Is there a specific Mature Study & Retraining board?

[Edmontine]

I know there have been mature student threads. But I feel I’ve read countless, tentative Am I too old to - threads, with each OP believing they’re the first person ever to consider a degree or postgrad at 30 / 40 / 50 onwards - and almost talking themselves out of the idea before they’ve even posted.

It would be helpful to have a dedicated space - with a note at the top assuring people that they’re not freaks and would be welcomed by places of learning.

(If such a board already exists and I’ve failed to find it, consider me suitably embarrassed.)

the fact of lectures at home is a huge challenge

This is no good! Can you force yourself out of the house to some quiet spot - a gallery or museum cafe, perhaps, with your headphones? (Really, what you need is a friend living a short walk away, who’s out all day but would give you a key. So hard to work at home if the environment is distracting.)

Best, I’ve enjoyed all the various unofficial mentorings I’ve offered over decades - but really didn’t love having trainees shadow me in my previous career, probably because I never felt fully confident in what I was doing.

Now, I’m really hoping my mentor will jolly me along and force me to take career steps I’ve been too frit to pursue recently.

I'd definitely be interested in a board or a long running support thread. I start a part time UG Diploma in Creative Writing tomorrow. I'm 52 have LLB & LLM and work in the City as a lawyer and I am still vaguely terrified. I nearly ran away when I saw the reading list. I'm going to have to timetable my weeks to make sure I fit all the work around my job.

I am so glad that I am doing it and I am sure in 2 years time I will have learnt huge amounts - its just that I have crystallised a dream into reality - now I have to step up and make it work.

So glad to have been directed here! Thank you @Edmontine

It’s a pleasure! If you have time to scroll through from the start you’ll have an idea of how many people are also worrying about getting through the year.

@AzPie you are amazing!!!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4347215-aibu-to-ask-what-masters-you-would-do

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4345981-WWYD-after-being-a-SAHM-for-14-years-University-or-entry-level-job

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4347214-How-common-is-it-to-return-to-education

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4350851-Midwife-training-in-late-30s

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/academics_corner/4348816-Re-training-VERY-late-in-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/work/4355803-Retraining-as-a-florist-mid-40s

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4356577-University-in-my-50s-Am-I-mad

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4357633-mature-students-how-do-you-do-it

All these threads need to be on the same board …

Another one who thinks this is a great idea. I finished a PT masters while working full time in 2019 and am now in my final term of a pgcert in education while working FT. None of the other boards are quite right and the further/ higher education ones seem full of parents of students rather than students.

Hi - just dropping in to say thanks for all the suggestions and comments.

We're happy to go ahead and set up a new board for you to discuss adult education, mature study and retraining and see how it goes.

We'll look into this now.

Oh!

Oh …

Oh? Erm,

Help! Was that a yes, no, or maybe?

I’m assuming a YES to a new board?

Fabulous!

Wow!

Thank you soniamumsnet - the last few posts changed as I was typing. I’m absolutely delighted.

And now, all the thousands of women who have ever wondered if they’re too old will know where to come for advice and encouragement.

This is wonderful!

Would you be able to put some encouraging words at the top of the board? (As I suggest at the top of this thread.)

And - could all the threads I listed above be absorbed into the new board - so it would begin with some heft and forward impetus?

Hi all

Apologies - bit of a miscommunication.

The board will be opened early next week - we can discuss other bits and pieces about it then.

Phew!

Thank you.

Nice work, Edmontina . Thanks HQ.

Indeed!

Great news. I’ve just started my degree, it’s just been induction so far so very keen to get into it properly from Monday. A dedicated board would be brilliant.

Just placemarking

Fabulous news! Looking forward to the new board! There is clearly a demand for it...Well done
EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues In shepherding all us loose waifs and strays to this thread!

We're excited about this new board as we know what a support it will be to many of you.

Not long to wait now....

Thank you, FlissMumsnet. I can still scarcely believe it.

There was a poster I had a lengthy PM conversation with years ago - we had both launched ourselves into MAs in the midst of other life chaos, simply because we felt driven to achieve a thing we each felt we must do. Don’t even remember her name now - but I so want her to see the new board.

Hi EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues it sounds like you've been the driving force behind this new board so I do hope you find your old friend and can swap notes about how your MA's have been..

Wow!! Great result, good work OP!!

Such a good idea. As a regular contributor to the Academic Common Room board, I’ve seen quite a lot of demand there too, so I’ll make sure to send people in the right direction.

In the meantime, as an academic, my warm support to anyone contemplating returning to study. I’ve seen mature students absolutely flourish at my university. Once they’re accepted, it’s frequently mostly an issue of needing some flexibility from the institution and the past couple of years have certainly shown how many different ways there are to adapt to new approaches to educating.

P.s. we absolutely welcome OU degrees, for all the reasons already mentioned.

That’s brilliant news, about to apply for a MSc in Marketing so the perfect timing!

Thanks!

There certainly are past threads under both Work and Academic Common Room that might have found a more natural home under this new title.