I can't tell me friend I think this is a bad idea can I?

[HoneyIshrunktheBiscuit]

My best friend is a newly qualified nurse. She's been working since the beginning of the year but during that time she's had a substantial amount of time off work because of stress and depression. Obviously with the state of the NHS at the moment this is really understandable and I admire how she has pushed through it all. I also work in the public sector so I do it get it.

She's just told me she's been offered an interview for medical school to train to be a doctor. She's excited and I've of course congratulated her and wished her good luck. But I'm just concerned if this is a wise idea considering she is struggling to an extent with the pressures of being a nurse. I'm worried for her own mental health that she is going to put too much pressure on herself. She's my best friend in the entire world and I want her to be happy and ok. But I can't possible tell her I think this is a bad idea can I?

No because she will already be aware of this and she is unlikely to succeed anyway. In your shoes I'd choose the friendship as it could well come down to a choice.

In many ways being a doctor is easier.

How will she afford to retrain? If she's had a degree already, she won't be eligible for loans for fees/living!

She will already be aware of this and she is unlikely to succeed anyway erm why?

I wouldn't say anything op. I am sure she will have thought it through. Just be supportive however it turns out.

Perhaps unlikely to succeed in getting a place? So far she's only been called for interview.

She's just told me she's been offered an interview for medical school to train to be a doctor

I don't understand how that can be possible. UCAS doesn't open until September. I think she's telling you porkies.

purple she's not the type to make this up.

But honey it can't be true. No institutions have medical places in clearing. The next session for applying doesn't open until September. She can't possibly have an interview at a uk medical school now.

Just to be clear, I'm not accusing you of making anything up op, it's just that what your friend is saying isn't possible. Might she be exaggerating and meaning she's going to an open day and talking to someone about applying?

How will she afford to retrain? If she's had a degree already, she won't be eligible for loans for fees/living!

There are a few loan schemes set up for precicesly this reason so it's not impossible.

It's open days and that's it this month, no placements being offered until next month. I know, DD in the profession.

I don't know then. All she told me is she has an interview for a scholarship to med school.

If she's lying then I can't think of any reason why.

There are a few loan schemes set up for precicesly this reason so it's not impossible

None of them that will fund a newly qualified nurse who has benefited from massive investment yet has managed to take off a "substantial amount of time off" already in their first few months.

None of this story adds up.

yes there are medical and pre medicl places in clearing

also there re interviews for the next round going ahead now.. they are several months head of other courses, and interviews for other courses will start in a few weeks.

Keep your mouth shut and just be there for her.

An interview for a scholarship is not necessarily an interview for a place.

It may also be a place at a non-UK institution, so not necessarily untrue

yes there are medical and pre medicl places in clearing

I didn't see any on the UCAS website when I looked. I might have scrolled past though.

Even if there are places through clearing, you usually have to have already done the UKCAT or GAMSAT tests.

I don't understand what you mean by also there re interviews for the next round going ahead now.. they are several months head of other courses, and interviews for other courses will start in a few weeks

Applications open for all courses in September. Medicine has an earlier deadline (October 15th) but you can't physically apply for the purse until September so there's no way you can be called for interview in August.

Op I'd ask your friend what she's actually applied for.

Applications open for all courses in September. Medicine has an earlier deadline (October 15th) but you can't physically apply for the purse until September so there's no way you can be called for interview in August.

yes you can, my aunt is already interviewing and making offers for medical school

If she's going to uni as a mature student, surely she will need to pass the GAMSAT before interview? One of my sisters did this. It was fucking hard and I don't know if she'd have managed it while battling illness at the same time.

Copperbeech Are you UK?

It sort of depends on the person doesnt it. If she is super clever (four As at alevel) and part of her reason for depression is feeling that she has underperformed and ended up not in the career she wants then the course will make her happy and she will be clever enough to cope.

If this is all a bit of a fantasy, she is not clever enough, and coping with the pressure of the job is what has got to her then it sounds like a crap idea to pile on more pressure by doing the version of that job that requires harder qualifications, 7 years of training, and ultimately more responsibility for life and death.

Impossible to tell without knowing the woman.

yes you can, my aunt is already interviewing and making offers for medical school

Not in the UK she isn't. You must have misunderstood. I've both been a doctor and worked in sixth form helping students with this stuff. You're confused somewhere.

Purple is right. Applications don't open until next month. A scholarship interview is very different to an actual place interview though, perhaps as others have suggested that's what she means.

Regardless of what she meant, I still don't think you can say anything to her. She's already going to be aware of her health and all you can do is support her as best as possible. I think the most I would do is possibly bring it up but I'm not sure I'd even do that tbh especially as she's told you she has an interview and not asked what you think.

Leave her to it. Say nothing.