Have i got no chance?

[DownstairsMixUp]

Hello bit difficult to explain but wanted to know some other output here!

I worked as a health care assistant and gained an NVQ Level 2 in health and social care, at the time (this was 2008) I had to do some extra modules to gain the credits to go to university to do adult nursing which did get me in and i completed 2 years of nursing. Unfortuntely I fell pregnant, took maternity leave then my marriage broke down and i had no support to finish.

Anyway fast fast forward from 2011 and that's where my heart lays really. I've tried to get on in other jobs but it's not what I want. Now i have a different life, plenty of support and a great husband but i've heard things have changed now about entering uni.

Anyway i submitted my ucas application, i've tried to mention everything basically, the fact i did two years nursing already,passed all exams, have had a total of three years working on wards plus the uni experience of learning and i have the nvq level 2 health and social care wih extra credits plus GCSE english and maths at B and gcse science and history at c.

What are my chances? Has anyone had any experience of going to uni a mature student with not the "typical" qualifications? I don't have a levels just my own experience and qualifications. I never struggled as a student nurse academically (all exams passed well above 60%) I really want to go back to it! How long do you think it would take to hear? Thanks for any advice!

[DownstairsMixUp]

I couldn't get much of an impression on the midwifery day as I only met a handful of people, though I did notice it was a lot of younger people whereas LSBU was a lot more mature students! I did get my interview date through today, 21st of March! It's maths and english again and if I pass that I go to a group discussion then one on one interviews. Feeling nervous!

[Baconyum]

Hmm yea I suspected as much re CCC's view of themselves as it were...

[DownstairsMixUp]

Nothing came up for university of kent for nursing or midwifery. :( A lot of people have said that about CCC which is a joke really, looking at the stats I was a lot better off nursing at LSBU but I obviously live no where near there now so just couldn't ever happen.

[Baconyum]

Good luck to you.

I've gone to uni as a mature student with unconventional quals twice, first time nursing. CCC is very hard to get into, they think of themselves as Oxbridge standard. I'm not sure if that's true. Did you apply to UoK too?

[DownstairsMixUp]

Exactly what I thought to! They get such a high number of applicants though I suppose the odd sod up wouldn't bother them. It's going to be a maths and English test with mini interviews just waiting for date now.

[chocolatespiders]

Flipping heck- lucky you followed it up.. Good luck!!

[DownstairsMixUp]

Thank you! I know it's only interview but it's made my day

[Headofthehive55]

Oh that is good news! Good luck!

[DownstairsMixUp]

Hi all!

Good news I had a reply and it was an oversight and I will get my interview date shortly! I'm pleased, nervous though as the midwifery interview was tough and I have to do it again. Apparently my senior lecturer gave a very impressive reference to and they apologised for the mistake which is fair enough I only had a little cry promise

[Headofthehive55]

People have to be careful when putting more than one course down, as not tailoring your statement makes it less strong. That's not to say it's impossible, but you don't know the preferences of the admissions panel.

Some may be put off by the fact you don't have a levels, others by the fact you dropped out last time. I think things are often taken as a whole and it depends very much on your competition and the admissions people. Sometimes there is no one reason, just other people were better bets. It is hard when you get turned down.

[DownstairsMixUp]

I put difficult circumstances and that I'd elaborate further if need be as the personal statement is short enough as it is. I asked my old lecturer and she said not to put the domestic violence on the ps and just write difficult circumstances and say you'd be happy to confirm more details privately. Tbh I didn't really want to put dv as I felt it be a son story so honestly felt I'd get to explain more in interview as it's quite a hard thing to mention.

Thanks for all the replies though! I have forwarded my appeal to my old lecturer to get some rl advice to and have emailed to say I am appealing the decision :-) regardless of the outcome of the midwifery interview I will still appeal this. So its just a waiting game for both now!

[Piemernator]

I was an admissions officer but not nursing so what I say is not tailored to your course.

This is a personal question and please don't feel obliged to answer but did you state the reasons as to why you dropped out?

I would have seen a person who had decided to drop out as at a high risk of non completion of the course and they don't like that as it makes their stats look bad.

