An up to date mature students thread?

[Kuponut]

Thought we might benefit from a new one - I'm first year doing Speech and Language Therapy along with having two kids. Not new to university study as I did a degree and PGCE a depressing number of years ago but still find the mature student thing quite lonely at times.

Anyone else out there?

I have not completed any courses that have been more than a week long and they were through work. I left education many years ago. I am trying to contact my old boss from the previous location.
It's mental health nursing that I am hoping to study. I have already spoken to a few people who are in that field
Is there any advice regarding the course/career you could provide.
I have been in contact with the university and they stated that my previous qualifications should be enough so I do not need to do an access course. I took this as a go for it sign as I did not think I would be able to go back to uni.

When I applied for my AHP degree you had to have had relevant study in the previous 5 years. I had to complete an Access course to get on the degree, and my course mates doing mental health nursing had to do the same too.

It may have changed since then, but this was 2017. Tbh I was really glad I did the Access course as it prepared me very well for uni having been out of formal education for many years.

If your uni say you have the right qualifications then go for it. My course has been a rollercoaster but I have really enjoyed it so far, placements were a challenge initially, but you get used to them!

Hi all, can I join!

I am mid 30s and finally finishing a sociology degree I started a while ago.

I have 3 papers to go and this final slog has been tough with attempting to work full time from home and parenting a 3 year old and study/do assignments.

• My partner is amazing, but his work is the one that brings in the £££ so we are trying to maintain a normal work pattern for him.

So far this week I’ve just had two mini assignments and comments back,(both B+) but one which said I rambled like I was having a casual conversation, and another that said “I’m guessing English might be your second language” - it’s not. 😳

I have to keep reminding myself that I just need to do enough to pass... is this terrible?

My standards have definitely gone up as an ‘older’ student - I’ve been an ‘A’ student so far... such a change from my school days and early 20’s where I basically failed the first two years of uni...

@Inocenia7 I enjoyed the course, a tip I would give is to ensure you have solid and flexible childcare, as I was expected to do a wide range of shifts, including nights and weekends, it was ok though as my kids were 11 and 10 when I started and my mother in law looked after them when needed.

Also, on placement be proactive with getting learning opportunities and offer to help with tasks with other members of staff not just your mentor.

I left nursing for various reasons, mainly I went on to have another baby and my heart just wasn’t in it any more.

Good luck.

@Monapple I remember doing sociology modules as part of my access course, it was really enjoyable. Are you doing the degree for a career change or personal development?

When I did my nursing degree I remember pulling one nighters to get the assignments in on time. Ahh, those were the days!

@Inocenia7

Honestly do the access course. Lots of places do access to health which is a really good course to prepare you for uni.

I did access to Humanities and really benefited from it - my first year at uni was a breeze in comparison!

I would second doing an access course. I did a foundation year which was frustrating as I just wanted to get on with my course but it really paid off. I'm about to go into my final year and I'm very late 40's . I'm doing it for my career (as in I don't have one).

Dissertation is finished! I might have to rewrite the conclusion but it's done, formatted and referenced which feels like a win right now.

So i found the course i want to do. Which in current situ means waiting til next year to start.
Its a nutritional therapy degree. And will probs need to do the access course first.
Dp mentioned he will prob need to train someone to write his nutrition plans for clients as takes up alot of his time, suggesting it would be a good 'sideline' for me.
I took this as an opportunity to start a convo about my wanting to retrain etc. So i mentioned that i had been thinking of retraining and looking at a degree etc.
His response/attitude pissed me off. Basically implied a degree would be a waste and that in all his time in his career he has never been asked for his credentials and no one cares about your letters after your name.
Making me doubt myself . I wasnt doing it so i had letters after my name. Something i wanted to do for me. And to change career. Am i being daft in wanting to do a degree?? Is it too late?? I really need to just tell him to fuck off and let me get on with it dont i.

Hmm ... Hairwizard, are you sure it's wise to choose a degree course based purely on a plan to work for your DP?

Is this the specific area you particularly want to work in? Doing a degree is pretty much always an excellent plan, but it should lead you to greater independence.

And it sounds as if your DP really wanted to enmesh you - as cheap labour - in dependency on him. Ask yourself if this degree is the one you'd want if you were not in this relationship.

