The Careers Adviser: 'I'm not being tested; should I change course? And am I too old to become a psychologist?'

Turn and turn about

Q. I am in my second year of French and linguistics, but with no clue as to what I am going to do, and I'm not even sure whether I'm on the right course. I have already changed once, from mechanical engineering. I don't feel I am being challenged enough for the money I am investing. Should I change course again?

A. Humanities degrees (as opposed to engineering ones) tend to have fewer taught classes. Much more onus is put on self-directed learning. This suits some students more than others. So if you feel under-challenged, one possible answer is for you to challenge yourself more. Could you do more reading than the minimum required for assignments? Could you take other classes to broaden your knowledge? Many students do the minimum that is required.

But, while you have the time and leisure to take your learning as far as you want to take it (an opportunity that might not present itself again soon), you could stretch yourself. Set a target – say, to be able to read novels or serious newspapers in French without difficulty. Take on responsibilities outside your classes, or volunteer in the student union or the wider community. A part-time job might offset the financial burden, and you could use it to explore career options and develop skills that employers would value. Few students devote enough time to these activities.

If you change course again, giving this reason, an employer might wonder why you hadn't taken some of these steps to use your time more effectively. They might also wonder if the first change had been made with enough careful consideration of the type of course you were embarking on.

The shrink test

Q. I am 48, with a degree in physics, and have spent most of my career in IT. I would like to tackle something new. I am contemplating taking a graduate diploma in psychology as a conversion entry route into this subject. Will my age count against me? What are the prospects in this field?

The British Psychological Society (BPS), the professional association for chartered psychologists, says it doesn't have age limits for those it accepts as members. But it adds that (although many in the field abide by well-established equal opportunities policies, which should prevent discrimination on the grounds of age) competition to get into the postgraduate training courses is very tough, and the course is long (about three years, in addition to an undergraduate degree). You would need relevant experience and a lot of determination – as well as a very good degree.

But this is true for any applicant regardless of age. It might be worth contacting postgraduate courses to get an idea of the profile of successful applicants. There's information at www.bps.org.uk/careers. It would also be a good idea to talk informally to practitioners in the areas you're interested in. They would be able to give you a more realistic and up-to-date picture of the job, and you could see whether the realities of it match up to your expectations.

There is a big leap between not being fulfilled by your career in IT and deciding that psychology is the right step for you. It might be worth spending time thinking about what is lacking in your current role and what you are looking for from future career options. Then spend some time finding out if other options could satisfy some of your requirements.

Careers advisers: Anne-Marie Martin, director, and David Winter, C2 careers adviser, The Careers Group, University of London

Send your queries to Caroline Haydon at 'The Independent', Education Desk, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS; or fax 020-7005 2143; or email to chaydon @blueyonder.co.uk