AIBU to want to do an OU degree?

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NC for this

I recently graduated university in a creative degree (within last few years) and have been lucky to get a job in my field straight out of the door. However, I've really been thinking about looking into becoming a counsellor for a while now.

The OU do a degree which I could complete part time over 6 years whilst still at my job. By that point I would be earning around 24k in my current role if I don't progress further.

People regularly tell me I'd make a great counsellor, and my own counsellor has told me to strongly consider it. I almost applied for the degree at the end of last year but chickened out.

The main sticking point is that my sister is currently studying that same degree with the OU, intending to be a counsellor. She has big issues RE rivalry with me and I don't want to her think I'm trying to copy her - this is something I genuinely want to do. I'm also considering pursuing it further into genetic counselling.

I don't feel it would be an entire waste of the career I've had so far, as I can undertake freelance work (and I have already). It's something I can always come back to and can do on the side.

I'm 24 now and would be 30 on completion of the counselling degree, and if I do genetic counselling I'd be 33 on completion of studies.

I love my current job and the field I'm in, but I believe counselling is something that I'd enjoy even more and truly fulfill me.

AIBU to want a career change already?

Can you look into a night school post graduate diploma type qualification instead? Why the sudden change in direction? Do you have any voluntary experience in this field - often a requirement to getting on courses and getting jobs.

Nope. Very few people stay in the same career now. Evidence suggests our brains aren’t fully developed until about 24 so what you wanted to do at 18 May not be the same a few years later.

I’m 40 and still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. I’m studying subjects with the OU that interest me. It just so happens that they will one day lead to a degree.

Go for it.

I wouldn't yet.

You're only 24, only just graduated, only just started a job, you're in counselling - why not take it easy for a bit, spend a few years working, and if its still something you want to do in 3 years, then go for it.

I think if you genuinely want to do the course then do it....but are you sure there's not some subconscious thing going on re your sister.
I say this as I recently accompanied my daughter to an open evening/meet up for students doing a nursing and paramedic degree, and it was really good to the point that I considered signing up....but reality kicked in and I remembered I hate people 😉. I just got swept up in all the talk of 'making a difference' and 'future goals' etc.

I would imagine my daughter would have been highly unhappy about me doing the same course, as does your sister as she sees this as her achievement. What happens if she struggled and you breezed through it?

Definitely sure I don't want to do this because of my sister - I'm just worried that's what she would think! This is something very close to my heart, particularly the genetic counselling.

I'm in counselling because of a bereavement, which (I hope) won't affect me the same way in 6 years time.

Also aware they are going to stop accepting new starts to the course in a few years, so waiting 3 years may not be practical. But I could delay a year or so.

I'd also still be working at my job whilst studying this part time.

I started my OU degree when I was 24, best thing I ever did. I graduated last year. Fitting studying around work was quite hard and didn't leave much social life but I really enjoyed it.

I would look at doing some related voluntary work if possible though, because if you already have a job in a field you love it would be a shame to spend 6 years studying only to discover actually counselling isn't for you, plus the voluntary work will help you and impress potential employers later on.

Would you be able to afford to? You won't get student finance for a second degree in counselling, and it's around £16k for the degree now.

If it's something you want to do, you could start and not tell your sister. You don't need to tell anyone you're studying again whilst working.

A friend of mine has suggested Cruse, as she volunteers for them so I'll look into that!

It's just shy of £1000 per year for me according to the website, but I am in Scotland so that may be the difference. I would be able to afford it.

I've actually decided to discuss it with my sister, I feel like if I kept it secret then it would be a bit shady. The last thing I want is to do that. At least then I'll be clear on her feelings, rather than guessing, and she can then understand my intentions too.

Plus as she is currently doing the course, she will have the best idea of whether or not I could fit in the time?

