How old is too old?

I am 28 years old, and my dream has always been to become a doctor however I don`t know whether it`s worth pursuing the dream at this age. Some people say it is too late because you should have a career plan from 18-19 years of age. Others have said "well you are eventually going to grow old regardless of what you do, so you might as well make a career out of it". I`ve seen some videos and articles where people have discussed their journey as a mature doctor and what challenges they faced. I saw a video of a doctor who was 47 and he started his medical degree at 35 or 37. I heard of a doctor who started medical degree at 39. However, it all comes down to the same old question, are you not old? Isn`t that age too old to start a career? I don`t know, what is your take on this, perhaps you might know someone who is quite old and starting medicine, they might be your colleagues or class fellows. If you know someone, then please feel free to comment. What is your opinion on this matter, is it too late to pursue your dream after 30 years of age or is it ok? Any tips, advice will be good, also if you are 30+ and studying, please share your experience with us, I would love to know your experience and what advice you can give me. Thanks

Personally, I'd suggest too old is about 45. At that age, you'll be at least 55 by the time you're not longer a trainee (if you become a GP), or at least 58 if you do a hospital specialty. Getting only 7-10 years out of you as a full consultant... I mean, you'd have to be absolutely amazing at your job to provide the same investment return as someone in their 20s.

28 though - you're older sure but you're also bringing life experience to the table which is definitely a good thing. The main question for me would be whether I could stand to learn alongside a bunch of immature 18 year olds for 5 years (assuming its undergrad entry)!

...as I've worked security in nightclubs for many years so my experience will just hopefully be able to get on with my studies

I'm 28 also and starting from scratch I literally have no grades however I've done research into '' age '' and tbh screw age just focus on getting those GCSEs or A levels is a priority - I'm doing 6 GCSEs come September in an adult GCSE programme @ Leicester college in subjects, maths, English, psychology, biology, chemistry, sociology and to top it off I live in Oxford so I will be travelling and staying in a hotel 2 nights a week.
not to mention I'm 23 stone which I'll be dieting pretty hard and be in the gym around 12 hours per week.
Even further more I have to find some possible work 15 - 20 hours per week, I have a job but cause of covid unsure when nightclubs will open so yeah it's going to be exhausting for me, however I've had enough of doing '' nothing '' over the years of my life so don't waste time thinking about are you too old do something about it NOW otherwise it will be too late.

I really would reconsider this. Not doing GCSEs per se, just the way you're going about this seems like a recipe for a burnout or a disaster. I've done commuting for study and I would not recommend it for any circumstance unless the prize was something elite like a medical or other accredited degree. For GCSEs, the payout is not worth the disruption to your life that this will cost you. You can easily do GCSEs through other routes, or you can move to Leicester. I just don't see why you would compromise your life for a level 2 course when you're likely going to have to move eventually for university anyway. And throwing yourself into a rigorous fitness/weightloss regime is going to create two competing interests. You're trying to do everything but it's not necessary. Everything in moderation. It would be more than reasonable to set yourself a fitness or weight loss goal that was achievable over two or three years than to drive yourself unnecessarily to achieve it in one. Sustainability is more important than anything when you're studying and I do speak from experience.

Also, just a word on the way you're speaking about 18 year olds. Like it or not, 18/19 year olds will form the majority of new starters at whatever medical school you end up in. You need to learn a little respect for them. The people who get into medicine tend to have developed a mature attitude to studying and to life that you may find you yourself lack even at your stage in life. I started another healthcare course later in life and I frequently found myself in awe at the level of maturity on display from people I myself might have been teaching just a short time ago. Healthcare courses attract and retain a more mature type than the majority of courses. I certainly wasn't capable of their level of reasoning at their age and, let's be honest, neither were you probably given whatever you were doing at their stage, which sure as anything wasn't grappling with incredibly tough A level content and balancing a life and work experience alongside it. These people are more than your intellectual equal and they very quickly acquire life experience as part of their degree and overall university experience and it will take you very much by surprise. Yes, being an older student has some advantages but it's not an edge you hold onto for long. You'll also find yourself learning from people who graduated a full 12 years or more before you so you need to find a way of living and working alongside people younger than you which isn't just about showing how unimpressed you are by them just because you bounced a few people out of a nightclub for having a less than convincing fake ID.

End of the day I hear what you are saying however...

I've had many years of sitting on my ass due to injury, illness, feeling sorry for myself, and I'm tired of people saying '' you can't do this or that '' or being controlled.

I get what you're saying about the GCSEs not being worth It I'd slightly agree it isn't, however there's a few reasons as to why I want to.
1) I was a bullied victim at school I still feel robbed of my education still at the age of 28 this GCSE barrier does play on my mind sometimes along with ''age''.
2) No medical school will accept your application without them (unless you hold a degree in some subjects and even then grad medicine is more competitive) and longer and more costly and even then you still may need A level at A-B.
3) Being out of education for a fair few years and studying the ''basics'' I.e level 2 will help me progress into a level 3 and then eventually medical school as there is no point studying higher when you don't know the easier stuff.

I'll be doing it regardless.

Is it possible to do Access course without doing your GCSEs ?
Also could u work on fitness first then education after as fitness is more important and they both may be quite taxing.