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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want to go to medical school at 37?

432 replies

MilanHilton · 03/01/2024 08:02

I’m 37, married with two nursery aged children. Husband and I both earn £45k each so we live comfortably but not well off.

My medical care when I was pregnant was atrocious and the NHS was negligent (they admitted it). Which really got me thinking… I want to be a doctor that LISTENS to women so that what happened to me won’t happen to another lady.

I know I’m old, and coming from a non science background I’ll have to do 6 years in medical school and then extra training to be an OBGYN. Looking at the junior doctor pay bands it is going to take me years to get back to my current salary. Not to mention needing to do shift work and the stress of it all.

Financially it will be a tight decade and by the time I finish uni, the kids will be towards the end of primary so hopefully life will be easier. I’ll be mid 40s when I finish medical school so will still have another 20 years of working still.

AIBU for considering putting my young family through a decade of financial and emotional stress with the hope that I’ll earn more in the future? Is it worth the stress?

AINBU - go be a doctor! You’ll save lives (sometimes)
AIBU - that’s too much work and financial turmoil, even if you become a doctor you’re not going to address the chronic lack of resource in NHS

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
RareApricity · 04/01/2024 17:00

TheKeatingFive · 04/01/2024 16:53

Management consultant starting salaries are around 35k. 200k would be the small number who make it to senior director/partner after many years experience.

Depends on the level of the consultancy. I started on approx £100k as a trainee (top uni plus top MBA) almost thirty years ago.Some who had started on a surgeon pathway and didn't want to do it joined at the same time as me and was earning significantly more and was similarly fast tracked on associate/partner pathway.

TheKeatingFive · 04/01/2024 17:04

Depends on the level of the consultancy. I started on approx £100k as a trainee

Thats going to apply to tiny numbers of people though. That's why average salary calculations are helpful.

withthischoice · 04/01/2024 17:09

RareApricity · 04/01/2024 16:54

I am senior in a London management consultancy. This is perfectly achievable within a couple of years.

no, it is not.

RareApricity · 04/01/2024 17:11

Okay well take management consultancy out of the equation. I only speak of that because my experience is direct and I personally have recruited doctors into it on salaries well into six figures. The average salary in pharma for someone with a doctor's experience will be over £100k. I is a well paid sector. Again, without a med degree, I was offered six figure salary positions by companies like GSK thirty years ago.

ILove2024Already · 04/01/2024 17:11

Do it op! You'll always wonder what if otherwise

RareApricity · 04/01/2024 17:11

withthischoice · 04/01/2024 17:09

no, it is not.

It absolutely is. Sorry if that upsets you.

Inastatus · 04/01/2024 17:24

Unless it’s different for mature students, you’ll be up against very stiff competition! My DD’s friend got A* in all the relevant subjects, got a very high score in her UCAT test, had relevant work experience etc etc and only just managed to scrape a place through clearing!

RareApricity · 04/01/2024 17:36

@Inastatus it is much tougher at grad entry level. The bar is crazy high to get a place at med school at any entry point these days. Hence, if doctors are undervalued they are excellent candidates for other sectors - very smart, very focused under pressure, good teamworkers, usually very articulate and measured with an expectation of having to work very hard and make sacrifices for it. What's not to like? And that's before the relevance of their medical degree to a specific sector/job.

Winnipeg23 · 04/01/2024 17:39

Singleandproud · 03/01/2024 08:13

I think it's quite common for woman to consider a career as a midwife or OBGYN following pregnancy. However what you will also find is that most people already in those roles set about to listen to women and to provide the best care they could but financial and staffing issues and policies and procedures from above ends up snuffing that out and making it impossible.

When I first started teaching I had all the intentions of being a Miss Honey (Matilda) the longer I taught I realized the Trunchball might not have been so wrong after all. The realities if the job rarely meet our fantasy.

However, there's no reason you couldn't opt for a voluntary role and make the hospital experience better that way

Trunchbull is amazing 🤣 I'm hearing ya!

withthischoice · 04/01/2024 17:45

RareApricity · 04/01/2024 17:11

It absolutely is. Sorry if that upsets you.

it doesn’t upset me in the slightest

It is incorrect though.

