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Original poster

Training to become a doctor at 26 with 2 children! Is it doable?

93 replies

Genesys · 16/09/2023 12:25

Hello,

I'm looking for advice please 🙏

I'm 26, I'm wanting to train as a doctor, I have 2 children aged 5 and aged 6 months, is it do able?

My partner currently is unemployed, but has said he will support me as much as he can, he is looking for work, but I'm worried its not doable!

I have never been to uni and I only have 2 GCSE's that are B grade so I'm sure I'd need to gain better grades in Maths and Science to be able to go to uni? I'm actually not sure where to start with this!

For back ground I'm a self employed driving instructor, I'm on maternity leave. My son was born with a heart condition that required Open Heart Surgery, I'm interested in medicine anyway but this has inspired me I guess to look at my options before I get "too old" 😫

Thank you for reading!

OP posts:
FannyFifer · 16/09/2023 12:28

Medicine is very competitive & would require top grades I would think.
What about nursing, could do an access course at college first then it's a 3 year degree.

CinnabarRed · 16/09/2023 12:31

Surely you would have to resist GCSEs and pass well, then sit A Levels and pass incredibly well, then do a minimum 5 year university course? That’s a nine year commitment. It really doesn’t sound realistic, with the best will in the world.

I think PP suggestion of nursing or midwifery might be more feasible?

Lolloped · 16/09/2023 12:33

There are ways to do it but it will be a long and hard journey with a lot of work. Start looking at medical schools admissions and what they require to get in. Liverpool as an example offer a course with foundation year and you need 5 B grade GCSEs. I would contact medical schools and you can ask the best way to get in as a mature student. Not all access courses have good success rates for actually getting into university.

Medicine is competitive so you will need to work on making your application as strong as possible and will probably need to have some form of work experience or volunteering to show you know what it’s like. It will be a long journey but it can be done.

DisforDarkChocolate · 16/09/2023 12:34

It's doable but it will be a massive amount of work. Start with getting the minimum GCSEs and work forward. Make sure you know what you need to get on the degree course before you make any plans.

DisforDarkChocolate · 16/09/2023 12:36

Also, it wasn't just doctors who provided care for your son. Look at Allied Health Professional roles, look at jobs in laboratories and specialist nursing. One of these may be a better fit for you.

Comedycook · 16/09/2023 12:39

I don't work in that field but my gut reaction is that if your only academic qualifications are 2 GCSEs, then to be brutally honest it is going to be a massive uphill struggle. Out of interest why do you only have two GCSEs?

SophiaElise · 16/09/2023 12:39

Register with an agency as a healthcare assistant and after 6 months of weekend shifts, decide if the reality matches the fantasy. That's how I decided medicine was indeed the right degree for me.

There's no point trying to get the required GCSEs and A levels without any experience of working in a healthcare setting.

PensionPuzzle · 16/09/2023 12:39

I think your limiting factor here is going to be if you can get all the qualifications you need to work your way up to a medicine application around family life.

You could start off by making arrangements to resit your GCSEs, with an eye on what you would need to get onto A level courses after. Then do that same when you start A level for the next level up. Take it bit by bit and see how everything pans out.

If it ended up not being medicine that you went for, you would still need to ensure you've got the best GCSEs you can so that's where I would be focussing at the moment, see how you get on studying alongside family life and find your routine and rhythm with it 🙂

Shinyandnew1 · 16/09/2023 12:41

I only have 2 GCSE's that are B grade so I'm sure I'd need to gain better grades in Maths and Science to be able to go to uni? I'm actually not sure where to start with this!-

Unless there were extenuating circumstances when you were taking your exams that made you only come out with 2 GCSEs, I would be wondering if you are academically minded enough to do medicine? It’s hugely competitive and requires high grades and the ability to remember massive amounts of information and do stupidly well at the constant exams/pressure they have.

If you would be studying medicine full time for 5 years and your husband not in paid work but looking after your kids, how would you pay your bills?

MariaVT65 · 16/09/2023 12:42

Shinyandnew1 · 16/09/2023 12:41

I only have 2 GCSE's that are B grade so I'm sure I'd need to gain better grades in Maths and Science to be able to go to uni? I'm actually not sure where to start with this!-

Unless there were extenuating circumstances when you were taking your exams that made you only come out with 2 GCSEs, I would be wondering if you are academically minded enough to do medicine? It’s hugely competitive and requires high grades and the ability to remember massive amounts of information and do stupidly well at the constant exams/pressure they have.

If you would be studying medicine full time for 5 years and your husband not in paid work but looking after your kids, how would you pay your bills?

Was thinking exactly the same.

