How old were/are you when applying to study medicine?

**Dee41** · 15-06-2007, 08:49 PM

As many of you know I am currently 41 yrs old and will be applying to study medicine on a graduate entry course when I complete my nursing degree. I will be applying for 2010 entry at the ripe (old) age of 44. I was advised by Nottingham that they currently have a mature student who is in their mid 40's and this has given me hope that if I meet all the entry criteria they will not discriminate against my advancing years.

A lot of people have been stunned at my wish to change my career at such a late stage (never had the opportunity before now) and it is (to be perfectly honest) getting on my nerves!

So I was just wondering how old other 'mature' people are/will be when applying and am I the oldest on here?

(Please say no!)

Thanks
Dee41
x

**jmclean** · 15-06-2007, 09:32 PM

Hi Dee,

I will be 38 when I start on a 5 year programme in september. I know what you mean about having to justify yourself. I expected it from friends, but other med students too are very curious. I guess it is a obvious talking point, but somehow I can't help thinking that my reasons are probably the same as theirs and I don't really want to dredge through the reasons why I never did it earlier.

I hoped for a grad course like you, but did not do so well at the interviews for them this year, so I am glad I applied to some 5 year courses as well. Watch out for the age limit thing too, I would ask every place you apply to, because they differ a lot in their attitiudes.

ps. What could be more natural than from nursing to Medicine?

Best of luck

Julie

**loratwopointone** · 15-06-2007, 10:13 PM

Why is your decision to study medicine at 41 any less valid than that of an 18 year old? To me it shows you've put far more thought into it and will have to sacrifice more in order to get there.

Good luck =]

**yazoo** · 15-06-2007, 10:15 PM

No, you wouldn't be the oldest

I know of several people who have started in mid to late 40s. Some of them tried for 2-3 years before getting a place. But if you are older, people question your motivations and reasoning very closely. I was in my early 30s when when I applied and got a place, and I was questioned closely about this and still am (albeit by a minority of people, but others may well be thinking the same just not asking!). I imagine this would be magnified the older you get.

Just trying to look at things from a wider perspective, but how do you know you don't want to do nursing after a year or so? I'm not trying to be difficult, but people will ask you this. Being a student is not the same as doing the job (primarily as you have little responsibility and it is the responsibility that brings the challenge of the job - medicine or nursing!).

I question this, as it is something I would have asked myself. Indeed I did ask myself a similar question, as doing nursing would have given me many of the things I wanted! I thought about doing nursing, and may well have pursued it had several cycles of admission proved fruitless. But I had, in my own mind, a very clear difference between the 2 professions, and that was why I went for medicine (I was lucky and had the qualifications to allow me to apply for both).

I suppose I'm saying this as being a Dr is actually quite hard (harder that I imagined during med school or before!), and you have to be very clear about why you believe it is right for you. I'm lucky (or I really knew what I wanted - not 100% sure which!) as it turns out I love it, and therefore would 100% encourage anyone who wants to pursue it to do so. But I also know quite a few people who have done GEP courses who are not quite so satisfied as me.

So all I am suggesting is that you consider all angles, get as much experience as possible, talk to as many people as possible, and then do what YOU want to do. Don't let anyone else put you off because of age.

Good luck.

**carlyjennings** · 16-06-2007, 07:45 PM

Dont be put off by anyone commenting on your 'maturity' on changing your career from nursing to medicine.

You have gained valuable experiences over the years that the younger generation will not have and you will have an advantage of studying another healthcare profession which will enable you to make decisions that perhaps somebody who just studying medicine will not be able to offer.

I do feel for you. It has been annoying for me too and im just 24. It seems that people seem to comment if you dont go to med school straight from school. Some people are not that fortunate!!!

Best of luckxx

**zak!** · 16-06-2007, 07:59 PM

Just out of intrest why did you start a nursing course only to apply immediatly to medicine... why not an access to medicine course? Fair enough if you initially wanted to change career to being a nurse only to realise medicine is what you really wanted

Age is my eyes has no effect on your application, and I really hope that in this day and age it doesn't hinder it...

**loratwopointone** · 16-06-2007, 08:10 PM

The only reason age hinders post qualification specialist training is due to the amount of years training in comparison to the amount of service time you will be able to give prior to retiring. Some of the more popular specialist training with many years can be hard to get into for people that didn't start medicine young. Ageist? Yes, but it's better to know that sort of thing before you start out.

I wish you all the luck in the world though and in my eyes it shouldn't make a difference.

**zak!** · 16-06-2007, 09:07 PM

Just wondered whether the application system for medicine is subject to the new(ish) laws on ageism? Where its illegal to deny training or employment to anyone under the age of 65 on the grounds of age. Doubt it is subject to it, seeing as universities aren't "employing" the students.

**loratwopointone** · 16-06-2007, 09:15 PM

Mmhm, the same way when people in their 50's want train to be teachers they can find it hard to get onto degree's etc. It's stupid.

**Madimi** · 16-06-2007, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by zak!

Just out of intrest why did you start a nursing course only to apply immediatly to medicine... why not an access to medicine course? Fair enough if you initially wanted to change career to being a nurse only to realise medicine is what you really wanted

Age is my eyes has no effect on your application, and I really hope that in this day and age it doesn't hinder it...

I was wondering this too - I think you would have been far far better with A2M.
I'm just coming to the end of my access course and it's been hard work but at least all over in one year. I'm 36 btw and nobody mentioned my age at the two interviews I had. I was expecting a hard time about leaving it so late but it was fine and I got offers from both!
Good luck - don't be put off, there's a lot of matures around so you'll be in good company!!