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Anyone gone to University fulltime as a mature student?
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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As someone who works in education I'm sure you'll be fine. Is is the workload/social aspect or all that currently worries you? Perhaps can answer to allay (or enhance lol) some fear?  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I went back to college age 29 in 2009. I started off feeling out of place but made friends with everyone and really excelled. You should just get in there and do your best, the rest will take shape. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Yes, I'm about to enter my final year as an undergrad. Don't worry. It'll take some adjustment, but it's nothing too overwhelming. Good luck, and just enjoy it. |
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"As someone who works in education I'm sure you'll be fine. Is is the workload/social aspect or all that currently worries you? Perhaps can answer to allay (or enhance lol) some fear? "
Just the general 'going to Uni'! 
At nearly 50, full-time education for the Access to HE course was a shock to the system, let alone a degree! |
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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago
Over the rainbow, under the bridge |
"Err...what's it like?
I start in September and I'm kind of bricking it!"
I did it as a single parent way back in the early 90s. I felt overwhelmed at first, and genuinely considered quitting. But glad I stuck it out as I ended up loving it.
If I came into a wad of cash I'd go back and take another course. |
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Money's not such an issue, Mrs JFL has a very good job and I earn enough from photography still to pay for our 'luxuries'.
And I can get money from Student Finance this year which I couldn't when I was doing the Access course.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If it's like Scotland you are likely to find the workload smaller at uni than access courses. Work out a study plan, set your own deadlines within submission times as many papers may be due at once. We're not overly keen on deadline excuses, never in your working life will you be given such a long time to complete a task.
Remember read, read & read but you're not expected to go through everything, that's impossible. Learn your institutions referencing preferences.
For the money worries poster. Ask your student services advisors about any financial support. It's simply, you don't ask, you don't get. Most tutors will be sympathetic to you having to work and study. Perhaps more so in England where it's unfortunately costing a fortune.
Whilst every is likely be dominated by school leavers, there will be an age mix. Admissions criteria virtually dictates it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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There may well be a mature student group or liaison to act as a support resource for you. Make good use of your personal tutor and don't be too alarmed, your first year is all about getting everyone onto the same level. Try to get to some of the social events or go for lunch with coursemates. It takes a little effort but getting involved helps you to settle.
I count as a mature student as I was 21 (the usual age of graduation) at the start of my course. Don't act it though |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I did,half of me loved it and half of me hated it, purely because it was so poorly organised that I was amazed any of us got through it
Good luck for September I'm sure you'll have a great time |
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"If it's like Scotland you are likely to find the workload smaller at uni than access courses. Work out a study plan, set your own deadlines within submission times as many papers may be due at once. We're not overly keen on deadline excuses, never in your working life will you be given such a long time to complete a task.
Remember read, read & read but you're not expected to go through everything, that's impossible. Learn your institutions referencing preferences.
For the money worries poster. Ask your student services advisors about any financial support. It's simply, you don't ask, you don't get. Most tutors will be sympathetic to you having to work and study. Perhaps more so in England where it's unfortunately costing a fortune.
Whilst every is likely be dominated by school leavers, there will be an age mix. Admissions criteria virtually dictates it. "
The Access workload was fairly insane (hardest year of my life, having previously been molly-coddled in IT and photography).
I've already found out that Access undergraduates get £1000/yr scholarship, so that's a new PC paid for in September
Study plans and referencing I'm au fait with, as well as writing structured assignments, as they were covered on Access; so at least I'll have a slight head start over the A Level students there. |
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"I did,half of me loved it and half of me hated it, purely because it was so poorly organised that I was amazed any of us got through it
Good luck for September I'm sure you'll have a great time "
Thank you |
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By *bi HaiveMan
over a year ago
Forum Mod Cheeseville, Somerset |
I'm 25 and going back to college doing a complete career change, with people 10 years younger than me!  that's my worry - I know I'll be fine with the workload - i just don't want to be the 'old one' of the group |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'm a mature student and it may depend on the Uni but mine's been great. I did an access course first too. We have a very diverse group of students, including lots of 'oldies'. I almost don't want to graduate and start working lol |
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Im a student and not 18. It is different but if youre a good laugh, able to concentrate and easy to get on with, then it should be fine. I cant cope with all the fancy a fuck messages the lads send me, let alone demands to get down my throat, so come on fab for respite. |
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By *bi HaiveMan
over a year ago
Forum Mod Cheeseville, Somerset |
"Carry some extra change so when the big kids bully you and steal your lunch money you still have enough in your secret stash to buy a Snickers..."
