Help needed! - is 32 too old to start med??

Traderdc

Hi there - was just looking for some information and opinion from you guys plse. I am currently 31 and have worked as a trader in a Bank here and in the UK for last 7 years. I have decided its time for a career change. The idea of qualifying as a doctor had always appealed to me but as I didn't study it at undergrad level (law grad), I didn't think it was an option.

However, to my regret I had a bit too much of a good time in university and didn't get a 2.1, got a 2.2 so it looks like the only option open to me is to study as a mature student at either Trinity or RCSI (I didn't study leaving cert. chemistry so that rules out UCD and UCC). I got 465 points in the leaving cert.

I wanted to know if anyone here is/has gained a place as a mature med student on these courses.?

How many places are there and is there any way of assessing if i have a realistic chance of getting a place?

It sets out in the criteria on the websites of trinity and RCSI that relevant work experience and voluntary work will be taken into account. Can you advise on a good place to get voluntary work experience?

The options I was thinking of were applying to hospitals directly, homeless shelters and retirement homes.

Do you think that 32 is too old to begin studying med? I wouldn't qualify until I was 38 but I believe there is still 30 working years from that stage so in my view its not too late.

Apols for all the questions and appreciate any feedback.

Tevez101

Traderdc wrote: »

Hi there - was just looking for some information and opinion from you guys plse. I am currently 31 and have worked as a trader in a Bank here and in the UK for last 7 years. I have decided its time for a career change. The idea of qualifying as a doctor had always appealed to me but as I didn't study it at undergrad level (law grad), I didn't think it was an option.

However, to my regret I had a bit too much of a good time in university and didn't get a 2.1, got a 2.2 so it looks like the only option open to me is to study as a mature student at either Trinity or RCSI (I didn't study leaving cert. chemistry so that rules out UCD and UCC). I got 465 points in the leaving cert.

I wanted to know if anyone here is/has gained a place as a mature med student on these courses.?

How many places are there and is there any way of assessing if i have a realistic chance of getting a place?

It sets out in the criteria on the websites of trinity and RCSI that relevant work experience and voluntary work will be taken into account. Can you advise on a good place to get voluntary work experience?

The options I was thinking of were applying to hospitals directly, homeless shelters and retirement homes.

Do you think that 32 is too old to begin studying med? I wouldn't qualify until I was 38 but I believe there is still 30 working years from that stage so in my view its not too late.

Apols for all the questions and appreciate any feedback.

I'm not to sure the criteria to enter as a mature student but I do know it's notoriously difficult to enter med this way as you'll be competing against people with 500+ points and there are only a few places.

Your best bet is going to the UK and do a 4 year grad med course. To my knowledge, there are two universities there that accept graduates with a 2.2 in any discipline, one of which is Nottingham but I can't remember the other one. You will also have to sit the GAMSAT and go through an interview. Volunatry work is also a big help whilst applying to the UK.

Alternatively, you could apply to study in Eastern Europe, Budapest in Hungary being the most popular. These courses are also in english.

Whatever you do decide, good luck and 31 is most certinally not too old, there are people who do grad med in their late 30's and early 40's.

Don Keypunch

Tevez101 wrote: »

in any discipline, one of which is Nottingham but I can't remember the other one.

St. Georges University of London

Nonoperational

Not even close to being too old!

Traumadoc

Not at all , go for it.
Pm me if you want encouragement with examples.

chanste

If you think the rest of your career minus the 4 years it takes to do grad med is a long time, then you're young enough! I started at 29, and there are plenty of people who are older than that.

