Is a career in Psych an impossible dream after 30?

ash2008

Hi,

I'm a bit lost at the moment career wise, so would really appreciate some advice/opinions.

I have recently graduated with a degree in psych (I did it part-time while working full-time, but got a distinction - I didn't have any time left for volunteering tho ). I would love to go on to do neuropsychology, but im 33 now so I kind of feel like I've missed the boat on that one.

I'd been looking into other options, where I could maybe intertwine my love of the neuro side of things and was thinking of speech pathology. Having spoken to someone in the field however, I would need to do about 2 yrs of pre-requisites before applying to the course, the course then being a further 2yrs. So thats not exactly a short road either.

It got me thinking about whether I should just try for the neuropsych option. My question is if you get the research experience, the assistant psych experience, will you get in eventually...or do people spend years and years trying with no luck?
I know thats a hard question to answer, I just don't know what to do and feel that time is not on my side, esp if I want to start a family at some point (Im female). But im stuck in a career and job that makes me so miserable, I can't imagine being stuck in it for the rest of my working life

Faith

I'm not sure what you mean by 'neuropsychology'. Do you mean research, in a University or lab or some kind, or clinical neuropsychology, assessing and working directly with patients?

Either way, you're not too old at all, but they're both long enough roads. For research, you'd really need to do a PhD in an appropriate area. For clinical, it's a subspecialty of clinical psychology, so you'd need substantial experience as an assistant psychologist just to get on the DClinPsych, then take 3 years to do that, and then spend time specialising in neuro. People do spend years trying to get on clinical doctorates, but that's because they lack the experience and skills necessary (and often just haven't written their application in the way admissions are looking for).

Psychology is quite a forgiving career once you get your foot on the ladder, so in terms of having a family etc, it should be entirely possible to balance both.

innad

I don't know much about getting into neuropsychology, but it's an area I've always found very interesting. I would say, if it's what you want to do - go for it. Age shouldn't really come into it. I only realised a few years ago that I really want to work in research. I'm 31 and really only starting down that road, but there's nothing else I want to do.

Sorry that's not much help, but I'd say just go for it. Are there any specific courses/PhD programmes you've been looking at?

sam30

Hi there

regarding age, when you think about it you have about another 30 years left of work so defo not too late. As for neuropsychology, I am currently doing a post doctorate course neuropsych (2 years PT) and yes to specialize clinically in this area you will need a clinical psych doctorate first (there are plenty of threads here on how to to increase chances of getting onto that). If you want to be an academic neuropsychologist (i.e. not treat patients) you could do a Phd in the area. See here http://www.tcd.ie/Neuroscience/education/

Hope this helps, good luck!

DrWu

I went back to study psychology at 33 and it's the best thing I ever did. I now have an hons in psych and a post grad in forensic psych. Number one rule for mature students: Do what you want, what makes you happy. Do not compromise and don't settle for anything less. I could have followed a path to a 9-5 job in psychology after I graduated but did what I wanted to do instead and am so happy that I did. Life is short and psychology is far too much fun to settle for second best.

ash2008 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm a bit lost at the moment career wise, so would really appreciate some advice/opinions.

I have recently graduated with a degree in psych (I did it part-time while working full-time, but got a distinction - I didn't have any time left for volunteering tho ). I would love to go on to do neuropsychology, but im 33 now so I kind of feel like I've missed the boat on that one.

I'd been looking into other options, where I could maybe intertwine my love of the neuro side of things and was thinking of speech pathology. Having spoken to someone in the field however, I would need to do about 2 yrs of pre-requisites before applying to the course, the course then being a further 2yrs. So thats not exactly a short road either.

It got me thinking about whether I should just try for the neuropsych option. My question is if you get the research experience, the assistant psych experience, will you get in eventually...or do people spend years and years trying with no luck?
I know thats a hard question to answer, I just don't know what to do and feel that time is not on my side, esp if I want to start a family at some point (Im female). But im stuck in a career and job that makes me so miserable, I can't imagine being stuck in it for the rest of my working life

Grinchy88

DrWu wrote: »

I went back to study psychology at 33 and it's the best thing I ever did. I now have an hons in psych and a post grad in forensic psych. Number one rule for mature students: Do what you want, what makes you happy. Do not compromise and don't settle for anything less. I could have followed a path to a 9-5 job in psychology after I graduated but did what I wanted to do instead and am so happy that I did. Life is short and psychology is far too much fun to settle for second best.