You’ve are a management consultant and was recruited (as a graduate trainee?) on a salary of £100k?

No, you weren’t.

NoDought · 04/01/2024 17:49

Absolutely not too old to follow your dream but be very careful and consider is it only bore out of the result of trauma and pre this trauma would it have been your dream? The NHS is full of people who want to make a difference but unfortunately the system prevents this and may cause more trauma/ frustration in the long run if/when you see that in the future.

RareApricity · 04/01/2024 18:03

withthischoice · 04/01/2024 17:45

it doesn’t upset me in the slightest

It is incorrect though.

You’ve are a management consultant and was recruited (as a graduate trainee?) on a salary of £100k?

No, you weren’t.

I was an Oxbridge graduate with almost two year's general industry experience followed by a top MBA (Masters in Business Administration as it sounds like you don't know what that is). I was 26 and that was almost thirty years ago. It was actually just over £100k plus very generous expenses. The doctor I started with was earning more. And please don't call me a liar. It's rude!

Meandspottydogs · 04/01/2024 18:09

I agree. One of my friends is a trainee midwife having decided on a career change in her mid thirties and with 3 young children, and more spotty dogs than me.
She is loving it and I know she'll be great at it. As has been said, there are other roles to help women in the birth process.
Having said all that I believe in being true to yourself so if you feel that qualifying as a doctor is your vocation can you not have a family meeting and see if you can all pull together?

withthischoice · 04/01/2024 18:17

RareApricity · 04/01/2024 18:03

I was an Oxbridge graduate with almost two year's general industry experience followed by a top MBA (Masters in Business Administration as it sounds like you don't know what that is). I was 26 and that was almost thirty years ago. It was actually just over £100k plus very generous expenses. The doctor I started with was earning more. And please don't call me a liar. It's rude!

Edited

i do not believe a doctor with no consultancy experience whatsoever could walk in to first job being “£200k plus’

and an anonymous poster with zero posting history aside from this thread describing their career history…. is not something a find particularly compelling tbh

Famousperson2023 · 04/01/2024 18:28

I would say they can over take PA salaries ‘fairly quickly’. PAs have to do a closely science related degree before their 2 year course, so they’ll have done 5 years of studying (although I’m not sure how the first degree in hairdressing actually helps), start on £45k v dr £27, progressing to £80k within 2 years (if they choose). A hospital dr won’t be on £80k for at least 10 years after qualifying assuming they work full time. Most junior drs in training no longer work full time because they simply can’t manage the job, commuting (an hour commute each way is fairly standard for drs on rotation) and studying. In my speciality I think there is only 1 trainee in the region still working FT. So most nhs hospital drs won’t be earning close to £80k until they are 40+……..and nevermind the money, PAs work office hours. No nights, no weekends. And there are no postgraduate exams. From a work -life balance it’s a no brainer.

Itsdifferentnow · 04/01/2024 18:31

Dear MilanHilton,

Of course you are NOT being unreasonable!

I couldn't believe it when I saw how many people thought you were!!

For far from the first time I have concluded that asking this website for any kind of opinion unless it be the best way to get blind drunk as fast as possible, is just to throw yourself to the wolves of self-opinionated ignorance!

Please ignore them! Frankly they do not know what they are talking about. Their own prejudices are so obvious.

If you decide you want to get better educated then you go ahead. Mature Students with principled motivation are easily the best. I have taught them. Nobody can say to you that you 'should not do it' once you you get a place in Medical School. In many ways it's the best way round, to study after you have raised your children beyond the baby and toddler stage.

I am so distraught about your bad experience(s) too at the hands of the medical profession. I too can sympathise. I and my firstborn also nearly died. In fact the Midwife gave my baby up for dead, draping her on the trolley next to me and the Doctor told me afterwards he was sure I was dead. It has never left me although it was many years ago.

I returned to Uni in my early 40s, initially thinking of studying for 5 to 6 years while working part-time through the degrees. However I did well in the first degree and my career took off in a different direction so I studied longer and worked while doing so by teaching in the University. It was not as though I was supported at home either. My husband died horribly at the end of my first year. It gave me stronger reasons to get on with it and be well qualified to provide for my children.

