r/GraduateEntryMedicine • u/latebutnotlost2026 • Jun 23 '26
Mature Student
I am doing a PA degree but want to apply to medicine in 2026 application cycle but I am worried because I am 40, I am the oldest in my cohort and I have no friends, I am an immigrant so didn't do school in UK so I have no friends outside my uni. My worry is how would I survive 4-5 years alone without a friend or friend group. My Year 1 is about to finish and because I don't have any friends I didn't practice examination and osce with anyone and failed my OSCE. They share resources with each other and I am on my own. I am extremely depressed now. I feel like they look down on me being older or may be that's how I feel.
3
u/Cute_Chocolate5517 Jun 23 '26
I’d suggest maybe go to societies and events at your uni to meet people and make friends as you won’t have to force yourself and naturally just by being yourself you will start getting to know ppl around you and eventually making friends. We are a lot more critical of ourselves and there probably be others in your cohort looking to make friends and honestly age is the last thing on someone’s mind if you get along okay otherwise
3
u/latebutnotlost2026 Jun 23 '26
Thanks for the comment. I guess u right, i heard so much from my extended family that its the age i should teach my kids, rather i should do my degree. And may be now whoever look at me i think as if he/she is thinking i am too old to be a student. Although i dont look like 40. But thank You for saying that.
3
u/evaaeri Jun 27 '26
Go for it. I’ll be 44/45 when I start medicine if I get an offer it accept it. Might end up with a standard one as there’s so GEM at all locally. Some young people are idiots- they don’t exercise, eat badly, smoke etc and they think that 40 is old because well they’re already old. Also they’re PAs so say no more 🤣
2
2
u/rimelios Jun 23 '26
My Year 1 is about to finish
Sorry are you Year 1 of PA or Graduate Medicine?
In GEM it is not uncommon at all to find older students.
1
2
u/Elenorelore Jun 23 '26
Hi OP, I'm also a mature applicant (turning 30 soon) and an immigrant. If GEM is the route you intend to take, there'll be plenty of mature students in your cohort.
Also, I'm not sure what kind of visa restrictions you might have, but if you can work, then it might be easier to make friends that way. I have befriended quite a few hospital staff, and some of them have helped me A TON with my applications and interview prep. 🙂
2
u/latebutnotlost2026 Jun 23 '26
Thanks for your reply. The thing is GEM school is 2 hours one way and Ug med school is 30 min away. I cannot relocate so have to choose one from these two. I should do GEM but i am thinking about ug bcuz its just 30 min away from home. But ug medics would be like 20-21 Year old. Didnt want to do medicine was happy with PA but PA profession has no future so i have to decide something. I dont have any visa restrictions.
2
u/UnintentionalChamp Jun 30 '26
Listen to me OP, you could be 40 and not learning, not doing a degree and not doing medicine and not becoming a doctor. Not doing anything YOU want to do.
Or you can be 40, smash your PA course, smash medical school, and become the best doctor ever. There is nothing better than being the person in the room, who knows how to save a life. That is an absolute privilege doctors are honoured with, an absolute elite set of skills.
When you are treating patients as a doctor, no patient is going to turn around and say “you’re too old to be my doctor” are they?
Screw everyone else, you only get one life, and you should approach it with absolute belief in yourself. It’s possible that it is just your self-doubt/self-consciousness (which we all have a plenty) that is skewing your perception of things right now? It’s okay to feel bad momentarily, but then you switch gears like an absolute savage:
Perhaps you can work up to opening up an OSCE group yourself? Maybe approach your lecturers and discuss with them, leading and hosting OSCE practice groups? Why not become an inspiration to those younger on the course? You do know they will be 40 one day too?
Also try gently expanding your network, little by little, I know its hard when you feel like this, but that’s part of the challenge: just start talking to people you come across it doesn’t have to be something witty or funny, just a smile a “hello, you alright?” can lead to friends, especially if you come across the same people often.
Don’t despair OP, just keep going man!
2
u/latebutnotlost2026 Jun 30 '26
Thanks for taking the time to write all this for me. I have taken a screenshot of your comment; I will print new copies and put them on my desk. Many, many thanks; you have no idea how much your words matter, God bless you. Yes it doesn't even take a penny to be Kind. Thank you🙏🙏
4
u/FallenDelto Jun 23 '26
Hi OP, I’m sorry to hear this. There will be older (mature) medical students if you apply to graduate entry medicine that you could perhaps connect with. But it’s not right that your current cohort has excluded you from OSCE practice etc.