considering graduate medicine at 28

jon1981 · 22-07-2009 4:27pm #1

Hi,

I have been thinking about this for a while now and im wonderin what peoples views/experiences would be on this. I have being looking at the viability of this. I have been working in IT for 5 years now earning good money. I would have to give all that up, take out a massive loan 60k or so and would not graduate until im 33. Which is effectively going to put my life on hold for the next 5 years with a massive loan at the end.

has anyone done it?

zero_nine · 22-07-2009 5:31pm

Haven't done it but if you can do it I say go for it.

By can do it I mean, your family situation will allow it etc. 28 isn't old.

Financially I wouldn't worry, the money roll back in once you've qualified.

GradMed · 22-07-2009 5:57pm

Hey, I'm in the process of doing it. I'm almost 28 and about to go into my second year. The age range in my class goes from 21 to 34. I wouldn't let your age be a factor in deciding to do the course.
If you're interested I may be giving a tour of the heath sciences building in UCD tomember on the newmediamedicine forums and your more than welcome to come along. If I have permission I'll bring you into the anatomy museum and the dissection room. I will hopefully know if I can do this in a day or two.

siobhank · 22-07-2009 6:10pm

go for it. I will be doing the GAMSAT in March and I will be 26 going in if I am lucky to get in first time. ALSO I will need the full 100k loan.
And 28 isn't old! People change careers in their 40s and 50s!
What I WOULDN'T do is mull over it for a few years because then you will just feel OLDER and get annoyed with yourself for waiting

jon1981 · 22-07-2009 9:04pm

thanks for the positive replies. hey siobhank 100k is alot of money, are you confident you would repay that easily enough? also what study material are you using?

MicraBoy · 23-07-2009 9:12am

Well I'll be 32 starting off, if I get in next year, so graduating at 33 sounds positively pre-pubescent to me

jon1981 · 23-07-2009 9:15am

MicraBoy wrote: »

Well I'll be 32 starting off, if I get in next year, so graduating at 33 sounds positively pre-pubescent to me

now see thats the attitude i need!! :pac:

i think the old ideal of being married with kids by 32 will have to be dropped!

workaccount · 23-07-2009 9:26am

Is it easy enough to get these loans from the banks now?

siobhank · 23-07-2009 9:31am

well the banks will give you 25k/year. 12 goes to fees and the rest for your upkeep.
It's what most people are taking out and yeah it will be a huge liability but not much different to a mortgage.
I wish I had done medicine at 18 because I would be a doctor now with no debts probably but hey. Doesn't mean I should give up just because I didn't do it the first time round.

using McMurry Organic Chemistry and Leaving Cert physics revision book. Also Organic Chem for Dummies.

jon1981 · 23-07-2009 9:35am

that was true when we were going to college, but its likely that students will now have to pay college fees, so we will all be paying something i guess!

zero_nine · 23-07-2009 10:27am

The lesson here is. The urge to do medicine doesn't leave you....so the sooner the better. No regrets.

jon1981 · 23-07-2009 2:02pm

i was trying to find some sample questions...anyone know where i might find some online? just curious as to how they are presented on the paper.

lucernarian · 23-07-2009 4:02pm

How decent are the career prospects in reality?

I thought there were something like 2000 graduating students coming out at the moment, with 800 vacancies... And if you want to be a consultant, the numbers thin as you reach the top. e.g you need to do well in your SHO years (usually 2) to get a registrar position.

considering graduate medicine at 28

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