What are your top tips for mature students?

[ChocolateCauldron]

What words of wisdom/hacks/advice do you wish you'd had when you started studying as a mature student?

Just started a degree as an extra mature student, and I'm juggling 3 kids, and everything else life has to offer!

What cheats or tips have worked for you?

*write

I've been a mature student three times now!

A poster joked about stationary- this is not to be sniffed at. You need a good pen - doesn't to be expensive but it must be something you enjoy writing with.

On my last lot of study, actually a lower level than I've previously studied, I found that flash cards really helped, as did answering questions at the end of chapters. There is also online quiz software apps where you can write your own quizzes or use others (do fact check, people do make errors). I found I needed far more study aids this time around. Not sure if that was my age or subject matter.

For my degree I worked with other mature students and had a study buddy. We used to calculate the weight of each piece of work and assign time accordingly.

You will get to learn what each lecturer/,tutor wants in terms of style - a first for one tutor may be a 2.1 for another.

Most of all - enjoy it. I think mature students often gain more from it than those fresh out of school.

I found I still needed to print and highlight papers rather than reading on scr

I'm struggling to adjust to reading on screens.

Something I realised vaguely during my MA, very much underscored by reading posts on this board - choose a subject to which you really, really want to commit time and mental energy. Either because it fascinates you or because you have a burning desire for the $$ the qualification will bring. (And preferably the former.)

First degrees in late teens / early twenties are much, much easier; you’ve been at school all your life, formal learning and study is pretty much all you know, so it’s not hard to fall into the rhythm of doing enough to get through.

Doing the same once you’re out of the habit can be intensely effortful - particularly with all the other things you now have going on in your life / brain. I’ve seen so many threads where mature students lack confidence in their capabilities as students and long for the familiarity of their domestic / working life. It’s an awful feeling, and the only way I can see of avoiding it is to really interrogate your motivation before you start - and choose a subject you actually want to study.

I am so glad I read this thread. I have just started a BA with the OU. The first few modules don't count towards your final grade but I'm treating them as if they do!

I have bought a couple of pengrips. They were only cheap silicone ones fromebay but they make holding a pen really comfortable!

Although I like apps I found that printing out a free online calendar worked better for me than anything online. I had about 3-4 months printed and put on my wall at a time, with all the assignment deadlines written in red pen. Then I'd cross out each day as it ended which I found to be a great visual reminder of the countdown to deadlines. It worked far better for me than any app did.

As others have said, start assignments as soon as you get them and familiarise yourself with what you need to do. Chip away at each one. Not only does it (hopefully) prevent that awful last minute panic, but means that as you're working on one if you read something that you think would be ideal for another assignment you're working on that one too without actually trying.

I’m in my second year of a Microbiology degree, 3DC, single parent and I have ADHD.

For me -

• DC are in wrap around care 5 days a week. My timetable is wildly variable and I’m often in labs/lectures/seminars 35 hours per week, and there’s a lot of extra study on top.

• I have a cleaner 3 hours a week. This takes a LOT of pressure off me.

• I have a big pin board that all my deadlines go on as soon as I get them.

• Talk to your course leader about your caring responsibilities.

I’m amazed your course leaders are prepared to involve themselves in caring about students’ home circumstances, BurntTheFuckOut. At every academic institution I’ve passed through, personal issues are invariably directed to either a personal (non academic) tutor, or, more recently, Student Services.

But you do sound impressively well organised!

@EdmontinaDancesWithOphelia My Uni is Athena Swan accredited, so they make it a point to know if any students have children. I have an Access Statement for my disabilities too, so both opened up a conversation with my course leader and she’s been keen to support me in any way possible since I started there. I’ve also had to submit NECs for labs when one of my DC have been ill.

Just realised I’ve NC since I posted here

My academic tutor knows me well too, and both have made decisions at their discretion that have meant I can continue studying.

Oh what a useful thread.

I'm 43, 2 dcs, 2 horses and a business doing a full-time degree in english and philosophy, am in yr 1 after a foundation year last year. Which was mostly online.

I find lists of tasks I need to do the best way to make sure I don't miss anything off. And I write the date it needs to be done by, plus the day I'm working on it helps me not be overwhelmed.

Audible for some of the set texts for English has helped.

Yy to printing stuff off, or buying the book it's in. You can get bargains if you don't mind second hand. Our uni bookshop (Blackwells) has a decent second hand selection.

I've found getting into uni a bit earlier than lectures helps this year. An hour studying in uni is worth about 2 hours at home productivity wise. And I have 1 day I have a 4 hour gap, which is absolutely brilliant for dedicated study time.

If you are in a uni and want to really study see if you can book a room. Invite coursemates to use it, you can nip for a wee/coffee etc then without packing up etc.

Save useful PDFs. I have a folder for each module I'm doing and save any course information to that, plus any reading, notes, lecture slides etc.

And prewarn family that you have deadlines, warn them not to commit any of your time to anything else.

At the end of each day email yourself the work you have done so your work is never lost if your computer/SD card blows up.

Ha! I still do that religiously, BloodyAlarms. The number of tales my local Apple guru had of entire Master’s or PhD theses lost - through tech failure, incidental theft, catastrophic mistake, gave me horribly sleepless nights.

@HighlandCowbag I agree re an hour at library is worth two at home.

I generally have 3 days that are rammed with labs and lectures, with only one 30 min break on those days, the other two are usually just a morning or just an afternoon.

Unless I have assignments due, I can usually get everything, including most extra reading (of which there is a lot!) done so I can spent the weekend pottering around with DC.

I also don’t feel bad about letting DCs have extra screen time at weekends when I have things due.

It sounds daft, but I long to get a babysitter and stay at the library long into the night

I’m working with a new year group this year (as I went part time when the Pandemic hit due to the nature of my course) and I automatically reminded my lab bench to email themselves all photos before they started cleaning the benches down - “Aww that’s such a Mum thing to say” was the response

@CoffeeWithCheese

Get some system in place to track everything you have to do - even if it's email someone quickly. In first year I had an exercise book and a page for every week and EVERYTHING got written down in there.

Now I use a note taking app which also has the ability to add in to-do tasks and calendar appointments straight to my calendar so I can sit and bang through a couple of tasks whenever I sit down to focus on work.

What is the app please?

I think no one has mentioned this yet...
Make sure your family understand how important studying is to you and why you're doing it. I found that when I started my masters people treated it like a hobby and so study time came at the bottom of family priorities. But once I prioritised it and told my kids how important it is to me, they are really supportive.

Bumping this as it’s the start of term! 🧑🏽‍🎓

And for everyone interested who doesn’t yet know this board exists.

Talk to your teachers when you are struggling. They usually can help and will help.

Autumn bump as new mature students get to grips with academic life …