To start again career wise at nearly 30?

[JoeyHop]

Okay so I know I'm technically young still however has anyone just completely changed their career and gone back to study at this sort of age?

I currently work in law and whilst I used to love it, I just hate it now. It's not the stress or the pressure, I quite like that element of it, but I'm just not passionate about it, I don't get any sense of achievement from it and I just know it's not what I want to do for the rest of my working life.

What I really have a passion for is animals and I want to do a veterinary nursing degree. I'm currently doing a HE diploma to try and meet the entry requirements for university and I have also been in discussions with some veterinary practices about work experience (I do have some already but that was around 10 years ago now so need to top up).

My worry is that if all went to plan, I probably wouldn't be looking at qualifying for at least 4/5 years at which point I'll be nearing my mid 30s and I just worry that I may have left it too long and that's providing nothing happens in the meantime that delays it, life being life, its always throwing curveballs.

What were your experiences like as a mature student? Sometimes I think I should just stay put in my current job and I talk myself out of it.

I started a nursing course at uni at 29..go for it, there are lots of years at work, and the more enjoyable, the better!

I didn't change careers, but I started a PhD at 28 and didn't graduate until I was 34/35 (did PhD in the U.S. where it's normal for it to take 6-10 years). I didn't have my first 'real' well paying salaried job until I was 35. I'm 39 now and have a very good and well paid job. It was very worth it. I also had 2 dc between 31 and 36. You have your whole life to work. You might as well do something you enjoy.

I started undergrad degree aged 29, great decision.
You need to think about full time / part time/ and whether you want to have kids as this can extend your training and at change your priorities.
And do calculate your projected income and costs over 10-20yrs in both scenarios to realise the full cost of your decision

Life is too short to be stuck doing something you don’t really enjoy any more, I went back to college last year at the age of 43 and should be qualified as an early years practitioner by the summer!

Ive loved the whole experience of college and placement. I’ve worked in retail management and also hospitality but I know working with children is what I’ve always wanted to do.

I've done it four times, the last time I went and did a medical degree at 45 (not to be a doctor) and have made a great career out of it.
There was a 60 year old in my year who did the degree and set up her own business and is still working 15 years later, very part time now but she hires associates who pay her 50% of their earnings.