Medical degree as a teen mum??

[eyesclosedtight]

So I am 18 and mother to 2 year old DS. I have just applied for a medicine degree as this has been my goal for my whole life but now I'm worried! DP has joined the army but I have applied for a university up North, 5 minutes drive from his parents town so even though I won't be getting much support from him, his parents have said that they will help as much as they can and to save me childcare costs they will look after DS during the day as they are retired.

They will have him 9am - 6pm so I can get home from my course and do any work or self study that I can fit in. But I'm still worried about the workload. A medicine degree is demanding anyway and with a child and little support from DP I don't know how I am going to cope.
And please don't say that I should not follow my dreams and choose a different course. I am deterined to make this work.

I was thinking of potentially taking a gap year so I start uni at 19 with a 3 year old DS and DP would have been in the army for a year so we would have built up a better routine??

Thank you

I know of people who completed their medical degree after having a baby the year before. Also a couple who had babies during the course. I don't know the logistics but it is possible.

Does this sound really familiar or is it just me?

Regardless of the veracity of this thread, this -

I'd want responsible people taking up the places at medical school

We really need a proper eye-rolling smiley.

Some of the most responsible people I know are/were young mums, and are going into medical-related fields. I am too, and I consider myself fairly responsible, at least

It is rather late in the day for medicine interviews now. I do know a very few are yet to happen but it may be that an interview (or 2?) at this late stage is unlikely to be successful.

I understand one gets pregnant through sex but remain of opinion a truly determined, bright sixth former should be responsible enough to manage effective contraception personally, I'd want responsible people taking up the places at medical school. It might be you have matured since then but I still don't think you understand just how hard it is.

Well you'd love me Crumbs. Sensible Paediatrician who not only managed to get pregnant by accident but didn't realise for three months. Still managed to sail through my training despite my irresponsibility......

I do know a very few are yet to happen but it may be that an interview (or 2?) at this late stage is unlikely to be successful.

Wow! Hope there are no medical hopefuls reading this with interviews yet to happen! Why will their interviews be unsuccessful and if that is so likely why are the universities bothering to interview them?

Zilphas there only a very few interviews still to come and offers are already going out. Most unis have completed the interview rounds so I'm afraid it is a bit less likely that anyone who hasn't yet attended any interviews is going to get an offer. Of course there's always a chance

Medic here (GP)

Med school will be the relatively easy bit. Pre-clinical years are office hours and I'm sure you'll get help with the clinical bit, though that will be harder

Junior doctor years will be an absolute nightmare, even if you work part-time. You don't get your choice of where to work - even if you get your choice of Deanery then you can be sent all over it. One area covers most of Herefordshire, which is a large county! My husband commuted weekly for 18 months as he was allocated a hospital 2 hours commute from where we live. If your son is 2 now, and you start med school in Sept 2018, so graduate Sept 23, your junior doctor years will be from when he is 8 possibly until he leaves school - which is actually when he will need you most, more than the baby years.

The NHS is an absolutely shit employer which treats its workforce like something you would scrape off your shoe. only 50% of F2s (second year post qualifying) are going on to train further in the NHS - down from about 75% just a few years ago - the rest are going abroad or leaving medicine.

Honestly? do a different degree and join a graduate scheme somewhere and do a normal job. Most medics I know don't want their children to do medicine.

I fell pregnant at 15 and had my DS. I started University at 18, completed my four year degree and have recently graduated. I'm thinking of taking a Masters in a year or two. I did it. If you want something so bad you will find a way trust me. You can do it OP:

Agreeing with another poster, I wouldn't take a gap year.

teainbed I've managed to still be there for DS in the early years and didn't miss out a lot ! I made a commitment that every weekend we did something for just the two of us. I attended all his school plays, did the morning and the afternoon drop offs, his appointments, play dates. Actually I found my University very flexible if I couldn't come in because of DS so and so. I'm now working and I'm finding it very inflexible !

I'd go for it definitely. It may be thought but it will be worth it. I am 19 and considering starting uni with 3yo DS. I have quite a complex and difficult situation but if I were in your place/had some of the help you did I'd definitely go for it. My partner is in the army too (currently in Canada) so I rarely see him .