Ive decided to return to studies whilst working, which will be full on,. Question is do you think someone like myself with no science skills can switch to Marine science from a arts degree and not fail? Should I not bother if ive always stayed away from science and maths. Has anyone else done major career changes later in life?

Go for it!!! I did a post grad in business whilst working full time and having child number one arrive 3 weeks after I started... Wasn't easy!

I also say go for it. The reason you are thinking about it, is as a waterlady you know you'd love it, right? It easier to pass if you have a passion and can see why you're doing it.

Trouble with science degrees is they will all require you to do Chem100, Physics100, Biology100 and Math100 (or maybe 2-3 out of the 4) as they require some amount of foundation in general science and maths knowledge. When I did science at UWA many years ago pretty much everyone did those units in 1st year, regardless of their chosen major. EG; lots of complaints from say, Human Movement students who were destined to work in sports industry, about they had to do physics or chem.
But if you can hack yr12 science / maths you'll be right.

I went from hospitality to tech late in life, best decision ever, haven't looked back since, only regret I didn't do it sooner. I wasn't particularly bright in my chosen field but what I did have was drive and a HUGE desire to succeed. I think if you want something bad enough you can achieve it.

Do it and don't look back. Plenty people as the old saying goes will lie on their deathbed regretting things they wanted to do but never did. My mates a tradie at 27, never finished yr12 (or something along that lines), was blasted by the old man to keep at his trade but decided to move back home (mum supported him) and head back to uni to pursue his dream career. Chances are it will take longer for him but he said thats where his dreams lie and why not. You've got a good 40 odd years of your career essentially before you retire, do you really want to spend it hating waking up in the morning? They say find your dream job and you will not work a day of your life.

I attempted to study marine science at Murdoch many years ago, I was too interested in girls and beer.

I failed chem twice, enviro science twice, passed a couple of units and passed a sup exam for stats math.

My point.....if you want to study, you will do well. Uni isnt all about brains, its about drive and motivation.

At my age back then (18), I had neither.

5 years later, i kicked ass at Curtin at Commerce. Dont be afraid to give it a crack. Go get them!

Got a carpentry/joinery apprenticeship at 15, qualified at 18 and subbied for a a short time before starting my own business. It lasted 14yrs before I decided to go back to school at 32 to do a dip. in building design. Spent 2 years travelling/staying 2-3 nights in Geelong (3hrs one-way) whilst wife worked and raised our 2 kids on her own through the week. Sold all of my machinery and tools to fund the diploma. Best decision we ever made. Don't make a huge income but work in a job that pushes me every day.

Think carefully about what sort of job you want in the end and whether there are jobs and funding there ....

I studied a 4 year BSc in molecular biology and biomedical science and worked as a research assistant in medical research for a year. Then I did a 4 year PhD in cancer research.. Now after a 3 year postdoctoral fellowship, I haven't been able to secure any more research funding to continue working in this career so I'm out and going to have to side step into something else. This is after around 10 years of university work and study... All because the current success rate of competitive grants sits at around 15%.. And to make matters worse the government keeps cutting funding for mid-career researchers making it next to impossible for people to continue a viable career in research.

Marine science sounds like a fun job right? Who wouldn't want to dive heaps and research the marine environment? The fact is, there are very few jobs in that sector (graduates far outnumber jobs available) and not much research funding available...

Not trying to be a kill-joy. I think it's really awesome you are excited to go to uni :) Just be very careful about what you see yourself doing in the future and what revenue is available for the chosen profession. The very BEST advice I could give you is go find people who are working in the profession you want to get into and discuss the current level of funding in that sector and what the job market is like.. Talk to at least 5 people of varying levels and you should get a reasonable picture of where things stand.

Good luck!

