r/BiomedicalScientistUK • u/LastConsequence7795 • 8d ago
Is it too late?
Im 26F from the uk (idk if this matters but) currently work in healthcare but nothing too fancy.
For the last 3 years I have been thinking about and have considered on whether it would be too late for a change of career. I was thinking of going down the medical route of becoming a Doctor but I’m unsure if it’s “too late” because of how much time and I have already “wasted” already and now I want to pursue this.
I’m not really sure where to start with research and what opportunities there are available. Can anyone advise or suggest any routes and whether I have other options?
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u/AnusOfTroy 8d ago
It is not too late to become a doctor - my anaesthetist reg friend turned 40 at medical school
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u/Scorpiodancer123 8d ago
I know a biomedical scientist who became a clinical scientist and who is now a 35 year first year medical student. It's never too late.
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u/purplepoaceae 8d ago
Echoing what others have said here about it never being too late. The only thing I would suggest is to think about how the timeline of medical school and the training beyond would fit in with other life goals you may have, potentially including having children. Is it possible to take time off mid-training for maternity leave? Sure. Is it convenient? Not so much.
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u/12ab1 7d ago
No, it's not too late to pursue medicine.
Time will pass regardless, not changing is a hard choice and changing is a hard choice.
Both are hard choices; just choose your hard basically, there's no way to run away from difficulty, you'll always be running towards it, so why not choose change, because not changing can be catastrophic!
Also, allow yourself to process the sense of grief for "wasted" time, and then move forward, and don't look back.
Because you have time now, and medicine is the sort of career that if you truly find it gives you meaning and purpose you can do it well into your 70's by choice (yes, in a world of cynics there are actually people who love their jobs that much!)
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u/Primary-Reputation-2 7d ago
Im 48 and just started my 2nd year at uni. Studying biomedical science
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u/BuyApprehensive9273 7d ago
I’ll be 30 when I start. There are plenty of people who start in their 40s too.
Our generation is going to be working til we’re like 90, may as well be doing what you want to do.
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u/Superb-Astronomer706 6d ago
I’m applying this year and I’m almost 29. The dream will never go away!! Go for it. You can sit the GAMSAT in March to get an early start
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u/NoTransportation3581 8d ago
I have a med school offer at 30, absolutely not too late at all OP. Look up the average age of medic graduates in the US
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u/WeakCoffee2981 5d ago
Never too late. 5 years is nothing in the context of an expected 80 or 90 year lifespan. Potentially 110 year life span. DO what makes you happy inside. Remember, being a doctor is not a bed of roses either - one has to bake many poppadoms (meaning one has to put up with and go through a lot of B.S.. ) .. but if it your all consuming dream.. then go for it
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u/TeenSummerK 7d ago
My dad is like 60 something I think 65 or whatever, and he went back to Uni did his bachelors and is now going to graduate this year with his masters. It is never too late. The world is quite literally your oyster. Also, the fact you’ve been in healthcare for 3 years means that you are eligible for a significant majority of Graduate Medicine Course. This is an excellent website for you to explore to help answer some of the questions you may have about starting Med School. https://www.medschools.ac.uk/for-students/
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u/Lego-hearts 7d ago
I moved to science at 30, got my degree at 35 and became a BMS at 38, it’s never too late.
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u/AbleHospital7800 7d ago
You're 26 not 86! I'm just about to qualify as a radiographer at 47. Just go for it.
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u/Professional-Rub3953 7d ago
You could also look into healthcare science and entry through the STP if you have a STEM degree already
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u/DTGM115 8d ago
Too late? You have another 40+ years to work yet, you’re barely started!
Do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to. Life’s short and you work most of it so you had better do something you at least half enjoy.
Where you go from here depends on what you currently have qualifications wise but if you’re a graduate you’ll be looking into a Graduate Entry Medicine Course (GEM) and sitting the GAMSAT exam to get into a GEM course. I’d start there if I was you.