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

[Amelle]

Hi
I was very enthusiastic about applying to med school this year but I've recently spoken to someone who said that I may be too old to apply.
I would be 36 if I start in 2010. Realistically, I know it will be hard to be a consultant but I was thinking more about becoming a GP maybe.
Does anyone have any thoughts/advice/experience on this?
It's made me feel a bit depressed now, I really believed that I could still do it and that it wasn't too late for me :-(

thanks

[dotvicky]

Hey Amelle,

Just take a while to have a read through the threads on this forum (e.g. Matures for 2010) and you'll see there are plenty of people who are starting med-school this year older than you.

Cheers
Vicky

[elise_h]

Hi Amelle

It's not too late!! I'm a little older than you and am also applying this year. Like you I had wondered whether I was too old, but I've been very encouraged by following the journeys of people our age and older on this forum who have successfully gained places.

We know its not easy, and its not uncommon for "oldies" to apply several years running, but it is possible! Yes, we might need to be realistic about what shape our careers will take in the future and whether we've got time to become consultant surgeons! But there are many career paths within medicine and we can definitely make a contribution to the profession.

Come and join our thread "Oldies for 2010" and we can keep eachother company throughout the application process!

Elise

[469er]

Hey Amelle,
Just take a while to have a read through the threads on this forum (e.g. Matures for 2010) and you'll see there are plenty of people who are starting med-school this year older than you.
Cheers
Vicky

And read the 'Head vs heart' thread (quite a long way down the list, though it seems like only yesterday - am I showing my age? lol!).

When I was doing work experience a couple of years ago, I made a point of asking anyone who would stand still what effect they thought my age would have on what specialties I could go for, and how high up I could expect to get. I was wondering if people would say, 'Don't bother with surgery' or 'Stick to GP'. But I had not one negative comment whatever (and I was older then than you are now). Everyone insisted I could go for whatever I wanted, and many commented that having already had my family would make specialist training much simpler for me. The only gentle suggestion one person made was that it might be too late to go for maxfax (yeah, because I was hoping to fit a dentistry degree in there too - not!).

The only negative comments I've ever had have been from family and 'friends' - not anyone who actually knows about medical careers. As I mentioned in the 'Head vs heart' thread, it's my firm belief that naysayers are people who feel threatened by the boldness of the change you are welcoming into your life by contemplating this career move. It's their problem, not yours.

[Amelle]

Thank you all for your encouraging comments. I'm starting to feel better after a terribly negative day.

[Gizmo says -]

hmm,,,

are you Blooby, by any chance?

[Amelle]

Blooby? no.

[latestarter]

I'm 38 this year and it took 3 attempts to get in... It isn't exactly your age which is against you but more the application process which is a minefield unless you have the support that a lot of the 18 year olds will have in college.
There's no doubt that there's fewer of us out there, but there's a few on here who made it, so it can be done.
As an 'oldie' you will bring so much more life experience to the mix, it's a great thing to have!

[Frank E]

. It isn't exactly your age which is against you but more the application process which is a minefield unless you have the support that a lot of the 18 year olds will have in college.
!

Second that. One needs an exam secretary just to deal with all the acceptance tests.
BMAT, UKCAT, GAMSAT ...

Oh and a big bag of money to pay for registration, past papers and preparation materials!

There is absolutely nothing in the municipal careers services offices or libraries, nothing in the local medical library (at least for GAMSAT but they don't recognise it).

My agency's client wouldn't sign my timesheet because he wanted to check my hours, the agency accidentally ceased my contract so payment was delayed yet another week so I didn't get paid in time to meet the late registration date for GAMSAT. Gutted.

The last time I enquired about applying I was too old, now I'm not.

[Martigan]

I'm 37 now and been to several Uni open days. None have given me any reason to to believe my age will be held against me.