Doing a degree doesn't guarantee you a job / career, Uni and tertiary education is a business and 'selling a dream' and if you want to pursue that dream then go for it, be passionate about it and you will succeed, do it for the wrong reason and you won't.

hi kat
imo some pretty spot on responses in the posts above.
re: a career in research - as antisense said, it certainly sounds like high stress trying to get funding from all the people i know in various fields as well, and it doesn't always sound fair or just in terms of who gets their share of the pie - but hopefully your eventual field hits a period of high interest and some funds come online. sounds like you have all the rigght ideals in mind for long term interest and enjoyment/fulfillment. kudos!

just wanted to share story of a close friend of mine as well - she didnt finish high school and worked for 8 years or so after dropping out for personal reasons. decided she was really interested in health and nutrition - got into uni with some bridging and tests, finished with first class honours all while doubting whether she was good enough to be there, did volunteer work at a clinical research group, and when they asked her to do her honours through the same medical group she jumped over into an even more prestigious uni. now is half way through her phd and is the hardest working student i have ever seen, always going above and beyond because she loves it, but also able to relate to people because she has gone out and worked and is not overwhelmed by real life situations... in 1.5 years she will technically be a "doctor" but i think will still be that unassuming person who loves studying and learning for its own sake and will still be pinching herself that "real doctors" value her opinions on her field of expertise. mature, committed learners are the best kind of students i reckon.

go for it - live and breathe it - give it your all! (but save a bit in the tank for wind and waves )


ps. +1 to underoaths story too - hard working (18 year old) male student is an oxymoron from lots of fun experience

There are soany euros in oz studying marine science. I play on a sports team (2teams) made up almost entirely of marine biology students. A lot of them from overseas. All post graduate. Most still studying as you need a PhD to get half the average paying jobs. (A few employed). You may need to move. Plenty of snorkel guides and dive boat staff with a superfluous marine science degree. Serious its pretty bad. You could do something in a non research marine industry. Pearls, aquaculture, driving, diving, support. Not all need degrees. Or nursing, guaranteed job, lots of downtime after shifts.

Yes, it's way too late to go into research, unless you already have connections/experience in that area.

As far as uni and career change goes, definitely not too late.

Gizmo said..
Doing a degree doesn't guarantee you a job / career, Uni and tertiary education is a business and 'selling a dream' and if you want to pursue that dream then go for it, be passionate about it and you will succeed, do it for the wrong reason and you won't.

+1. Completing a degree just means you can learn of your own volition. Most grads are lucky to be able to walk around without bumping into things.
maybe that's from all the parties and all that entails (my minds a bit fuzzy for the first 1.5) years on Uni.
All the best. The brain is amazing. Mine still works after all the abuse of Uni and 17 years in IT.

myusernam said..
Teaching and nursing guarantee u a job. Marine biology would have to have one of the worst conversion rates IMHO.

And even then from talking to a lot of people in the teaching industry, this isn't exactly the case anymore.

Currently doing Marine Science, almost finished. If you are looking at doing it to get a secure career, forget it. It's one of the most interesting degrees you can do, and if you are even half motivated, you will excel.. it's not hard stuff to learn. Do it for a degree if you wish, but don't expect to get well paying career out of it (unless you get lucky!!)

Cheers

after working in construction and mining fifo jobs (still do) for the last 14 years and with no formal trade or degree i decided to have a crack at a degree, i started last year two days before my 32nd birthday. although ive been in construction for so long my career is boring and never something i considered myself doing long term although it has turned into that. I want to go home and be closer to my wife and kids, but my only career ive had to date doesn't give me an option to do that work back home. so i enrolled in a construction management degree and am now 1.5 years into it and have passed everything so far - including all the algebra and physics exams so far (not bad for a high school drop-out who never attended maths...or any classes to be honest.

Im realistic about the study loads im taking on, my RnR breaks i do next to no study as that is my family time. Im only doing 4 subjects a year by distance and it will take me approx 7 rs to complete my studies - but i will get there, my drive is to get home and away from fifo work. i have absolutely zero intention on becoming a construction manager, but after looking at engineering degrees and the CM degree, the CM degree offered me more options to go back home and still be successful enough to find that work life balance. I have an interest in running a contracts consultancy business, who knows if that's possible but im sure i will be ok.

so definitely do it but be realistic. good luck.