Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

To seriously doubt myself,and wander if I can really do this.e

20 replies

noitwasntme · 14/05/2010 12:49

I have never been very academic however im prepared to work hard to achieve my dreams, I have two young ds and have a real interest in Criminology and have done an online personality test which says I would be ideal for this.

It would involve a lot of work,and a career change im nearly 36, my only worry is im not clever enough, or is it more about been determined and believing in yourself.

OP posts:

5Foot5 · 14/05/2010 12:53

If you don't try now you will look back when you are 46 or 56 or whatever and think "Why didn't I do it then?"

Go for it.

Gracie123 · 14/05/2010 12:54

Toddlerama studied Law to a high level and did focus on criminology a bit.

If I remember correctly she said it's not so much about being clever, as it is about being able to read huge amounts of information, understand and remember it. It's all about having loads of time to read, so I guess it depends a lot on arrangements you can make for DS's as you won't have evenings and weekends free!

You should PM her about it. I'm sure she wouldn't mind (she isn't working atm as she has two young DCs too)

BritFish · 14/05/2010 12:56

DO IT. if you work hard at something you will be rewarded, and a career change can chnage your life! go for it. best of luck!

Gracie123 · 14/05/2010 12:57

Also, the reason she went Human rights and less criminology in the end was that she had to read some really horrific things that she says she will never, ever forget.

Unless you are the kind of person who can watch the most terrifying and disgusting movies ever made without flinching it's probably not a good career choice.

Also don't want to be leaving any of your assignments out for DCs to stumble across as they get older.

Original poster

noitwasntme · 14/05/2010 12:57

Thank you everyone, Its just what I needed to hear.

OP posts:

TidyBush · 14/05/2010 12:57

Yes, it is about believing in yourself - go for it!!

I left school at 16 with 2 'O' levels (grades C and D) and 3 CSEs .

I worked my way up in every job I've ever done and am now a CEO. But I always thought that I had never proved myself academically.

At 32 I got into university following an interview and studied English and Education part time whilst working. Six years later I graduated with first class honours

If you've got the passion for it you're half way there and IME mature students are far more motivated because they know what they want and put the work in to get there.

Yes, it's harder when you're older but once you've done qualfied no one can take that away from you.

do it, do it, do it

Gracie123 · 14/05/2010 12:58

Not trying to put a dampener on the idea - as others have said, if it's right for you, you should do it. Just make sure you go into with your eyes wide open to the reality of what you are getting into.

It's a lot of work, and pretty disturbing work.

You should definitely PM Toddlerama for a talk about it.

Original poster

noitwasntme · 14/05/2010 12:59

Gracie how do I that pm Toddlerama,thanks.

OP posts:

BritFish · 14/05/2010 13:05

DO IT. if you work hard at something you will be rewarded, and a career change can chnage your life! go for it. best of luck!

Gracie123 · 14/05/2010 13:06

Hmmmm.... not sure.

I'll ring and tell her to get on this thread.

Cartoose · 14/05/2010 13:06

A lot of the time, the key to studying challenging things is more about being organised. I remember reading Jack Welch's (former CEO of GE) book where he was taking about doing a science related PhD. He worked in a study/lab with 2 other people. He could clearly see that they were more intelligent/academic than he was, however, these 2 other people became sidetracked whenever their findings took them down an interesting path. Welch, on the other hand, just stuck at it with the end goal in view. He finished, while the other 2 didn't.

I know that's merely anecdotal. Just thought it might put you more at ease.

You sound very eloquent BTW (I hope that doesn't sound patronising, I really mean it). Go for it!

warthog · 14/05/2010 13:09

if you're really enthusiastic and focussed, and work hard you can do ANYTHING. don't beat yourself up.

some of the most brilliant brains in maths / physics had late starts in life and had low self-worth.

time to stop that.

get on with it and enjoy!

Original poster

noitwasntme · 14/05/2010 13:10

Thank you Cartoose for the compliment, and thanks to you to Gracie greatly appreciated.

OP posts:

EveWasFramed · 14/05/2010 13:12

Do it!! I am 37, and am getting my MA degree after a long time out of school, and not the best marks in the whole world...I'm not very academic, either, but I love what I'm studying, so though I have to work hard, I enjoy the work.

You will only regret it if you don't, and I'll tell you what...I am bloody proud of myself for doing it...it's a real confidence booster, and that's made a difference in my family life.

Original poster

noitwasntme · 14/05/2010 13:18

Good on you Evewasframed thats great I bet your family are proud of you to. This is all so positive thank you everyone.

OP posts:

EveWasFramed · 14/05/2010 13:33

Thank you...I hope it helps! If you really love it, then you should definitely look into it. Good luck...I hope you'll keep us posted!

toddlerama · 14/05/2010 14:52

I would recommend finding out what the course texts are and checking a couple out of the library. There is a lot more to criminology than crime (if that makes sense!). Lots of psychology, social theory, history, jurisprudence. If these are your things, then you may well love it. I found it fascinating and challenging. Be prepared to have your mind changed on a lot of things though - you just don't feel the same moral outrage anymore when you read about anything after you know the back stories of everyone involved. Right and wrong cease to be quite so clear. Also, as Gracie pointed out, reading the details of what was done to a child's body to try and understand the motives of a murder can be very harrowing. I found it to be a subject I was particularly good at, but couldn't stomach basing a career on. Was glad and sad to move on to other specialisms IYSWIM.

If your reticence is because you think you are too old, knock that on the head right away. You are nothing like too old! Studying it will be fine at any age and at 36 you are certainly not too old to change career. Can be hard to find job roles which really use the course content though, so you may find that you have to compromise your passion for it as a subject when it comes to getting paid for it...unless of course you become an academic!

Gracie123 · 15/05/2010 17:17

Wow Toddler - you are a thread killer.

uh oh, does this make me the thread killer?

Ihatenicknames · 15/05/2010 18:59

I don't think you are too old and agree that you should follow your dreams but I think you need to consider what a degree in criminology will lead to in terms of jobs. I had a friend who completed a degree in forensic science in her thirties but couldn't find any jobs in that field.

BlueCupcake · 31/10/2010 10:37

I know this is an old thread but was wondering if noitwasntme took up criminology?I've always wanted to be one myself but never followed through...

Flip