Back to college as a 'mature' student

[Whatamuckingfuddle]

So, I've bitten to bullet, applied and been accepted onto an access to nursing course in September. Only problem is I'm terrified and a loooong time out of education. I have childcare in place, have just applied for my 24+ learning loan and work are aware that I will be changing my hours. But I have no idea what else I need to do....I mean I am panicking that I won't have read the right books (no suggested reading so far from course) or enough folders. I accept I'm probably being really silly but I suddenly feel really on edge, I'm not a naturally organised person and I feel really quite anxious about it all, the feelings I used to get when i regularly forgot my homework at school have come flooding back to me and I feel I need to make sure I at least start on the right foot, has anyone done one of these courses, or similar who can just make some suggestions? I'm probably worrying about completely the wrong things but a little help/reassurance would be gratefully received!

I'm a former FE lecturer. Can I reassure you now that in my experience mature students are, with very, very few exceptions, almost always the best in class.

You are not the same person you were when you were last in school. You have managed to be organised enough to raise children and organise childcare. In my experience, teenagers, which is what you were last time you were in school, are rarely organised enough to get themselves out of bed and dressed on time.

I found, when I did a course as a mature student with a small child, that colour coding folders etc helped. I had a folder and a matching coloured notebook for every course. The folder to put handouts etc in and the notebook for writing notes. I then colour coded my timetable e.g. blue for Maths, green for systems analysis, then all I had to do each night was check which colours I was doing the next day and place the matching folder/notebook in my bag. It was probably overkill, but I do love a nice bit of stationery (any excuse for a trip to Paperchase) and it was soothing to see at a glance that I was ready to go.

I've just done this! I'm 27, no children but just finished my Access in Life Science course to go on to do Operating Department Practice. It's all about being organised, try and do work as it's set, put time aside to do it. The mums on my course coped great and we all passed with high grades! Happy to answer any questions

Loving the sound of colour coding - thank you, I think I just need reassurance as I was such a terrible student when I last studied but obviously this time round it should be different as I actually really care about passing and my anxiety about being disorganised is because I care. It is just scary, combined with meeting the others on the course who I presume are going to be a real mix and hopefully not lots of 16 year olds and me! (I have nothing against 16 year olds, just can't imagine how much I'll have in common with them!) I really appreciate the replies, but also wondered about studying at home, did you manage to cope ok with not being distracted etc, I'm wondering if I should just plan time in the library so I can't potter about and find other things to do or whether working from home can ever work out? Sorry, I know once I start I'll look back and think how ridiculous I'm being!

The best advice I was ever given was to treat your course as if it is a job. During the time you are in college, apart from lunch breaks, make sure you are working all the time. This may seem a bit difficult in the beginning but remember, reading around the topic is the way to get an A.

There wasn't any 16 year olds on my course! Youngest was 19 and oldest in their late forties

I've taught on access courses.

Everyone is in the same boat, you are on an access course because you did not do the conventional GCSE / A Level / uni route as a teenager.

If you want to do something now learn how to reference using Harvard referencing, and get some referencing software - you can get free online software.

Also be proud of your own work. I find many access students plagiarise not because they are trying to cheat but because they think, "this is so much better than I can write", it may well be, but as a teacher / lecturer I do not care about how well someone else has written I care that you have understood. And if you have not understood ask, don't just put something down.

It is better to hand in half a piece of work than miss a deadline.

The unit most people find hardest is the biology / physiology. The level is quite odd in that the uni text books go in to too much detail and the GCSE A level books are on the wrong topics.

Also get a diary and a post it note. Your post it note is your time to study/do homework and it takes up a day or a half day. You use the post it to blank out a day to study but because it is a post it you can move it, never move it longer than a week and stick to it, this is important, you NEED that time.

Good luck, I'm sure you will be fine.

this is the book I use for Biology with access students www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1444334433?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00

don't rush out and buy it, your teachers may (probably will) use something else. But consider it later on or have a look at it in the library. I chose this one as it gives all the relevant information and because it should see the students through their nursing degrees and I'm aware £25 is a lot for many (most students).

No advice but well done for biting the bullet and good luck.

I did an access course last year at 46 and i loved it. Had not studied for 30 years but i did treat it like a job as someone else suggested and got great results. I think that having life skills helped a lot and gave me the confidence to ask questions and contribute in class. The classes were a mix of ages and i loved this having a chance to see other perspectives and also to support each other.Lots of single mums on course and they managed in some cases to fit in p/t work too

I've gone back to Uni at 36, just completed my 1st year with a first average

I went to Uni at 18, failed my first year and gave up -I was so worried the same thing would happen again I nearly backed out!

I've found that my experience of working has really helped even though it was in a completely different field -organisation and the ability to work with other people on group tasks

My advice is definitely treat it like a job with set hours when you work -both at college and at home

Also be kind to yourself -there is no shame in asking for help and also no one cares if you haven't hoovered or dusted for a few days!

I would just like to say I am really pleased you have decided to do this, OP. We need more nurses and I wish you well. You will be fine!

OP, I'm mid 40s and have just completed a health related Access course. I was cacking myself too, especially as a few years ago I really struggled with uni and got it into my head that I couldn't do it and I hated academia. But I really enjoyed it and came away with all merits and distictions!

My tips would be:
Get a diary or print out an online calender. Put your timetable and deadines on it (perhaps deadlines in red!).

Pack your college bag the night before. That way you aren't rushing around in the morning and forget your pens/notebook etc.

Either buy a few A4 lined notebooks, so you have one per module. or one notebook for all but transfer your notes into seperate folders that you can take to class. It's useful to take in the previous weeks notes to refer back to I found.

Get different colour pens for taking notes. For example, I used a pink biro for terms to add to my glossary, blue for general notes, red for very important stuff such as deadlines.

Ask the lecturers what you'll be learning in their next lesson so you have the option of doing some prereading around the topic. This will help you feel ahead of your game and more in control.

Don't worry about age gaps. The main things you will have in common is that you'll all be nervous or excited to start the course, all panic over the exams and assignments, and when it's over all be really proud of your acheivements. There was 17 years between me and the youngest in the class but we still had a laugh.

If your course is anything like mine was you will get lots of support. We even had lessons on dealing with our negative thoughts, and looking after our mental health whilst studying! which I need to start putting to use now I'm worrying about uni in September

I did a PGCE at 41 with children; it was tough managing the workload but very manageable. A friend qualified two years ago as a midwife, aged 36, with two children aswell. She did the access course too, then the three year degree.
I think the key is being very organised with everything and staying positive. You can do it!