After deciding on a complete career change, I recently applied for a number of Masters courses, with the aim of preparing myself for a PhD.

A bit of background: I finished my Biology BSc in 2003. I decided I needed a break from education and wanted a career involving writing, so I worked in marketing and PR for five years before realising I had made a dreadful mistake. I left PR, took an admin job instead and began applying for courses while saving up.

Just had my first rejection letter and it's really knocked my confidence. I'm concerned that six years away may be too much, and it may be too late for me to return to a scientific research career. I also only got a 2:2 for my BSc which isn't helping matters. I've been writing a science blog and have regularly attended public debates and lectures but I'm worried this won't be enough to prove my commitment, and I won't be able to convince admissions staff that the career change wasn't a decision I took lightly.

Is there *any* way back into science for me? I can't see myself being happy with any other career and wish I'd realised this earlier.

Hey, you're in a very similar situation to me. I graduated with a pretty shoddy MPhys in Computational Physics in 2000 spent 8 years in radio engineering before taking an MSc in the 08/09 year. Before applying I had also taken and done well in an Open University undergraduate and postgraduate module, my professional record was very strong and I also had a strong portfolio of independent activity including high profile blogging and public speaking.

It was certainly a good move and I have secured PhD funding for the next four years at a doctoral training centre - so yes, there is certainly a way back into science!

Don't let one rejection put you off. If it doesn't work out - try and get some decent feedback on why, find out where the weak points in your application were and before reapplying next year take a relevant OU module. That will show commitment to studying.

Thanks clv101. Unfortunately my CV isn't too great either: I've done PR for lots of high-profile clients but often on short contracts, and I never really found a PR firm that felt right for me. I realise now this is because I was in the wrong career...

It looks like a couple of the OU's course may be suitable for me, thanks for the tip. Is it possible to study individual modules of an MSc?

I'll keep working on the blogging and try to stay optimistic, cheers!

Have you considered applying abroad? I'm just about to apply to www.gradschool.com.au - australian online masters - part of university of newcastle - they have good science dept. and are v good at online - would that be an easier way back in? also - if you're in uk the dollar's low against the pound right now

one of my friend applied for the Uni after roughly to say 15-20- years, complited his masters and does his Phd. everything possible, never give up

Hey! Its never to late! I think you just have to perservere with the Masters applications and you will be ok.
I applied for an MRes a few years ago and got into it no problem with my 2.2 and then subsequently into a PhD after a few interviews. I would imagine that changing your career now only makes you look more committed rather than just doing it for the sake of it. Try and get some work experinece as well as lab life is not for everyone! Plus if you are looking for a stable career job then you will not find it in academia.Good luck!

Yes it is. Technically you register for the whole thing, but since you sign up for and take a module at a time you can do as little or as much of an OU Masters as you want to.

It might be worthwhile just checking that the places you are applying for are in an area you are particularly interested in. My area is education, and my qualifications are in science, but I had completed a cert ed to teach adults before I applied. as for leaving it too late. There are many more years between my courses, in fact I only got back into it because I was teaching adults, and you had to take a city and guilds course, then i thought I might as well do the cert. ed. ... and then I did the MA and now I'm researching into an area that includes both science and education. If you have a particular leaning towards a particular aspect of science - cos there is  a lot of it isn't there -, have a look at the info about the lecturers on the course and see if they are interested in the same area, then you could try sending them an e-mail and tell them you are interested and why, and what you want to do with your MSc even. The OU might be a good idea if you can find a suitable course to brush up your knowledge in your chosen field.