Mature Student Mutual Support Thread.

[unleashingtheflyingmonkeys]

Hi all,

I go back to uni in Oct to continue on with my LLB. There are very few mature students on my course and I am the only parent so I would really like some other students to talk to. About anything really, how your course is going, managing workloads, trying to socialise - so I don't feel so alone.

I am trying to prepare for going back, reading more to stretch my brain, getting a jump on some of the work, preparing workspace etc.

If any academics are also around, any studying advice would be really helpful - how you prepare for assignments, tips on how to prepare for exams, how to manage your workload and time more efficiently (something I'm trying to improve upon from last year),

I thought I'd try to start a thread where we could mutually support each other (so I don't feel as isolated as I did last term).

You will be fine.

One thing I found was that my access didn't cover enough maths and chemistry so I had to work really hard to catch up there.

Also even the biology I was missing a lot of the basics. But catching up went OK.

The big advantage I found though was in writting. Essays etc were easier for matures than those that had done A levels as access courses tend to have more essay based stuff.

Where are you studying?

I'm going to Northumbria Sofa. We did level 3 Maths within the Access course, but no chemistry at all, so that will be interesting.

Ah yes the chemistry, I tutored a few of my friends with chemistry for their first year. It's A level stuff so if you can get yourself a second hand A level book it will help you, I think they do it to get everyone on the same level.

Did the maths include statistics?

I'd say maths catch up was the most time consuming thing for me. Very disproportionate considering the weighting.

A level chemistry just about gets you through. Although I took a protien science module this year and that was pure chemistry.

I must say despite it being hard I have really enjoyed biomed. The time has gone scarily fast though. I cant believe I'm about to start my final project.

Yeah we had data analysis and statistics. Thanks for the replies, it's put my mind to rest a bit as there's not a lot about Biomed online, it all seems to be quite varied from uni to uni. I'm really looking forward to getting into it though.

I've promised myself that I will get back onto it when the children go back to school Tuesday.

I have my dissertation introduction to start. A report for some funding I had over the summer to write and a 4000 word work based learning assignment to write before the end of October! I'm hoping to get most of it done before lectures start so that I have more time

Its interesting reading everyone's study plans. I'm about to start a 6-year PT BSc Hons in Environmental Science with the OU. Its been 20 years since I graduated the first time with an arts degree and I'm concerned about my maths standard, but really looking forward to the content of the course - it looks REALLY interesting.

The other main worry I have is that I'm a master procrastinator. I screwed up my first degree and only just scraped it and that was entirely down to my inability to knuckle down, concentrate, plan ahead, keep up with the reading, etc. Basically, I need someone behind me cracking the whip and at my old uni no one did that. It was basically all up to me (so instead of studying I got involved with running the student union, DJing, partying, etc). This time I have two kids and a home to run, but six hours per day, five days a week is my study time. So any tips on keeping focused? On not futzing around doing the laundry when I should be studying? On not wasting time on MN???

For me personally.. I have to go somewhere. If I'm home then suddenly even the Grimest of chores seems appealing.

So I go to the library it forces me to reduce procrastination.

I find active learning better as well. I cant just read. I have to write, draw, make stupid posters. Even if I'm watching a video.

You can get apps that block out certain Web sites to help too.

I also reward myself.. ie if I do 20 mins I can make a cup of tea/have 5 mins on Facebook. Etc

Alternatively some days I find are my best when I don't get out of bed... i just read and write assignments in bed. Its like I haven't registered the rest of the house yet.

I think procrastination is always going to be a problem though. I kmow it is for me.

Can I join? I'm currently studying part time, so going back for the second half of year one in a few weeks, although I still don't have my bloody timetable!

I haven't got my timetable yet either!! Its such a pain....

Thanks! I'll go and introduce myself to the library staff and ask them for a little tour and familiarise myself with the place once the kids are back at school. I'd already thought that that might be a good idea and you've reinforced that.

When I was a student the first time one of the things I found hardest was deciding to study RIGHT NOW, because I could always do it later, or tomorrow or whatever. Now my study time will be strictly delineated and I will have to get the bulk of my 18 hours done while the kids are out of the house. I have 30 hours each week while they're at school, so that's 12 for gym/chores/whatever and 18 for study.

How do you lot keep track of the hours you're putting in?

I don't keep track I just put in as many hours as I possibly can! I work, read, make notes then read some more for quite a few hours every day. Its the only way I can guarantee a good grade as I find the subject matter of my degree really difficult tbh

Keep track.... um I'm studying full time so it's slightly all consuming... its finding time for the other stuff that I find hardest.

Its often takes longer than I expect and sometimes hours of staring at a blank screen before I can actually start typing.

There are never enough hours

And yes re the frustration I just want my timetable now.. another 2 weeks apparently.

