AIBU to change career

[Change45]

I work in professional services and have had a successful career but the thought of doing it for another 25-30 years fills me with horror. I want to go into medicine (yes, what a cliche). I have the grades (all As and a first class degree) but not in the right subjects so as a first step I’m studying for my science A levels and hope to sit them next year. I’m also searching for work experience options. I’ve not worked out the financial aspect of going back to university (or the logistics of where I can go that is close to home) yet but I feel like I need to take one step at a time to prevent it being overwhelming. I’m a little older than 35 so it seems a fair bit older than most career changers I have come across. I have a young family. AIBU to really think this is an option?

YANBU. Just do it.

go for it. friend of mine switched to medicine at a similar age after 2dc and a totally different career & is doing great.

I’m very similar background and looked into it - the main barrier is cost. You won’t qualify for student loans so for medicine the cost will be £45k just in tuition fees - not counting cost of living whilst you’re studying.

Personally no I wouldn’t consider a career change to medicine when it requires re-doing A levels with little guarantee of getting into the field, followed by essentially a decade of training. When combined with the fact that you like the IDEA of it, rather than actually knowing the detail.

I would however consider finding an area of crossover between that and your current role, and do specialist master’s level education there to have a career in the area without the decades of training.

Realistically if you go this route you’ll have to accept it will be close to 10 years before you can make a living, probably almost 15 years before you get to where you are now. Virtually any other career would be quicker.