Hi, I'm a lurker with an honest question about mature app to med school

Aisling&M

I've been reading the posts on this forum for a few months and hope you don't mind me asking now for suggestions as I'm unknown to you.

I'm considering applying for medicine next year. I have a few concerns.

1. I'll be 27 going into studying and 34 before it seems I'll get any salary.
2. I have a house and a husband and a mortgage to pay while studying.
3. I started a degree course in 2002 but left before the first year so I'm thinking Ill have to pay for at least the first year of medicine.
4. I only did biology in the leaving cert. Will I need to do Physics/Chemistry this year or repeat the entire leaving certificate?
5. I have fertility issues and don't want to wait until I've finished school, completed internship and undergone specialist training to have children. I almost 100% wont be able to.
6. I'm worried that if I don't apply now I'll regret it.

I've been researching my options but feel overwhelmed by the multitude of information and sometimes conflicting advice.Any genuine advice from people who started studying medicine from a similar point in their lives or links to resources where I can perhaps answer some of my own questions above would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

blipp

I started medicine a year younger than that - also married. However, as this career change was on the cards, we didn't buy a house. However, we are probably paying a similar amount in rent to a mortgage without all the added extras of insurances etc. On the other hand, I am paying fees for the entire course and it sounds like you will be mostly free. We are managing fine though - it can be done. If you left after January of your first course, then you will have to pay for that first year.

I also want children and worry somewhat about when to do this. The current plan is to try for a baby at the end of intern year and possibly hold off on training for a while. Whatever happens, happens. It is entirely possible to have a baby during medical school. I know people who have done this. Recently, a consultant that I know said that having a baby during med school would be the best time! For me though, I don't know if I could handle internship being away from a small baby. Maybe I'm delusional about the rest of the training though!

For some of the medical schools, you will need to have a chemistry leaving cert (any that are 5 years I believe - haven't looked into this for some time and things could have changed).

If you feel you will regret it if you don't, then go ahead and apply.

Sorry if this answer is a bit scattered. I'm studying at the mo and my brain is jelly! PM me anytime.

tallaght01

DEFINITELY talk to some doctors in depth about this before you make a decision.

Make sure you're fully aware of the working conditions for pregnant women in the HSE. My understanding is that they're worked like dogs until late on. I believe that they're being made to do 2 (and even longer) shifts while pregnant.
My reg lost her twins from doing crazy hours under heaps of pressure when I was an SHO.

It's a pretty shameful scab on our collective bolix that we let this happen. I think it's still the same in Ireland. BUt I'm working in Oz right now, so not quite sure.

Prime Mover

Each college has a mature student advisor. If you contact them they are usually very helpful but don't ring them up to ask for something you could easily find on the website. The colleges have different requirements, the ones that don't have a pre-med year will usually require you to have subjects like chemistry. Check to CAO site.

People do work during medicine but it will put you under pressure. There is a lot to learn and the volume of work increases every year. You are more flexible in the pre-clinical years and a lot of the lectures you could just as easily read in a book in your own time but you will be expected to go to labs and dissections. You would need a job with flexible hours and that doesn't mind you vanishing for end of term exams.

Tough call on when to have kids. During the last two years of college or intern year would be very difficult.

Your husband will need to be a very patient and understanding man

Aisling&M

Thank you for your quick responses. Luckilly, the most important element, the supportive husband I do have. I think he's under the impression that eventually I'll be loaded lol.
I've rang a couple of colleges and the info I've gotten so far has been encouraging. I think I'll probably try and apply at the next CAO and just go from there.

Vorsprung

Read the sticky at the top of this forum. Invaluable collection of thoughts gathered there. Important to also read a recent post highlighting the relatively brutal nature of that which is referred to as "call". The novelty dies off quickly...