To ask if you (honestly) think there's a cut off point for retraining as a DR?

[RetrainingDR]

I've nc as I'd like to add a few things about my history which would otherwise be outing.

I have a-levels but not in any of the sciences. I then went on to do a degree in Sociology and an MS in comp sciences. My career has mainly been in those fields.

Would it be totally insane at the age of 33 to retrain as a doctor? I know I'd probably have to start from scratch to get relevant a-levels or so which means by the time I'm done I'd be a great deal older but I don't know if I'd even understand any of the course or be accepted.

Has anyone done similar?

I retrained as a dr in my twenties on a graduate every course (these require an exam to pass to get on to them but then are 4 years) and there were plenty in their thirties and a few older too. If you want to do it go for it.

Also 2 people had babies during training

Are you female? You can't put planning a family on the back burner for much longer tbf

There is one med school (sorry - can't remember which) that specialises in mature students with less relevant previous qualifications.

I changed career very successfully and happily at the age of 50 (not medicine) so am an advocate of following your dreams.

To be clear, those are saying you need science a levels are incorrect, this is only for standard entry courses.
Graduate courses have different entry requirements, almost always an exam which you do need science for but you can cram for it in a couple of months without needing to take a levels.

If you really really really want to do it, then do it. As mentioned in pps, there are other medical occupations, that you might like to consider.

Speak to a doctor (Familyof3or4?) or contact the BMA to find out what is involved.

I think that about 20 years ago I had a newly qualified GP who was in her 40s. 33 is young enough but it will be quite a slog.

Not too old if you don't want a family but I really don't think you can do both at 33.

I wouldn't. I was 33 when I got my Consultant post. I'd worked almost entirely full-time and had two mat leaves. The thought of starting it all at that point is horrific!

I'm now 39 and whilst the dc are a bit older the pressures of the job are growing and growing at Consultant level. In my department we are all working more than full-time hours and still not managing to meet the service demands. This is the same for colleagues across departments/specialties and Trusts. My GP colleagues essentially work 12 hour days. I do some work at home every day (including weekends) and struggle to take annual leave.

I do enjoy my job but there is too much of it and not enough staff. I really would not advise or encourage anyone in a career in medicine at the moment. I was at a meeting today and this topic cropped up and we all agreed that we would not encourage our children into this work unless the NHS changes to enable us to effectively care for patients in a way which feels impossible right now.

Are you happy to be moving around for the next 10-15 years while you train? You imply that you might be starting a family at medical school, which is great but just bear in mind 1-2 years for A levels, applications then 5 years Med school (this might not be in you first choice location) then 2 foundation years (they could likely move you again for this) then minimum 3 years further training (for GP for example) which again you may have to take a job somewhere else in the country. All those years as a doctor have a compulsory out of hours element nights / weekends so if you're stuck somewhere with no connections and a small child you may find childcare etc tough if you're working lots of long nights and weekends.
Of course if you want to be based somewhere less competitive for medical jobs then you've a better change of staying put. Lots of people do have kids at medical school though and they seem fairly supportive.

Also bear in mind how able your partner would to keep up with frequent moves - lots of doctor couples have to live seperately for large chunks of training due to the georgraphy of their posts. I suppose people may find that more acceptable in their 20s than 40s.

Do you have any experience volunteering in hospital or another relevant setting? You would need this as well as a good GAMSAT pass. I don't think you are too old in your thirties but you would find it very tough to care for children as well.

The University of Buckingham has formed some kind of partnership with Oxford University. The way the area (centred around the growth of Milton Keynes) is growing, I wouldn't be surprised if it became the most reputed medical school in the area.

anecdotally i've heard it's very hard to get selected for med school if you are older. you need a spectacular educational and voluntary history.

I'm doing it but waiting until dd starts school. So I'll be 42 when I start. I've thought carefully about it and I think it's worth it. I know people older than me that have done it too!

You're looking at at least a year on A levels, then five years on the grad entry course. If you are female and want a family then realistically you are going to have to take at least one year out to have a child.

A good friend of mine is your age and is just about to complete FY1 (first year post qualification, previously the PRHO year) having started her training at 26. She took a year out to have a baby. She would have preferred to take a shorter mat leave but the university wouldn't let her leave and rejoin mid year. She has found it hard but very fulfilling, and it has only been possible financially because she has a very supportive partner who earns a very good salary.

So, things to consider. Realistically you would have to take time out of your training in order to have a family; are you willing to do this? Do you fully understand the demands of FY1 and FY2 and are you prepared for the fact that you'll be 40 when you begin them? How will you support yourself financially? Do you have a partner? Are they supportive?

Also - despite having excellent relevant A levels and a first in a relevant degree from Oxford my friend had to build up six months' work experience as a hospital healthcare assistant in order to bolster her application to one of the most competitive graduate entry courses. Competition is fierce.

Are you male or female? If female do you plan to be pregnant? At 33 - so 34or35 before you start med school you really don't have much time to fit in family and training.

Some do do medschool when pregnant. But... can you do medschool whilst pregnant and working a part time job?

I knew a 49 year old female med student. But her kids were grown up. Don't know how she did with the postgraduate training years.

Medicine fucks up your life. It doesn't sort it out.

I would think about what are you going to do after you qualify - 6 years down the line, age 40 ish.

You are then looking at 2 years Foundation training, with loads of night shifts, changing jobs every 4 months, then even assuming you do GP which is the quickest another 3 years, with 2 of that in more shift work. And possibly moving round the country to wherever the job is.

So you would be 45 minimum before you got started (I've assumed of course you've done all of this fulltime - if not you can double the years and you would be 50, and you only gete part time for having young children)- and no-one I know would recommend GP right now anyway, it's a horrendous job.

I'm not sure exactly where you are planning to squeeze having a family in.

Go for it. I have no idea if it is doable but feel sure it is.

And for the sake of my ailing body, I want more doctors in the world.

Follow your dream....

I wouldn't recommend medicine to anyone. Most doctors I know are looking for a way out.

I don't think it's impossible. A friend was accepted into medical school in her late 40s. She didn't take it in the end though.

I am a medic and have an unusual career path (very long career break, specialty training when older etc).

No regrets about returning but I haven't encouraged my kids to follow my career path.

Why do you want to do it?

As an aside, could you clarify something for me please. A colleague's daughter is a nurse and he keeps saying that she'll end up a heart surgeon. I thought that if you trained as a nurse and wanted to be a dr you had to retrain from scratch. I didn't say anything as I wasn't sure (and he's the sort to argue that black is white).

If you want to be a GP you probably aren't too old as their post-grad training is only five years (two years of Foundation and three years VTS).

If you want to be a hospital consultant, I would reconsider. I'm 38 and have only just finished, and I went straight through, full time. PhDs are pretty much compulsory for some specialties (ie mine), so you have two years of foundation, two years Core Medical Training, five years Higher Specialist Training, with three years of PhD slotted in somewhere. Plus you want Mat Leave, and will presumably be part time for at least a year or two (60 hour weeks aren't compatible with toddlers - part time still averages about 40hrs a week). So you'll assuming you graduate at 40, you'll be 53 or more before you're a consultant. Not worth the hassle, IMO.

Train as a nurse specialist or physician assistant. The pay is similar or better than a junior doctor's, the hours are much better, and the training is much shorter.