To think I could study medicine aged 48?

[Nooname01]

Just that really.

I've long wanted to be a doctor but thought I couldn't for various reasons.

I am academic enough (v high achiever, 1st class degree in a different discipline) and we could afford it financially.

Dc would be 16, 14, 12 and 8.

Would I just be too old on graduating though?

Why do you want to be a medical doctor rather than an allied profession, Nooname? What is so special to you about being an MD?

You have to be enormously motivated to get thru the long course and training, how would you fund it?

ps: I am not sure the Med Schools can discriminate against OP on age grounds... but they can turn her down on basis of insufficient motivation or unrealistic expectations or lack of appropriate preparation or lack of evidence that she can fund the full course. I understand fees are normally paid for by NHS in last 2 yrs of MBBS, but that may not be available to someone above a certain age cut off.

DD will probably do care work for her relevant work experience.

I went to grad entry med school at 29 with a two and a half year old and pregnant with my second child. Did the four years, got a foundation place in the right Deanery for my husband's job and at my most convenient hospital (albeit not in London/South East so perhaps easier). My deanery has been exceptionally helpful - I have worked part-time throughout, taken a year mat leave with my third and am now 37 and finishing my foundation years. I know several others training part-time at foundation and higher levels. It is doable and I have no regrets.

However, even at 37 it is weird being the 'old' F2 doctor. I am struggling too with choosing a speciality and time does not feel like it is on my side - especially if I continue part-time. Medicine is very hierarchical and there is a weird dichotomy between my life as mother of 3 and as junior doc amongst hard-working, hard playing 26 year olds. I have more in common socially with the registrars and consultants but there is not much socialising with them and so although almost everyone I work with is lovely I sometimes feel abit of an oddity! Age also bothers me because it feels infantilising to always be asking/deferring to a senior (which is essential to be safe at a junior level) but very much makes me wish I had done medicine at 18 and had an abundance of experience and knowledge now as it feels so incongruent being so old and so junior.

With regard to starting at 48 - in my grad entry cohort of around 85 there were four over 40 but less than 45 as I recall. Many in their 30s and even more in their 20s. 48 does seem very old to start. You could be a GP at 55 and have a good ten years as one but everything else would take you to v near retirement age to finish as others have pointed out. I am sure you could do it if determined but if you are only 40 now, I would recommend starting sooner!

I've had this cross my mind too OP, but I'm in my 40s and really would be starting from scratch (I don't even have science A levels) and I don't think it would be worth it in the end for me – but if it's what you passionately want to do, and you can afford it, why not?

I think for me it's more that I really would like to work in a hospital, and I'm thinking about other possible ways of doing that longer term. If that's the case I think some of the other things suggested here might suit you.

If you start at 48 you'll graduate at 53 ish. A year as an f1 (paid but still very junior) then start f2 at 55. That's generally where you start with rotating shift work and nights these days. Depends on speciality but one week of nights in seven not unusual (up to 14 hours a night, either in a four night and three night block or as a seven night slog). That sort of rota sticks for st1-2 then if gp training reduces a lot. Hospital specialities it carries on through reg years which could be another 6-7.

Are you up for that at 62? I'm not. (36 yo in gp training after working in surgery initially after graduation)

I think have a go. What have you got to lose?

Why start in 8 years? Why not now?

I think have a go. What have you got to lose?

Tens of thousands of pounds in tuition fees assuming she is funding it herself.

'What have you got to lose?'

Well OP's family might suffer and I think that is a huge loss.

The experience you've gained from bringing up four children will make it seem like a breeze!

Are you a doctor hanna? The op needs to come to a decision based on a realistic assessment of what the job will be like. The experience of the vast majority of junior doctors, serial parents included is that the job is stressful, exhausting with very long unpredictable hours. Far from "a breeze".

'What have you got to lose?'

Another young person keen to have a long career in medicine could potentially lose a place on the course, as OP is taking up a space for her "hobby".

I get there is a need for doctors, but is it not better economy in educating somebody who could practice for 30 years + rather than just 5 years + ?

Hanah, have you ever tried to study while bringing up a family?

I do sympathise OP, I'm 50 & still think I'm 21. I have taken up knitting! Not the same I know but it still puts clothes on your back!
(lighthearted! Go for it!)

"Studying to be a doctor at age 48 will be a breeze because you've had 4 kids".... ffs, I've heard it all now.

It won't be a breeze, it'll be a massive slog, it'll be hugely expensive, it will have a major impact on your family and I'd bet a pound to a penny you won't get thru it. And if you do, realistically you'll be far to old to make any long term contribution.

Sorry OP, I think it's a barmy idea.

There's loads of voluntary work you could do - in fact I am always rather about people who say they want to follow X profession but have no idea of what voluntary work to do.

Why not volunteer at your local Hospice? Palliative care can be very, very rewarding and is not given nearly enough recognition.

Getting up to deal with kids at night is in no way comparable to the soul destroying exhaustion that you will experience as a junior doctor on nights.
Some questions for the op...why do you want to do medicine, how much do you really know about it and what stopped you before? I may be able to give you some useful insights as an ex dr who stopped working some years ago( many years before i would have been expected to retire).

I think, providing you go in with your eyes open absolutely go for it. You would be bringing your life experience to the role and a level of maturity some others would not have.

Good luck!

It's a romantic idea but the reality will be a nightmare.

You would be bringing your life experience to the role and a level of maturity some others would not have.

I don't need or want my doctor to have 'life experience'. I want them to have medical knowledge and practice.

If the OP was really even half way motivated she would already be couk entering with St. John's ambulance, trained as a first responder, voulentering in a hospital, hospice or something vaguely relevant.

Getting up to deal with kids at night is in no way comparable to the soul destroying exhaustion that you will experience as a junior doctor on nights

See, I found night shifts much easier than the unrelenting exhaustion of parenting babies and small children. At least you had time off between the shifts!

Any serial parent can get up in the middle of night and work through the next day. The experience you've gained from bringing up four children will make it seem like a breeze!

^^ This, however, is utter bollocks.

Not a doctor(!) Wondering whether OP has explored nursing? That would be a quicker route to qualify, and possibly less onerous (?) with a family?

Although obviously not the same salary scale, and may still have to work unsocial hours.

Does anyone remember the case in Scotland about 20 years ago - the 30 year old man who went back to school pretending to be 17 so he could re apply to medical school?

I believe he was accepted to university to read medicine before the superterfuge was uncovered. He'd flunked out some 10 years previously and at that point, the age limit for entry to undegraduate studies was 30.

It was quite sad.

my mum teaches medical students. the oldest was a woman in her fifties i believe