future Mature Student - don't know where to start!

Wiggynut

Hi

I've been thinking of studying for years - tried to do HND about 13 years ago which then got canceled!!!
I've chickened out pretty much for years!!
well.. maybe I should just bite the bullet and do it - for next year (?)

I have no idea where to start as I left school at 15 and worked for 20 years (can't believe it's been that long!) I'm so bored and fed up with being paid so little compared to others who have a degree or have more confidence! yet I've trained them up as they knew nothing when they started!!! so I would like to go to uni for my self confidence and help fill the gaps in my experience.

I'm a photographic retoucher (self taught - celebrity and historical images).. I was doing well for a few years but then had a gap for 2 years and now back at the bottom doing very basic stuff.. I feel like I've forgotten loads but just not being challenged in this job.

I need to move soon and want to move North London... A friend said I have to get forms from the local LEA... which would be in South London (I don't want to stay in this area!) so should I wait until I move - possibly in the next 2/3 months (I'm trying to drag that out as long as possible!). or is it ok to start now. Do I have to know what course I want to do??

lots of excuses are already jumping in my head on how it's not possible for me to study but then I'm so bored now and I know that I could do more. I would love to be around others who have the same interests and can discuss things with people who are interested and offer encouragement!

anyone who could offer some advice on being a mature (yella belly type) would be great - I've no family support of any type (havn't seen them seen teenage but traced one recently!) and one friend who is in college now - the one who said to get the forms from the local LEA!

also owe about £2,000 which I'll have to get rid off and I'm on a low wage too! will be keeping a look out for better pay to help save before courses start!

anyone!

CLAPTON

you need to think about what subject you would like to study and why... is it to get a job in that area, or because you are interested or because of a love of learning.

What sort of level are you looking at .. University degree, vocational course or what?

then do some research in what the entry qualifications are .... for mature students there are a variety of entry qualifications that will be accepted.
you may wish to look at foundation course (a sort of pre UNI course).
There is a huge amount of information on the Interenet.. vitually every Uni, college etc has a internet site telling you what they do, entry qualifications etc.

Are you thinking fulltime or parttime/evening.

Probably looking at evening classes might be a good start to see whether you are really interested in the subjects or simply trying to excape form your current job.

You dont say waht your current qualifications are... thats a good starting point.

Once you know the sort or subject area and level then you neeed to think about how you finance that..but thats for later.

Wiggynut

I'm thinking maybe go for the full time studying of a Degree.

Hope to have a go at doing one of those OU courses - taster type just to help my brain kick into gear in the meantime which I don't think takes long so maybe fit another in too before I actually start a full time course.

I've only got 5 'O' levels but have many years experience which would be linked to what ever course I want to do... I'm not sure what title of the course is but it will be in the arena of Digital Photography/Photoshop... I know that some combine some web design on the course only. I've only had a little look at part time courses so far. I always think that you have to be brainy to go to uni!! but that's what Uni's for.. to teach so need to change my thinking on that one. Plus all the training I've done has shown me that I taught myself more stuff in a short time compaired to their 3/4 years studying!!

I definately need to challenge myself as I'm rather directionless at the moment! I'm already feeling a little buz just thinking about it! that it's possible! If that makes sense.

Have spoken to someone else who went to Uni as a mature student about 10 years ago now and he said go to UCAS - on the web now which I will have a look at!

mickeymumx

hi, im a scared as hell single mum, just starting first year of HND photography, im 34 and registered today where i was surrounded by 17 year olds in tight jeans, i was subjected to the most awful photo for my student card, GREEEAAATTT if i thought i was hiding my lines and wrinkles...well...i wasnt !! but who bl???dy cares, not me ! i say go for it...

Wiggynut

mickeymumx wrote: »

hi, im a scared as hell single mum, just starting first year of HND photography, im 34 and registered today where i was surrounded by 17 year olds in tight jeans, i was subjected to the most awful photo for my student card, GREEEAAATTT if i thought i was hiding my lines and wrinkles...well...i wasnt !! but who bl???dy cares, not me ! i say go for it...

lol... yeah... I've never had a good ID photo either... I hate having my photos taken so I end up with an odd look on my face!

well.. I won't have a child to distract me - well.. except the big child that I am

I'm wondering if you can make an appointment with a university and ask what's the best course to take... different modules and stuff!?!?!
I've had a look at some London universities and it does look like it will have to be Photography but I'm not sure I'm that good at taking photos.. and I want to do the computer side of things... Photoshop, Illustrator, web design.. but I've been having a look at some Photographic Retoucher's websites and they seem to have a Degree in Photography. So not sure now.

I think too much and make it more complicated for myself!
I can't seem to retain much information at the moment but I'm hoping that's because I don't have anything to challenge me and no one with the same interests to discuss things with - I hope so anyway. But studying would help me focus too.

Did you know what course you wanted to do straight away? and how did you start the process off?

