Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

Psychology - is to too late!?

I am 26 and considering going back to uni to study psychology and criminology. I've always wanted to work in a prison setting but now I'm worried I'm too old and won't have enough experience. Has anyone gone back in their late 20s to study a similar course and were you able to to find work!?

Thanks :smile:

Reply 1

welshjoel

I was 30 when i decided to go back to education, I didn't come out of school with a lot so had to do an Access to HE course (social sciences), which i studied at USW (University of South Wales). The access course i found ok as long as you kept on top of things, do the reading and the assignments and it will pay off, a few students couldn't cope with the workload and dropped out. The course itself consisted of Psychology, Sociology, Social Welfare, Childhood Studies, Maths and IT. The course gave me the confidence and also the resources to undertake a degree in Psychology which i am starting my second year in September. With Psychology there are many different branches, if you are looking to work in a prison you may want to do some research into forensic psychology as many forensic psychologists work in and around prisons. I don't honestly think age makes that much difference, as you would have life skills that a younger person would have, plus voluntary work is important, if when doing your degree your able to free up a bit of time to volunteer and get experience in a prison or similar setting, this may favour you in the long run in getting a job after your degree. 3 people all over 46 that i studied with on the access course have gone on to do a psychology and criminology degree, so I would say your not too old!! Also when your at uni its a key time to make contacts and find employment or even opportunities that could lead to employment, so all said and done, i'd say go for it!!

Hope this helps and good luck!!! :smile:

Reply 2

hellodave5

You're still young!

But I would recommend that you be sure that you attain BPS accreditation in your course - I'm not sure if joint honors with criminology provides this? Furthermore, I would probably go for psychology alone (more limited options for criminology?) due to the lack of 'specificity' of psychology - would you be better off doing only Psych than mixing both, and specialising in criminology through degree options (be sure that the uni course has such options).

Experience in settings you may want to work in is essential, and I would do it as soon as possible.

I was and to some point still am considering doing medicine as a graduate, and I feel that I would still be happy going back and 'starting afresh' - as long as you feel you will be relatively happy in doing so I see no issue. Relative comparison of ages isn't particularly important, I feel.

Note, also due to more and more people doing degree's, be prepared to have to do further study to be competitive in your applications. Hope is not the case, though. Either way, you will require a 'good' degree of a 2.1 or above.