I would have a good think about your future goal, as if you want to be a genetic counsellor (or genomic counsellor, as its now called), you probably want to do a science degree, not a counselling degree (although completing some counselling units may be useful).
More info on the NHS careers website: www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/life-sciences/genomic-counselling/entry-and-training-genomics-counselling

Life's too short! Do it if you want to and if you don't like it or change your mind then that's fine

@awkwardpaws27 Thanks for the link! there's a genetic/genomic counselling masters I can get into through the counselling degree, so I could potentially take it that route though it may take longer. I think that may be best as if I don't take the route of genetic counselling, the psychology/counselling degree opens doors for related careers I have still have a lot of interest in, whereas the science degree would not have as many other opportunities. I'd only be pursuing science for the genetic counselling.

The deadline for this course isn't until September so I'm going to keep thinking it over, researching etc and make sure I'm 100% before signing on.

Yes, I'd definitely speak to your sister. She might actually be really positive about it, or at least she'd have all summer to brood about it before you start, and by then she might feel happier and able to give you tips.

I've done an OU masters in a different subject and also done some counselling training elsewhere. I think you'd be much better getting face to face training for counselling.

A good counselling course will involve undergoing weekly counselling yourself AND a weekly group session. I think training through the OU would mean lots of theory and not enough practice. Counselling is all about practice.

My concern with the OU course (I'm guessing you mean this one? www.open.ac.uk/courses/qualifications/q84) isn't just the lack of hands on practice, it's the fact that it's far too general. Most of the psychology modules won't have anything to do with counselling and psychotherapy. You'll spend all those years studying and not actually be ready to work.

Much better to choose a counselling (BACP accredited) course from here:
www.bacp.co.uk/search/Courses?skip=10

Or for a more respected psychotherapy (UKCP accredited) course, here:
www.psychotherapy.org.uk/join/our-organisational-members-and-trainings/training-organisations-2/

Note that not all training providers are created equal. In London Metanoia and the Minster Centre have an excellent reputation. In Scotland you'll want to find the best close to you.

@sweetcheeks1980 I dropped her a message on FB (don't see her often) and she's not been overly positive about it, however, she's not had a go at me either which I was kind of half expecting. So it seems she may begrudging 'allow' me to apply!

She did say she studies for 28 hours a week when the part time is usually around 16-20 according to OU. I'm not sure how accurate that is but I did call the OU and speak to one of their advisers and they seem to think the course would be suitable for my schedule if I go ahead.

@spottedonmn Thank you for the links! definitely going to go about getting some hands on experience as priority. As far as I'm aware my sister hasn't had any with the OU and I think this is her second year of the six.

Are there any of these courses I can do via distance learning? I'm not able to leave work to pursue this, hence the OU being the most attractive option!

Also - when I spoke to the OU they recommended their OpenLearn service, free courses to get a taste of the subject material?

@gardengeek now that's ballsy! I really hope you pull it off, the enthusiasm is infectious!!

I would train as a psychotherapist rather than a counsellor if I was going to spend 6 years doing it. Do you have to do that route?

@theisland not necessarily, but I do need to do distance learning if possible!

Another route into genetic counselling may be to try and get a job in a department, as they may allow you to do the masters based on two years experience with a non-science first degree?
www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/geneticandgenomiccounsellingwithworkplacement/#tab=4

(It's a career option I'm looking into myself, not just being nosy! I'm doing a BSc in Biomedicine at the moment, as an evening course, around work. You can study around work, I do 3 evenings a week at uni plus studying at the weekends, on top of 33 hours of work. It's tiring, and I don't really have a social life during term-time. My course is full-time though)

I have just completed my Access course with the OU. Registered to start Psychology Bsc in October

I am 22. Didn't go to Uni and as I'm a mum now I don't think I could do a brick one.

But you realise that course won’t actually qualify you as a counsellor, right? You’d have to do another couple of years and a placement - and not distance learning. That will set you back another few grand.

Sorry for being brutal, but the likelihood is that you would work very hard and get into debt and then never find a job in that sector anyway.

I have an OU degree and I know an awful lot of students who were hoping to be counsellors have never managed to find a job in the sector.

Counselling is a dream job for lots of people. More people want to counsel than there are people who need counselling and have the ability to fund it in some way. It is incredibly different to find jobs in that sector and they are frequently very low paid with little opportunity for progression.