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Is it too late for a career change?
Hey!
Quick background: I am a 22 year, self taught software engineer. I come from a poor family and decided not to go to university because I needed to earn as fast as possible. I’m highly successful in my industry, currently leading a team of 30+ engineers for a company responsible for £6 billion worth of revenue and have won many awards.
My A-level grades are A* A* A in computer science, maths and further maths respectively. GCSE’s are terrible (I was a naughty kid) I think I have a few 8s and rest are 4s 5s and 6s.
I want to peruse a career in neurosurgery… big change right?
I’ve gone through the quarter life crisis, I’m deploying software that’s not impacting anyone. People are using it almost everyday but I feel I can do more. I want to help people. That’s where I feel most at peace. I feel surgery will let me achieve what I want in life whilst maintaining the mental challenge.
Please can someone advise me what path I should take considering my previous career path and qualifications.
(I apologise if the first bit of the post sounds boisterous, I just wanted to give an accurate representation of where I am in my career)
Quick background: I am a 22 year, self taught software engineer. I come from a poor family and decided not to go to university because I needed to earn as fast as possible. I’m highly successful in my industry, currently leading a team of 30+ engineers for a company responsible for £6 billion worth of revenue and have won many awards.
My A-level grades are A* A* A in computer science, maths and further maths respectively. GCSE’s are terrible (I was a naughty kid) I think I have a few 8s and rest are 4s 5s and 6s.
I want to peruse a career in neurosurgery… big change right?
I’ve gone through the quarter life crisis, I’m deploying software that’s not impacting anyone. People are using it almost everyday but I feel I can do more. I want to help people. That’s where I feel most at peace. I feel surgery will let me achieve what I want in life whilst maintaining the mental challenge.
Please can someone advise me what path I should take considering my previous career path and qualifications.
(I apologise if the first bit of the post sounds boisterous, I just wanted to give an accurate representation of where I am in my career)
Reply 1
Original post
by BeepbirthHey!
Quick background: I am a 22 year, self taught software engineer. I come from a poor family and decided not to go to university because I needed to earn as fast as possible. I’m highly successful in my industry, currently leading a team of 30+ engineers for a company responsible for £6 billion worth of revenue and have won many awards.
My A-level grades are A* A* A in computer science, maths and further maths respectively. GCSE’s are terrible (I was a naughty kid) I think I have a few 8s and rest are 4s 5s and 6s.
I want to peruse a career in neurosurgery… big change right?
I’ve gone through the quarter life crisis, I’m deploying software that’s not impacting anyone. People are using it almost everyday but I feel I can do more. I want to help people. That’s where I feel most at peace. I feel surgery will let me achieve what I want in life whilst maintaining the mental challenge.
Please can someone advise me what path I should take considering my previous career path and qualifications.
(I apologise if the first bit of the post sounds boisterous, I just wanted to give an accurate representation of where I am in my career)
Quick background: I am a 22 year, self taught software engineer. I come from a poor family and decided not to go to university because I needed to earn as fast as possible. I’m highly successful in my industry, currently leading a team of 30+ engineers for a company responsible for £6 billion worth of revenue and have won many awards.
My A-level grades are A* A* A in computer science, maths and further maths respectively. GCSE’s are terrible (I was a naughty kid) I think I have a few 8s and rest are 4s 5s and 6s.
I want to peruse a career in neurosurgery… big change right?
I’ve gone through the quarter life crisis, I’m deploying software that’s not impacting anyone. People are using it almost everyday but I feel I can do more. I want to help people. That’s where I feel most at peace. I feel surgery will let me achieve what I want in life whilst maintaining the mental challenge.
Please can someone advise me what path I should take considering my previous career path and qualifications.
(I apologise if the first bit of the post sounds boisterous, I just wanted to give an accurate representation of where I am in my career)
Im 34 and going back into education. If it's what you want then the best thing to do is identify the universities youd like and send an email to the administration teams, I've found them to be exceptionally helpful. You have absolutely nothing to lose by asking.
Reply 2
Original post
by BeepbirthHey!
Quick background: I am a 22 year, self taught software engineer. I come from a poor family and decided not to go to university because I needed to earn as fast as possible. I’m highly successful in my industry, currently leading a team of 30+ engineers for a company responsible for £6 billion worth of revenue and have won many awards.
My A-level grades are A* A* A in computer science, maths and further maths respectively. GCSE’s are terrible (I was a naughty kid) I think I have a few 8s and rest are 4s 5s and 6s.
I want to peruse a career in neurosurgery… big change right?
I’ve gone through the quarter life crisis, I’m deploying software that’s not impacting anyone. People are using it almost everyday but I feel I can do more. I want to help people. That’s where I feel most at peace. I feel surgery will let me achieve what I want in life whilst maintaining the mental challenge.
Please can someone advise me what path I should take considering my previous career path and qualifications.
(I apologise if the first bit of the post sounds boisterous, I just wanted to give an accurate representation of where I am in my career)
Quick background: I am a 22 year, self taught software engineer. I come from a poor family and decided not to go to university because I needed to earn as fast as possible. I’m highly successful in my industry, currently leading a team of 30+ engineers for a company responsible for £6 billion worth of revenue and have won many awards.
My A-level grades are A* A* A in computer science, maths and further maths respectively. GCSE’s are terrible (I was a naughty kid) I think I have a few 8s and rest are 4s 5s and 6s.
I want to peruse a career in neurosurgery… big change right?
I’ve gone through the quarter life crisis, I’m deploying software that’s not impacting anyone. People are using it almost everyday but I feel I can do more. I want to help people. That’s where I feel most at peace. I feel surgery will let me achieve what I want in life whilst maintaining the mental challenge.
Please can someone advise me what path I should take considering my previous career path and qualifications.
(I apologise if the first bit of the post sounds boisterous, I just wanted to give an accurate representation of where I am in my career)
It's never too late for a career change! Med is competetive and there are no promises but sounds like you should give it a go!
Reply 3
Your story is genuinely inspiring. Leading a tech team at 22 without a formal degree is impressive on its own — but choosing to pivot into neurosurgery to help others shows a deeper purpose. It actually reminded me of something in سورة الانفطار مكتوبة, where it reflects on how all our actions are recorded. It’s a powerful reminder that making meaningful choices in life truly matters. With your drive and strong A-levels, you absolutely have what it takes to pursue this path.
Reply 4
Too late for a career change at 22? Come off it.
I'd argue 22 -25 is probably the optimal time to pursue medicine in my view.
Sounds like you need to get onto an Access course and hit the books. If you need any advice later on, you can DM me.
You'll do fine. I'd just caution that a career in Neurosurgery isn't for the faint hearted, it is hugely competitive and will mean embarking on a process that will take a minimum of 10 years post graduation assuming you obtain a training place on the first try.
That's a 15 year process in anyone's book, all being optimal.
I'd argue 22 -25 is probably the optimal time to pursue medicine in my view.
Sounds like you need to get onto an Access course and hit the books. If you need any advice later on, you can DM me.
You'll do fine. I'd just caution that a career in Neurosurgery isn't for the faint hearted, it is hugely competitive and will mean embarking on a process that will take a minimum of 10 years post graduation assuming you obtain a training place on the first try.
That's a 15 year process in anyone's book, all being optimal.
Reply 5
I think you can make a career change at any time, but at 22 you're in an even better position to do so!
(edited 4 months ago)
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