Am I too late to pursue my childhood dream?

[twinklingeveningstar]

Dear Everyone,

I’m 37 years of age, married (to a doctor: GP, Farmacologist, Clinical Toxicologist and Vulnologist) without little ones, and work full-time (12 – 8 pm) as a secretary to an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Traumatologist and Doctor of Sports Med.

At school I did 7 GCSE's: English lang, lit., maths, geography, biology, Spanish, art; 2 GCE A Levels: English lang. and lit., psychology; and 1 GCE AS Level; general studies. I’ve also done a few arts courses with the OU.

I've always wanted to be a doctor, but had problems in youth: health and economics interfered with my plans! However, I’d now like to turn my life around and do what I initially set out to do. You might all think I’m mad, but my objectives are the following:

Year 1: Revise GCSE biology and take GCSE chemistry;
Year 2: Take GCE A Level biology and chemistry, followed by the GAMSAT exam.

I’ve already investigated doing the GCSEs and A Levels with the NEC as I work and also live abroad. The teaching materials are excellent, the prices affordable. The only problem is that there is practical work for both A Levels. I’ll have to see if I could come home for a short period of time in order to do this at a laboratory near my home, but my main worry is: Am I too late? Am I pursuing some silly childhood dream?

Thanks for reading this,

Take care,

Esther.

[iwannabe]

Hi Esther

firstly I want to say how much I admire you for wanting to follow your dreams and I definately think that nobody should put age into the equation if they really want to do something. You could definately still have a lengthy career as a doctor, have you considered a physicians assistant also - much shorter progression and has many similar responsibilities to a doctor (mainly like a junior doctor). As long as you feel you can financially afford to do it then I would go for it! A word of warning about distance learning A levels though. I paid a lot of money for a chemistry one, and found out that although the materials were great for the exams, most Chemistry Alevels have a practical element where you will need to be assessed in a laboratory conducting experiments which need lots of practice. I found it impossible due to insurance problems for a local college to let me use the labs, and got no help whatsoever from the course provider, so had to ditch the idea and enroll on an access to medicine course the following year! Couldnt even get a refund because I'd opened the booklets! Also I believe this year (2009) is the last year you can actually take A levels, they are been replaced by a vocational type award - so beware of this. Anyway I think go for it and best of luck!!!

[giella]

You can take A level Chem and Bio without having studied them at GCSE. A lot of it is the same stuff with more detail.
I think though, given the difficulties inherent in distance learning these A levels, you might be better off doing further OU courses. S104 is a good place to start, and Human Biology.
Alternatively, depending on where you are in the country, why not consider the following:
Access courses at
Lambeth College, London
COWA, King's Lynn
City College, Norwich
Sussex Downs College, Brighton
Durham Foundation programme.
6 year courses at Dundee, Bristol, Cardiff, Kings College, Keele.
There are some more options but I have to disappear for a while. Give them some thought.