At the ripe old age of 38, I have eventually started at university :shock:
I've just finished my second week and although I have no doubt that I am doing the right thing, I can't help but wonder if I'll be feeling the same way this time next year.
The course that I'm studying will take my life in a completely different direction to the one that it has followed so far (Assuming that I'll be able to get work), so I was wondering if any others here have made the same or similar decisions later in life and if so, what were your experiences / outcomes.
Sour x
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Scary new things - starting over
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I went in my early thirties and came out with an engineering degree. I worked for a while in the IT game, but didn't like working in computer environments, stressful and nerdy situations etc. Now I run my own business.
Getting an 'education' was fun. However when going for interviews etc. Most employers wondered why I had bothered if I didn't get a first. I was a plodder and not what they needed. During the course I could solve various equations and think loads of stuff. Now, I'd struggle with it all again.
But you hang in there, its worth doing. Your final year may be more demanding than you think, so be prepared to work extra hard. That's usually when they pile on the pressure.
Getting an 'education' was fun. However when going for interviews etc. Most employers wondered why I had bothered if I didn't get a first. I was a plodder and not what they needed. During the course I could solve various equations and think loads of stuff. Now, I'd struggle with it all again.
But you hang in there, its worth doing. Your final year may be more demanding than you think, so be prepared to work extra hard. That's usually when they pile on the pressure.
Sex God
Good luck. Be careful hanging around here though. It's addictive and you won't get any work done!
Warming the Bed
I did the same at 39 when I went to university.
I have just finally left after 5 years of studying with a post graduate diploma and am now looking for a job to justify all the work and expense.
Make the most of the forst two years as I feel that the real hard work is in the time after that. I did however study in Scotland where the format is slightly different, but the key is to enjoy yourself and be proud that you have the bottle to make a change later in life.
I have just finally left after 5 years of studying with a post graduate diploma and am now looking for a job to justify all the work and expense.
Make the most of the forst two years as I feel that the real hard work is in the time after that. I did however study in Scotland where the format is slightly different, but the key is to enjoy yourself and be proud that you have the bottle to make a change later in life.
I'm 37 (must be something about this time in life!!)
& have just started college almost 20years after leaving school.
I'm enjoying myself although the level I've started at isn't very stretching but unfortunately that's where I have to start! Makes the return to study much easier though
Especially with a young family to look after!!
I am sure that 'mature' students gain far more from studying at this stage in life, I had no idea what I wanted to do at eighteen!!
Enjoy yourself sour
& have just started college almost 20years after leaving school.
I'm enjoying myself although the level I've started at isn't very stretching but unfortunately that's where I have to start! Makes the return to study much easier though
Especially with a young family to look after!! I am sure that 'mature' students gain far more from studying at this stage in life, I had no idea what I wanted to do at eighteen!!
Enjoy yourself sour
Good on you Sour and all those members who are' mature students' :thumbup:
I started a degree a few years ago and was enjoying it immensly (sp?) but my family circumstances changed and I was unable to continue with my course
I did manage to suspend my place though and was told that when the time is right I can just jump back in 
Best of luck with it ;)
Minx x x
I started a degree a few years ago and was enjoying it immensly (sp?) but my family circumstances changed and I was unable to continue with my course
I did manage to suspend my place though and was told that when the time is right I can just jump back in Best of luck with it ;)
Minx x x
well done sour.
i decided when i turned 30 that i could no longer face doing a job i hated so i quit and went to uni. after 3 years of some stressfull times, always being poor but meeting some wonderful friends i completed my course and within a few days of handing in that dreaded disertation i had an interview and got the job im in now and i LOVE it.
dont forget to sign up for that nus card , youll find youll get 10% plus off in loads of places with it.
good luck and hang in there, if it gets hard just keep saying just look at each assignment due in as the next step not 3 years of work. it soon goes.
xxx lou xxx
i decided when i turned 30 that i could no longer face doing a job i hated so i quit and went to uni. after 3 years of some stressfull times, always being poor but meeting some wonderful friends i completed my course and within a few days of handing in that dreaded disertation i had an interview and got the job im in now and i LOVE it.
dont forget to sign up for that nus card , youll find youll get 10% plus off in loads of places with it.
good luck and hang in there, if it gets hard just keep saying just look at each assignment due in as the next step not 3 years of work. it soon goes.
xxx lou xxx
I too returned to education as a 'mature student' - although I wasnt that mature in terms of the closeness in age to 'regular' students, I was recognised and treated as such......in the first few weeks it was fairly difficult to 'integrate' and we 'oldies' tended to group together - it does get easier as the course progresses though - because life experience counts for soooo much at uni, and you'll be surprised at how much general and common sense you have that can be applied in all aspects of student life! :thumbup:
In terms of enthusiam for your new direction - embrace the whole student thing with open arms! make the most of every minute at uni hun because it will be one of the most enjoyable 3 years of your life! Get down to the library, max out your book allowance, immerse yourself into your subject. :notes: Ask questions, get known to your lecturers and put 100% into it. :jagsatwork: Seriously. Returning to education is an expensive and stressful thing - the golden rule is you get out of it what you put in!
I get the feeling that you might be a little apprehensive about the whole 'new direction' thing :uhoh: - at the end of the day, if you didnt want to change your life, you wouldnt have signed up for the course!
