Back to school as a 33 YO, how may I do this?

[ZGFlbW9u]

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Hello.

I'm a long-life learner, 33 years old, and a software engineer (with over 10 years xp in coding, and 2-3 years in teaching coding).
I've got a 2-years of SW-engineering certificate with fair(but not OMG) programs as well, but it's not a uni degree.

I attended that^ program when I was 16(immediately after high-school), and I aced it. As a top rank and teachers' pet student.

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Recently I just decided to go back to school(actually I've always been). Because why not.
Actually I love all studying and learning new stuff, and building/inventing new stuff.
Regardless of uni, I'm always learning and reading books, etc... but I believe being a student would make this process far more efficient.

I'm single, deadly hyper 'n' active, and have been mostly alone my whole life, so I can imagine that life in college is not gonna be a big deal(at-least it's easier than military service I've experienced as a private).

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I just don't know how to do it. I'm a little scared and afraid that some unis may reject me bcuz I'm deadly old, or IDK.

As I checked some unis' CS/Engineering degrees(programs), I can tell, once I get in, I'll get out with a PhD, as I'm so into it.

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Either way, it seems I'm early for now, as I just recently started studying Math, and English(I'm not located in the US, nor UK obviously), to be prepared to take SAT/IELTS exams sooner or later.
Same I have to back to school, and enroll for 12th grade, as it was not available in my day I grad from HS.

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So I'm asking you great guys, how may I do this? I know many odds are against me, but I'm all into fill the gaps.

Shall I just keep studying Math, and English for now? Or maybe I have to do other stuff like IDK.
Maybe blogging for an even better resume? Or contacting profs? Finding some unis' research, and contributing to them(volunteering)?

Thank you guys.
May code bless us all

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@ZGFlbW9u One thing that will be required for academic study is clear and precise writing.

How much reading do you do? I mean English literature. You need to spend much more time reading both ‘classic’ and contemporary literature from all around the world. Why not commit to doing that for 6 months - and document your experience here?

I’m not sure whether by school you mean university . I thought you did but turn you mentioned 12th grade.

In the U.K. people without the qualifications for university can do something called an access course. It is a very common entry route for mature students. Maybe there is something similar where you are.

Mature students are not unusual in U.K. universities.

Look at the Open University - you don’t have to have prior qualifications and you can study from anywhere in the world. There are sample materials you can look at to see if you think you could cope with the level of literacy required and the support services would be happy to talk to you about study.
As already discussed above, in the UK many students are what we call ‘mature’ but you do have to pass the test for a level of English literacy and you do have to have the appropriate qualifications or take an access course. Some courses also have a foundation year to help you get back to study. You don’t say where you live so it is hard to give further advice.

Thank you @Edmontine , @Sindonym , @mdh2020 so much for replies and brainstorming, I really appreciate it

> How much reading do you do?

Well, I use English almost for everything(work, messaging, surfing net,...)

> You need to spend much more...

Yes of course, I've never taken an Eng exam(IELTS, etc...), but I'm told I'm around 6 to 7(IELTS), but that's not satisfying me.

> document your experience here?

Hmm, not bad actually. So do you think non-technical documentation could convert? A little hard for me tho, as I can talk endlessly about all computers, SW, but have no clue how to explain a simple story.

> something called an access course

That's cool! GREAT, well I'm all good with math stuff, but since I come from a very unpleasant country, for 12th grade I have to (re)-take and pass some satanic subjects(I'm very bad at) which will destroy my GPA. And even if the final exam is going to be very hard, then I might not even be able to pass them(like Arabic, this is really hard).

> ...and you do have to have the appropriate qualifications or take an access course.

In terms of the SW 'n' computer world, I talk like a rock 'n' roll star. Mostly because dudes in tech talk very simple and straightforward, and the domain of words used are not very huge. So even for now, I'm able to reach out to some profs out there, contacting them about research/program subjects they are working(or directly contributing to them). I just don't know if it's a good or bad idea, as some unis find "volunteering" and , "work xp" as considerable/important factors for a freshman.

> Some courses also have a foundation year to help you get back to study.

This is amazing! Gonna search broader, including more unis located in the UK as well.

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Thank you so much folks. Currently I have to put my whole time to pass that unpleasant 12-grade, all because of off-topic subjects I'm not good at(as mentioned), and I wish I could pursue better routes(like that "access course", or "foundation year" were mentioned) to help me triple focus on my English, and resume grinding.

I'm saying this to be helpful so sorry if it hurts but you sound like a 14 year old US high school student.

You mention ILETS so if English isn't your first language I'm having a guess you watch American TV and Films.

To work on your English you need to read more, and read 'good sources'. Start reading English / US newspapers, the 'broadsheets' start to watch documentaries, you might not be interested in the subject but see how information is presented.

Where are you? Or at least where do you have passports for, if you want to study in the UK you will have to pay a lot in fees, be limited with work and to get a student visa.

Start listening to Radio 4 and BBC World Service to get the idea of more formal English.

I agree with looking at the OU, they have some free short courses so you don't even need to spend money unless you are sure. As previously stated you don't need any qualifications to do an OU degree.

Good luck.

A lot of this seems a bit confusing as you’re using terms thst cover more than one country, but also referring to what you need to do in your home country. I don’t know which country you’re in, or where you want to study. No one can advise you without this as they can only give advice based on what they know of where they live.

I'm 37 and in October I started an access course with the open university. There are different access courses depending on what topics you're more interested in, and they suggest what degrees each access course lends itself to. I'm in the UK and qualified for student finance but I don't know if that's an option if you aren't in the UK. As a previous poster said they have a wide range of free courses available through open learn. I am really enjoying my course and I'm glad I finally got up the nerve to try. Good luck in your studies, it sounds like they will be a good foundation for you to build on.

I'm 36 and currently doing a 4 year course at uni in the UK. The first year is a foundation year, which helps bump you up to the a levels standard. I only did gcse's at 16 years old. If you can can prove you have the ability to learn and convince the admissions, they will approve you. The lecturers love mature students! Go for it, you won't regret it!!

Thank you @sashh , @LeafHunter , @teaandtoastplease , and @Buddrinker84 so much for your comments.

> you sound like a 14 year old US high school student.

Actually, yes. With a big difference that, a 15 yo US high-school student speaks far better than me, and she/he has got far greater chance to be a college student vs. me. So yes, I have to study very hard(am doing actually).

> Start reading English / US newspapers...

Great advice! Sometimes I find some news' titles kind of very confusing, which confirms my vocabulary domain is not big enough.

> ...if you want to study in the UK...

> ...or where you want to study...
Probably the US (99%), because of good unis and great financial support.

> I am really enjoying my course and I'm glad I finally got up the nerve to try.

Amazing, that's kind of inspiring.

> If you can can prove you have the ability to learn and convince the admissions, they will approve you Awesome. Hopefully I learn stuff fast, and can memorise them if I start practicing and using them, they will be locked in my mind for a long time. Recently started reading most math and science subjects to follow up, and I'm enjoying studying them.

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For now, I'm studying math, science, and English very hard.
Do you great guys think I better contact some unis for now, and explain my current state and situation and get advised? Or better do it when I'm all set later?

Thank you mates.
Code and science bless us all.