Don Keypunch

Henry T Lynch was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on 4 January 1928.9 He grew up in a poor section of New York City, dropped out of school at the age of fourteen, and, in 1944, tricked his way into the US Navy, using a cousin's identification to make himself seem older than his sixteen years. The subterfuge was discovered, but the Navy kept him on for the duration of the Second World War. He served in Europe, and participated in the liberation of the Philippines, but most of the time he ploughed the Pacific as a gunner on a merchant marine ship. Discharged from the Navy in 1946, he became a professional boxer, working predominantly in upper New York State and the San Francisco Bay area. After this unusual beginning for a physician, he began training in the three areas that would dominate his professional life in the 1960s and 1970s—psychology, genetics and medicine.
Lynch took a qualifying examination to complete his high school requirements, and went to the University of Oklahoma in Norman aiming to become a clinical psychologist. Graduating in 1951, he moved to the University of Denver in 1952 where he took a masters degree in clinical psychology. He then began a PhD at the University of Texas, Austin (1953–1956), majoring in human genetics (with minors in biochemistry and psychology) under Clarence P Oliver (1898–1991), the one-time founder and director of the Dight Institute for Human Genetics at the University of Minnesota.10 Abandoning the PhD, Lynch went on to study medicine at the University of Texas, Galveston, from where he graduated in 1960.

tallaght01

Only you know your limits. But if you graduate at 36/37 and end up in a hospital specialty you could be doing nights/weekends/24 hour shifts until you're in your late 40s. I wouldn't do that.

Choco99

You're definitely not too old to do medicine, it just depends what you want. There are students in their 40s in my class so you're well below that.
But you'd be surprised how much your priorities change after 4 years in med school. I started at 23 as a grad med student & now after 4 years I want to earn some bloody money, pay off my loan, get married, have kids eventually blah blah blah. Basically live a normal life, which I know isn't possible for another 15 years! Then again, not sure I'd have it any other way.

Bella mamma

I do believe you are wrong about having to have chemistry as a mature student applicant for UCD. But you are not a 'Mature Student', you are classidied as a 'Graduate'. A friend of mine - around your age - recently asked me to clarify. I looked at their application criteria on their site and called the med programme office to confirm = chemistry not a requirement. He does not have a degree. He has a diploma so he can apply. There are 2 places. 100% not too old. The very best of luck to you.

etymon

we definitely have some over-32s in our year (Graduate Entry) and academically there is no challenge. Saying that, you'd probably be a bit delusional if you wanted to be a surgeon or something but no it's not too old. One of our teachers went in about that age and he's a top notch bloke so I wouldn't let it hold you back!

jtsuited

here was me thinking i'd be too old at 27/28. Great to hear it's never too late.

demolitionman

jtsuited wrote: »

here was me thinking i'd be too old at 27/28. Great to hear it's never too late.

anything over 30 and really i dont think it'd be worth it.

four years of college, an intern year and then what - if you ever want to make any money and start paying off your loans your only realistic options are psych or gp.

jtsuited

demolitionman wrote: »

anything over 30 and really i dont think it'd be worth it.

four years of college, an intern year and then what - if you ever want to make any money and start paying off your loans your only realistic options are psych or gp.

luckily i think if (and a very big if at that) i got into the GEP and did the intern year, I'd want to go into psychiatry. Actually it's the dream for me.

Speaking of which, I've been reading up on it a good bit, and it seems the SOH system for psych is fairly well set up in this country.
Anyone idea what the supply/demand situation is in regard to this. Would it be really difficult to get into a psych SOH after an internship compared to other areas?
Sorry if it's dragging the thread off topic.

sf94117

@ OP - what would you be considering doing once you qualify? I would think that things like surgery would not be what you would be looking to do...is GP your ultimate aim? If not what area interests you?

spagboll

If you want it hard enough you do it regardless of age, degree or anything

Nottingham and Saint Georges London take 2.2 of any discipline

Do the LC again would be my advice, if you can't get over 550 with good study then forget med, getting the points in the LC will get u fired up for med, going in cold would be a bit of a shock

and if you go to Notts or georges saying yeah i just got 600 in my LC and a great HPAT they'll take u more seriously than some randomer with a 2.2,

Traderdc

Thanks for all the replies. Seeing as I am not eligible to sit the GAMSAT and apply for Gradmed, I am going to sit the HPAT on Sat and have applied as a mature ungrad through the CAO.

