To think it's not too late to make something of myself?

[Ponderingbetter]

I'm 28 with three young children, one of which is disabled but will be starting school full time this September. I dropped out of school before doing any GCSE's and didn't pursue any further education in the following years as to be honest my life was chaos, DV etc.. so I have no qualifications whatsoever.

I've had several jobs over the years but all are minimum wage or close to it. Retail, cleaning etc.

Recently I can't shake this urge I have to want to do better for my children, I want more from life than to be living from payday to payday and scraping by.

My dream, for as long as I can remember, has been to get into forensic psychology.

I've been looking into the open university today and talking to my friend who has just graduated in her mid 30's, I'm feeling really inspired.

AIBU to think maybe it's not too late, or is it a pipe dream at this stage?

I agree with this. I did psychology as an A Level and even at that time we were told many people like the sound of forensic psychology but the jobs are absolutely minimal. Worse than you'd expect. I think for the stuff you see on TV my professor said there were 2 or 3 UK experts that are used for big cases but that's it.

You are only a youngster in terms of life and mature student status. Some people start at a degree at the age of 78, never mind 28.You have a lifetime before you if you want to study and achieve something for yourself.

Incidentally I know a man who left school at 16 and went to university at 28 as a full-time mature student and had a successful career, ending up as a distinguished hospital consultant in his specialty. Success can be at any stage of life.

It's not too late but I would suggest you do A-levels first. Yes you can get into some universities without them but you will find it impossible at uni if you don't have study skills and the ability to pass exams.

A-levels are especially important if you want to take a science-related subject.

"Access" courses in my experience are not of the same standard. I say that because two of my friends got onto engineering degrees through that pathway and both dropped out in the first year.

I echo those saying do an access to higher education course at FE college. I did full time one over one year (school term time and within school hours, infact a friend I made there had her little one in onsite creche for free) my three were older so in school. If that's not manageable they usually do a part time version over two years. I went to uni in my 40s for NHS HCP degree so you have plenty of time😉there is careers advise available whilst doing the course.

@Paulineski I did access to health and got a first class Bsc🤷

Of course its not too late!!
You will need GCSEs or equivalents, but your local college should absolutely offer these, or if you sign up for the like an access course or the OU they will likely offer them to you.
My mum was with the OU and due to low income she got a grant so she could buy a laptop which really helped her.
Get out there and aim for the stars!!

You sound amazing, go for it.

Good for you. One of my aforementioned friends did up getting a Bsc but at a different, less highly-ranked university, and not in engineering. (There are degrees and there are degrees!)

I'm pleased to see that the majority of people voted that YANBU... I'm almost a decade older than you and currently halfway through an OU degree in psychology in order to try and have a fulfilling career.

Honestly, I could've written your OP.

I am inspired by your determination!
Following for tips 😊

Go for it OP! We are all behind you!

Go for it. Relation got pregnant as a young teen. She later did an access course and got place on nursing degree. She has graduated and doing so well

Looking at OU they don't require formal qualifications to start their BSc Forensic Science degree, they recommended access course if you haven't studied.

What do you see yourself doing as a a forensic psychologist? I work at a university that offers an MSc in this and most people who do it do some work experience in the prison/probation service and that's what they want to go into, would that interest you?

Absolutely go for it, OP. Maybe wait until how you find your DC are getting on at school, but no - it’s not too late - and good on you for wanting more.

My DSis is now a nurse having done a nursing degree in her late twenties as well as some maths courses. She was a teenage single Mum.

It can be very hard, and good childcare and trusted family support are a huge help, but you can definitely do it.

It's not too late at all, at 28 you're still young!! One thing I would say though is that combining work, studying and three young DC will require a lot of planning and you need to have a support network around you.

You're never too old to go back into education I completed my degree in Social work at the age of 29.

All adult learners on my degree completed an access course at college. You complete modules relating to the access course choosen (eg - health, social work, humanities and social sciences, teaching) you also completed maths and science at a level accepted to get into University.

Access courses are very full on but are aimed at mature student 19+ and you are well supported. You will receive funding and the cost of the access course is also wiped if you get a place at university.

Your age is not a problem, you've got another 40 years in your working life. I would personally do the GCSEs and A-levels, they open up more doors and they give you a chance to figure out if a degree is something you can and really want to do.

What kind of person votes YABU on a thread like this?!

You’ve got one life, OP, and what sounds like a ton of motivation and enthusiasm. So go for it. You likely won’t regret doing it - you likely will regret not doing it.

Even if you end up taking a different route or landing in a different career, it doesn’t matter. Just take the first step.

It's never too late and you're still so young. If you've found something you want to do then go for it.

I used to be a university admissions tutor. It's often possible to get a place on a degree programme as a mature student without the standard admissions requirements that are offered to school leavers. If you don't have GCSE maths and English, there are tests many universities can ask you to take in order to demonstrate competence for a degree course. The OU does not have any entry requirements for the subject you wish to study, and offer guidance before you begin the programme, which would be the access course you mention.

I often used to find mature students did particularly well because they had the motivation to succeed. You go for it -- enjoy your course! I wish you every success!

The rules are that if your GCSE's are more than 10 years old then you need to redo them for at least English and Maths. I completed a degree in Psychology at the age of 47 and now I'm looking for work. But there are no ways of entering psychology roles at my age it seems.

I'd definitely rethink the psychology. All of the psychology graduates that were on my foundation year are struggling to find work of good remuneration. However a degree is an excellent idea. I did mine in environmental health and walked into a well paid role. Plenty of people started with minimal qualifications by doing a foundation year.

I’ve got nothing to add except my wholehearted best wishes for you. Go for it!

You have plenty of time to go back to
school and get a degree, but I would probably spend a good deal of time researching forensic psychology. I think many would be educated to the master’s/PhD level, so that’s the level your competition for jobs would be at.

I would broaden your horizons and look at other career paths that may interest you. I would look at careers in higher paying sectors, could you get on a STEM course? At your age, you want to enter a field that pays relatively well right off the bat, to either start earning for your three kids right away, or start paying student debt off.