Over25's Joining 5year medical course

**Canuck** · 03-07-2009, 01:58 PM

Your varied work experiences sound great, so just tell them what you've LEARNED from those experiences. As for your degree and grades, you have to research EACH university to see what they will take. Each uni has its own requirements (and some are BIZARRE!). I had to phone up each one and say "This is my degree, these are my past grades...what will you take?". The reason I say this is that some unis will take Pharmacy as a pre-med degree (if you're applying as a postgraduate, and I don't mean onto a postgrad course) and some won't. Some take into account your school grades as well, but some say "Hey, you have a degree so apply (any degree will do!)" It is essential to do that research and if it's not obvious on their website, phone them and email them. Also ask them how heavily they weight the UKCAT score (as some unis:Newcastle, Sheffield) use only that and your grades to determine interview. If your marks aren't the best, you need to look at unis that use it a bit less (HYMS). In the end, I had a list of unis I could apply to and worked my choices from there.

As for the BIZZARE requirements...I left highschool in Canada before I graduated (to move here). Leeds would take my grade 11 English and an HEFC in Quantitative Methods that I did to get into uni here. They would look upon those as GCSE equivalents. Manchester wanted to see in my personal statement that I was sitting GSCE English and Math. I have a 2:1 BSc (Hons) Pharmacology!
After applying to the wrong unis TWICE, I did my research, got 3 interviews and 3 offers, so learn from my mistakes :-)
Good Luck!

**Canuck** · 03-07-2009, 02:27 PM

I'm 29 and graduated my first degree last year. I'm lucky because I look younger and sort of blended in with the crowd although they knew I was older than them (just not by how much!).
To be honest, for medicine, there are LOADS of mature students because many people didn't get into uni the first time they applied, so they sat a different degree first. The only thing that I found to be a bit of a pain was that I have to pay for my education myself, so when they were all partying at weekends, I was working nights in a bar. As long as you can find some people to study with and get on with during uni hours, you are 75% there!
The main thing was that we are old enough and wise enough to want to do this thing called LEARNING during lectures, whereas the annoying little 18 year olds want to gossip and talk and do anything but be QUIET!!!!!! Be prepared to see a few emails from your course head telling people to shut up...

Like I said, there are loads more mature students doing medicine, so we're no longer walking freak shows. I have my 30th birthday to look forward to celebrating this year whilst the youngins are looking forward to their 21st (yes, that WILL be a bit weird).

**curlysin** · 03-07-2009, 09:26 PM

This is all reassuring advice thank you!! It does'nt bother me that I am a bit older than most and I dont look my age so they will never guess what age I am anyways but I just hope it doesnt serve as a disadvantage when it comes to making friends. Im leaving my significant other behind at home to look after our house etc so I know it will be important to gain support and what not from others students in the group as I have no doubt the going may get tough!!

Being older and having more life experience does I feel set us apart from the group and I shouldnt worry about that

**Gizmo says -** · 03-07-2009, 10:11 PM

well said granma

**yazoo** · 03-07-2009, 10:31 PM

I didn't study on a 5-year course, but I did start coming across younger students as soon as I hit the wards. Clinical medicine is a great leveler. We were all doing things for the first time, and that creates the opportunity for a common bond. I made some excellent (and 3 years later) lasting friendships amongst younger students. I have also made some great younger friends since starting work.

Who you get on with is not age dependent, in my experience. However, you do need to adjust the content of your conversation, a little. Nappies, schools and child-minders are really quite dull unless you use them!

**latestarter** · 03-07-2009, 11:54 PM

When I start my clinical years my son will be starting a-levels, so I'm sure that's going to be a bit weird in the conversation - maybe better than nappies though