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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to be anxious about returning to further education

25 replies

portaloo · 31/03/2011 11:43

because I am convinced that the whole class will be full of fresh faced 18 - 24 year olds, as opposed to the more mature student like myself and I will stick out like a sore thumb?

I have pondered about this for quite some time and have finally decided to try to get myself an education, and hopefully a decent job at the end of it.

I am however getting very anxious about returning to a class where the majority of the students are under 25. I don't even know why this is bothering me as much as it is.
I know of no one IRL who has gone back to college/uni as a mature student.
My eldest DC went to college alongside other 18 - 20 yr olds, and said there was only 1 student who was over the age of 40.

I do suffer from anxiety problems anyway, and as a result have practically become a hermit over the years. Only lately, I have begun to regret doing nothing, and I am becoming more and more aware that this is the only life I have got, and I want to do something productive with it, apart from have DC.

Has anyone got any experience of returning to education after 35?
Does it depend on which course I take as to whether the majority of students are 18 - 25?
Do I just need bags of confidence?
Has anyone felt anxious at the thought, like me, then found it was actually ok?

OP posts:

MissVerinder · 31/03/2011 11:48

It sometimes depends on the college as to the courses and how they split age groups up, if they do at all. It also depends on the level of the course- what are you doing?

Birdsgottafly · 31/03/2011 11:51

Age and having children gives you the advantage of experience, good time management, being focused and prioritising. I am currently on a BA at the age of 43, i am the oldest on my course but the uni that i am at is 40% aver 30. It depends on the course that you are doing. I did have a few attitudes of 'why bother at your age' but mostly other young student have said that they hope to still be ambitious, interested and willing to try new things when they are my age. I am very confident but still had twangs of anxiousness.

VinegarTits · 31/03/2011 11:52

i went back into education in my late 20's and was suprised at how many mature students (in their 40's, 50's and 60's) there were, i also think in the current climate and so many redudancies happening you will probably find a lot more students around your age retuning to education

Original poster

portaloo · 31/03/2011 11:52

I have no qualifications at the moment, so think I need to do an 'access to higher education' course, then I am hoping to go on to do a 3 year degree in social work.

OP posts:

VinegarTits · 31/03/2011 11:54

Access courses are aimed at getting mature students back into education anyway so you wont find that many younger ones as they will all be doing A levels

Birdsgottafly · 31/03/2011 11:57

Access is for anyone returning to education. The minimum age is 21 but mostly the students will be over 25 and parents, so 'mature'. I found the younger one's 'entertaining'. There is usually a good mix. Have you lokked into your BA. Alot of unis don't take students under 25 unless they have very relevent experience. Also the uni may want you to have a minimum amount of experience in social care (around 250 hours) so you should think about voluntary work if you don't have that. You will have to take the equivilent to gcse in eng and math. It is all very well supported you will be fine.

Birdsgottafly · 31/03/2011 11:59

You will also have an atvantage when applying for your BA because of your age, but please get the experience or your application will not be looked at.

Birdsgottafly · 31/03/2011 12:00

Sorry for the spelling, not proof reading

mustdash · 31/03/2011 12:02

Have you considered the OU?

Birdsgottafly · 31/03/2011 12:08

I admire anyone doing an OU degree because without the support of a tutor i don't think that i would have continued on mine. The Access is a good starting point. It depends on your IT skills as well. I don't know how an OU course in SW is organised as you still have to do a yearly placement.

FabbyChic · 31/03/2011 12:09

I don't think it is so much confidence as being comfortable in your convictions that you are doing the right thing for you.

I think deep down you are embarassed more than anything else.

Don't be, you are taking a brave new step towards an educational future!

Sorry you have anxiety issues, I understand those and the becoming a hermit, after the first time you have been you will feel much more comfortable and settle in quite quickly.

nolita · 31/03/2011 12:13

I was always a little jealous of the mature students at uni...they were so much more sure of themselves and focussed, especially the ones who had taken a more unconventional route into higher education. and they'd chat away with the tutors like they were good mates making all us young uns feel a little left out! Good luck with the access course, it might seem like a long road but it'll be worth it!

Original poster

portaloo · 31/03/2011 12:17

I'll admit, I am totally clueless tbh. I don't know where to turn for advice. I have no idea what a BA is, sorry.

I am in unchartered territory here.

I have considered the OU, but wasn't sure where to start with that either tbh. I also quite liked the idea of actually getting out of the house and meeting new people as well as educating myself. I fear that if I were to do an OU course, I would procrastinate too much, what with the never ending housework etc .
It all seems a huge mountain to climb and I'm not sure where to begin at the moment tbh.

If I need to gain experience to do social work, then what sort of volunteering would count?

