Adult learners! How did you choose your degree/career?

pinkie_pie · 14 April 2014 at 3:57PM

I would love to return to study but am going in circles trying to decide what. In an ideal world it would have the potential to lead directly into a fantastic salaried career but it would appear no course I'm remotely interested in does.
I completed a level 5 course (which was a career change at the time) at uni and loved studying, however the career itself wasn't suited to my family so I returned to my previous job. I'd still love a full degree, and thinking on subjects that interested me at school and that I was remotely decent at... Religion, classics, possibly music. So not fantastic choices jobwise! I'd need to do my studying online, so have looked at OU plus a few brick unis offer courses (such as religion and theology at oxford Brooke's).

Does anyone have any words of wisdom, or just plain would like to share how they got where they are? Thanks!

sharnad · 14 April 2014 at 4:26PM

Do what you enjoy. Try to find something that you are good at but has a chance of benefitting you in the future. Pick a career you would be interested in and see if there are any degrees that would help you achieve success. If there are and you paid for a course would you stick it out.

DomRavioli · 14 April 2014 at 7:40PM

Hi OP,

I'm currently in equivalent 2nd year on a BA (Hons) Business with OU.

Have you spoken to the OU? They have a careers service for both current and prospective students - they will help you make a decision.

Also check out the national careers website, they have a whole pile of information on roles, salaries and how to become qualified.

Please also bear in mind that big wages usually come with one of 3 things - 1. Experience (you won't get it at Open Uni)
2. specialist knowledge - such as a Doctor, Barrister etc - takes a long time to get to the level where you're comfortable.
3. exceptional results - you'd need a first from what is known as a specialist uni, such as engineering from Loughborough.

pinkie_pie · 15 April 2014 at 8:14AM

Thank you for the replies.

I'm not expecting big wages at all my thinking is more - I currently work in the Early Years. I could do a degree in this area, which I already have qualifications and knowledge in, but it wouldn't qualify me for any better of a job than I currently have and barely a better wage being that it is a low paid area. So just bottom to middle salary is an improvement!

I worry that with government changes my future is uncertain in my current role - I'd like something to fall back on. And while I'd love to study religious studies or such as it interests me - does that provide much of a fall back? I don't fancy teaching so I'm guessing no?

Mrs_Ryan · 16 April 2014 at 12:17AM

I know someone who has a religious studies degree who is a librarian so Im guessing that its a case of its a degree so it might get you some sort of different job but not necessarily a high paid/high flying one. Im studying a for a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature with the OU - my back is borked from nursing so I've had to change my career path entirely. English has always been my strongest subject but I want to teach so I guess that it doesn't matter so much. However try looking into what sort of careers you could follow if you took that degree - you might be surprised. I previously did courses I didn't really have much interest in but I thought was the right thing, however I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying studying my degree and how I'm finding I can do it whereas before I struggled to comprehend so I struggled by on low marks but Im doing better with this. Its amazing what a difference doing something you really enjoy can make. Good luck

stephyt23 · 16 April 2014 at 3:21PM

Have you considered a degree in education or teaching? You could do a teaching degree with an Early Years specialism. You have already got plenty of experience in that area.

I'm currently coming to the end of my third year of 4 on a part time teaching degree with Edge Hill. It has allowed me to gain really good experience in school as I only attend uni one full day a week then work as a TA the other 4 days.

Even if teaching isn't for you an education degree can open up work in many different areas if you'd like to stay working with children. This guide has some good alternatives:

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/careers/assets/documents/Alternativestoteaching.pdf/

redmel1621 · 17 April 2014 at 7:06PM

Hi pinkie_pie

My main advice would be to do something you enjoy.

It can be a hard slog at times and if you are not enjoying the course it could be very, very easy to just give up.

Below is an extract from a Guardian article.. it shows there a wide range of career options available for graduates of Religious studies.

As our data shows, though, graduates move into a diverse range of occupations, particularly in development work, community-based roles, aspects of welfare, social care and counselling, plus local and central government policymaking and administrative departments.
"In the wider employment market, many commercial organisations welcome them in human resources, or general management roles," Holbrough says. "Equally, in the legal profession, broadcasting and journalism, library and information management, employers draw on their knowledge and expertise.

Taken from here: http://www.theguardian.com/money/2010/apr/10/theology-religious-studies-degree

You are obviously a caring kind of person, given that you work in the early years sector already, so something like community worker/social worker etc might be up your street :-)

Follow your heart xx

NoGoodNamesLeft · 26 April 2014 at 5:40PM

I volunteered first to get an idea of what I enjoyed. I'm now doing a degree in Conservation Science and really enjoying it.

I would say consider everything and don't discount a subject because you don't have experience in it. I hated biology at school and always thought I'd end up doing something related to English or similar, but it's completely different learning as an adult. I love science now and wouldn't want a career in any other area.

Why not try a few volunteer days doing completely random things? You might discover a new passion!

Adult learners! How did you choose your degree/career?

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