Anyone done an access course thenn history? Would you tell me your experiences?

[Dillinger]

I'll try and keep this as short as poss! I wrote it out once already then mumsnet went offline. Anyway...

Im almost 30 and my youngest starts school in sept so thought this would be a good chance for me to study. My idea is to do an access course and then hopefully go on to study history. In my dreams Id have a history degree No-one in my family has been to uni and to be quite honest with you Ive never had much self esteem and never thought uni was an option applicable to me. Id given up on myself long before I was 16. Anyway having left my narc mother and having my own family dp is very supportive and tells me I should really go for it - he knows its something I really want to do.

So the anxiety is what holds me back, it always has done. I dont do much in my spare time and currently taking steps to overcome a driving phobia (I know this isnt so relevant, just trying to explain how I am) Ive had counselling to deal with childhood, meds for depression, CBT and hypnotherapy over the years and have accepted that panic attacks are just another thing I have to deal with. I still get the awful symptoms but I know theyre harmless just very unpleasant.

Right now Im battling with the low self esteem part - asking myself why on earth Im even considering doing such a thing as studying, and then with a view to university level. Im almost convinced Im not clever enough and this type if thing isnt for people like me, that I wont be able to do it. I imagine at some point having to do a presentation would occur and right now this is enough for me to say 'ok, I wont do it then'. I know this isnt rational. I also worry about being in a class with loads of 18 year olds and not fitting in, even though I know Im not there for them - its for me and my family so that shouldnt even come into it.

Dp works so hard but despite that we dont earn enough to move back to where Im from, and so I know that me studying and working really hard is our best chance to be able to do this. I also want to be the one in my family that did 'aim high' and not give up, and I want my children to see me as a good example.

If anyone has been in a similar situation or has any advice I would very much appreciate it.

Thankyou

The 'moving to where Im from' part sounds very selfish - I just want to say that we would all like to move there

I haven't myself, but was chatting to my neighbour last week, who started one this academic year (not to do history, but was doing an access course). You certainly wouldn't be in a class of 18 yr olds! So you can stop worrying about that. The point of an access course is to teach you how to study, how to write essays, how to reference articles, etc.
I won't lie, she found it very, very difficult, and has given up, but, she was tying to continue her work around it, and has 3dcs, and she just struggled to find the time to study (she's alot older than you too, and, take it from me, your brain gets a bit frazzled when you are in your 40s and running a home and a business and looking after 3dcs ).

I think you will have a much more realistic chance of making it work. Go for it!

Thankyou. I know I have to put the work in to reap the rewards but its so hard when youre so used to doubting yourself all the time. I guess the access course is worth a shot, if nothing else.

I did an access course but it was 15 years ago now and for science. Don't know how things are now and for history.

Some universities do not accept access courses or any thing other than A levels. Was not such a problem for me because I did an applied science degree at a uni that was previously a polytechnic, but if you are looking at doing history at one of the older universities you need to check they will actually accept other qualifications.

Lots of the 'mature' students on my degree had done access courses but there was quite a lot of variation in the content of them depending on where they had studied. Some prepared students better for exams, some for coursework, some for research, some just crammed their students with factual knowledge. We all did quite well in the end but we did 'pool' our skills etc.

All the mature students on our degree were gathered together at the start and we supported each other. It is nice to know others that are self-funded or have DCs etc. But don't worry about not fitting in with the younger students, everyone is out of their comfort zone when they start uni, and we all got along with the younger students really well although they did sometimes mistake us for lecturers and keep asking us questions!

I also have a problem with presentations and considered chickening out because of it. I had a talk with one lecturer and she was very helpful and I got through it. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Being a mature student was bloody hard work though and be prepared to be very skint! But I loved it so much I ended up doing a PhD too.

Good luck!

I didn't do an access course (already had a qualif worth 2 A levels, and did another A level in one year) but went to uni at 30 to study history & social anthropology. I loved it. There were other mature students in all of my classes and of course at the start everyone is feeling a bit 'lost'. You will fit in because you all have the same thing in common- an interest in what you are studying. Even the 18 yos. (and history tends to appeal to the older students too)

I'm not at all confident, and the presentation thing worried me too, but as it turned out we only had to do that in one particular seminar class. I don't know how other unis work it but there were 8 - 12 of us in a seminar class, and every week each of us was told to research one aspect of the topic we were discussing and give a 5 minute presentation on it. We did it sitting at our desks, with our notes in front of us, and everyone else is so worried about doing their own bit that they aren't really interested in how you do yours At no time was I ever expected to stand up in front of a large number of people to do a presentation, if that's what is worrying you.

TBH the lecturers are all pretty approachable and most realise it's harder to be a mature student, so if you did run into a problem you could go to see them privately and explain. It isn't like being at school where you'll get a detention if you don't do it.

A friend I did the Access course with went to a RG university to read history - she's now in her 2nd year and absolutely loving it! Thinking about it... another fellow student went to a different RG uni to do military history and one got to Cambridge to read English!

You'll never know unless you try - and access is a really good way to get into the study habit and my college did a great job of preparing us.

Perhaps doing one of the openings/short OU courses would be a good beginning for you? It might just boost your confidence and self esteem without having to jump in to a longish commitment straight away?

Hi there, I'm on access, started last September. At our college they do four different pathways for access depending on what you want to do afterwards. Social Sciences (seems to be the catch all group) Education (im doing this as plan to possibly use degree to teach...maybe) Social work, and Health care (nursing etc)

I have my conditional for a RG Uni and have already got the grades to get in, so i will start in September, I cant wait. Will be doing Ancient and Medieval History. I'm honestly soooo excited :)

Im 27 btw, pregnant with two DC already and serious mental health issues. I am loving access, love the diversity of the students, I'm about middle of the road age wise. But we have a great group and all get on quite well, the 18 - 44 year olds all muck in together and rub along nicely. Its great, done wonders for my confidence, maybe too much at times

Access does seem to differ greatly from college to college so worth looking into it, check out that the Unis you'd like to attend accept access, if you call they will tell you.

Go for it op, good luck :)

Thankyou all very much for your replies, they have made me feel more confident.

I have been in touch with the 2 uni's near me as Id like to aim for one of them and it seems they are happy to accept access course students so hopefully that isnt too much of a concern.

I had thought of O.U but I think Id need the support that a classroom type environment brings, despite my initial fears. If I can get through it I feel it would help me enormously.

Babydubs - Ancient and Medieval History sounds fantastic Please do let me know how you get on with that!

Thanks again

Well I went to the access course information morning and really enjoyed it. Had to do a maths assessment which I passed and Im waiting to hear how I did for the english assessment. Im hoping to find out soon if I have an interview.

It was quite strange to be in the classroom environment, full of strangers and not feel the awful panicky feelings that I expected to. So Im pleased that showed me that I wont 'always' have to feel that way with things. Thats a positive to take away from it at least.