Mature students 2021 entry

[BillStickersIsInnocent]

I’m applying for a BSc starting next Sept, just wondering if any other mature students around in the same position who might value a support thread on this?

I’ve almost completed my UCAS application, just waiting on my reference now then can pay and submit.

I have a virtual work experience day tomorrow for my chosen subject area so very much looking forward to that too.

I'm in my second year - was terrifying going in at my age - but it has been bloody brilliant.

I’ll join you!! I’ve sent off my UCAS application (5th October) and I’ve already had one offer back :) How as your work experience day?

Great you’ve had an offer back @MatureStudent21, what are you studying?

Work experience day was great, really well organised and got lots of insight into the different settings - I’m applying to study Occupational Therapy.

Just sent off my application eek!

@DominaShantotto that’s good to hear. Any advice you’d give fellow mature students?

@BillStickersIsInnocent - I’m hoping to study law - and I’ve now had 4 offers back! I’ve also applied for Oxford so hopefully I’ll hear if I’ve been shortlisted for interview in the next few weeks.

Do you have a particular area of occupational therapy you want to use your degree for or are you looking to try different areas within your degree? Hopefully you’ll hear back soon, I found that I managed to relax quite a bit after I got that first offer :)

@DominaShantotto - did you go into halls or did you private let? I’m planning to go into halls but I have to admit I’m worried if I’d stick out like a sore thumb surrounded by teenagers!

I'm in my second year of a BSc (technically 3rd year of study because I did the associated foundation year, which while it was very broad, ie, maths, bio, chem, physics etc) it was an excellent starting point for someone who hadn't studied for a very long time!
I'm also a lone parent to a 9 year old.
It's hard, made harder by bloody covid! But it's also completely amazing.

Good luck op!

Oh wow law @MatureStudent21 and Oxford - that’s so impressive!

I’m not sure yet, I’m leaning towards mental health and particularly sensory integration at the moment but all the OT students and practitioners I’ve chatted to have said keep an open mind. That’s one of the reasons it really appeals to me - the variety of settings. At the work experience day there were 15 OTs working in forensic mental health, adolescent inpatient mental health, eating disorders, learning disabilities, army veterans rehab...
Plus have spoken to other OTs working in amputee clinics, neurology, schools for sensory processing, forensic settings. I’m so inspired by it all, it’s such an important profession.

@NeonBella I’ve heard that the foundation year is excellent, a friend studying midwifery was really impressed.

@MatureStudent21 I would love to live in halls! I think the kids and DH might not be so on board

[quote MatureStudent21]@DominaShantotto - did you go into halls or did you private let? I’m planning to go into halls but I have to admit I’m worried if I’d stick out like a sore thumb surrounded by teenagers! [/quote]
I commute (well commute-ed because it's 99% online this year) in by train. Not the greatest journey in the world but just the next city across so pretty tolerable to do. Saving a fortune on train fare this year but by heck it's a trudge doing it all online at times!

I'm doing Speech and Language Therapy which I love - just this is slow going at the moment as I'm trying to do an assignment on a fairly specialist area of work which isn't currently my favourite and I got straight firsts last year so I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself that I want to keep on with that - so I have a desk piled high with journal articles I'm working through... and I have really strange dyslexia in that I can write well, decode words till the cows come home - but I struggle processing written text, particularly academic style writing unless I absolutely butcher it with highlighters and pick it apart like a teacher on the warpath.

Oh me too!

I've applied direct to my local university to study undergrad social work. I've been working in the industry for years but recent issues at work has pushed me to go for it.

I applied last year too but was put on the waiting list as I applied VERY late through clearing.

Hello @Titslikepicassos!

I’ve only applied to my local uni too, now slightly stressing that I don’t have a plan B...

Uni have received my application and are ‘considering it’ according to UCAS.

@BillStickersIsInnocent

Hello *@Titslikepicassos*!

I’ve only applied to my local uni too, now slightly stressing that I don’t have a plan B...

Same!

Although the course tutor assured me I'd get on this year's course, I'm still panicking!

My uni have said they will be in contact shortly, I didn't go through UCAS.

I’ve been shortlisted for interview yay!

I’m ridiculously nervous about this, I’m sure I wasn’t this bothered the first time around!

My interview was really really laid back (with the staff member I now know is very relaxed about everything) - was on Skype so having my slippers on out of camera shot was very empowering as a feeling too.

Interruptions came from one of the course alumni messaging me to find out how the interview was going at the time I was IN the interview - having to explain I was swiping that notification away from my own child's therapist was amusing!

I only applied to the most local couple of universities that did the course - although one of them would have been an awful commute and I'm glad I didn't get in there to be honest - really can't fault where I am in terms of how they've supported us through Covid and my mental health going a bit down the pan as a result of that.

@BillStickersIsInnocent

I’ve been shortlisted for interview yay!

Excellent news, congratulations!

I'm hoping I don't have to interview again, I interviewed last year.

@DominaShantotto

My interview was really really laid back (with the staff member I now know is very relaxed about everything) - was on Skype so having my slippers on out of camera shot was very empowering as a feeling too.

Interruptions came from one of the course alumni messaging me to find out how the interview was going at the time I was IN the interview - having to explain I was swiping that notification away from my own child's therapist was amusing!

I only applied to the most local couple of universities that did the course - although one of them would have been an awful commute and I'm glad I didn't get in there to be honest - really can't fault where I am in terms of how they've supported us through Covid and my mental health going a bit down the pan as a result of that.

My interview was very similar, google meets and incredibly relaxed, almost enjoyable.

That’s so good to hear. It can’t be worse than a job interview surely and I’ve done a few of those...

@DominaShantotto did you have any SALT work experience before you applied/offered a place?

[quote MatureStudent21]@DominaShantotto - did you go into halls or did you private let? I’m planning to go into halls but I have to admit I’m worried if I’d stick out like a sore thumb surrounded by teenagers! [/quote]
I can't speak for all universities, obviously, but at mine they try to put mature students together, and if they can't they put them in with postgrads. I would think that other universities do similar, so don't worry too much about standing out.

[quote BillStickersIsInnocent]@DominaShantotto did you have any SALT work experience before you applied/offered a place?[/quote]
I'm from a teaching background and have a child with speech issues - not really specific SALT experience (apart from picking the brains of my daughter's speech therapist before I did the application)

@BillStickersIsInnocent - congratulations on you interview, I think the key difference from job interviews is that they will focus more on why you want to do the degree

@SaskiaRembrandt - thank you, that’s good to hear!

@MatureStudent21 ha ha yes, there is that!