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Thinking about becoming a doctor?

Traditionally most medical students started their first year at medical school at age 18 or maybe after a year out.

There had always been some "mature students" but these were often aged 21 and had already done a science BSc first or they were occasionally dentists in their mid to late 20's who had become interested in maxillofacial surgery and needed to add some clinical medical training before proceeding in a surgical career.

This has now changed and students are now starting at ages up to 47 (the oldest we have come across at last count).
This new group of students have often held other careers in the past, some of which are scientific but some not.

 

But think and research well first

Whatever age you are - but particularly the older you are - the most important thing to establish before you embark on a medical career is the real honest deep down reason for thinking of doing it.

In other words it is all very well to think

"it will be a challenge"

"I have calling to help people"

"it will be well paid"

"it will bring me status/ impress my family/ keep my parents happy"

.... but unless you have clearly established through good research exactly what challenges you are seeking, what to expect (upsides and down)  and where you see your medical career going (qualifying is only the first in a long list of career hurdles) you could be starting something that is either a big disappointment when you get there or taking a hard route to achieve something that there might have been other ways of achieving which would use more of your natural talents.

That said - some people are completely and utterly cut out to be doctors and despite all the hurdles, the time involved and the many frustrations of being a doctor - they never regret it.

 

The time frames

From starting at medical school it is likely to take....

9 - 11 years to become a qualified GP

12 - 14 years to become a specialist

... of which the first five (six is you choose a BSc) is as a student (but after the first two years - a student 48 weeks of the year as opposed to normal student holidays).

These ranges are there only because there are often options along the way that can add interest and perhaps additional qualifications - such as a BSc in the history of medicine whilst a medical student or doing an MD thesis once qualified.

Time frames also vary according to speciality and subspeciality. For example to become a psychiatrist - consultant level could in theory be achieved in twelve years. To become a plastic surgeon - fourteen years would be more likely.

 

Where to research more

The following sites are really mandatory browsing and reading for anyone considering a medical career (and for medical students who are not sure whether they have done the right thing).

Med School Guide where applicants and medical students to share information and find resources about studying for a degree in medicine in the UK. Has some interesting forums.

The NHS also has a web site worth a visit - although their information about mature student entry is a little scanty and a bit out of date (in that mature students have even been accepted without formal first degrees and from arts backgrounds if they can pass a rigorous scientific selection exam). Another website is one covering medical careers in the US.

 

Medical Careers Advisory Service - this used to be a focus for anyone thinking of doing medicine - but recently all the links on the web we have found to this are dead. If anyone knows about them - please contact us to let us know.

 

How to feel more sure

If you are concerned about choosing the right route - either by opting for a medical career or navigating the right pathway within medicine (there are over 80 career options to choose from and thats only the traditional ones!) you could join our Career Review.

This will help you to analyse your motivations and talents relating to medicine, whether you will really get what you hope for and expect from medicing and to do some early preparation work for deciding on speciality.