I just finished my first year as a mature student. I'm doing psychology and i want to specialise in Forensic psychology but it doesn't look like there's much here. where did you do your postgrad?

whirlpool

I'm not saying that I'm correct in what I'm about to say, but it's just something I'm going to offer up, for whatever it's worth.

If you're doubting your dedication to the type of career you're talking about, for any reason at all, then it's probably not the career that's right for you and for your heart. I would especially very seriously take that into consideration given the amount of money, time and effort this career path would take out of you.

I'm 28 and I've known since I was 15 that psychology is the field I want to get into. I didn't get enough points in the Leaving to do it in college, and I also didn't feel mature enough to take on the workload at the time. My 20s took me down various different paths as I tried out different things to see what felt right for me. Nothing felt 100% right. In the past few years, my heart has come full circle right back to psychology. It is a career that is going to take me probably ten years to get into, and a huge amount of money and study. I can't afford it and I don't know how I'm going to find the money to do it. And I'm 28. So, at this rate, I could easily be in my mid 40s before I really get anywhere with it (SO DON'T LET YOUR AGE PUT YOU OFF!!) But I know that it is the field that's right for my heart - so all the doubts and all the obstacles (of which there are many) are not putting me off or making me have doubts. And this is coming from the most indecisive / uncertain person in the world regarding most other things. This is the one thing I know is right for me. I've never felt this way about anything else.

There are people who change their careers in their 40s / 50s / 60s and probably 70s too. So take that into account. Don't let your age put you off - you may have a lot to offer the world in this field, so why let age stand in the way of that? That'd be a shame.

But, also, if you are not 100% certain that this is the field your heart wants.... If you believe you would be put off by obstacles, either now or else a few years into the study, then I would really consider if maybe there is some alternative career out there that would make you much happier in the long run.

66dunaras

Hi OP, I certainly wouldn't let age put you off .... if you want to do psychology, then you should! I am on the clinical doctorate and at least half of my class are over 30, some with families. However, it is important to consider that you will need to get a number years of experience (often voluntary), and probably do a masters too before you will get on the clinical doctorate. Then after the doctorate comes the specialism. However, maybe you will find you enjoy the neuropsychological testing and working with older adults etc associated with clinical psychology and find this is enough to satisfy your interest in neuropsych. Good luck with whatever you decide !

DalaiAlma

sam30 wrote: »

As for neuropsychology, I am currently doing a post doctorate course neuropsych (2 years PT) and yes to specialize clinically in this area you will need a clinical psych doctorate first (there are plenty of threads here on how to to increase chances of getting onto that).

Just to add to this, educational psychology also provides a route into neuropsychology where you can specialise in paediatric neuropsychology.

irishguy1983

whirlpool wrote: »

I'm not saying that I'm correct in what I'm about to say, but it's just something I'm going to offer up, for whatever it's worth.

If you're doubting your dedication to the type of career you're talking about, for any reason at all, then it's probably not the career that's right for you and for your heart. I would especially very seriously take that into consideration given the amount of money, time and effort this career path would take out of you.

I'm 28 and I've known since I was 15 that psychology is the field I want to get into. I didn't get enough points in the Leaving to do it in college, and I also didn't feel mature enough to take on the workload at the time. My 20s took me down various different paths as I tried out different things to see what felt right for me. Nothing felt 100% right. In the past few years, my heart has come full circle right back to psychology. It is a career that is going to take me probably ten years to get into, and a huge amount of money and study. I can't afford it and I don't know how I'm going to find the money to do it. And I'm 28. So, at this rate, I could easily be in my mid 40s before I really get anywhere with it (SO DON'T LET YOUR AGE PUT YOU OFF!!) But I know that it is the field that's right for my heart - so all the doubts and all the obstacles (of which there are many) are not putting me off or making me have doubts. And this is coming from the most indecisive / uncertain person in the world regarding most other things. This is the one thing I know is right for me. I've never felt this way about anything else.

There are people who change their careers in their 40s / 50s / 60s and probably 70s too. So take that into account. Don't let your age put you off - you may have a lot to offer the world in this field, so why let age stand in the way of that? That'd be a shame.

But, also, if you are not 100% certain that this is the field your heart wants.... If you believe you would be put off by obstacles, either now or else a few years into the study, then I would really consider if maybe there is some alternative career out there that would make you much happier in the long run.

I'm all that too but I've let fear get the better of me

31 and I've given up on a dream unfortunately due to what you've outlined - good luck to you though

66dunaras

just to let you know that I saw that trinity are doing a neuropsych conference for students and early career psychologists interested in the area - it might be helpful!