Is it worth going back to college to study science?

I have a serious interest in science (many fields, but mostly chemistry with a bit of physics), and I'd love to study it. At the moment, I'm working full-time and I have a 2.1 degree in computer science and software engineering but - like so many Irish students - I went to college at 17 without knowing what I really wanted to do.

In fact, I don't have any science subject on my Leaving Cert; my love for it has only blossomed over the past few years. Just recently turned 23.

Can any professional chemists (and/or physicists) comment on whether it's worth the effort of studying part-time (I was looking at the Open University) to try and realise this ambition? Have I missed my chance for this particular field?

I know it's completely unlikely, but is there any way to use my degree to academically drift into the hard sciences?

Morbert

The country is hinging on a smart economy, so it can never hurt to pick up a qualification in science. Academia can be rough though (I'm a PhD student).

I wonder if you would have to bother going through an entire degree though. You should look at something like a HDip conversion course, like the one offered in NUI Maynooth. Or a Masters in Computational Physics.

I briefly looked at conversion courses but I can't find any for the subjects in question. I wouldn't mind doing a degree, I'm mostly concerned about the cost and the time it would take.

Thanks a lot for your input.

username123

You should definitely do it!

Ive been doing a distance learning degree in Philosophy (not OU but similar) part time for the past 2 years. Ive actually been at quite a slow pace, I could have done more but I didnt want to put myself under too much pressure. Anyway, Id thought about it for years before I took the plunge (Ive also got a primary degree and a post grad in science subjects). Now Im sorry I didnt start it years ago - its fun, its not too costly (if you doing it at a relatively slow pace its not too expensive), and its a brilliant sense of achievement to do and pass exams after so long away from academia! Youve nothing to lose by doing it - go for it!

Agent_99

I hope so! Started my Science degree last September specializing in Food and health at the ripe old age of 42. Mainly chemistry based with Microbial technology as well and I love it!

FISMA

Deleted User wrote: »

Can any professional chemists (and/or physicists) comment on whether it's worth the effort of studying part-time ...

23... That's young!

You still have a lot of time ahead of you.

Someday you will be 30. Do you want to 30 with a degree or without one?
Someday you will be 40. Do you want to 40 with a degree or without one?
Someday you will be 50. Do you want to 50 with a degree or without one?
Someday...

Get the picture?

If/when you return to school, you will probably find out that those kids in college often have no clue how to study and maximize their time.

Also, I believe the US is, in many instances, heading for a lost decade (housing, jobs,...). I cannot believe Ireland is far off. Now is a great time to be in school.

Do it.

Professor_Fink

Deleted User wrote: »

I know it's completely unlikely, but is there any way to use my degree to academically drift into the hard sciences?

It would be hard work, but one route would be to look at doing a masters (either taught or research) is computational science/numerical modeling, which would probably enable you to slide into theoretical chemistry. If you are more experimentally inclined (as most chemists are) then really I would think that you should be looking at a BSc first, as you are unlikely to gain lab experience in any other way.

j4vier

in terms of if it's worth the effort, depends on what do you want to achieve.

If you mean satisfaction,self fulfillment, then ye I think it's worth it, because (i can only speak for chemistry) it is an interesting subject ,very hands on and you can understand how stuff works.

If you mean job prospects, which I think now that should come before anything else, think twice.
As a graduate the career opportunities as quite limited, things might get interesting only at a phd level.

In your shoes, I'd probably try to combine the 2 subjects into computational science as mentioned, I've seen many positions in this area, every year for example Novartis in switzerland offers internships for computational chemists.

I certainly wouldn't get a degree in science based on the smart economy concept , which means using technology to create products attrative to a market, that will be very hard in science since ireland has a limited r&d ability in comparison to other countries, but in I.T. you don't need as many resources to create new products

It's really for self-fulfilment as I'm a knowledge junkie, and chemistry has really caught my eye as that 'one thing' that gets a person up in the morning. I'd love to earn a PhD someday and perhaps get into research.

Does anyone know where in Ireland I could slide into computational science and get some lab experience at the same time? Wouldn't mind doing a masters. I've checked out DCU, UCD and Trinity, and I'm attempting to contact them to see if any courses are relevant or if any professors would be interested in chatting to me about it.

Morbert

Deleted User wrote: »

It's really for self-fulfilment as I'm a knowledge junkie, and chemistry has really caught my eye as that 'one thing' that gets a person up in the morning. I'd love to earn a PhD someday and perhaps get into research.

Does anyone know where in Ireland I could slide into computational science and get some lab experience at the same time? Wouldn't mind doing a masters. I've checked out DCU, UCD and Trinity, and I'm attempting to contact them to see if any courses are relevant or if any professors would be interested in chatting to me about it.

UCC do a taught masters in mathematical modelling with computers. It can lead into a PhD in their Tyndall research institute which has a lot of chemists and physicists.

DickBunce

I would think so. In our current climate a science background can only be a catalyst for you further education.