wnat to study degree...mature student what are my chances?

angela_2107

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

From what I can see you need to be applying for a Joint Honours programme where you'll study two subjects for the whole three years. If you do the Combined Honours programme you do three subjects in the first year and then drop one of them.

Do you have any career aims in mind with this course of study?

Hi yes, i evenyually want to teach - secondary. I cant commit to a BEd due to the placements and work commitments but my uncle is head of a secondary school and has said i can assist there one day a week on a voluntary basis. so will do pgce after degree

I have been in to see someone but i didnt find them the most helpful people in the world to be honest! I deffo want to do english lit and sociology - english for the teaching aspect, sociology from a personal perspective.

Someone is calling me back on Tuedsday to go through more options with me, so i will speak to them in greater detail

Thnaks once again

Oldernotwiser

You must obviously do what seems right for you but, if you were one of my guidance clients I'd suggest you did straight English. There's a lot more work in a joint honours degree and you might need the breadth of subject knowledge for secondary teaching.

As well as talking to someone about the current degree, why not have a word with the PGCE admissions people to see how they'd react to you in three years time? A couple of emails to school heads might be a good idea as well.

Mature students need to look at their future employability as well as their personal preferences.

Good luck.

wrangler360

Hi,
I am also going to be a mature student - I didnt have the qualifications required for Law degree but I got in to more than one Uni.

In yous PS you need to really emphasise the learning that your employment requires and what skills you have developed that can be used in your degree.

Several people sugested to me about OU and access course but TBH they arent for me never mind the expense. So I just went for it and decided if no one let me in then would look at other options to get in - and it worked for me!

feel free to PM re UCAS app I know I found it a bit daunting at first.

Good luck

angela_2107

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You must obviously do what seems right for you but, if you were one of my guidance clients I'd suggest you did straight English. There's a lot more work in a joint honours degree and you might need the breadth of subject knowledge for secondary teaching.

As well as talking to someone about the current degree, why not have a word with the PGCE admissions people to see how they'd react to you in three years time? A couple of emails to school heads might be a good idea as well.

Mature students need to look at their future employability as well as their personal preferences.

Good luck.

Hi thanks for the advice re english, i have been advised that maybe end lang and lit would be a 'better' choice but then was told by another advisor a good grade degree is eng and sociology is 'better' than a lower grade in eng lang and lit.

I have actually spoken to a few heads, ie my uncle and the one at my sons school to gain their opinions, again they both differed!

I do have a great interest in English language and looking at the modules offered I could easily 'get me teeth into them' and as you say it is important to look at the end goal.
Great idea about PGCE admissions, i would never have thought of that in a million years! off i go now to type a great email. Thnaks again, you guys have been better than any of the advisors i have spoken to !

scat

If it's a modular degree you'll have some flexibility and will be able to amend your degree classification part way through. I started out doing Joint Hons English Lit and Drama and then changed to English major with associated Drama. I did this because most of the Drama modules involved working with others and I found younger students didn't have the same committment and aspirations that I had! I think you'll find that your maturity and work ethic will give you a real edge. I disagree with the whole illusion that a degree is a really high level and you can't cope with it unless you have prior academic experience. It's all about determination to do well. If you put in the time and effort anyone can get a good degree.

mancmum

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I think you should be a little more ambitious. UCLAN is fine, but is not one of the leading universities in the country. And for a course like yours, it would be worth the extra effort to go somewhere with very high standards.

I agree that you should get some experience of university-level study before beginning a full-time degree course, and the Open University offers an excellent way to achieve this. Once you are no longer employed OU modules are likely to be free for you (otherwise you can pay with Tesco clubcard points). Study with them at or near Foundation level, and you will then be well-prepared for a degree course, and with a qualification that is highly regarded by leading universities.

And good luck, whatever you decide.

BE VERY WARY of taking the advice above about studying at or near foundation level...it could mean that you lose out on tuition fee assistance and have to pay whichever university you study at a fee of may be 5,000 on top because you have already studied at Foundation Level. I think the person menas access level rather than Foundation Level

Far better would be the OU route to test the ground, apply to university and to request (if you get a good mark) that your prior learning be recognised by the new university. This probably won't save you money but will take some of the pressure off as you wont have as many modules to do as others.

Oldernotwiser

I could be wrong but I don't think that Voyager was talking about studying for a Foundation degree first.

hum_lovely

welshmoneylover wrote: »

OU all the way for me. Excellent teaching/material credentials

Second that, the support, assistance and flexibility of the OU makes it first choice for me too.

angela_2107

well guys i am back from my interview with an unconditional offer! i am sooo happy. I changed my choices to include sociology and religion, culture and society, the RCS course is one of the few that gain you automatic progression on a PGCE course on completion of the degree... i cant wait! thanks guys for your kind words!

welshmoneylover

Best wishes, x