Ooh can I join, I'm 24 single mum to 4 y/o DD. Graduating from my undergrad course in July and start my MA later this month. Decided I may as well do the MA whilst I'm still in the zone, that was the plan anyway! I've worked 4 days a week since my first year and will continue this through the masters. Looking forward to getting my timetable, it's evening lectures this time which I thought would be better but now I'm not so sure eeeek!

Sorry that should be I graduated in July!

I'm loving the support and activity on this thread, this is exactly what I was aiming for when I started it.

I get what everyone is saying about the other students knowing you're older and almost avoiding you. My uni (midlands Russell group) there are hardly any mature students around, so its isolating. Mainly just no one to have a cuppa with between lectures or a moan with. So I figured we could do all that together here.

I'm not back until October. But today has been spent fighting the demon that is student finance England, and sorting modules and stuff out. I went into the works (sign up for unidays and you get 10% off in there) and sorted stationary out (although I do intend to go to the freshers and careers fairs and obtain stationary like a magpie, if its shiny its going in the bag). I'm also of the 'if its free its for me' type so again I'll be known at these fairs lol.

I will be around to help give virtual ass kickings to anyone who is procrastinating provided the favour is returned as I am awful at leaving things until the last minute. I had a seminar once where you had to examine why you put things off, and me, I think I fear whatever I hand in will not be good enough, and I am a bit of a perfectionist so I put doing the work off until it is due in, then I panic and hand in crap anyway due to running out of time. So I will be working on that this year.

None of us are studying by accident, we were all let in so we must have the capability to do it.

I need to work on balance as well. Sometimes the house and kids just take over because I struggle to ask for help from DH. I think I can fit everything in when I cant. So I will be making an effort to say 'no' to friends and family when I'm asked to do things, which will be hard but I need to prioritise this degree.

Again I love that I finally have the forum to speak to others who understand what I'll be going through.

I went to staples today... i'm sure i have an addiction to stationary!

Bit late to the party but would love to join.
I am 25 with two DS (aged 3 and 7).
I am currently what feels like an eternal student, have been in HE for the past 5 years and currently finishing my dissertation for an MSc, then start back in a few weeks to do a funded MRes before starting my PhD next year.

I already like this thread. When I signed up for my course (which I only finally did last week), one of my first thoughts was 'I wonder if there's a thread on MN for us older students?' and here it is!

My module website went live yesterday so I've been really enjoying taking a look. The OU is completely different from when I did my first degree at a campus uni. Or maybe its just that 20 have passed and unis all do this now? Anyway, I've printed off a 31-week study plan which all students are expected to work from. Each week the workload is clearly set out (Block 1, Part 1 - reading plus DVD or podcast or whatever). TBH it feels a bit like colour-by-numbers, but I'm flipping delighted! With my first degree I was given my timetable (3 lectures and 1 tutorial per subject per week), a reading list and basically just sent away to get on with it. It was an utter disaster! I didn't have the self discipline or the maturity to set myself out a study plan or keep up with the reading. I missed lectures, I gazed out of the window when I should've been reading in the library. I had no goals, no checklists, no way to monitor my progress, but not now! This is just SO much better organised and as long as I'm able to stick to the study plan I should get it all done.

Of course, I still have to manage my time and productivity and that's the hard bit, but I've already watched a study skills seminar online and they talked about procrastinating and how to beat it. Apparently, we're more likely to procrastinate if the task at hand is difficult or boring. So they advise to tackle that one first and get it out of the way.

And now I'm off into town to go and check out the library. I'm fired up! I hope you all are too

*20 years

I don't know about the OU. But we have 20 credit units and what we need to do for each is retry clear ie x amount course work x amount exam. We get a course list with lectures and topics for the year etc. But im studying science so no hope of 3 hour lectures a week 😂 although I do envy those who have do little contact I think I need the structure a little. I'm thinking of doing a masters through the OU next year. But just don't know if I have the self motivation... after all I didn't do a thing this summer.

I did go to the library today though and only spent half the tine there on Facebook.

The storm.. how come you've had to do and msc and an mres? That feels like over kill!

Yes, maybe you're right sofa and its the difference between a science degree (which I'm about to start), and the arts degree I did first time around. I remember my scientist friends were basically on campus all week, whereas those of us doing art subjects were just left to 'do the reading' .... except I didn't

Sofa when I applied for the funding for the PhD from the research council I was intending to just have the +3 award for the PhD.
Unfortunately, although they chose to fund me and my study they decided that the MSc I was doing didn't have enough research methods in it, so instead they have given me a 1+3 award and therefore I need to do the MRes first.

My fees are paid and I get maintenance grant of £14k a year so shouldn't really complain. It does make childcare this year more difficult though as I am back to normal all over the place Uni timetables which I am still waiting for (the MSC was 8 hours condensed on to two days so much easier).