Is it too late

[bartholomew]

Hi guys
I have one question. I am 28 years old and two Masters degrees (Management and Law) but I would like to be a doctor. The problem is that I think it is too late now as i am too old. What do you think?

[londonbarry]

Of course it's not too late. My neice is in her third year medical school as a mature student and that is also with having two kids! I know from my partner, who is also a doctor and now from my neice, that it is a lot of hard work and you've got to be really determined but your age shouldn't be an issue.

[theprof]

Go for it I say. You need to be aware that you'll almost certainly have to take the GAMSAT (Graduate Medical Schools Admissions Test) or equivalent before a final decision is made on your application. The GAMSAT test content is predominantly biased towards biology and physics as far as the sciences are concerned.

You'll also find that some medical schools will be more sympathetic regarding your application because you are already a graduate and will also display a degree of maturity and determination not particularly common in undergraduates nowadays. These talents are very much admired in medicine these days.

Although I have no direct connection with either universities, I've heard some good reports about the Peninsula Medical School (a joint venture between the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth) which is apparently demonstrating considerable innovation in the teaching of medicine. Have a look at their website.

[dr john]

Bloke I trained with in the 1980s was in his 40s, a qualified barrister. He survived the rigors of medical school, pre- and post-registration jobs and is now a Coroner. Go for it!

[Buenchico]

When I was at college we had a lecturer who had obtained his first degree in mathematics and then gone on to get his master's and doctor's degrees. From there he came to our college as a lecturer but he quickly realised (by the end of the first term) that this wasn't the career he really wanted. He applied for medical school and was told that if he could study the A-level Biology course, in his own time, in two terms and get an A-grade in the following summer's examinations, he'd be accepted. I think that he actually got a B grade (which is still pretty good after a few months personal study!) but he was still accepted for the course.

All of that was many years ago but, combined with the responses above, it suggests that you might still be accepted for training.

If you click the relevant link here (GP, Hospital or Surgeon), you'll find more information about entry into medicine:
http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyo urcareer/jobprofiles/category28/

Chris

[Champagne]

When you're a 50 year old man you'll look back at this question and kick yourself for thinking you were ever too old!!!

You only ever get one chance. Go for it.

[Peter Pedant]

No.... go for it

At interview say you are goinng to bring a more mature attititude to all those silly skool leavers

gap year - if one is good then ten is great

there are all sorts of good things you can bring that medical year and from wh the other students will benefit

[Gnisy]

Dude, the issue here is not your age. The issue here is.. what exactly are aiming for. You're 28 and you got two Masters degree; one in Management and the other in Law. Judging from your age, I'm not sure if there is any period in there where you've actually held a job for more than 3 years. If you don't mind me asking, have you worked in either fields? Have you put what you've learnt into good use? Or are you just in it to study?

Sorry, not trying to be harsh but before you jump into this doctor thing, you gotta straighten out what you wanna do with your life. Don't end up studying all the time but never contributing nothing to society in the end. And to answer your question, no, you're never too old to do anything. But, you have to know if wat you are going to do is going to be worth it later on in life. Best of luck, mate.