thick?

[u/suchislife19]

Got an offer to study Medicine at Lancaster for 2027, but that would mean taking another gap year on top of the one I’m already on. So by the time I start Year 1, I’ll be 20.

I know 20 really isn’t old at all, but I’m irrationally worried I’m going to be the oldest in my cohort and that everyone’s going to think I’m thick for taking so long to get there 😭.

Are there many people that are 20+ in yr1 med at lancs?

[u/Peeeing_]

Nobody will give a shit in a nice way

[u/Aleece1004]

Don’t know about year 1 med but there’s loads of first years on other courses who are 19/20+

[u/Jiggerfig]

Nobody will think you’re thick OP. Honestly, people will respect the degree choice no matter your age. It’s not super common, but I’ve know people who’ve come into that degree at later life career changes, people who are fresh to it, and people who have had to apply through international routes that have taken longer.

It’s a fantastic choice to study, and it won’t make a difference when you come to it. If anything, the med students tend to be the more focused on their degree outcomes. You’d get at most, a couple of hours of “oh I’m 20 actually” that gets moved on from almost instantly. That couple of hours in the grand scheme of your study and your working life is such a small aspect, you’ll barely remember it when you look back.

Congratulations on the offer, and we look forward to welcoming you on the 2027 cohort, or the 28 cohort, or the 2035 cohort if you choose.

[u/Square-Response-69 → u/Jiggerfig]

20 is super normal for med, loads of people have gap years or reapply or switch paths entirely. once you’re drowning in anatomy and OSCE stress no one is gonna care if you’re 18 or 25, they’ll just care if you share notes and turn up to group work.

[u/lawagstaff]

yo nobody cares. (in a good way)

[u/MentionKey2945]

I'm not doing medicine but I took 2 gap years and I'm now going into 2nd year. I found a lot of people on my course were older and I know a few medicine students who took at least 1 gap year.

It's not that big of a deal. I've found nobody really cares how old you are.

[u/Altruistic_End_501]

med is so hard to get into theyll understand lmao

[u/CommandInformal3598]

No one will think tht some ppl do the degree after a previous bachelors degree. If anyone is thinking tht they shouldn’t be on the course themselves. But huge congrats on the offer!

[u/benj7119]

I used to be in medical school at lancs for a couple years. There were quite a few medics that already have bachelor degrees and just started med afterwards (21+ year olds). Also, at least in my year, half the class will either drop out or repeat a year or 2 throughout the duration of the degree. So at the end of medicine, there's gonna be a lot of people 1-3 years apart anyways.

Socially, they didn't have any problems fitting in or looked down upon. In fact, those guys seem the most prepared for medical school so they're pretty well respected. But honestly I wouldn't have noticed they were older unless they told me. Same thing with people repeating years. That's super normal.

TLDR: There's quite a few older students and they fit in pretty well so dw.

[u/benj7119 → u/benj7119]

Also also. There were quite a few students who's grade didn't make it and have to take a foundation year before starting med anyways so there basically a whole cohort of 19+ yr olds joining every year.

[u/imcrazyandproud]

Loads of people take time to arrive at what they want to do. Dont worry about it

[u/South-Cap-8990]

Nobody gives a flying fuck and if anyone does, because there are of course some shit-head, overly opinionated, self righteous, conceited pricks in every step of life. Well you’ve just found the pricks you don’t ever want near you so just live your life

[u/PositiveIncrease8963]

I’m 20 and starting my undergrad in Mechatronics this year.
I don’t think it’ll be bad or anything. Yes you will be on the older side but you won’t feel like a fossil. I repeated a year in my preschool and ended up doing a foundation year last year.

[u/ParamedicOk6462]

Quite a lot of med students took a gap year so you'd realistically only be a year older than them and honestly people dont care too much in uni

[u/keenbean1o1]

Hi- my husband started medschool at 26. He’s an amazing doctor because he had a bit more life experience before medicine. Because of him most of my medical friends are mature medics and they are great to have by my side!

[u/R4nd0mly_Us31ng]

Congrats on getting into medicine. I've just finished my first year and I'd say don't worry about joining when you're 20. I knew a few people who took one gap year and other people have completed degrees and coming to study med in Lancaster after all of that. So don't worry you won't be alone

[u/frootloop2k]

I mean this politely, but no one will pay attention to this. It's only important to you and no one else

[u/Hour_Cook_2173]

I'm a medical student rn at Lancaster and I can confirm that like at least a 1/4 of my cohort are above the age of 20, with one person even being 24 in 1st year so it'll be completely fine and most definetely u won't be the oldest person in your cohort.

[u/RecentFan4128]

I feel like i always hear of med students taking gap years since its so hard to get into so im sure you wont be the only one

[u/marblearch2323]

No one asks for your age unless you tell them. And even if you do, no one cares.

[u/NewButterscotch6613]

No one will care about your age

[u/Crafty_Switch3266]

Lancaster has loads of super mature students. I bet you'll still be one of the youngest. If you want to do medicine, stick out another year, it'll fly by.

[u/Soft_Presence_4642]

Bruh 20 is so young just work for an extra so you have money

[u/Ok_Bus4604]

I promise nobody will care, the difference won't even be obvious. People won't even think about ur intelligence when they find out, it's medicine, plus lots of people take gap years and u can just say u wanted to save up money if you're worried. Also, lots of people will already be turning 19 in September so the difference is really negligible. Don't miss this opportunity just because of this fear. Congrats for getting into medicine too!!

[u/lukeviolin]

I was 21 when I started (in engineering), I was a tiny bit older than most but it didn't really make a difference at all. Plus I'm sure there will be plenty 20-ish year olds

[u/Strict_Succotash_388]

What are you going to uni for? To study medicine? Or mess about getting drunk and wanting to be a party clown? Seriously, who cares if you're a few years older. It's probably better to be a little older and have your brain a little more developed when taking on intense study.