New degree. Too old?

[Betterthedevilyoudontknow]

Hello all,
I'm a 39 y/o single parent of two children. I am considering attending university and completing a radiography degree. I am wondering however if I'm really just too old. I'm worried I'll be the oldest there and will feel silly. Has anyone else completed a similar degree as a mature student?

You’re never too old! Go for it!

I work at a university and there are usually more mature students doing healthcare degrees so I’m sure there will be lots of people who aren’t school leavers on the course.

A relative of mine just completed a health care degree, aged 33. He said there were several people on his course in their 40s.

I was 48 when I went back to university to do a second degree. Lots of mature students on my Social Work course. Go for it, lots of people have a career change these days.

Absolutely do it. You won’t be the oldest on the course.

I’m 40 and in my second year.

There are absolutely loads of mature students on health/social care courses. Go for it!

When I did my nurse training the oldest student was 55 and I’ve just supported a student who was 50.

if it’s what you want, you have the time and the brain space to deal with the trialing then go for it.

I did my social work degree aged 39... never too old.
That's 27 years of working.

I'm a lecturer and love the mature students because they know normal things, like what a radio is, and they don't say "6 7" in response to any question.

Aa long as you have a plan for childcare during placements then go for it.
I'm in my mid-30s and hoping to do a radiography once kids are older too.

@Betterthedevilyoudontknow it sounds as if you haven’t yet discovered the Mature Study and Retraining board?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

You’ll be delighted to learn that half the people posting on it are much older than you …

I went to uni in my early 40s although it was back in the 1980s when there were still LA grants. I needed to improve my professional qualifications (librarianship) as the profession was changing. I read psychology in an RG university and obviously my skills as a librarian gave me very considerable advantages over other students. I did not have to be taught to use the library, compile a booklist, use catalogues and deploy references. I got a 1st and then went on to do a masters and a doctorate. I became an academic and never returned to librarianship.

As you are contemplating a health care degree you will meet many mature students with whom you can discuss and socialise. Its unlikely you will be the oldest or feel "silly" on your course. It was not the same for me as most of the students were 20 years younger. At 20 you dont want to socialise with someone the same age as your mum! I found that I mostly socialised with the lecturers and I got myself involved on various committees in the department. I soon learned about the power dynamics and who it was best to impress and hang out with. I was not really into the undergraduate scene, boozy parties and the seamy side of student life. As a postgrad I naturally did tutoring in the department and easily got work as a research assistant for my professor. I lived on a rough council estate but I had a 3 bedroom masonette to myself. It took me 8 years to go through the education system from undergraduate to doctorate but I look back on those years with great nostalgia.

I too did my social work degree in my late 30's. After working i retired and did another degree just for fun in my 60's. One of my tutors had just got his PhD in his mid 70's. It is never too late to go to uni.

There’s a 48 year old and lots of us in our 39s in my university cohort

Thank you all so much for these wonderful and encouraging comments. I'm going to look into and Access to Healthcare course later today. Thank you all so much. Have a wonderful day.

My mother and husband both took degrees in their 70s (though admittedly neither had any intention of using them for work).

Go for it!

I'm in my 40s doing a degree with the OU. Go for it! Never too old!