Going to university in your 30s :o

CREATIVE!11 said:
I debated going back to uni to do graduate medicine. Even though I have a degree I would have been eligible for funding.

They will cover you when it comes to certain subjects that are in demand. i.e medicine.
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That's my situation - when i finished school i applied for medicine and mech eng - did mech eng and it was fantastic. Its lead me on to some good jobs since and I get paid a decent amount. I'm fully aware I'd lose income for 5 years and then be on substantially less than I am now but I'm really tempted.
 
Dis86 said:
That's my situation - when i finished school i applied for medicine and mech eng - did mech eng and it was fantastic. Its lead me on to some good jobs since and I get paid a decent amount. I'm fully aware I'd lose income for 5 years and then be on substantially less than I am now but I'm really tempted.
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4 years if you go graduate route.
 
I'm in the same boat OP. 31, starting Accounting & Finance at Wolverhampton two weeks tomorrow. My uncle is a second year student at St Andrews. He's in his 50's. The majority of students on most courses are <21. But that doesn't mean you'll be the lone mature student.

Are you living on campus or off campus?
 
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Probably more likely to do well if your older tbh. Most people 30+ don't care for going out getting **** faced evening. Plus you'll already have years of working experience over young people just starting out.
 
Nasher said:
Probably more likely to do well if your older tbh. Most people 30+ don't care for going out getting **** faced evening. Plus you'll already have years of working experience over young people just starting out.
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This.

I wish I went to uni in late 20's tbh. I'm now studying programming in my own time.
 
Nasher said:
Probably more likely to do well if your older tbh. Most people 30+ don't care for going out getting **** faced evening. Plus you'll already have years of working experience over young people just starting out.
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One thing that confused me; I was told my course has 12-16 hours per week of contact time, plus an expectation of the same again as independent study. Then I was told not to get a part-time job because the course workload is too great.

Coming from working 40-45 hours a week, I'm struggling to reconcile those two statements. I'm left with the conclusion that the course load doesn't leave enough time for drunken debauchery and a job.
 
satchef1 said:
One thing that confused me; I was told my course has 12-16 hours per week of contact time, plus an expectation of the same again as independent study. Then I was told not to get a part-time job because the course workload is too great.

Coming from working 40-45 hours a week, I'm struggling to reconcile those two statements. I'm left with the conclusion that the course load doesn't leave enough time for drunken debauchery and a job.
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Most university courses are designed around a 37 hour working week i.e. when not in lectures, labs, or tutorials you are supposed to be engaged in private study or doing coursework assignments, revision, research etc.
 
Nasher said:
Probably more likely to do well if your older tbh. Most people 30+ don't care for going out getting **** faced evening. Plus you'll already have years of working experience over young people just starting out.
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Not just about going out - I'd still go out a fair bit if I was at Uni and I'm well into my 30s - but when I left school I really didn't have the mindset for the kind of learning at Uni - I'd do far better these days - I really wish I'd taken a couple of years out after college and then gone to Uni.
 
GothicGhost said:
I feel a bit old starting university in about two weeks being 34.

I suffer from dyslexia and struggle with doing courses, always been put off doing anything like this before but I need a different/better job because of health issues now.

Most probably will be the oldest student on my course lol.
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I work in a university library and I can tell you that the 30+ students are far harder workers and more polite than the younger ones. Nothing to be scared of :)
 
I did uni from 26-30 and I had the best time. I applied myself harder and was more confident making friends, so it was win/win.

I also ended up being course rep for 3 years, having a great relationship with staff and faculty as I was more grown up, etc.

It ended up being the best decision I ever made, despite just going because I wanted to study a subject I loved. Better job prospects, wider network of peers, option to study further one day too. Go smash it!
 
Agree with the comments posted. I was a mature student when I went to Uni during my mid twenties, essentially to repair damage for lack of application during my school years.

There were students older than me; never an issue. I mixed with all and never witnessed any alienation etc. Quite the opposite, everyone respected people's circumstances.

Would I have hesitation studying as a mature student, as others said, not at all.

I treated uni as a job and it made life a lot easier, also you have a different approach; you want to learn. LuckyBenski sums it up very well and similar to my experience.

Go for it! :)
 
older students are fine, you'll be mature enough to actually study since you've got all that youthful hijinks out of your system so you can expect to do pretty well.

and definately talk to student services about your dyslexia, they should at least be able to arrange for example extra time in exams for you and if the lecturers know you should get a bit of clemency for any mistakes you make. if you can you can try pushing getting your own room for exams, much less stressful atmosphere lets you concentrate properly.
 
A guy at my work place retired last week at the age of 61. He starts a degree in Politics at Wolverhampton uni soon.

Comes to show you are never too old to learn new skills.
 
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