Good advice!!
Oh - and as we're talking about 'mature' students - snickers are what they used to call 'marathons' !  
A |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Carry some extra change so when the big kids bully you and steal your lunch money you still have enough in your secret stash to buy a Snickers...
Good advice!!
Oh - and as we're talking about 'mature' students - snickers are what they used to call 'marathons' !
A"
They were indeed. I used to prefer Texans myself. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm 25 and going back to college doing a complete career change, with people 10 years younger than me! that's my worry - I know I'll be fine with the workload - i just don't want to be the 'old one' of the group "
The older ones of the group's are always the most popular, everyone seemed to gravitate towards us,don't even begin to worry about that |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Avoid the toilets - check
Carry extra money - check
Have people gravitate to me - highly unfuckinglikely!"
Avoiding toilets at your age should be easy, you probably already have a good supply of incontinence pants! |
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I was a mature full time student and absolutely loved it. I found that the mature students had an advantage over the first-timers because we had some life experience. I'd happily go back and do another course, in fact I just might do that!
Vix |
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Where I study the younger students get all kinds of issues that the rest of us on here would have moved on from long ago. Many advantages being a bit less young than the masses. It is a bit like being around kids, at the start of the first semester, untill they settle in. |
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"Avoid the toilets - check
Carry extra money - check
Have people gravitate to me - highly unfuckinglikely!
Avoiding toilets at your age should be easy, you probably already have a good supply of incontinence pants! "
Fuck off :D |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Avoid the toilets - check
Carry extra money - check
Have people gravitate to me - highly unfuckinglikely!
Avoiding toilets at your age should be easy, you probably already have a good supply of incontinence pants!
Fuck off :D"
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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago
Titz Towers, North Notts |
I did when I was 25. There were some odd bods there. You learn tolerance quickly if nothing else.
I remember one lass in fresher's week trying to impress me with how she'd gone to bed at 4AM every morning of the week so far. I just had to tell her I've come off night shift the week previously.  |
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By *qua vitaeWoman
over a year ago
Shropshire/Midlands |
"Money's not such an issue, Mrs JFL has a very good job and I earn enough from photography still to pay for our 'luxuries'.
And I can get money from Student Finance this year which I couldn't when I was doing the Access course.
"
Yes, I had to pay for my Access course too, but was worth it for the end result. Student finance saw me through uni, plus I worked and commuted for an hour (we're entitled to the 16-25 railcards and student discounts at shops and entrance fees - always ask and the NUS student card gets you discounts!) and I graduated only last Tuesday (all that pomp and ceremony and being streamed live on the internet! lol) for 3 years of studying a degree in Archaeology and Ancient History at the age of 44.
It is a lot of hard work but very rewarding. Don't worry too much about the first year, it's mainly gaining the credits to carry on to do the following years, and for them to have an idea what your standard is like and for you to know what you're up against. The second and final years count towards your degree, with the dissertation covering 2 modules.
I enjoyed the lectures, made friends - both mature and youngings, and now thinking of doing a masters in Cultural Archaeology. I have daily sex (dyslexia); if I can do it, so can you.
'Aqua Vitae' BA (Hons) |
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"Money's not such an issue, Mrs JFL has a very good job and I earn enough from photography still to pay for our 'luxuries'.
And I can get money from Student Finance this year which I couldn't when I was doing the Access course.
Yes, I had to pay for my Access course too, but was worth it for the end result. Student finance saw me through uni, plus I worked and commuted for an hour (we're entitled to the 16-25 railcards and student discounts at shops and entrance fees - always ask and the NUS student card gets you discounts!) and I graduated only last Tuesday (all that pomp and ceremony and being streamed live on the internet! lol) for 3 years of studying a degree in Archaeology and Ancient History at the age of 44.
It is a lot of hard work but very rewarding. Don't worry too much about the first year, it's mainly gaining the credits to carry on to do the following years, and for them to have an idea what your standard is like and for you to know what you're up against. The second and final years count towards your degree, with the dissertation covering 2 modules.
I enjoyed the lectures, made friends - both mature and youngings, and now thinking of doing a masters in Cultural Archaeology. I have daily sex (dyslexia); if I can do it, so can you.
'Aqua Vitae' BA (Hons)"
Congratulations!
The NUS card saved me a fortune last year, well worth the £12 it cost! |
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