If I get to the interview stage, it will obviously help if I have some woek experience. Apparently the most highly regarded experience is shadowing a doctor in a hospital or GP setting as this gives a real life experience of what its like to be a practicing doctor. The next best experience appears to be volunteering in a care home/hospice.

What I would like to know is what is the best way to get the shadowing experience. Perhaps its just to apply directly to hospital HR depts explaining my situation?? any advice greatly appreciated

AndrewJD

The gold standard method would be to get in contact with the doctor you wish to shadow. HR departments may be coy, unhelpful, or will state policy at you preventing the work experience. If you find a willing doctor, they'll be able to arrange it all, convince HR, management etc. How you find one is down to who you know, and how cheeky you are.

ericm84

Traderdc wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. Seeing as I am not eligible to sit the GAMSAT and apply for Gradmed, I am going to sit the HPAT on Sat and have applied as a mature ungrad through the CAO.

If I get to the interview stage, it will obviously help if I have some woek experience. Apparently the most highly regarded experience is shadowing a doctor in a hospital or GP setting as this gives a real life experience of what its like to be a practicing doctor. The next best experience appears to be volunteering in a care home/hospice.

What I would like to know is what is the best way to get the shadowing experience. Perhaps its just to apply directly to hospital HR depts explaining my situation?? any advice greatly appreciated

Hi OP,

I had been following this thread for a while a few months ago and was just wondering how the HPAT went in the end and or if you got any further with your application??

I'm a non-science (well chem and bio anyway) grad studying for the Gamsat at the moment and am of "mature years" also (30 y.o. now) and am always interested to see/hear stories of others of my vintage considering going back.

Thanks,
E
PS: Mods hope it's ok to drag this thread back again?:o)

Traderdc

Sorry for the delay in replying Eric. I am not studying medicine this year. I did the HPAT last Feb with little preparation and was not called for interview.

So I am back trading for another year, that is if I don't lose my shirt in the current chaos!

It is to my eternal regret that I did not take less part in NUI, Galways lively social scene and studied harder to get a 2.1 instead of a 2.2 - I would then be eligible to sit the gamsat and apply for a 4 year GEM course as you know. I am in a long term relationship so going to SGUL or Nottingham really isn't an option I would like to take.

If I was lucky enough to get a place on an undergrad course, I would definitely take it but I think that having to finance myself for six years full time study would provide great difficulty and also obviously there is the two extra years study.

Best of luck with GAMSAT..

ericm84

Thanks for letting us know OP. I fully understand where you are coming from with regards finances etc.......there is a lot to consider.

I think the older you get the more life seems to get in the way and the more commitments you have (mortgage, relationships etc) which can cause doubts about pursuing a career in medicine. Also, the long term career prospects in medicine in Ireland dont seem great (and especially starting medicine at this age it seems the likelihood of making consultant is slim to none). I would imagine that the age most people make consultant is mid - late 30's; which would be when we would only be starting out our careers.

On the other hand a friend was at an open day lately and she said they were told the age range on the GEM course was 22 - 37 (with 2 in the class having kids). I think that the GEM idea is so new in Ireland it's hard to predict how the older graduates will fair in terms of jobs/training places and it will prob be a few years to see how 30+ graduates get on.

imported_guy

ericm84 wrote: »

Thanks for letting us know OP. I fully understand where you are coming from with regards finances etc.......there is a lot to consider.

I think the older you get the more life seems to get in the way and the more commitments you have (mortgage, relationships etc) which can cause doubts about pursuing a career in medicine. Also, the long term career prospects in medicine in Ireland dont seem great (and especially starting medicine at this age it seems the likelihood of making consultant is slim to none). I would imagine that the age most people make consultant is mid - late 30's; which would be when we would only be starting out our careers.

On the other hand a friend was at an open day lately and she said they were told the age range on the GEM course was 22 - 37 (with 2 in the class having kids). I think that the GEM idea is so new in Ireland it's hard to predict how the older graduates will fair in terms of jobs/training places and it will prob be a few years to see how 30+ graduates get on.

surprised at only 2 people with kids, i guess there are more people with kids in undergraduate non-medical degrees, there are/were a few in mine anyway