Mature students of MSE!

Snow_Angel

kelloggs36 wrote:

Some of the younger ones are absolutely awful - give filthy looks to anyone who doesn't fit into their little clique and won't talk to you.

I'm having a really hard time with this on my degree. I'm a mature student. I happen to be course rep (because no-one else wanted to do it) so I will say what I think and provide constructive criticism! I'm finding that some of the younger girls on my course are blatantly back stabbing and talk about me 'behind my back' (I'm also unfortunate enough to be very observant so I know that they're doing it - and no it's not paranoia!). It's really getting me down as I feel like a lot of people don't like me on the course, which is made even more difficult by the fact that we're doing physiotherapy (which you have to be fairly friendly for!...hands on and all that). I feel really uncomfortable in practical classes and now feel that people are being constantly mean to and about me. It's making me very stressed out.

Impet_Limpet

Name: Martine
Year of degree/course: 2 of 4
Course: BSc in Biomedical Sciences P/T
Uni/School: University of central Lancashire (UCLAN)
Age 25
Other info: Only in uni 1 day per week, the other 4 days I work as a cardiographer in a hospital earning peanuts!!

scorpio_princess

Snow_Angel wrote:

I'm having a really hard time with this on my degree. I'm a mature student. I happen to be course rep (because no-one else wanted to do it) so I will say what I think and provide constructive criticism! I'm finding that some of the younger girls on my course are blatantly back stabbing and talk about me 'behind my back' (I'm also unfortunate enough to be very observant so I know that they're doing it - and no it's not paranoia!). It's really getting me down as I feel like a lot of people don't like me on the course, which is made even more difficult by the fact that we're doing physiotherapy (which you have to be fairly friendly for!...hands on and all that). I feel really uncomfortable in practical classes and now feel that people are being constantly mean to and about me. It's making me very stressed out.

That's awful Snow Angel Once reason for why they are being so unpleasant may be because they see your age as being a 'barrier' and that they can't understand what you're about. You didn't say how old you are, but if you are a lot older than them, they might feel like they could never have anything in common with you, or that you represent a 'mother'-type figure which they find threatening. Have you tried speaking to your lecturer about it? Not in a telling-tales kind of way of course, but just so you can discuss some of your worries. Nobody should be put into the position you are in just because of a few girls with chips on their shoulders about goodness knows what.

Do you have anything to do with the social side of uni - student union etc - or do you belong to any clubs or societies. If not, maybe you could consider getting to know these girls socially - they might see a different side of you, and you them

elisebutt65

Snow_Angel wrote:

I'm having a really hard time with this on my degree. I'm a mature student. I happen to be course rep (because no-one else wanted to do it) so I will say what I think and provide constructive criticism! I'm finding that some of the younger girls on my course are blatantly back stabbing and talk about me 'behind my back' (I'm also unfortunate enough to be very observant so I know that they're doing it - and no it's not paranoia!). It's really getting me down as I feel like a lot of people don't like me on the course, which is made even more difficult by the fact that we're doing physiotherapy (which you have to be fairly friendly for!...hands on and all that). I feel really uncomfortable in practical classes and now feel that people are being constantly mean to and about me. It's making me very stressed out.

I had this in my first year and also when I changed course last year. I am the oldest by 20 years on my course and some of the kids mum's are my age!!!! I'm also class rep - I got voted in as last years rep was a bit pants and I ended up getting a lot more done for the students than she did - LOL.
I found a great way to integrate and get some of the b*tchiness is to integrate with some key members of the class - invite them to study groups and coffee etc, ask people if they want to revise with you over lunch etc.

For the first time in my life, I find that I am heading up a clique:rotfl: Not a !!!!!y one by any means, anyone is welcome to join as long as you are willing to talk about studying, shopping and the best place to get coffee!!! Also I do tend to play on the 'mother' figure thing as I am willing to listen to problems - the trick is to keep everyone's confidence and never blabber to anyone about them but just to act as a shoulder to cry/whinge on and when necessary, help them take action.

