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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone who has used their Psychology degree..?

61 replies

laurzj82 · 24/02/2017 18:22

I am hoping to do a degree in Psychology (although not sure what I want to do with it yet!)

I need to study by distnace learning and have been considering the OU one as it is BPS accredited. Have found a couple of others who also offer a distance learning option. OU is a heck of a lot cheaper but will it be as respected and would I be considered if I went on to do a Masters or further?

Help! Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to study on campus (nearest is Essex) for a few years due to childcare issues. I'm already 35 so would like to get cracking!

Thanks in advance for your help

OP posts:
RueDeDay · 24/02/2017 18:24

Nope! Never had a job even vaguely related and wish I had studied something more vocational. Sorry!

SharkBastard · 24/02/2017 18:27

I attended uni at 32 to study psychology, as long as your degree is BPS accredited then it should be fine. I'm starting my masters in October but couldn't do OU as it's not accredited at that level.

I had a break between my degree and masters due to childcare and buying a house but now focusing on gaining my masters then actually working in the field of psychology!

Lallypopstick · 24/02/2017 18:28

I don't think there's any snobbery against the OU. What is it you're hoping to do, career wise?

KatrinaSunRay · 24/02/2017 18:28

Yes. I'm chartered and have always loved my work! Do you know what area of psychology you want to specialise in? Good luck!

PeanutJuice · 24/02/2017 18:29

I've never had a job that I've needed my psychology degree, but I have "used" the knowledge in some roles (statistical analysis, risk perception, organisational psychology etc)

winekeepsmesane · 24/02/2017 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

strawberrypenguin · 24/02/2017 18:30

Nope! I work in a completely unrelated job. Also be aware that there is more maths involved in the degree than I anticipated

littlefrog3 · 24/02/2017 18:32

Whether you get to use it depends on your age I think.

I know someone who got one from a not-very-respected uni that is not even in the top 100, and she was 48 when she finished it. She works as a carer now, next to people half her age, who don't have a GCSE to their name, who are on the same money. She really lorded it over people who didn't have a degree when she got it, and was very smug, but they had the last laugh when the only job she could get was one you didn't need any qualifications for.

Some of the most annoying people I know are middle aged people who got their degree over the age of 40.

Janey50 · 24/02/2017 18:34

Not me but my DD has a 2.1 in psychology/sociology. She has never had a job even vaguely related to it. At the moment,she has 2 part-time jobs as a cleaner for a vehicle breakdown/recovery company and as a maintenance worker/cleaner at a gym/health spa! She had dreams of becoming a forensic psychologist at one time,but motherhood happened and she didn't manage it,but says she still wants to once her DD is a bit older.

Aeroflotgirl · 24/02/2017 18:35

I have a BA Psychology, an MSc Health Psychology, nope I haven't used them. I do hope to do the PhD in Clinical psych, in a couple of years time. Both my degrees are accredited by BPS, and I have a 2:1 for my BA.

GrainOfSalt · 24/02/2017 18:37

A friend did her psych degree through the OU and has now been teaching psychology at A' level for 20 years

TheOnlyLivingBoyinNewCork · 24/02/2017 18:39

Some of the most annoying people I know are middle aged people who got their degree over the age of 40

Funny, some of the most annoying people I know are people who are nasty about people who got their degree over the age of 40.

Out2pasture · 24/02/2017 18:42

Dd graduated with distinction from a top uni. Needed a yoga instructors course to find work...

YourDaughterHasATattoo · 24/02/2017 18:43

Have a degree in Psych from York. I teach it at A-level now so I use it lots, but also in my role as head of year.
So long as it's an accredited course I would imagine it will be accepted. Your postgrad is where you want to "step up" though. My experience with unis and companies is that they like to see a progression in your academic studies. That you stepping stone the institution as well as the course. Might be worth thinking about when/if you go for your postgrad.

plimsolls · 24/02/2017 18:43

Yes I do. I'm a chartered, registered psychologist. But I have a lot of further study on top of my undergraduate degree in order to be one, the undergrad degree alone isnt enough.

SillyOldUncleFeedle · 24/02/2017 18:45

Yes, I am a Clinical Psychologist. On most of the doctorate courses there are a range of ages. I was late 20s and the oldest was mid 40s. Age doesn't matter, experience does.

FreeNiki · 24/02/2017 18:45

I thought you couldnt be a psychologist with a bare psychology degree.

Arent chartered and clinical etc all protected titles needing a load of post grad study?

junebirthdaygirl · 24/02/2017 18:45

Two friends dc did degree. One in a bank one in a special needs school as a TA

Nospringflower · 24/02/2017 18:47

I am a clinical psychologist and we don't discriminate against OU degrees! It's a great job but a hard slog to get there.

Aeroflotgirl · 24/02/2017 18:48

I hope that as an older person (I am 39), I hope to make a better psychologist than when I was in my 20s. I have worked in different settings, mental health, learning disabilities, as well as having two children with SN, one of which has ASD, learning difficulties and the other NDD. I have first hand experience 😁

ludothedog · 24/02/2017 18:48

Some of the most annoying people I know are middle aged people who got their degree over the age of 40

some of the most successful people I know got their degree over the age of 40. Mature students tend to do very well. Most people will still have a good 25 years of employment left in them when they are 40. Plenty time to retrain and become successful in a new career.

I have a psychology degree from the OU. I went for a couple of interviews afterwards for psychology related jobs. I was asked on both where I had my placements. I didn't do any placements with the OU! I ended up going back to Uni (a physical one this time!) to study a masters in Social work. All this in my 40s.

I found my studies with the OU to be very interesting and helped get me onto a new career pathway. I can recommend it. A straight BSc in Psychology though won't really be enough by itself. You would need to go on to study something else afterwards to realistically work in this field.

Good luck OP!

SillyOldUncleFeedle · 24/02/2017 18:50

To be clear, I meant yes I am using my degree. You won't be discriminated against for choosing OU and don't be put off thinking age is against you with regards to pursuing your dreams.

Original poster
laurzj82 · 24/02/2017 19:04

Thank you that's exactly the sort of advice I was after...I knew that I'd have to do postgrad but was worried ou wouldn't be enough to be accepted if that makes sense? Currently looking in to trying to gain some work experience...

Thanks so much for your replies.

OP posts:
Headofthehive55 · 24/02/2017 19:06

I think there are lots of places where you can study this, but I don't think there are many jobs. Hence the competition increases and people end up working in other jobs. The ones I knew became receptionists and carers. Good Uni's too!

xxxbingbunnyxxx · 24/02/2017 19:23

I wanted to go on with my degree to do a masters but couldn't afford it, 3 years later ended up using it as such being a business analyst