is it too late to start college for a new career?

jess3012 · Mar 10th, 2012, 05:11 AM

Hi so im 25 and ive finally decided what i want to do work wise! I'm wanting to become a social worker, the problem is i have no qualifications apart from my high school grades which are no higher than a d (highest grade i could get with the papers i had!).
Is it obtainable? or am i too old to go back into education?
where do i start course wise?
Any advice would be great

kristel10589 · Mar 10th, 2012, 07:42 AM

You're never too old! If you want to do it you will! Have a look at the courses that open university have to offer, there's other places like ics that offer courses too, you may have to start with a foundation course and work up from there or perhaps retake a few gcse's but in the long run it'll defo be worth it. Good luck

tardiz · Mar 10th, 2012, 09:50 AM

My friends mum is a social worker and she was a lot older than you when she started studying for it. Good luck and enjoy xxx

jess3012 · Mar 10th, 2012, 12:14 PM

do i need to go to collage first or can i jump straight to the open university?

kristel10589 · Mar 10th, 2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jess3012

do i need to go to collage first or can i jump straight to the open university?

You can jump straight into the open university. You might need to start with an entry level course first. Depending on your circumstances you may get government funding too.

jess3012 · Mar 10th, 2012, 13:19 PM

thanks ive just requested a brochure from the OU, so im looking for therye entry level course first then?

Think i need to go to a careers adviser! im sure it would sink in better if i could talk face to face with someone!

KatieKitty · Mar 11th, 2012, 18:02 PM

You could do an access course in college this is what I did you should also get it for free since you have no prior qualifications like I did this course is also for older students. Then go onto OU, whichever is easier for you. I did two years of uni found out I was pregnant so I'm finishing my degree with OU in september :]

jess3012 · Mar 12th, 2012, 02:34 AM

what you studying katie?

nugget80 · Mar 13th, 2012, 08:05 AM

Ou will not do a social work degree. You can do a relevant honours degree with ou but would then need to do full time masters at uni. I was gonna do this but opted for teacher training now I have my degree. Ou does not require previous qualifications to study but you will want to start with level one courses. Other way to do it is an access course then 3 year social work degree full time at uni. You should get student loans if at uni and if at ou may qualify for funding. I was a single mum on low wage doing my degree and only had to pay a couple of top up fees when I went over max limit and was piggy backing courses! Good luck!

holly2234 · Mar 15th, 2012, 15:31 PM

Youre never too old! Im doing a GCSE maths course at college (Im 19 and didnt pass at school) and there are people anywhere between 16 and 40 in that class. Lots of them are parents or have other commitments so they are very flexible to everybodies needs.

Not sure what you need to do where the OU is concerned but Connexions helps adults out now so they might be worth a try.

Mar 10th, 2012, 05:11 AM	#1
jess3012 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sheffield Posts: 2,472	is it too late to start college for a new career? Hi so im 25 and ive finally decided what i want to do work wise! I'm wanting to become a social worker, the problem is i have no qualifications apart from my high school grades which are no higher than a d (highest grade i could get with the papers i had!). Is it obtainable? or am i too old to go back into education? where do i start course wise? Any advice would be great

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Mar 10th, 2012, 07:42 AM	#2
kristel10589 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hampshire Posts: 683	You're never too old! If you want to do it you will! Have a look at the courses that open university have to offer, there's other places like ics that offer courses too, you may have to start with a foundation course and work up from there or perhaps retake a few gcse's but in the long run it'll defo be worth it. Good luck

Status: Offline

Mar 10th, 2012, 09:50 AM	#3
tardiz Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Berkshire Posts: 765	My friends mum is a social worker and she was a lot older than you when she started studying for it. Good luck and enjoy xxx

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Mar 10th, 2012, 12:14 PM	#4
jess3012 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sheffield Posts: 2,472	do i need to go to collage first or can i jump straight to the open university?

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Mar 10th, 2012, 13:19 PM	#6
jess3012 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sheffield Posts: 2,472	thanks ive just requested a brochure from the OU, so im looking for therye entry level course first then? Think i need to go to a careers adviser! im sure it would sink in better if i could talk face to face with someone!

Status: Offline

Mar 11th, 2012, 18:02 PM	#7
KatieKitty Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Carlisle,England Posts: 569	You could do an access course in college this is what I did you should also get it for free since you have no prior qualifications like I did this course is also for older students. Then go onto OU, whichever is easier for you. I did two years of uni found out I was pregnant so I'm finishing my degree with OU in september :]

Status: Offline

Mar 12th, 2012, 02:34 AM	#8
jess3012 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sheffield Posts: 2,472	what you studying katie?

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Mar 13th, 2012, 08:05 AM	#9
nugget80 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: hertfordshire Posts: 1,801	Ou will not do a social work degree. You can do a relevant honours degree with ou but would then need to do full time masters at uni. I was gonna do this but opted for teacher training now I have my degree. Ou does not require previous qualifications to study but you will want to start with level one courses. Other way to do it is an access course then 3 year social work degree full time at uni. You should get student loans if at uni and if at ou may qualify for funding. I was a single mum on low wage doing my degree and only had to pay a couple of top up fees when I went over max limit and was piggy backing courses! Good luck!

Status: Offline

Mar 15th, 2012, 15:31 PM	#10
holly2234 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New York Posts: 5,604	Youre never too old! Im doing a GCSE maths course at college (Im 19 and didnt pass at school) and there are people anywhere between 16 and 40 in that class. Lots of them are parents or have other commitments so they are very flexible to everybodies needs. Not sure what you need to do where the OU is concerned but Connexions helps adults out now so they might be worth a try.

Status: Offline

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