I am soo tired at the minute, mind you, it being my final year and in the throes of writing my dissertation - 7300 words down and another 1.5 chapters to go - wheeeeeee!!!! Also about to start the hardest subject of all when we go back for semester 2 - Strategic Management - Oh God - hyperventilating already as it has to be group work!!!!! Luckily we only have to work in groups of 6 for this so already have the group picked out and we are all high achievers. :T I'm trying to get most of my dissertation written in the last week we have off before we go back on the 12th so I can give my whole attention to the course work. Plus there's a Uni trip to NY right when we have to hand in our final draft so have to get done a few days earlier than everyone else.

I had a major problem with 2 girls I had to do course work with last year. They blatantly expected me to do all their work and attach their names to it. When it cam to the first half I deliberately handed in sub-standard work - I had been doing the work of 3 people after all, and then lodged an official objection.I could have aced it as with all my previous work but I needed the tutors t see how their lack of input had affected the work. This did the trick and I was allowed to carry on, on my own and they had to resit the subject. Sometimes you need to be a bit underhand when dealing with cows!!!!

There are still some people on the course who think I am too old to be at uni and am therefore spoiling their enjoyment by simply existing in their space but who cares - I ignore them and their stupidity - it's my grades I'm concerned with - not their lives after all. I know you obviously have to be touchy-feely on your course but can you integrate yourself with just a couple of people and then stick to them for the practical stuff???

Oldernotwiser

Being a mature student isn't a single experience; it very much depends on how "mature" you are. I did a degree in my mid twenties, which was fantastic; you could do all the "studenty" things if you wanted but stand back and see how daft some things were when you felt that way.

I did most of another degree in my mid forties and the experience was completely different. Nobody wanted to be stuck talking to the "mummy " figure and it was very lonely for most of the time. I got so fed up of being patronised by young people who were sure that they knew it all and by some of the tutors who felt threatened by having someone older than them in their classes.

I think that if you're planning to be a very mature student you need to be prepared to be a bit isolated. University figures may say that there's a certain percentage of mature students around but as most of these are in their early twenties they can seem invisible to the naked eye. I also feel very strongly that group work can be very discriminatory to older students; if you're not careful you end up feeling like the fat kid in the class who's always picked last for team games!

Haynonnie

Please can I join?!

Name: Haynonnie
Year of degree/course: 1 of 4
Course: BSc Biomedical Science F/T
Uni/School: University of Bedfordshire
Age: 41
Other info: Need to get my brain working again - have spent too many years working with animals, becoming too "fluffy" in the process!!

Oldernotwiser - we're lucky at my uni as there is quite a gaggle of us mature students doing the same degree. We found some of the school leavers infuriating to start with as they don't seem to have basic manners (now I'm sounding like my nan!). They seem to find it acceptable to use their mobiles in class, chat about shopping and boyfriends in the middle of lectures and invariably roll in late when most of them are in halls 5 minutes away. Luckily there are enough of us oldies to glare at them in unison and they shut up eventually. We don't care whether we get bad-mouthed or aren't included in their gang because we have real lives away from uni and we're there to make the most of the learning experience and won't put up with anybody who gets in our way! I think it would be very different if there were only one or two of us though - much more difficult to glare effectively!!

Oldernotwiser

You're lucky, I was the only one in group, any other mature students were in their early twenties. You're certainly right about their behaviour, I was appalled although not surprised.

dexters_mum_2

I'm still enjoying it...a lot.
I've got 4 assignments on the go and I am currently trying to see if I need a tower crane of my imaginary building site, sounds boring but I absolutely love it!
Hope all is going well on all your courses.

impy78

Name: Impy78
Year of degree/course: Year 1 of 1
Course: Acting
Uni/School: Drama Studio london
'Rough' age (or be precise if you're past caring!): 28
Other info: I'm older than everyone else on the course...whether I am any more mature remains to been seen!

specsappeal

hello all!
I am in second year of first degree with the OU. courses in social policy at the moment but once i get my diploma in social policy and criminology i will be switching over to law.
Oh i am 34, married with three kids (16,13,12).
I am not able to get to any tutorials so have been on my own since starting the OU, but i don't mind studying on my own (honest) although it would be good to have someone to chat to sometimes (when essay grades come back!).