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Alan Woodall and Mark Pickard discuss education and career choices for medics who aren't just straight from the sixth form Almost 5% of British medical students are mature students, most of whom are graduates. These range from students entering immediately after a degree to those who have already pursued other careers. Compared with A level entrants, mature students in Britain have a lower dropout rate,1 better preclinical academic performance,2 and find it easier to communicate with patients in clinical years.3 According to Peter Richards, the former dean of St Mary's medical school, mature students “make a significant contribution to the stability and maturity of their immediate year and more widely in the medical school.”3 They often provide advice to younger students with problems who are reluctant to approach staff. In addition, some graduates with research backgrounds undertake research alongside their medical studies to the benefit of their school. It is difficult to enter medicine as a mature student in Britain, as the majority of places are for A level entrants. Few applicants over the age of 30 are admitted, on the grounds that they have less time to serve the NHS. Similar arguments were once used to limit the entry of women. Some medical schools interview all mature entrants to assess their commitment, while offering A level entrants places solely from their UCAS form, and yet mature students often have a greater awareness of what constitutes a career in medicine.4 Today many people pursue multiple careers and use previous life experience to enhance their current profession. The current recruitment policy on mature students appears outdated and based on subjective cost-benefit “analysis.” Few …