CrotchetyQuaver · 16/09/2023 12:42

As things stand I hate to be the one to say it but I doubt you've got a chance. I think to get a place at medical school you need to be a straight A student and then some, it's very competitive indeed. In the nicest possible way I would set your sights a bit lower because I think that's realistic and achievable for you going by what you've told us. No reason why you can't still study, qualify and work in a hospital in a patient facing role, but I think qualifying as a doctor might be an unrealistic goal.

zeddybrek · 16/09/2023 12:43

Hi OP, I went to St Georges but did a different degree. The first year is about 90% the same as the MBBS degree. I became friends with a mature student, a lovely lady mother of 2 primary school aged children. So yes it is doable. But she had to do her GCSEs again and had 10 years experience as a nurse so an advantage in that respect. It will be a hard and long journey with lots of sacrifices but if you really want to, yes you absolutely can.

Doyoumind · 16/09/2023 12:43

I'm going to be harsh here and say it's almost totally impossible. There are so many hurdles to overcome and steps to take to even get you on to the course if you're starting off with 2 GCSEs, and then there are many years of study required after you've done all that. Have you done your research on what's actually involved in becoming a doctor, and what working as a doctor is like?

YukoandHiro · 16/09/2023 12:43

It's a long journey from where you are to starting the degree and the degree itself is 5 years long, then another 4 or 5 years of professional exams after that.

Can your partner - who isn't working - support you for up to 15 years until you're earning a good salary? Plus how will you pay for the childcare you need?

TooOldForThisNonsense · 16/09/2023 12:44

I think if you had at least the A levels or another science degree then it may be possible albeit a slog but with only 2 GCSEs it’s even more of an uphill struggle. Medicine requires excellent academics never mind anything else

YukoandHiro · 16/09/2023 12:44

SophiaElise · 16/09/2023 12:39

Register with an agency as a healthcare assistant and after 6 months of weekend shifts, decide if the reality matches the fantasy. That's how I decided medicine was indeed the right degree for me.

There's no point trying to get the required GCSEs and A levels without any experience of working in a healthcare setting.

Edited

This is really good advice. It will either put you off or massively motivate you

bluepostdepot · 16/09/2023 12:47

I really wish people wouldn't suggest nursing as an alternative to medicine. They are different professions requiring different skill sets.

Mirabai · 16/09/2023 12:47

Entirely depends on your academic abilities.

On the basis of your GCSE results - paramedic or nurse might be more realistic?

Original poster
Genesys · 16/09/2023 12:49

Oops sorry I've worded this wrong! I have 2 at B Level (English Lit and Graphic Design) and the rest are D Level or below, I have BTEC Level 2 in Retail Management. But still I guess none of these are relevant 😕

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 16/09/2023 12:52

bluepostdepot · 16/09/2023 12:47

I really wish people wouldn't suggest nursing as an alternative to medicine. They are different professions requiring different skill sets.

It’s a perfectly sensible suggestion. If you want to work in healthcare and have an interest in making people better but don’t have top grades, nursing is definitely something to look at.

femfemlicious · 16/09/2023 12:53

I would go for something like speech and language or radiology

Comedycook · 16/09/2023 12:55

I don't think you'll be academically suited then op to medicine...but you should definitely explore different areas within healthcare if that's what you're interested in.

Shinyandnew1 · 16/09/2023 12:57

I'm actually not sure where to start with this!

I would sign up to do A levels in biology, chemistry and physics or maths and see how you enjoy it and you how do. If you get straight A/A stars, then it may be within your reach. If not, then such an academic route is probably not for you.

Angrymum22 · 16/09/2023 12:58

You will need minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade 5 or higher. Maths and English are essential and preferably sciences. Then minimum of 3 grade A A levels although you may get contextual offer but not less than 3 Bs. Application involves a UCAT “exam”. One of DS’s friends wants to do medicine, she has just got 3A*s at A level but didn’t pass the UCAT last year. She is just about to try again but even with perfect grades if she fails she is likely to look at alternative degrees.
Realistically you may be early 30s before you are ready to apply by which time you may not be considered by any UK schools because you are too old. A friend of mine found himself too old so applied to Ned schools abroad and completed his degree in Romania. He qualified at 36 and now 20yrs on is a senior registrar in breast surgery.
It is doable but there is no easy path. And you need good financial support throughout, it may be 10-15 yrs before you are earning more than average income.
I couldn’t decide between medicine and dentistry but a wise friend of my parents suggested that I wanted it all dentistry was by far the better path. Both my DSis and I are dentists, the last profession we would encourage our children into is medicine or dentistry.

Shinyandnew1 · 16/09/2023 12:59

a wise friend of my parents suggested that I wanted it all dentistry was by far the better path

I don’t really understand what you mean here? What is the ‘all’?