Age ain't nothing but a number! isn't it!?

[Amelle]

Thanks Guys
It's good to know that. It's very daunting to go back to uni after all these years but well done guys. I keep thinking, Gosh I'd feel so ancient being on the same course as 19 year olds.

[Martigan]

Erm yes I was notably the oldest student in the GAMSAT room today.

[Manana]

Erm yes I was notably the oldest student in the GAMSAT room today.

There were quite a few matures at the Sheffield Gamsat. One guy was easily in his late 40s and possibly early 50s. I'd say the other matures were in their thirties.

[Gizmo says -]

that'd be GRANSAT then.

remember, ol' maccas, you are as only as old as the zimmyframe you feel.

[469er]

Thanks Guys
It's good to know that. It's very daunting to go back to uni after all these years but well done guys. I keep thinking, Gosh I'd feel so ancient being on the same course as 19 year olds.

You stop noticing, though. Or at least, that's what I've found. Socially, you tend to gravitate towards other mature students, but that's no different from the school leavers gravitating towards this or that social group depending on what they like to wear/listen to/do with their spare time. It's easy, but inaccurate of course, to imagine that they're some amorphous, unitary mass of teenage life who all think and feel the same about everything in a way that you're somehow excluded from. Particularly if you study somewhere fairly cosmopolitan, I think you will find your fellow students so interesting that you'll forget their age in many contexts. There are some odd moments, though - most of them can't remember anything before New Labour, resulting in a predictably narrow mindset about the role of the NHS and how it ought to be funded. Probably the times when I feel oldest are ethics seminars, when it does feel a bit dire to have to debate, ad nauseam it sometimes seems, all the supposedly thought-provoking angles and issues arising out of some cliched scenario about teenage sex or gay couples. I sometimes think they would learn more if I just offered to do a Q&A about what I did in my twenties!

[Leo2004]

. I sometimes think they would learn more if I just offered to do a Q&A about what I did in my twenties!

This had me chuckling quite a lot - brilliant!

Re. being old and doing med: I am one of the youngish oldies doing medicine - I will be 31 when I graduate next July. Many colleages on both the 5 year and four year mbbs programmes are late 30s to late 40s at admission. I have talked to quite a lot of them about career choices as well as to qualified seniors. I haven't really heard any negativity expressed by anyone about having older trainees who enter specialist training in their 30s to 50s.

Many of my colleagues had similar doubts about this issue and from what they say, seem to be rather more sanguine about it now, having met doctors similar to their ages or older who are registrars.

Also, you should remember that it is fairly common for doctors who qualified at 23 to complete or almost complete training in one speciality and then have a change of direction and complete training in another speciality, so it follows that it is possible to enter at a similar age to their second time round and complete training in a hospital speciality.

I am sure there are some people out there that have these negative perceptions re. older trainees but given the amount of older trainees out there, I'm not sure that this attitude holds sway at all within medical interview panels for basic and specialist training.

Indeed, what I have found is that many consultants I have spoken to in acute specialities, who themselves are late 30s, or late 40s or late 50s or older, look for trainees who have a good work ethic, are enthusiastic and bright, rather than sorting by age! Quite a few of them have exhorted me and colleagues a good fifteen years older than me to consider beginning training in their speciality in 2013.

Don't let anyone tell you you have to exclude any speciality.

I truly believe that if you are interested in something, then go for it and you will by dint of endless study and experience on the job become a good doctor in that field and hopefully this will be rewarded with a place to train up to consultant.

Best of luck to everyone!

[yazoo]

Indeed, what I have found is that many consultants I have spoken to in acute specialities, who themselves are late 30s, or late 40s or late 50s or older, look for trainees who have a good work ethic, are enthusiastic and bright, rather than sorting by age!

This has been my experience entirely. At least from senior colleagues.

The proof of the pudding will be when we all start to apply for consultant posts, though... But I still think the above will apply to a greater extent.

[georgiegirl]

Hi Amelle

I am 38 and start at UCL in a week's time. I also got offers from GKT and Barts. At my Barts interview one of my panel, a surgeon younger than me (and extremely HOT, though that is beside the point!), told me that I didn't have to assume I would end up in GP. He actually said 'you can do whatever you want'.

As far as studying with youngsters is concerned, I am not worried. I just did two A levels at a FE college in Stevenage and was the only mature student on my courses. Stevenage is pretty deprived and the 17/18 year olds on my course were not just a lot younger than me but on a different intellectual/class level as well. But it was great. I made friends I will stay in touch with and got invited to some 18th birthday parties.

As a mature applicant, one doesn't have to look very far for obstacles, but the experiences of people already studying on medicine courses seem to suggest that these worries melt away once you start. Don't be put off!!

George

[HShep]

Hi Amelle

I am 41 this year and applying as well, so trust that you are by no means among the oldest. It's a great comfort to read about the experiences of others already in med school who have seen plenty of mature students on their courses- and thriving too! It's so easy, at any age, to think oneself old; the key is in remembering how much time lies ahead and how much a person can learn in a year.

Best of luck to you!

[Gizmo says -]

41? u are a jus spring chickie, macca.