Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder if I should continue with a degree or not?

29 replies

extremepie · 14/10/2014 23:08

I'm doing a course at college which is supposed to lead on to a uni course. I'm really enjoying what I'm doing and found that, apart from any future job aspects, it has really done wonders for my self esteem and mental wellbeing. I'm a carer for DS2 and I don't cope well being at home all the time at all and am worried about my future finances after DS turns 18 if I have been out of work for over a decade, hence the course and uni plans.

Obviously the long term plan after uni is that I can get a job in the field I will be studying in but that's where I run into problems :/

The uni course I want to go on is only a foundation degree so in order to do the top up year I will have to move, I live in a rural area and there are no uni's in the county than do the course I want. I'm not keen to move as I love living in this area and the kids are settled but it's the only way I will be able to get a full degree in the subject I want.

The other issue is an actual job - the job I want to get is very specialised and there are not many jobs in it in the whole of the uk let alone my area.

It's getting me down as I'm really enjoying my course and really want to go on and get a job in the field but I just think it will be very very difficult to do that living when I am :(

Do I continue with my career plans and move somewhere I really don't want to live or do I give up on the idea and try to go for something I don't like as much but is more likely to get me a job here?

OP posts:
BatchesAndCookies · 14/10/2014 23:12

well, you don't have to make any decisions yet, so, speaking as a perpetual student, I would say carry on doing what you enjoy for the time being. You can cross that bridge when you come to it.

Doing something that makes you happy counts for an awful lot IMHO.

TheFallenMadonna · 14/10/2014 23:14

How transferable are the skills you're developing?

Original poster
extremepie · 14/10/2014 23:15

I suppose the reason I'm thinking about it already is the UCAS forms need to start being filled in soon and I'm wondering if there is any point in going on to a degree course knowing I will either have to move areas or I have to start something knowing I won't be able to finish, which I hate :(

OP posts:
Original poster
extremepie · 14/10/2014 23:19

Fallen, the course I'm doing now is quite general in that is could be applied to lots of different degrees but none of the ones I could go have lots of opportunities for employment in my area either :/

OP posts:
ithoughtofitfirst · 14/10/2014 23:31

Don't look too far into the future imo. If you'll enjoy it then it's not a waste if time.

sunbathe · 16/10/2014 07:27

Could you do the top up year with the Open University?

moxon · 16/10/2014 07:44

The OU should allow you to do the foundation year without having to move.

Preciousbane · 16/10/2014 09:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

redexpat · 16/10/2014 10:43

You've got a couple of options.

  1. OU.
  2. Apply for uni, defer for a year and apply for jobs in the meantime.

I know its tough, but if there are no jobs in your desired field in your area, will your time be best served by this particular degree? I really think you should talk to a careers or student advisor at college. Is there something similar you can do?

I'd enquire about how mnay graduates of your course are in employment a year after graduation.

Spindarella · 16/10/2014 10:55

Unless you are doing a degree for pure pleasure you have to be realistic, particulalry as these days (I think) if you have one degree you are unable to get a loan for another degree so you need to make sure the degree you do first is the right degree.

Practically speaking, I would look at what option gave me the most/best employment prospects and go from there rather than trying to think of what I'd like-to-do-if-everything-was-equal-and-I-had-unlimited-funds.

But then, I am very practical by nature and often wish I'd had a dream to follow instead of making the pragmatic choices all of the time, so maybe not your best counsel!

puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE · 16/10/2014 10:58

Some unit offer distance learning where you would only have to go into the actual uni on rare occasions. I know my uni offers this for some courses.

Original poster
extremepie · 16/10/2014 20:58

I'm fairly sure the course I want to do wouldn't be available on the OU as it involves practicals and lots of specialist equipment :/

I'm also fairly sure I could not apply for any jobs in the field unless I was already qualified, they don't even do work experience because of the nature of the job.

I'm studying science and want to go into forensics.

I've read somewhere that there are about 3000 forensics jobs in the uk per year. Not much at all but I love it :(

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 16/10/2014 21:33

The OU does indeed offer Science degrees, including Chemistry. The practical a are done at summer schools. Forensics is indeed a limited field. I work with a number of ex forensic scientists.

TheFallenMadonna · 16/10/2014 21:37

And a science degree is full of transferable skills!

maddening · 16/10/2014 21:54

You could do a science degree (what ever goes most naturally with forensics -biology? Or criminology? And do a masters in forensics? I would look at where the jobs and courses are and make one move to wherever is closest to both so it is just one move - dc can settle again and you can build a fulfilling career - unless you are v dependent on a support network?

maddening · 16/10/2014 21:58

Ps where do you think you would have to move to in order to follow this career?

maddening · 16/10/2014 21:59

Sorry one more - how old are the dc?

Original poster
extremepie · 16/10/2014 22:01

I don't really have a support network here as it is maddening so it's not that :) I just really love the area and don't want to live in a big city again :(

I wouldn't mind doing 'another' science degree but I don't know how do-able doing practicals at summer school would be for me as I don't have any chidcare in the summer/any holidays.

I have heard that a master's is not funded, ie you have to pay for it yourself. Is that right? If that's the case it's very unlikely I'll be able to do one.

I want to apply to the police local to me to become a SOCO (scene of crime officer) after I finish my degree but no idea how often they recruit!

OP posts:
Original poster
extremepie · 16/10/2014 22:03

They are 7 & 6 :)

Not sure where exactly, there doesn't seem to be anywhere where jobs in forensics are abundant but I know there is a forensics company in oxfordshire - most of the uni's that offer forensics degrees seem to be up north for some reason, Derby, Teeside etc

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 16/10/2014 22:07

I don't think a forensic science qualification is necessary to be a SOCO.

Original poster
extremepie · 16/10/2014 22:10

No, it isn't but I thought it might give me an edge in applying, especially since I don't have any photographic qualifications :/

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 16/10/2014 22:10

And you don't need a first degree in forensic science to be a Forensic scientist. None of my colleagues who were forensic scientists had degrees in it. Have you had careers advice at your college? I think there are a fair few routes available to you.

livingzuid · 16/10/2014 22:12

For a masters you can apply for a career development loan so there is that option. The terms are good and the interest low. Can recommend OU as well or researching some other universities that offer distance learning.

If your preferred employment field is so narrow, how will you find work if in a rural area etc? Are there jobs nearby? Just curious :)

livingzuid · 16/10/2014 22:13

Oh sorry X post with the career question.

Original poster
extremepie · 16/10/2014 22:17

Not sure in all honesty living :/ When I moved here I was in a totally different area of work that is plentiful around here so it wasn't an issue. I'm hoping that I'll be able to find something around that I can do, even if I have to drive for a while to get to it.

I don't mind moving a bit, a different town or even the next county over but I really don't want to live in/near London or up north. Surely there must be some call for forensics in rural areas? People commit crimes all over the country!

Think that might be a good idea asking for careers advice though :)

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread