In a scenario of growing age range of students enrolled in degree courses, the professor highlights some challenges and some paths that older students must take towards the diploma
According to the Census of Higher Education, a survey conducted by Inep (National Institute of Studies and Research on Education Anísio Teixeira), approximately 11% of students enrolled in medical courses in Brazil in 2020 were over 30 years old. The survey also shows that Medicine is among the top 10 degree programs by number of students enrolled: 224.192 students enrolled in 2021 in the country.
The institute’s latest survey, released in November 2022, revealed that, over the past decade, the number of freshmen aged 40 and over in Brazilian universities has nearly tripled: it was 221.337in 2012, at approx 600 thousandin 2021.
Professor Thiago Carvalho, director of the MetaMED course, evaluates positively this upward trend in the age group of university students. “Older students applying to medical school demonstrate a high degree of determination and commitment,” he says. ‘Furthermore, they can bring a variety of previous personal and professional experiences to the classroom, which indirectly end up enriching not only the learning, offering the exchange of knowledge between students of different ages, but also the profession as a whole.’
One of the factors that can explain this increase in the age group of students is the higher life expectancy of the population, which means that age is no longer seen as an obstacle to achieving dreams. Carvalho points out, however, that those entering an academic course later, especially a competitive degree like Medicine, may face greater challenges. “These people often have established careers and families. Therefore, reconciling academic routine with other areas of life can be complex, requiring more rigorous time planning.”
For him, another difficulty that hinders older students is the high pace of study required by a course like Medicine, which requires a lot of commitment and resilience from them to deal with mental and physical stress. “Moreover, there is a need to update oneself in academic concepts and adapt to current educational technologies”, warns the director of MetaMED.
Thiago Carvalho also points out that those who wish to return to studies after a few years away from school are faced with the first challenge of all: passing the entrance exam. To overcome this hurdle, he recommends developing a routine and study plan that covers all the subjects that need to be remembered.
“Preparation courses can also be an effective tool in this resumption of study for a competitive entrance exam such as Medicine, as they offer the structure and learning resources candidates need,” he says.
To find out more just go to: https://www.metamed.net/
Website: https://www.metamed.net/
Source: Terra
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