Medicine at 45?
I’m 44 and already a practising Allied Health Professional in the U.K. with 20 years working in the NHS within that professional field; I also have a related MSc. Through the years I always wondered if I could do medicine; I don’t come from a background where one ever really considered it and our school didn’t ever raise such professions as real options to us. I’m married with 2 children under the age of 8. I’d love to go to med school, and believe academically I could do it, but I wonder about the fall-out from such a path like not being being around so much for my children and wife and the overall cost of training. It feels like it’d be too self indulgent and as such I’ve never really got past this point. However, I’m thinking more seriously about it. Any advice, words of wisdom, etc would be most welcome.
i'm only 18 but i've always believed that if you have a dream, you should follow it. i imagine you would make an excellent doctor as you seem very caring. I hope you manage to reach the right decision for you, at the end of the day you know best. Wish you all the luck in the world x
Original post by Skeletonclique21
i'm only 18 but i've always believed that if you have a dream, you should follow it. i imagine you would make an excellent doctor as you seem very caring. I hope you manage to reach the right decision for you, at the end of the day you know best. Wish you all the luck in the world x
Thanks for your words of encouragent. Some serious thinking to do!
Original post by Howdidigetwhere
Thanks for your words of encouragent. Some serious thinking to do!
Its okay and good luck!
Original post by r3320
go for it!
Very tempted!
Original post by Howdidigetwhere
Very tempted!
all i can think of is how proud your kids will be - when my mum got her degree at 45 i was over the moon happy for her, and incredibly proud.
i think you should follow your passions at any age and i really do think this’d be a great thing! perhaps have a serious chat with your partner/ anyone necessary and see what they think! if you want to make it work you certainly can and whilst education is hard it pays off massively!
Massive, massive sacrifice. 8 year old kids and a wife who'd essentially be bringing them up without you around for 5 years, which is an insanely long time. Ask yourself if it's truly worth it. You could be sitting in a dorm for over half a decade of your childrens' upbringing wondering if you made the right choice. Ultimately, you've got to ask yourself if it's worth it. Not just for yourself, but for your wife and children.
Original post by OldSkoolValues
Massive, massive sacrifice. 8 year old kids and a wife who'd essentially be bringing them up without you around for 5 years, which is an insanely long time. Ask yourself if it's truly worth it. You could be sitting in a dorm for over half a decade of your childrens' upbringing wondering if you made the right choice. Ultimately, you've got to ask yourself if it's worth it. Not just for yourself, but for your wife and children.
Absolutely. But, some careers are demanding beyond the formative university education period and typically most people have children after uni. Some jobs/careers demand time away from a family for extended periods. Based on that, one could find themselves in just the same position. But yes, it’d always be an incredible sacrifice when the impact has the potential to be so negative and that’s what I’m wrestling with.
If you want it, go for it! Yes you'll be at University for 5 years but it's not like you'll be completely separated from your family. My only concern would be when you're a junior doctor, lots of hours, very stressful work but if you have the passion and commitment I can't see why not.
I have a medical background myself and considered medicine but decided on following my real passion in Zoology, I start Uni in September and I'll be dragging my wife and 6 year old with me (wife is a midwife and has already got a new job). I'll be 44 by the time I graduate.
I have a medical background myself and considered medicine but decided on following my real passion in Zoology, I start Uni in September and I'll be dragging my wife and 6 year old with me (wife is a midwife and has already got a new job). I'll be 44 by the time I graduate.
In all honesty it's a tough one. As you already possess a degree you can apply to the fast track graduate medicine which is four years not five/six. That is just the beginning though, you'll have two years of FY1 and FY2 then specialisation training.
Where it gets tough is the sacrifices you may have to make. You won't have a steady source of income for four years that will put more pressure on your partner and make things tight, especially with raising children. There is also the time you will spend in lectures, study g and simultaneously trying to be a good dad will be extremely draining.
At the end of the day plenty of parents make it through medical school to fulfil their dreams. You will also have summers free (around 3/4months) every year. I suggest you have a good hard think and not make any rash decisions. Most importantly what does your partner think about this?
Where it gets tough is the sacrifices you may have to make. You won't have a steady source of income for four years that will put more pressure on your partner and make things tight, especially with raising children. There is also the time you will spend in lectures, study g and simultaneously trying to be a good dad will be extremely draining.
At the end of the day plenty of parents make it through medical school to fulfil their dreams. You will also have summers free (around 3/4months) every year. I suggest you have a good hard think and not make any rash decisions. Most importantly what does your partner think about this?
Provided your wife is happy to look after the kids more, you'll only be restricted by the limit you set yourself.
When I started uni again as a mature student I was afraid and thought all the young minds around me were smarter, I scored 41 on one of my midterms- barely a pass.
Then I buckled down and worked on my weaknesses and all my other marked midterms/assignments have been 1sts (in the 80s in 4 modules!) since.
So yes it is possible but be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices as medicine is tough and will require a lot of study commitments I hear esp. after 3rd year.
Hope you decide wisely.
When I started uni again as a mature student I was afraid and thought all the young minds around me were smarter, I scored 41 on one of my midterms- barely a pass.
Then I buckled down and worked on my weaknesses and all my other marked midterms/assignments have been 1sts (in the 80s in 4 modules!) since.
So yes it is possible but be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices as medicine is tough and will require a lot of study commitments I hear esp. after 3rd year.
Hope you decide wisely.
(edited 4 years ago)
Thanks again for all the words of wisdom and practical advice, and not least, for the time people have taken to write these comments. It really is very much appreciated. I’m not sure at present what decision I’ll make, either way it’ll be a difficult one.
(edited 4 years ago)
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Applying for Dentistry with an access course
- If you could take less than a minute of your time and fill this google form out for
- Y12 GYG diary
- Edexcel GCSE HISTORY PAPER 1 (1HI0 10-13) - 15th MAY [Exam Chat]
- Official: University of Lincoln A18L (Nottingham at Lincoln) 2024 Applicants
- Uni
- UCAT score
- current/past students at hull-york medical school
- Access to HE Science for Medicine
- Is it over?
- low ucat score
- Ensuite Bedroom at Capital Gate Liverpool (£154 per week all bills included)
- UCAT Medentry QR Question
- Anyone worried about far fewer A grades in A level 2023
- Ensuite Bedroom at Capital Gate Liverpool (£154 per week all bills included)
- Which medical schools to apply to with my stats?
- IB Maths
- Chances of investement banking after two gap years
- Medify SJT flawed banding/marking system anybody else?
- Doctors/medical students, would you start medical school at 40 years old?