Stepping into the unknown is scary - but the adrenaline rush is incredible - and you are 'bettering' yourself. My advice , even when you're just a few weeks into your first year is to visit the Careers centre. Find out the ins and outs, the pathways and the requirements for your chosen career - get a head start on everyone else who leaves it right until the last couple of weeks of their final year, and help get your head around where you're going after the degree! :small-print:
Volunteering is a fantastic way to get some experience and practical skills under your belt - and if you can do it in your first and second year before the pressure reallymounts in the third,( and it does mount - kinda jumps up 3 gears!) you'll leave uni with not only your degree but career-relevant and recent practical experience to boot, and a really good CV, regardless that this is a whole new area for you! Your Student Union or Student Support office should have a volunteering co-ordinator, go get yourself on first-name terms there too! Job competition after uni is fierce - even 2 hours a week volunteering can bump up your knowledge and skills no end.
I found that it's not so much the qualification, but the experience that counts when you're applying for jobs. At the end of the degree, you'll know the theory. You need to be able to put it all into applied practice too!
You dont say what your chosen subject is - or which uni....if ya wanna PM me, feel free, cos I could talk about this all day! Sorry for the rather long post!
>>>>is not enthusiastic about uni, honest!
In terms of enthusiam for your new direction - embrace the whole student thing with open arms! make the most of every minute at uni hun because it will be one of the most enjoyable 3 years of your life! Get down to the library, max out your book allowance, immerse yourself into your subject. :notes: Ask questions, get known to your lecturers and put 100% into it. :jagsatwork: Seriously. Returning to education is an expensive and stressful thing - the golden rule is you get out of it what you put in!
I get the feeling that you might be a little apprehensive about the whole 'new direction' thing :uhoh: - at the end of the day, if you didnt want to change your life, you wouldnt have signed up for the course!
Stepping into the unknown is scary - but the adrenaline rush is incredible - and you are 'bettering' yourself. My advice , even when you're just a few weeks into your first year is to visit the Careers centre. Find out the ins and outs, the pathways and the requirements for your chosen career - get a head start on everyone else who leaves it right until the last couple of weeks of their final year, and help get your head around where you're going after the degree! :small-print: Volunteering is a fantastic way to get some experience and practical skills under your belt - and if you can do it in your first and second year before the pressure reallymounts in the third,( and it does mount - kinda jumps up 3 gears!) you'll leave uni with not only your degree but career-relevant and recent practical experience to boot, and a really good CV, regardless that this is a whole new area for you! Your Student Union or Student Support office should have a volunteering co-ordinator, go get yourself on first-name terms there too! Job competition after uni is fierce - even 2 hours a week volunteering can bump up your knowledge and skills no end.
I found that it's not so much the qualification, but the experience that counts when you're applying for jobs. At the end of the degree, you'll know the theory. You need to be able to put it all into applied practice too!
You dont say what your chosen subject is - or which uni....if ya wanna PM me, feel free, cos I could talk about this all day! Sorry for the rather long post!
>>>>is not enthusiastic about uni, honest!
Orgasminator
I did uni straight out of school and ended up dropping out (did a lot of cool stuff, but not enough work), I'm currently taking a brief break from revising for an OU exam on tuesday that should hopefully give me a diploma. Not sure if I'm going to carry on and get a degree though, I really don't enjoy studying , I might do some OU short courses though.
, I might do some OU short courses though. Thanks for the kind words of encouragement guys.
The thing is though that the study and work aren't the stressfull thing; From an academic viewpoint, I don't have any worries. The stress comes from the financial side. I have a partner ( the wonderfull Sweet) who supports me 100%, but the bills still have to be paid and I hate the idea of her going without the nice things in life for three years.
Here's hoping that after the three years are done I can repay her many times over.
Thanks again.
The thing is though that the study and work aren't the stressfull thing; From an academic viewpoint, I don't have any worries. The stress comes from the financial side. I have a partner ( the wonderfull Sweet) who supports me 100%, but the bills still have to be paid and I hate the idea of her going without the nice things in life for three years.
Here's hoping that after the three years are done I can repay her many times over.
Thanks again.
Depending on your financial circumstances - and your uni - there are student support funds/access grants/hardship funds available, and mature students are usually looked on favourably for these as Uni's understand that we have 'other' committments such as mortgages/kids/partners - and we're genuinely there because we want to be, like NN said earlier. Most of these funds are means-tested - but as I said before, you get out of uni what you put in - if you're contributing to your uni and generally considered to be an asset - the rewards are good. I kid you not, there are loopholes you can get through if you know how - go speak to student support!
Also, watch the boards in the SU bar/office - from local bar jobs to sessional seminar work for the university - its all there. :wink:
The financial struggle is part and parcel of university life hun - but, consider graduate salaries and the heightened self-esteem, and believe me, its all worth it. :wink:
- go speak to student support! Also, watch the boards in the SU bar/office - from local bar jobs to sessional seminar work for the university - its all there. :wink:
The financial struggle is part and parcel of university life hun - but, consider graduate salaries and the heightened self-esteem, and believe me, its all worth it. :wink:
Casanova
I went back to uni in my early thirties and found it a real challenge. First I was the only mature student on the course. Second I had not used maths except for adding up lenghts of timber I had to cut as a joiner so working out sixth order polynomials was a pain.
Now a few years on I have a good job with a nice wage and am glad I did it.
I will say that I had a hard job getting interveiws because of my age but once my foot was in the door that was it.
Get your head down work hard and enjoy what youre learning and youll get there...Good Luck
Now a few years on I have a good job with a nice wage and am glad I did it.
I will say that I had a hard job getting interveiws because of my age but once my foot was in the door that was it.
Get your head down work hard and enjoy what youre learning and youll get there...Good Luck