I did have a career profiling thing done and it came out with administrative roles, which I have worked in, over the years, and have loved, but not sure what sort of role would combine administrative/social care etc.

OP posts:

MissVerinder · 31/03/2011 12:18

Not read all the threads, but working in an FE setting, I would venture to say that most of the students on an access course will be 19+ and more than half 25+.

You will have a good time! Relax and try to enjoy it.

tabulahrasa · 31/03/2011 12:18

access courses are designed for mature students, so most of them will be 30+ based on the one I did, lol

as for uni, courses like social work and teaching seem to attract more mature students - I'm just finishing a 4 year teaching degree and at a rough estimate about a quarter of my year group are in their 30's or older, except they're the ones that seem to turn up for absolutely everything so it feels like much more, lol

haggis01 · 31/03/2011 12:34

Access courses are fantastic for getting used to studying again and writing and presenting assignments. I used to teach on them and my students ranged from about 23 - 63 year olds!! Most were in their late 20's and 30's though. Some after completing were allowed to go straight onto Postgraduate courses without doing the degree because of their life experience etc. some Unis have high proprtions of mature students, especially on particular courses (usually vocational ones).

When I did my PGCE (Economics) - I thought I would be the eldest at 28 and was a bit worried- but turned out I was the youngest on my course!
I had a friend who did a Social Anthropology BA and at 28 felt like the granny of the group.

Birdsgottafly · 31/03/2011 12:38

Working in children services involves more admin, you would not need or want a SW degree for this. A BA is a degree (bachelor of Arts). A childhood studies type degree would also suffice.

The access prepares you for most humanities degrees so you do not have to decide before you apply for access. Get your application in soon, it does not matter if you decide not to take up the place, they have a waiting list. Does your local college or UNI have a student services, or do you have the likes of JET local, have a chat to see where you want to work.

If you don't want to work directly with people and their problems don't do SW. Any voluntary work with people counts; CAB, Women centres (DV), Elderly home help, Befriending service, it will help you to decide if it is for you.

ladysybil · 31/03/2011 12:39

Im 38. most of the people in my class are 19 or 20 with a sprinkling of 18 year olds. . there is a 23 year old who is considered old by most of the students, lol, and then theres me. in a subset all my own :) some of my tutors are younger than me

You are what you are. They will react to you. not your age, unless you make it an issue, it wont become one.

I have a 19 year old colleague/friend who always gets confused when i mention my husband or kids coz he thinks of me as the same age as him. we attend the same classes, have the same work related problems. same highs same lows.. another was slightly confused coz i am a year younger than his mom, but our relationship is a professional one, and he's gotten over that.

Youll be fine.. go for it.

Birdsgottafly · 31/03/2011 12:42

All social care needs backup admin, in fact, just pick your client group. Do some voluntary work, even a few hours a week, to see where to go next. Or even one day elderly care, one day homestart (families). It will help you to understand what problems SW help with daily.

slug · 31/03/2011 12:53

If it's any consolation, mature students by and large do better than younger ones. This is especially true of women with children as they have learnt the art of organising themselves.

Geistesabwesenheit · 31/03/2011 13:02

Portaloo, as others have said, Access courses are likely to have quite a few mature students. I started university in my 30s and while I was the only mature student on my course, it's not been as scary as I thought it would be. The subject I study isn't popular with mature students as a rule; if you study something like Sociology or Childhood Studies, there will probably be quite a few older students.

stoatie · 31/03/2011 14:00

I am just finishing (hopefully) my BSc at the grand age of 45. I was nervous when I started, yes I am the oldest, although some others in 30s on my course. I do tend to joke about being a fossil, however not had a problem getting on with anyone (I think) some of whom were only marginally older than my daughter.

You will have a great time.

Salmotrutta · 31/03/2011 14:35

Go for it!
I went back to FE to do a Bsc at 33 (when both DCs were setlled in school) and I wasn't the oldest. The younger ones very much accepted me and I had a ball. I echo what slug said about organisational skills. Mature students are very good at those and very good at focusing on what's important.
DH and the Grandparents were a brilliant support though and I couldn't have done it without them.
Good luck

purepurple · 31/03/2011 14:41

I am just about to finish a 3 year foundation degree in professional practice in the early years and I am 44 and I'm not the oldest there.
I have applied to do a top up to a full BA Honours degree in September and hadn't even thought that I might be the oldest there.
Just go for it!

lazarusb · 31/03/2011 14:50

My dad went to Uni at 40 and I am going this year, also aged 40. I did a year with the OU to gain my UCAS points which was great. I do have moments when I wonder what I have started but most of the time I really feel excited when I think about it. Good luck Btw, I don't care if I am the oldest there, I look on it as a bonus!

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