Very mature sudent

SlimmingSusan

Am 48 and hoping I will be well enough to start the course I am offered in September.

Does applying for student things apply to all ages

Also, should I attend freshers week?

alyth

SlimmingSusan wrote: »

Am 48 and hoping I will be well enough to start the course I am offered in September.

Does applying for student things apply to all ages

Also, should I attend freshers week?

I was 40 when I started uni and I was by no means the oldest at my uni, although my uni was different and was a college which was part of a uni, so there was no freshers week - that I was aware of anyway. It depends on what sort of thing you want to apply for - the NUS card is supposed to be good, again I didn't apply for it but friends did. I think the student rail card has an upper age limit of maybe 26, but to be honest I wasn't a typical student so apart from the NUS card I don't know what sort of thing students could apply for! Apply and see whether you get accepted is my advice. It depends on how big your uni is I suppose, there's bound to be a mature student association and if you're into any sort of sport then there may be a group for that. As I say I didn't go to a typical uni but well done on going to uni - you will love it - throught the pain of essays!

suffolkb

I graduated in Natural Sciences last week - aged 59. Now hoping to do a pgce and teach maths,

I was the oldest on my course, but there were plenty older in the uni.

You can get the student railcard but you will have to get someone from the uni to confirm that you are a mature student.

fishybusiness

My university made it compulsory to attend freshers week, they used it as an induction week, we learnt about the uni, picked up our timetables and handbooks etc.

Maybe go in anyway, have nosey around, get a feel for where you are going to be and have a look at the offers they always have on for students

nimbo

freshers week can mean many things - do go to the day time things such as lectures / meet and greets. we met loads of other students as well as the lecturers... we were also put in tutor groups, which allowed us to share details such as uni emails etc which meant we could keep in touch.

we were also told policies about reporting sickness, and given USB sticks with our module handbook on them.... it's good to hear the absence policy first hand (we have to attend at least 80% of our lectures or we will be failed - without good reason)... Chinese whispers has abounded on the subject, and it's good to know what you need to understand...

It's also useful to get to the library after checking out the reading list, to get all the books yu need / can... find out the policies on renewing them, to avoid fines, and understand how it works if others reserve them...

the evening events are a different matter. they will be filled with drunkenness and debauchery. go if you wish to...

apply for finance, my mate Liz is 48 (we're about to start the third year though) than you and gets it so go for it... (this may vary depending on the rules as it is to do with your age at the finish of the course)...

APPLY SOON as it can take ages to come through especially at this time of year as people realize they're off soon...

robrooo

Yes, my partner is 56, at college, and has a "young persons" railcard
Hope it goes well for you.

SlimmingSusan

fishybusiness wrote: »

My university made it compulsory to attend freshers week, they used it as an induction week, we learnt about the uni, picked up our timetables and handbooks etc.

Maybe go in anyway, have nosey around, get a feel for where you are going to be and have a look at the offers they always have on for students

Yes think my uni are doing this. Am terrified, but, if I really think about it, I won't be as terrified as 18 year olds who have just left home for the first time.

My local mental health team, who I'm under, are taking me down soon to familiarise me.

SlimmingSusan

nimbo wrote: »

freshers week can mean many things - do go to the day time things such as lectures / meet and greets. we met loads of other students as well as the lecturers... we were also put in tutor groups, which allowed us to share details such as uni emails etc which meant we could keep in touch.

we were also told policies about reporting sickness, and given USB sticks with our module handbook on them.... it's good to hear the absence policy first hand (we have to attend at least 80% of our lectures or we will be failed - without good reason)... Chinese whispers has abounded on the subject, and it's good to know what you need to understand...

It's also useful to get to the library after checking out the reading list, to get all the books yu need / can... find out the policies on renewing them, to avoid fines, and understand how it works if others reserve them...

the evening events are a different matter. they will be filled with drunkenness and debauchery. go if you wish to...

apply for finance, my mate Liz is 48 (we're about to start the third year though) than you and gets it so go for it... (this may vary depending on the rules as it is to do with your age at the finish of the course)...

APPLY SOON as it can take ages to come through especially at this time of year as people realize they're off soon...

Applied for finance as soon as was offered a place last feb. It is all in place. A bit ocd like that- would have worried otherwise.

Am realising that I am not sure I'm well enough to do this. Feel overwhelmed. Since applying, my world has changed, and my confidence is so low. Am going to have to give up ESA support group for this, as am not on DLA.

Am really wavering now, as all the info above blows my mind. Am avoiding thinking about it, whereas I need to prepeare and get extra help.