To think 21 is too old to be starting a levels

[Skyfullofstars55]

The person will be 23 by the time they finish which is five years older than the norm

She's an adult so if that's what she wants to do that's great. No education is a waste in my opinion.

I did an access course and went to a former polytechnic to do my degree but I'm not sure if the more traditional universities prefer A levels. If she wants to do something ultra competitive like Law then A levels would be better

Yep. I've heard a lot of less than great things about Access to Medicine, for example.

I started my A levels again when I was 25, started uni at 27 then graduated at 30. I self funded the A levels. I could have done an access course but the uni and course I was looking at were a bit snooty about access courses. A levels were a better bet, I doubt I'd have got in with an access course. The A levels gave me more chance of getting in and more options if I didn't. I got in. And got a first. Then carried on. So it may be that she knows she'll have more options with A levels

When I was doing post gradate degree lived with a mature student who did A-levels rather than access course.

She hadn't been sure if she'd go studying to university and local jobs asked for A-levels - so seemed more flexible option to her.

I'm an academic, and the oldest undergraduate I've taught was in her late 70s. She got a First.

Whaaat??! 21 too old? Of course it's not!

My DM did her A Levels at 33.

Then her degree, then her Masters and then her PhD. In her 40's she became a University lecturer.

I don't understand your post at all?

Well since the OP is keeping schtum about the neice's reasons, we could go round in circles all night.

Education does not end at 18, There is no age limit to A levels, Yabvvvvvu. 21 is still really young.

DH did his A levels at a similar age, having been written off at his secondary school as one of the "losers". He now has a PhD and a career in academia.
His parents had the same attitude as you - fortunately he'd stopped listening to them by then.

I will be 51 when I start my Masters—over twice the age of most of the other students. Scared? Yep ..... but I'm taking a year off work and doing it anyway.

SO excited.

S xxx

Don't be ridiculous

I did a levels at night school to get to uni at 22.

My mum started her alevels at 44

I graduated from uni at 31. I'm now looking at a-levels to take my career into a different direction, so YABVU

Yabu. Access courses are an alternative of course but I am sure your niece has researched the options.

No! Never too old to get qualifications to progress in life!

Why is she too old?! Yes, there are access courses for mature students but they won't always be relevant or the most appropriate course to take, dependant on the students plans.

Try being proud of her for going back.

People do all sorts of qualifications at all different ages. I have a friend currently doing her maths GCSE,in her early 30's, a friend, 35, just starting in some pre-accountancy type thing, and I'm also 35 and 'retraining' , degrees (BA and maybe MA) and career plans couldn't be any more different than my originals and the career is just a potential if my self employment isn't sustainable. Aside from that, my specific degree will assist me with several things as they are and cover skills I've either missed out on or lost, due to circumstance, along with boosting confidence.

So, studying can have various positives, plans and outcomes. How could you possibly decide what your niece wants or needs?

A little wave to @DevilishPyjamas .

My initial question would be why does she want to do A-levels?

1. Means to an end, get on a degree course - I would see first if she could do an access course. This would include speaking to the admissions tutor of the unversit(ies) she may want to attend and seeing if there is a preference for mature candidates.

1. General interest in the subject, desire to study specific A-level syllabus, to 'see if she can' - then no reason not to!

Wow, YABU. OP, you are being really, really backwards in your thinking.

To everyone saying do an access course instead, if you want to get onto a competitive degree or into a competitive career such as law (magic circle or city firms), medicine, banking etc, A-levels are much better. If you can, choose A-levels over an access course. When you apply to city law firms for example, you cannot even complete the application form unless you can confirm that you have the required A-levels.

Access courses have their place of course, but for people who are academically minded and are aiming for the top universities, the choice is simple.

YANBU OP, it's completely ridiculous to even think of doing an A-level if you're a day over 21. They're not an internationally recognised qualification, they are strictly for those leaving school at 18. There's no point whatsoever in doing any after that.

Anybody who doesn't take their A levels at 18, or 19 if they have a good reason, has left it too late and missed their chance. It's ridiculous to be doing these alongside teenagers so they should get a McJob and think about how they should have made different choices in life while they serve fries for the next forty years.

Or alternatively...don't be silly, OP, there are as many routes in education as there are individual people. Nobody cares how old you were when you took an exam.

Definitely not. If people career change in their 40/50's, how could it ever be too late to start A levels at just 21? My nephew didn't work during A levels, didn't do great, took a gap year and then retook. Went to uni, did a masters and now on his PhD. For someone that young, A levels would be the best route to uni because they will be pretty much the average age for uni, Everyone who starts uni isn't 18 but the majority are between around 18-27 - there will be people of all ages. Also, when doing a degree the ages again vary because some will have transferred from another course, failed a year, be doing a year abroad, be doing a 4 or 5 year degree etc

Means to an end, get on a degree course - I would see first if she could do an access course. This would include speaking to the admissions tutor of the unversit(ies) she may want to attend and seeing if there is a preference for mature candidates

But remember that in some professions (legal for instance), they are as concerned about A-levels as degrees. They really don't think 'oh well, this person has a degree so has clearly shown she is as bright as those with A-levels'. I wish they did but they don't. If you went to a leading law firm and did a survey of staff there, I would be shocked if any of the trainees did an access course.

Many access courses also push students towards non-traditional universities. Again, depends on the individual and their career aspirations, but going to an ex-poly could hold you back professionally (depending on your chosen profession). Not all degrees are treated the same.

Access courses aren't the best for getting you up to speed on studying, specialisms. A levels do go into more depth than Access courses. That's important for some degrees. It also shows more of an interest in learning and studying than just getting a degree.

Without wishing to start another debate, in my experience (having taught both) A levels are harder than Access, certainly in my subject. She might want to consider that. I prefer A levels though, more rigorous.

Yep. 23 is far too old to be getting A levels. If she starts a 3 year degree then, she'll be 26 by the time she graduates and will only have 40 - 50 yrs of working life before she retires. What a waste of time.