No i think youve misunderstood. Ive been working on some online nutrition courses last few months, initially just to learn for myself and to help with getting nutrition better for my dc.
As soon as i started reading and learning i realised i should have done this years ago. I find it all fascinating.
Hadnt entered my head to work for him and tbh i dont really want to. I just saw his comment as an opening to a chat about the idea of me retraining, will mean me getting work again to cover the fees so obvs affects him and dc.

Hes just pissed me off with his lack of support about it. Came off like he thinks im being ridiculous to consider doing a degree.

Can I join? I’m late 30’s and considering studying to become a mental health therapist. The route I am considering is to complete a psychology degree and study a specialist course after. My husband and I are currently ttc no. 3! I am working full time but looking for part time also, but the passion to study has been following me for some years now. I have fears about it all, the costs, how to juggle kids, work etc.

Hi all! Can I join? I've been speaking to local uni today and they have a space and I can apply for mental health nursing!! My husband isn't keen as worried about his job (furloughed since march) and the kids. I feel like I've spent last 10 years doing what they need and I need him to support me in this, but we have just bought a new house and couldn't cope without his income, then I start to feel really selfish too, should I wait til next year? I have 2 DC one is 4, one is 10, I work school hours currently. I know current situation is a tricky one, I've looked at financial situ and I think I would be contributing same amount to home just would be here less, the diff being that if DH loses job I won't have option to increase my hours at work etc, any advice , opinions welcomed!

@Hairwizard @Heartbreaker83 i am intrigued... did either of you decide to go for it?

I say do it. Never going to be a right time imo. Im applying for access course to get onto the degree. Decided fuck it lets go for it. Suit myself for a change.

How is everyone?

I am really looking forward to going back to university in September. I hope Covid does not mess things up anymore than it has done.

We will be having blended learning when I get back. However I don't know more than that. Then a placement in November. (Year one placement was cancelled)

Namechanged OP... just slogging through some of the exams I deferred when the schools closed to focus on the kids (my whole rule through all of this was that the kids come first). Not 100% sure I'm going to go back in October though to be honest at the moment - while the blended learning will save me a fortune in childcare and commuting - the kids' school have changed their times so they're a much shorter school day but staggered so the school run will take forever - and I can't wear a mask for various reasons and uni are insisting on them in lectures and I can't get joy anywhere from support services about exemptions and how they're handling that.

From what I know - they were planning on having us on campus for 4 hours a fortnight and the rest online. With the likelihood of schools being fucked up still and everything else I'm not sure what I'm going to do - department will support me suspending for a year if needs be - but I don't want to... but the assignment I submitted after lockdown - half was really good, the other half was crappy and guess which half was written while uni was still running and which half was written while trying to juggle the kids at home?

Hi, there mums Today just been told my first assignment was unsuccessful and will need to resub really gutted . has anyone been in this kind of position and what did you do?

@goldie333 not as yet. Do you have feedback form your first assignment? And do you know what you have to do to improve. You can speak to the tutor, or if you think it is unfair you can appeal. I know of someone who did that and was successful.

All OK. Here. Just struggling through. Placement is exhausting. Only two weeks to go. Then exams after Christmas, then more placement- at least the after Christmas placement is closer to home so the commute won't kill me

What I want to ask is... is getting a job after being a mature student possible?
I am studying because I like what I am learning but after that will it help me actually get a job? I am 40.
Will learning as a mature student end at being a mature student?

I’m going to sneak in here and sit quietly!
Taking a professional qualification/MA. I’m well past middle age. I can’t think and I can’t write. I’m finding the technology difficult too.

*“ “I’m guessing English might be your second language” - it’s not. 😳

I have to keep reminding myself that I just need to do enough to pass... is this terrible?”* I empathise with both points!

I'm going to sit quietly in a corner until October when I start my first OU module.

I'm going to be working towards a Masters degree, starting my first module A815 MA English Part 1. I'll then either complete the English MA or do an Open MA with another module.

I'm 31, no children but work full time and a part time carer for a relative. I graduated with a BA in Film Production in 2012, so I'm a bit scared. I'm also visually impaired so worried how that may come into play.

I’m going to sit quietly too. Going back to a MA in social work in September after a false start last September. Starting to get quite nervous now as I haven't done as much reading as I hoped I would

How is everyone getting on?

I am hoping for face to face seminars for my final year. I am sick of teams now.