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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

FAIRLY URGENT: have interview at college in an hour. What will they ask me?

25 replies

fryalot · 26/02/2009 15:46

dp has me worried now that I am woefully under-prepared for this.

I am booked on a child-care course in September and I have a group interview followed by a one to one with the course tutor.

I am assuming they will ask me what I want from the course and what my job ambitions are.

I have prepared for those questions.

Anything else?

I have to leave in half an hour and am now starting to worry a tad.

It is a 1st diploma thing so not a degree course or anything. I think I'll be on the course with 16 year old school leavers.

heeeeeeelp!!!!

OP posts:

ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 15:48

they are quite informal at this point IIRC

job expectations, maybe why childcare, they may ask about previous experience etc, qualifications.

Good luck!

ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 15:48

also maybe your logistics - nursery, your own children, etc

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 15:50

thanks Scorpio!

I wasn't nervous at all till dp said "you're not wearing that are you" and "just how much preparation have you done?"

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ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 15:51

i remember when i went for access interview, it was more them saying you must be comitted you know, and what wil lyou do with your children whilst your here, have you applied for this grant etc etc

(do you know about ALG?)

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 15:53

yes. Apparently we're not eligible because dp claims JSA.

But the course will be free and I will get help with transport costs.

And I should be able to claim full child-care costs. Although this is not an issue as long as dp is unemployed.

Of course, should he get a job, we will no longer be eligible for the free child-care

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ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 15:55

God, i know, its so hard. DH was working (diff job to now) when i first started studying, and we had to pay childcare, and i nthe end my parents paid it all for me as we just couldnt manage it.

Also we have some groups down here like Neighbourhoods for Change, and a woman at Sure Start, that government sponser you through college - mine bought me some books, etc.

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 15:57

oh right, that's interesting to know. We have sure start in the local town. In fact it was a lady from sure start that encouraged me to do the course

OP posts:

ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 15:59

well they have a lady at mine who is like back to work lady or something (not her official title, lol) and they have a yearly budget to help people, well i talked to mine and she paid a bit of nursery bill for me and some books.

Neighbourhoods for change bought me books and helped with travel costs

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 16:01

I will mention it if it comes up.

Or find you on the board tomorrow and pick your brains a bit more.

Dp thinks I am googling things.

Poor deluded soul, he doesn't realise that my default method of "research" consists of starting a thread on mumsnet

OP posts:

ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 16:02

Mumsnet is far better than google, lol

yep feel free to find me and very good luck!

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 16:04

thank you.

I'm off in a mo

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Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 19:23

It went ok.

Depending on references (which won't be a problem) I start in September

OP posts:

ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 19:24

thats good though you dont sound (or look iyswim) very happy? Is it all good?

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 19:28

oh sorry, yes - all good. Just a bit distracted, dp talking to me, dd2 wanting me to help do a crossword and city are on the telly (warming up at the mo but still there iykwim)

these bloody family members don't realise I have to update MN before telling them how I got on!

pah!

Thanks for all the advice, it was fab, I was much more relaxed than i would have been and wasn't even particularly phased when one of the tutors thought I was the mum of the girl I happened to be sitting next to!

so my post should have read:

"I'M IIIIINNNNN!!!!!!"

OP posts:

ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 19:29

Oh that's much better and you will be fabby and it will be good and everything

I am slightly too. I would love to do childcare but somehow have got talked into doing a degree in Social Work by my family and tutors.

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 19:34

the presentation that they did for us was a joint health & social care and child care one.

Half way through I started wondering whether I should be doing the H & S care one!

I'll let you know how it goes. Are you doing your course at the mo or have you finished?

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ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 19:35

I'm kinda half way through, on leave because of having a baby, i was going to go back but i mc 2 weeks ago, so will prob just wait until Sept now I do really like it, of course, but am still of you!

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 19:37

oh I'm sorry about the mc. I must have missed that on the board!

Have you find it fairly easy to keep up with the workload as well as have the kids to look after? (is it three you have now?)

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ScorpiowithabigS · 26/02/2009 19:39

3 now, yes,(they are 6 4 and 10mths) and it is VERY busy to find the time for that, placement and essays....though you can chose your own module to do at home which gets you out of going in, and i get e-support for that, but it is pretty much full on and i couldnt do it without DH's support.

(I posted on the mc board and people havent seen it much i dont think, anyway its not for attention seeking anyway iyswim)

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 21:02

yes, I do see, sweetheart. I won't mention it.

I'm expecting it to be bloody hard work, but am still excited about it!

The tutor said as a mature student I would have absolutely no problem getting a job when the course is over!

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wannaBe · 26/02/2009 21:16

well done.

I went for an interview at our college about 18 months ago, it was for a counselling course - had done the introduction course and the tutor said he thought I could go on to the next course and even have a career as a counsellor. So you had to have an interview for the next level - everyone said it was obviously just a formality.

So in we went, had to do a group senario where a case was given to us and we had to discuss it, then fill out a form about what the course meant and they said they would let us know in due course. I joked after that it had been a bit like a job interview

I was rejected on the basis I had no communication skills and perhaps they would reconsider me if I first went on a communication course which coincidentally was run by the same woman as ran the counselling course.

I didn't go back.

Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 21:21

no communication skills????

you are one of the most articulate posters on here!

daft woman!

their loss, wannabe

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Original poster

fryalot · 26/02/2009 21:22

(daft woman was her, btw not you. I just re-read my post and my communication skills are obviously not up to scratch!)

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ScorpiowithabigS · 01/03/2009 16:42

squonk which course is it you're doing? the actual qualification i mean.

(have been talking to DH over my envy this weekend!)

ScorpiowithabigS · 01/03/2009 19:06

ahem!

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