To want to train as a doctor?

[Duggee]

It's always interested me and something I really want to do! Is it crazy to think of doing it with children in tow? I wouldnt want to start for a few more years, but would starting in my mid thirties be crazy?

[curvyredmug]

Want another example of work life balance? I gave the hospital where I worked 6 months notice of my wedding and was on the rota to do nights that week. They refused to change it despite having the notice in writing. In order to get away I had to do swaps which meant I did 14 x 12 hour shifts in a row before I got married.

[Excited101]

Don't do it op, it isn't worth it

[Dancingwithcrutches]

spot on lougle.

[nocoolnamesleft]

lougle

Very well put indeed. May I borrow it?

[imwithspud]

I would say yabu. It takes ages to qualify. Maybe you could do something else in the medical field that wouldn't take quite so long to qualify for, like nursing?

[thewavesofthesea]

Going a little against the grain here.

I'm a junior doctor. A GP trainee, not far off qualifying. And I love my job.

However, I'm 31, and started med school aged 18. I have had 2 kids along the way and worked part time, but it will have taken 14 years + by the time I finish.

It has taken me that long to find my niche and find out how I love to practice and what my strengths are. I feel very privileged and blessed to do what I do; but it has taken a long time to get there.

So you could do it, but you need to be in it for the long haul. You may not find your niche immediately so training may take even longer than anticipated. Med school is tough, and I can't imagine doing it with kids. However having kids and maturity count for a lot. I have passed postgraduate exams well while having kids; I actually enjoy the study more now then when I was younger and make time for it. It takes a lot of childcare and expense, but doable if you are determined.

The landscape is changing, no doubt, and the NHS may not survive. But I cling to and cherish the bits I love. The patients (mostly :-) )

[Butteredparsnips]

It appeals because I'm fascinated by medicine, hospitals and anything related. I read medical research for fun, and read around it using text books, the Internet when I come across something I don't understand

What about people skills? Do you have any experience of working in Healthcare? you could look at voluntary work or at entry level roles (with training) to get a feel for the system and see if it is for you.

As others have said a medical degree is one thing. The actual job is very different.

[MrsLupo]

Ex-medic here. I did it late, in my 30s, with small kids. Even medical school was tough, despite a supportive partner, a fantastically tidy mind and the fact that I really did love it. The job was something else entirely and nearly killed me. The crushing tiredness undermined both my physical and mental health and made it very difficult to be resilient in the face of day-to-day stresses. The patients were mostly fab and the feeling when you get it right and make a difference is second to none, but at the end of the day the toll it takes is just too great. I took a rotation out with health issues and never went back. I agonised about throwing away everything I'd worked for, but knew in my heart that it was the right decision, for me and even more so for my kids. When I look back I feel pretty bad about putting them through it all - the things I missed, the holidays that were trashed because I was studying, the crying down the phone when I'd had to stay late yet again. I haven't regretted my decision one iota, and that goes double given the new contract proposals.

Listen to the advice you're getting, OP. When I was in your position, not one of the many doctors I did work experience was anything other than positive about the idea of doing medicine in my 30s (although one did vaguely suggest it 'might be a bit late to do maxfax...'). And I did ask for candid opinions. Pretty much everyone now is saying the opposite. It's a shame it has to be like that though. Medicine needs mature entrants and career changers imo.

[Hi5Hello]

I think the difference is TheWaves and I have been thinking about this thread a lot is that when we went to Med School at 18 we did so with largely a peer group.

We went through the same experiences at the same time and all had children broadly within a couple of years... and there is huge support in that

I think its different coming at it from the other side and maybe being the only one in your set with children - because you will get very little sympathy from equally as knackered colleagues just because you have the school run etc... they won't understand

[Duggee]

Thank you all. I do have some experience. I worked as a health car assistant I'm my gap year and also during the university holidays. I've looked into it more and emailed some admissions departments. I'm going to study for a 2 years part time with the open university studying science modules and will apply to do a post grad as a physicians associate. it will be much more family friendly and will still be something I would love.

[bumbleymummy]

Sounds like a great plan :) good luck!

[Http]

That's fantastic! Hope it turns out well for you. Good luck!/

[PurpleDaisies]

Excellent! That sounds like a really good plan (if they'd been invented in my day I'd have definitely done that). Really good luck.

[Libitina]

Good luck and please keep us posted. It'll be interesting to follow your journey.

[Defenderwife]

Being a healthcare assistant is slightly different from being a doctor......

Even with your new plan it will take years and years. Is it really worth it. I'm all for fulfilling a dream but you have to be realistic.

What school grades/undergrad degree do you have? Are you clever enough.

[Duggee]

I know it's not the same as a doctor! But I was just answering someone's question about having experiance with people and working in a hospital environment. I have a 2:1 bsc degree. The entry requirements are 2:2 in a science based degree. As my degree was in psychology the admissions said to study science modules 60 credits at level one and 60 at level 2. I can do that part time over 2 years (while I have one child at home). After that the postgraduate is 2 years. So I don't think its that long to study for.

[horseygeorgie]

I very seriously considered it not too long ago. I am 31, with a 4 year old DD and am a single parent. In the end after much deliberation and soul searching I decided it just wasn't worth the sacrifice my DD would have make so I could cling on to a dream. After reading this thread I'm very glad I made that decision!

[Aspergallus]

The PA role sounds ideal for you. Good luck.