Please help! 20 and don’t know what to do

[Coffeemugwoes]

I am in my very early 20’s, and I really want to pursue a career, but I just don’t know what to do!
I have been looking mostly into midwifery and forensic psychologist, but it feels so scary to take the jump to apply for uni etc, as I know it will turn my life upside down.
Right now I’m working 3 part time jobs, so I really want to get out of this, I just feel a bit stuck!

Please help

I know it sounds scary but if you want to have a career in forensic psychology, for example, you must go to university.

The best way to take the "scare" factor out of these types of decisions is to thoroughly research the "risks versus the rewards" and if you determine the risks are worth the reward, then you mitigate as many risks as possible, as low as possible.

So, if you are currently working 3 part-time jobs to make ends meet, then the biggest risk I think that comes to mind is the inability to pay for your living and school, and have enough time available to devote to your studies to ensure that you do well. Doing poorly in school will not help you advance in a career that places a high level of importance on your grades.

So, if after researching your career prospects to determine that the rewards outweigh the risks, then for this particular risk, you will want to find ways to pay for school and expenses so that you do not have to work so much. Preferably any type of grant or scholarship that does not require you pay it back is better than accumulating debt.

Start with the companies you currently work for. Maybe one or more of them offer scholarships, or tuition reimbursement if you continue to work part-time. Then, if they do, consider dropping the other jobs, and find supplemental grants and scholarships to help with the costs.

As a last resort, look into financial aid that must be paid back upon graduation. Again, you must consider the debt to payoff ratio. You would be ill-advised, for example, to accumulate tens of thousands in debt for a career that would take you 40 years, due to the salary, to pay off.

Have you looked into the qualification pathways - would you be able to apply directly for a degree or would you need to resit any exams to get the required grades?

Could you do some work experience or change one (or more) of your jobs to something which gives you an insight. I.e. admin or HCA in a hospital (even better if its in the maternity department!), for midwifery, or HCA / support worker or admin in a forensic or secure MH hospital, a probation service or prison? It might help you find what you do and don't like about working in the field & any dealbreakers.

Look at the costs in involved and if you would end up having to possibly move for a career. The chance of midwifery jobs will be all over the UK forensic psychology will have less posts probably and may entail a move.

For every 1000 Psychology graduates less than 1 percent would get employed as a Forensic Psychologist whereas Midwifes are needed in every area. You'd need to research but I thought Midwifery courses were available to nurses in final year of Uni as a specialism or post graduate year. If you have 3 jobs you are clearly determined and hard working something needed in Midwifery. Have you got parental support to go to uni or not? If not there are hardship funds available at many unis for people without parental support. I think you have more chance of a permanent job if you go down the midwife route.