Too old to retrain?

[AmItooold65]

I am a 55 year old woman and I want to retrain as a speech and language therapist. My children have flown the nest and I am no longer tied to a particular area. After being unhappy most of my career - stuck with it for financial reasons - I feel it’s time to do something for me. Am I being ridiculous? Is this a mid life crisis?

Do it.

Definitely not, go for it.

Ooh thank you! I thought that everyone would think I was being ridiculous!

Absolutely go for it!

There were several women in their 50’s on my course when I retrained so go for it I’d say!

We will all be working till 75. go for it!

Oh that is so reassuring BadDucks. I just need to get accepted on a course now!

Good luck!

I will need to relocate somewhere more affordable. I am thinking maybe Cardiff, Birmingham or Manchester.

I’m nearly 58 and when 55 had an opportunity to apply to retrain as an OC. I kick myself that I let age hold me back. Thought by the time I qualify I’ll be 58. Well here I am and I would have made a great OC. Second kick for holding myself back. Another kick for doing that to myself.

So instead I’m now going to train as a dyslexia specialist (qualified teacher). Not letting any of that self doubt hold me back. I will start of my just enjoying the training.

Let the future take care of itself.

Speech Therapist- sounds fab!

Good luck 31133004Taff!

I am studying speech and language therapy and I’m in my late forties. I’m loving it. Do it. Definitely.

If you do it in Cardiff, your course fees are paid by the NHS.

Thank you @Occitane - feeling very excited now! Is there a range of ages on the course? How do you find the workload?

There is a range of ages - a few teenagers who have just done their A levels, some in their twenties who have just left university, and some in their twenties, thirties and forties who are changing career.

The workload is ok, gets busy around assignment and exam time, but it’s ok if you keep on top of it. Many of us manage to work part time too.

Is there a lot of competition for places? I wonder if younger people would be given preference. Will be devastated if I now can’t get a place!

Sorry I’m going against the grain here and as someone in their 50s I think you have left it too late. You will be what 58 when you qualify or older? Don’t know if you have a place this year or would have to do foundation. So you will have to work to 67 but you might well not be able to but even if so you are only putting back about 7 years after your training.
Don’t think you should

@Teenageromance none of us really how long we're going to "put back" do we? You can't live your life as if it's over. What about women who stop working to raise families. Should they not have had access to training either.
Seven years in a career is pretty good going these days. Go for it @AmItooold65

@AmItooold65

Is there a lot of competition for places? I wonder if younger people would be given preference. Will be devastated if I now can’t get a place!

I don’t know, I guess it depends on your qualifications and experience. I would look at the admission requirements. It’s worth emailing the admissions tutor and asking for advice.

Buoyed by some of the positive and encouraging comments here I shared my dream with some family members. I have definitely come back to earth with a bump. All think I have left it too late and some that I would be an embarrassment trying to do this now!

C @AmItooold65 - fuck’em. Your life. Your rules.

I would think in terms you can’t make the decision to retrain until you’re offered a place. Get applying. If you’re offered a place - then decide. The thrill of being offered is worth the effort. If you’re not offered, you can consider alternatives. I see specialist teacher of dyslexia a suitable alternative.

Thanks for your message btw.

If you have any factual queries about the course, email the course lead direct. Kind of questions to ask, because yes it is competitive, what additional relevant experience required and what needs to be highlighted in your personal statement. As part of the University admission process, and to ensure equality of opportunity, the selection board apply a REALLY rigorous points system; you need to know what they’re looking for to score. You will get this information from the tutor - not Mumsnet!

Thank you so much @31133004Taff. You are absolutely right. No decision to be made just yet. I will apply and see what happens.

@AmItooold65 - that’a girl!
For the dyslexia training, I have to write 1000 essay on ‘What Is Dyslexia?’ One way of knowing whether the course/specialism is right for me is whether the essay feels like an inconvenience or a really interesting task regardless of outcome. I’m really looking forward to cracking on with it today.

Maybe? Think of the application process in the same way? Are you excited about speaking to the course leader? Considering how to mould your experience to their admissions policy? That’s really quite creative.

Absolutely go for it, your never too early to retrain. I'm late thirties and recently started at college and I was really apprehensive of my age but there are both men and women doing all sorts of courses well into their 40's and 50"s. You won't be on your own. Good luck 👍