors and one nurse we know have (again, understandably) a jaundiced view of the NHS. The news is full of the low morale and difficult working conditions in the NHS. We've discussed this with him.

All the posts on mumsnet/ articles elsewhere seem to say, in a nutshell, don't send your children to med school, counsel them to do something else. So should I be doing that?

When I discuss this with him - bless him, he's only 13 - he says 'well, you and dad are always going on about how difficult it is, and how hard I'll work, and how everyone hates it, I KNOW', and then I feel a bit bad for questioning his idealistic young dream.

I am also aware of being a helicopter parent. I don't think my parents even knew which 5 Unis I had on my UCAS form, or what I wrote in my personal statement! But it's such a competitive course, for so many years, such low morale on here/ the media, I just want him to make an informed decision and I am not sure how I do that. If it was 20 years ago, I'd say, "you love Latin, go and do classics somewhere", but with 3 kids, and crazy fees, I am not sure that is a luxury we can afford to promote...

Any advice lovely Secondary Education posters?

OP posts:
theredjellybean · 05/01/2018 15:12

I came from non medical family, and 'knew' I wanted to be a doctor from very young age.
Even with the considerable pressure and increasing denigrating of the profession I would still recommend it.
It has given me opportunity to work all over the world, I have experienced various different 'careers' within medicine, and it has provided a good standard of living for me and my family.
It still stimulates my brain, I still get opportunities to try new things, learn new things and mostly get great job satisfaction.
Tell your ds to go for it, but I'd be asking him to consider his subject choices carefully, pe and English and Latin all interesting but he will need sciences and or maths at a level.
Check out some med schools requirements for more info on that.
Also the UK will be expanding the number of med schools significantly in next few years so while still competitive it may be easier when he gets to that point

Forestglade · 05/01/2018 15:09

We have no medics in the family at all but our dc wanted to be a doctor from the age of 14 and is now halfway through medical school. So I wouldn't discourage as it's hard work to get on a course and to see it through once you're there. They have to want to do it themselves. There are enough obstacles so no discouragement required!

TeenTimesTwo · 05/01/2018 15:05

I'd say 'that's a nice idea, let's see how you get on with GCSEs, you don't need to decide anything yet'. He's got a long way before even choosing A levels yet, no need for decisions right now.

Bellamuerte · 05/01/2018 14:53

It's competitive to get in, but once you're in you have a job for life and very high earnings, as well as social respect. I'd recommend it.