Good luck with the course and juggling child rearing too! now there's a challenge!
:beer:

Gingernutmeg

Have you had a look at Roehampton (in SW London)? I know that they do a degree in photography and they're very much geared towards mature students. I think you can only take it as a combined degree though, but you could combine it with something more 'technological'. They have open days (I think there's one in October sometime) and I'm sure you'd be able to make an appointment to speak to someone. They'd also be able to give you some advice about how to go about getting to uni lol.

Don't worry about being a mature student! There are lots of us, and believe me you don't have to be brainy to go uni - you just have to be passionate about your subject and willing to learn.

Wiggynut

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

Have you had a look at Roehampton (in SW London)? I know that they do a degree in photography and they're very much geared towards mature students. I think you can only take it as a combined degree though, but you could combine it with something more 'technological'. They have open days (I think there's one in October sometime) and I'm sure you'd be able to make an appointment to speak to someone. They'd also be able to give you some advice about how to go about getting to uni lol.

Don't worry about being a mature student! There are lots of us, and believe me you don't have to be brainy to go uni - you just have to be passionate about your subject and willing to learn.

I've just ordered a prospectus from them... worth a look at them! Thanks for that.
They wont have any open days until Spring! I'll try emailing them to see if I can talk to someone.
I think I have to have chosen a course by February so I'm not sure how that works!
Combined degree would be better as I do like photography but not for the whole course! Part of it would be perfect.

Thanks for your help.. I don't have a problem with being interested just had a couple of bad years and my self-esteem is on the floor so worried that I'm not good enough... Just keep reminding myself that Uni is about teaching me the skills and that I've had a lot of experience which will help, so it's not like is something that I know nothing of!

Plus I do think that people who go straight to Uni out of college and school tend to take it for granted (not all of them) whereas I want to go to actual learn skills for me and my future and not just to be popular and trendy!!

mum2one

Just a thought have you thought about studying through Open Uni, they do a lot of courses, study from home to suit yourself.

I left school at 16, worked, did an HNC 1995/97 havent studied since then, did not feel confident enough to go to college, Im a single mum, and Ive got health issues, stuck on crutches, (mainly due to a pillock of a driver who hit the excellator and not the brake).

Im just about to start my 4th course with them, given me a new leaseof confidence.

www.open.ac.uk

Good luck x

Gingernutmeg

Wiggynut wrote: »

I've just ordered a prospectus from them... worth a look at them! Thanks for that.
They wont have any open days until Spring! I'll try emailing them to see if I can talk to someone.
I think I have to have chosen a course by February so I'm not sure how that works!
Combined degree would be better as I do like photography but not for the whole course! Part of it would be perfect.

'

Have a look at this page - the next undergrad open day at Roehampton is the 10th October. The mature students open evenings aren't until the spring, but if you went along to the open day you'd get more or less all of the same info.

Hope this helps a bit - I remember how difficult it was when I started looking at going to uni, it's impossible to find the info unless you 'know' the system and of course you don't if you've been out of education!!

Wiggynut

mum2one wrote: »

Just a thought have you thought about studying through Open Uni, they do a lot of courses, study from home to suit yourself.

I left school at 16, worked, did an HNC 1995/97 havent studied since then, did not feel confident enough to go to college, Im a single mum, and Ive got health issues, stuck on crutches, (mainly due to a pillock of a driver who hit the excellator and not the brake).

Im just about to start my 4th course with them, given me a new leaseof confidence.

www.open.ac.uk

Good luck x

I was thinking of doing a short course with the OU. just to help me learn some studying skills before going. I know they do study skills courses - £99!
there two that look interesting Open to Change and Making sense of the Arts - so I thought I could do something like that now and then organise to study full time for next year!
I think the Open to change one would be appropriate as Ive been stuck in a rut for awhile and this includes my thinking! It would help to give me structure and focus whereas I dont have that at the moment. Help my grammar as well! lol.
I left school at 15 and had abusive family.. no contact with them since then really (recently traced two via the web!!) only a couple of months ago so its still early days with them! but going ok with one of them.

hearing about people who manage to study on there own, with children and health issues is helping me realise that its just my confidence that is stopping me.. finding information about it is helping! I do like this site! lot of people in different situations help each other out.

Thanks for your help. :beer:

Wiggynut

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

'

Have a look at this page - the next undergrad open day at Roehampton is the 10th October. The mature students open evenings aren't until the spring, but if you went along to the open day you'd get more or less all of the same info.

Hope this helps a bit - I remember how difficult it was when I started looking at going to uni, it's impossible to find the info unless you 'know' the system and of course you don't if you've been out of education!!

cool... I've just booked a place on the 10th October! Thanks for the link - I managed to miss it! just looked under the mature student bit - was going to email them though but it's nice to know something solid has been booked.
I've asked a few people who went to Uni and they just looked blank when I asked how they found out about all this... they went straight from school so it was sort of handed to them.
I've got one friend who never finished Degree so he's restarted last year so I'll have to get hold of him and ask for info.
kinda getting excited now.. it's nice to make a definite decision as I've been bumbling about for so long!