AIBU to start again? Any forensic psychologists/linguists around?

[JammyGem]

A couple of years ago I completed my MA and had always planned to go on to do a PhD, and then work in academia. However, the more I look into it, the more I realise that I'm just not suited to that kind of career, and I think that it's just not the right path for me.

I've always been interested in true crime, particularly the psychological aspects. The thing that really fascinates me is the application of forensic psychology and linguistics, in terms of letters, transcripts, press conferences, interviews etc.

My original degree is Classics, with a heavy leaning towards Latin rather than Greek. My research so far has relied mainly on linguistic analysis, although through the lens of historical and social context rather than psychological.

It's quite a big step away from what I originally planned, but I would love to work in the forensic psychology/linguistics field. I'm assuming I would have to start again in my education from a Bachelors level?

I'm 25, and feel like time is running out for me to begin a career that I will actually enjoy. Is this sudden change of direction even realistic? WIBU to start from scratch, or is it too late?

you can do a psychology conversion masters in a year? Then further specialisation....Don't think you need to start from your undergraduate training. At 25 you have forever! Don't worry time is running out....I'm 39 and contemplating doing my psychology conversion masters after a career in finance. Just need to get brave enough and I'll be off

Linguistics is quite a rare first degree: most people start with a taught MPhil. Go for it, why not?

I'm not sure there's much work, mind you. My UG supervisor was one of the very few expert witnesses in the field and he was doing almost all his own work IYSWIM.

Forensic psychology is a tough field to get into. There are more people than jobs, definitely. You'd need a psychology degree or conversion, then a masters degree and then you'd have to find a job that would allow you to do what's called Stage 2 chartership. Typically, you see these jobs more often in prison but they're exceptionally rare now because it takes people so long to get chartered (qualified).

If you go on the BPS website, there's info about chartership on there, but don't believe the two years practice thing. I've known someone take 12 years to get chartered and most people take around 7.