I think people here are of a different group who do not understand what it means to study for years and to be part of a University department. You will find it exhilarating. Of course it will be tough and you will know many late nights studying but it will be worthwhile. Take each module at a time and don't try to imagine it all in one go. Start revision early with good revision plans and make small revision 'maps' or spiders' webs, or however you see them, of each topic written very small and colour or hi-light the bits that go together. Learn these. You'll see these in your exams. I'm sure it's how I got a first in every exam I did.

This is obviously no pipe dream for you. You sound to me as though you have done the ground work very assiduously, looking into the courses for people like yourself. It might be worth contacting the Dean of the Medical School and asking if there is anybody to whom you may talk about your wishes to study at your age. I am absolutely sure they will welcome you. If you can give 10 years then you are of value.

Also you seem sure you will be 'putting my young family through a decade of financial and emotional stress'. Maybe the budget might need attention but it is possible to be happy without spending lots of money. So long as you can cover the essentials. In a hospital there are jobs you can take that pay quite well which you can do part-time. For example, I nearly trained as a Phlebotomist while I was doing my Research Degree in a big hospital. Taking blood is paid fairly well and you'd be on the spot to do it.

As for the stress, it may well be good stress. My children were amazingly supportive, the youngest loved learning some of my quite esoteric neurological stuff and we even moved house while I was in the middle of some important exams. They seemed fine with it and liked meeting the people I was with at University. There were other Mature Students on my course. It will open up a lovely world for you. And the converse is what will you be like in ten years if you are saying 'I always wanted to study Medicine but I had to put the family finances etc. first. They're old enough not to need me now, but it's too late for me to do what I would have loved....' You know, old people apparently say they only regret the things they didn't do. They say they regret they played safe and missed their opportunities...

Get out there and do it! You will make a difference to so many people. And that will feed back to your children and they will grow because of you. Go on! Make them proud!

RareApricity · 04/01/2024 18:31

withthischoice · 04/01/2024 18:17

i do not believe a doctor with no consultancy experience whatsoever could walk in to first job being “£200k plus’

and an anonymous poster with zero posting history aside from this thread describing their career history…. is not something a find particularly compelling tbh

I actually do have a lot of posting history but for obvious reasons I would rather use a name change when talking about my own career and salary specifics in this detail. If you had read my thread the doctor I spoke about was on a surgery path so they were well on their way in specialist training but not yet at consultant level.

But believe what you like, I really don't give a toss what you find compelling or otherwise. I think there could well be a bit of the little green eyed monster here. £35K in management consultancy in London. Get real. PAs (not the medical ones) earn substantially more than that.

Lindyloomillion1 · 04/01/2024 18:38

It's crazy and will be a huge stretch but do it anyway!

Hamstress26 · 04/01/2024 18:40

I’m a doctor.
Don't do it.
you will not only sacrifice the time with your children but also your mental health.

RareApricity · 04/01/2024 18:42

TheKeatingFive · 04/01/2024 16:58

I am senior in a London management consultancy. This is perfectly achievable within a couple of years.

Average salaries in MC are 50-60k which wouldn't really support that statement.

Of course, anyone's welcome to give it a go. But it's not a sector renowned for lack of pressure and short hours.

Not in the prestigious London ones they are not. It's not a walk in the park but it is a lot less pressure than being a doctor. No lives are lost if a corporate restructuring or a strategy revamp fails.

jamsandwich1 · 04/01/2024 18:43

Itsdifferentnow · 04/01/2024 18:31

Dear MilanHilton,

Of course you are NOT being unreasonable!

I couldn't believe it when I saw how many people thought you were!!

For far from the first time I have concluded that asking this website for any kind of opinion unless it be the best way to get blind drunk as fast as possible, is just to throw yourself to the wolves of self-opinionated ignorance!

Please ignore them! Frankly they do not know what they are talking about. Their own prejudices are so obvious.

If you decide you want to get better educated then you go ahead. Mature Students with principled motivation are easily the best. I have taught them. Nobody can say to you that you 'should not do it' once you you get a place in Medical School. In many ways it's the best way round, to study after you have raised your children beyond the baby and toddler stage.

I am so distraught about your bad experience(s) too at the hands of the medical profession. I too can sympathise. I and my firstborn also nearly died. In fact the Midwife gave my baby up for dead, draping her on the trolley next to me and the Doctor told me afterwards he was sure I was dead. It has never left me although it was many years ago.

I returned to Uni in my early 40s, initially thinking of studying for 5 to 6 years while working part-time through the degrees. However I did well in the first degree and my career took off in a different direction so I studied longer and worked while doing so by teaching in the University. It was not as though I was supported at home either. My husband died horribly at the end of my first year. It gave me stronger reasons to get on with it and be well qualified to provide for my children.

I think people here are of a different group who do not understand what it means to study for years and to be part of a University department. You will find it exhilarating. Of course it will be tough and you will know many late nights studying but it will be worthwhile. Take each module at a time and don't try to imagine it all in one go. Start revision early with good revision plans and make small revision 'maps' or spiders' webs, or however you see them, of each topic written very small and colour or hi-light the bits that go together. Learn these. You'll see these in your exams. I'm sure it's how I got a first in every exam I did.

This is obviously no pipe dream for you. You sound to me as though you have done the ground work very assiduously, looking into the courses for people like yourself. It might be worth contacting the Dean of the Medical School and asking if there is anybody to whom you may talk about your wishes to study at your age. I am absolutely sure they will welcome you. If you can give 10 years then you are of value.

Also you seem sure you will be 'putting my young family through a decade of financial and emotional stress'. Maybe the budget might need attention but it is possible to be happy without spending lots of money. So long as you can cover the essentials. In a hospital there are jobs you can take that pay quite well which you can do part-time. For example, I nearly trained as a Phlebotomist while I was doing my Research Degree in a big hospital. Taking blood is paid fairly well and you'd be on the spot to do it.

As for the stress, it may well be good stress. My children were amazingly supportive, the youngest loved learning some of my quite esoteric neurological stuff and we even moved house while I was in the middle of some important exams. They seemed fine with it and liked meeting the people I was with at University. There were other Mature Students on my course. It will open up a lovely world for you. And the converse is what will you be like in ten years if you are saying 'I always wanted to study Medicine but I had to put the family finances etc. first. They're old enough not to need me now, but it's too late for me to do what I would have loved....' You know, old people apparently say they only regret the things they didn't do. They say they regret they played safe and missed their opportunities...

Get out there and do it! You will make a difference to so many people. And that will feed back to your children and they will grow because of you. Go on! Make them proud!

Edited

You clearly have absolutely zero knowledge of what it’s actually like to be a junior doctor. Medical school would be the easy part.
Plenty of doctors have given advice (myself included) and none of them have said go for it!
If I were OP I’d be inclined to actually listen to people doing the job. I’m not sure why you say ‘they don’t know what they’re talking about!’
We really, really do.

Cascade39 · 04/01/2024 18:46

I'm 39 and I've just started a part time degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Will take me 4.5 year to complete. Then another 2 years to complete a part time masters. At some point during these studies I also want to do course in youth work because my plan is to work for the youth justice board. My youngest are 3 & 5 so will be 10 & 12 when I've finished my training so I'll be able to work full time on a much better wage then I can get now.

Imo you're never too old to go after a career that you'll think you'll love.

pollymere · 04/01/2024 18:56

If it's what you really want, then go for it. I put you are BU because...

However, you will need to factor in getting maths and science up to a satisfactory level to be able to apply for a course. Probably A levels in Maths then two of Chemistry/Biology/Physics. You will need to get A or A* in these. If you don't have As in these at GCSE, you will need to achieve this first.

You will then need to find somewhere willing to take you to study. My DH applied to do Medicine, got one interview and was completely rejected to do Medicine. He got Bs in his A-levels but had straight A predictions when he applied...

You will then need to pay your fees which is an horrific financial burden...

And all this before you do any form of specialism...

If this is what you want then go for it. However, it strikes me that your bad experience might see nursing, midwifery or even trauma counselling as a better option.

Middleagedspreadisreal · 04/01/2024 19:26

Could you work 12-16 hour night shifts for days on end, cleaning people's faeces & vomit up, watching them die? You'd have to gain experience in other areas before you get the 'perfect' job you want

Bernardo1 · 04/01/2024 19:30

Yes