[DownstairsMixUp]

It's because I applied for both courses and you only get one personal statement for your five choices. I put down that midwifery and nursing were both my choices to and explained why then went on to talk about nursing and midwifery. Again, I got invited to interview with midwifery which is a lot more competitive than nursing at this uni (one intake per year midwifery with 40 spots but two intakes per year vs nursing with over double them spots!) I also did the same with lsbu who are the better option for nursing but it's too far for me to go and got in. Honestly I've no idea how people do more than two different course choices and fit it in there but I was guided well as I was in touch with my old lecturer. I am the first to see where I've gone wrong, often I sit after submitting an essay and think I missed X and y or I think of an interview and think I did this wrong. I've never appealed anything in my life! But I think this calls for it. The reply of not understanding nursing irked me as I did two years of it so unless they think I blagged the two years not sure how I don't understand it

[Headofthehive55]

IT used to be very common to do both so if she is elderly and retired she will have being used to the idea you do both. However these days it's quite a no no, you choose one or the other. Most midwives are not and never have been nurses and wish to distance themselves, likewise with nurses.

You wouldn't do a UCAS form detailing your interest in radiography and pharmacy?

[DownstairsMixUp]

I wish it was that! I had my lecturer from my old uni read it who is a nurse and she said it conveyed I had a interest in both career fields which was why I was pleased hearing from midwifery (as I think it was more 60/40 and the 60 being nursing) I think as well as appealing I might chat to my old lecturer and see what she says? Maybe if she re reads it a second time she might of missed something. I know she will be sad though as I was a cadet nurse to and in her last cohort (they withdrew cadet nurse funding) it's a shame I'm not back home as I know I'd get into lsbu but London is just so out of my price range now. (And my dh dislikes london)

[Headofthehive55]

People who qualified twenty years ago (like I expect the admissions people) regarded them as very separate professions

[Headofthehive55]

If your personel statement was tuned to midwifery rather than nursing that might give you that result.

Normally I think people apply to one or the other and talior their statement to match. Unis like to think of them as very different professions. Even though lots are dual qualified.

[DownstairsMixUp]

By the way I did not mention dv on anything, I thought it was tmi so put difficult circumstances and thought I could elaborate on interview which I did with my midwifery interview and they were all very lovely.

[DownstairsMixUp]

It wasn't the qualifications that were a problem, I'm guessing personal statement as it said "doesn't understand the nursing profession" that was it! Though I did have my midwifery interview with the same university last week and hear about that end of march which confuses me more! I left due to domestic violence ugh hate putting it like I'm a sad victim but it is why I left and thank god I am in a stable secure marriage now so can do it. I mean I passed two years suffering so pretty sure I can do it now.

The appeal is through the university itself not ucas. I've been talking to an old work colleague who is my age who studies occupational therapy who appealed a free out right rejection and now studies it so there could be hope. By some miracle I could even of got through my midwifery interview!

[Headofthehive55]

Try again next year. Keep doing your HCA work. It will be invaluable. It's a while since you did the nvq? Perhaps do some recent study? They normally like recent study in the last five years. The ou do some health and social care courses you might be interested in.

[bojorojo]

It is a course that gets oversubscribed. What you can do is work out exactly how your qualifications ( or credits) stack up against what the university actually wants. What is a time at university but a qualification not actually completed worth? It seemed like guesswork when you posted earlier. Did they think you were a bit risky?

If you don't have what they require, then how can you get it? Is there a relevant access course you can do? Could you fit in a necessary qualification. Also, talk to Admissions. You have nothing to lose. You can maybe then find out what the problem is. I didn't know there was an appeal via UCAS.

Also, be very clear about what they want to see on a Personal Statement. Look at lots of universities' Nursing courses to glean what they might advise. It is difficult to get it right so do a bit more research. You will get there!

[DownstairsMixUp]

I have my transcript it's worth 135 points which I put on my application :( it's the only uni near me that does nursing to. I want to cry! I loved nursing and feel like I'll never get to do it.

[DownstairsMixUp]

Yes I mentioned dignity, code of conduct and the six c's (care, compassion, communication, commitment, courage and competence. My old uni lecturer who was a nurse to checked my statement and provided a lovely reference so no idea what I did wrong (I applied for midwifery to and got an interview for that) I've been a bit upset this evening. I didn't expect an out right acceptance but at least an interview. I have appealed though. I'm on a student nurse forum and there's lots of people who have been accepted fresh out of college so feel a bit like my skills are nout really :-(

[Headofthehive55]

I think it's just very hard to get into. Try again!
Try another uni?
You haven't just got a NVQ, you have two years higher education. I wonder if you could get that acredited? If you write to you old uni they will send you a transcript of your achievements. It will be a higher level than A level but like the first year of a degree. you can use that for the ou in case you want to complete a degree. you will perhaps be one of the most qualified academically not least!

[lougle]

Oh dear. That doesn't sound right, given your experience. Could you try to get some feedback on where your personal statement let you down?

There's been a huge shift towards values based education since the Francis Report. Do you think you covered that element and showed an understanding of the importance of integrity, dignity, advocacy, etc? Or did you focus on nursing skills?