Returning to Education - "Mature" Student?

[Laurie]

This month I made a decision that I hope will prove to be one of the most important of my life. It has been 5 years since I left school after completing my Highers in Stonehaven, but after working a few different jobs and living down South for a bit and in Edinburgh I've decided to go back to education and start university this month. I will be doing Film & Media at Queen Margaret and for the first time in a long time I feel I'm doing something positive career wise. I guess I have a few worries about being a potential "mature" student amongst what could be school leavers, and on top of that I have a mortgage to pay. Luckily the flat I own is in Musselburgh thus making uni a mere 5/10 minutes away.

 

I just wondered if anyone else was starting Uni for the first time this year, or more importantly how people have found going back to education as a "mature" student? I'm pretty excited about the whole thing but a bit nervous at the same time, I'm sure it is the right thing to do though as I had become pretty fed up of the 9-5 lifestyle.

[kjc2006]

I went back to study as a mature student 4 years ago when i was 27 and just finished my studies in the summer it was probably the best thing i ever did.

[Sheriff Fatman]

This month I made a decision that I hope will prove to be one of the most important of my life. It has been 5 years since I left school after completing my Highers in Stonehaven, but after working a few different jobs and living down South for a bit and in Edinburgh I've decided to go back to education and start university this month. I will be doing Film & Media at Queen Margaret and for the first time in a long time I feel I'm doing something positive career wise. I guess I have a few worries about being a potential "mature" student amongst what could be school leavers, and on top of that I have a mortgage to pay. Luckily the flat I own is in Musselburgh thus making uni a mere 5/10 minutes away.

 

I just wondered if anyone else was starting Uni for the first time this year, or more importantly how people have found going back to education as a "mature" student? I'm pretty excited about the whole thing but a bit nervous at the same time, I'm sure it is the right thing to do though as I had become pretty fed up of the 9-5 lifestyle.

 

I'm back at college 22 years after I left school and 21 years after I left Napier (just before it got delusions of grandeur and turned into a polytechnic (christ, I know people that still call Heriot Watt a technical college)) and I couldn't be more happy with my decision. Don't worry about a 5 year age gap, I don't even notice the 22 year gap. A 9-5 lifestyle is what I am trying to get into. After 21 years of restaurant, bar and on train work, it will be nice to have a settled 9-5 job.

[Scallywag]

I went to Uni at at the age of 24 and it was the best thing I ever did. I think going when you are a bit old is actual beneficial, you tend to have a better idea of what you want to do and also appreciate the Uni lifestyle after a few years of work.

[Johanes de Silentio]

Yup - I went back into education at the age of 35 and now have an Honours Degree in History from Edinburgh.

 

Thing is, I'm now back in the 9-5 routine, but I'm better paid, and I had 5 years out of it!

 

Always worth a punt - good luck, Laurie!

 

Al.

[Andy.C]

Not quite the same, but I am about to apply to go back to do my masters, 3 years after graduating first time round. Even after only that, I think it will take a bit of getting used to again.

 

If I don't get into this course, I may well consider entry to another undergrad course that can bolster what I already have.

[Gabriel]

Read an interesting paper about such a question the other day, and the gist of it was that 'mature students' tend to fall into one of two camps. Those who see themselves as different from the majority and as having special requirements and those who do not. Most 'mature students' probably start university seeing themselves in the former group but by the end of their studies they view themselves in the latter. The sooner the individual make the transition, the more at ease he or she feels, and the more enjoyment he or she gains from the experience.

 

Good luck.

[Guest casper]

I went back to education and graduated with a degree in 2000 when I was 38. There was 4 or 5 of us who were older although most of my classmates were school leavers and still see many of them. I am earning more and traveling more than I could have only dreamed of before going to uni.

I only wish I had done it a bit earlier although I reckon working for a few years before doing it makes you appreciate it more.

Simple advice is go for it.

[ArmiyaRomanova]

One thing to watch out for that particularly applies to Film & Media students.

 

If the course involved hands-on practical film-making, choose your collaborators very carefully. You've been through the world of work and understand deadlines, responsibility etc... many school-leavers haven't, and don't.

 

This doesn't help you if you've arranged a film/video shoot and half your crew doesn't turn up because they can't be arsed getting out of bed and arriving at the set on time, fully prepped for the long day ahead. As a film school lecturer (not at QMU!), I see this happen year after year...... even with folk in their mid-twenties who should know better.

 

It's a tough, tough business to break into, and only the most diligent and committed (not necessarily the most talented) survive in it. Good luck!

[cosanostra]

Hey Laurie,

 

i went back to uni when i was 26, best decision i ever made. I was working in a job i hated for a company i hated and it made me miserable.

 

The only advice i would give is study something that is going to get you a job at the end of it. I would not be going back to uni to do some film and media digeridoo studies degree that will have you no further forward and 3 or 4 years older.

[ArmiyaRomanova]

Hey Laurie,

I would not be going back to uni to do some film and media digeridoo studies degree that will have you no further forward and 3 or 4 years older.

 

Oi, I resemble that remark.

 

Fair comment though, F&M Studies degrees require careful thought....

 

If you fancy a career as a film reviewer or cultural commentator, then Film & Media Studies could maybe be helpful.

 

But if you're after a career in the film or television industry as a film/programme maker, it's not the place to start. You'd be better off at an actual film school, as long as your head is screwed on and you know exactly where you're aiming for as you go into it - and very few students do.

 

FYI, most graduating film students end up working in bars, offices, at film festivals etc... on a low wage after their degree/masters as they struggle to make their way. Most don't make it at all - if they're lucky, they'll start making commissioned short films, or running or production assisting on larger productions - which doesn't pay all that well either.

 

It's not a career to take up if you want regular hours and a regular wage. Believe me. You have to really, really love and be committed to what you're doing - or trying to do. AND be very good at it.

 

 

Laurie, feel free to PM me if you've any questions, concerns......

[hmfc_steve]

Started my MPhil Computer Science at 46 ... graduated this summer .... now moving onto PhD.... never too old

[cosanostra]

Oi, I resemble that remark.

 

Fair comment though, F&M Studies degrees require careful thought....

 

If you fancy a career as a film reviewer or cultural commentator, then Film & Media Studies could maybe be helpful.

 

But if you're after a career in the film or television industry as a film/programme maker, it's not the place to start. You'd be better off at an actual film school, as long as your head is screwed on and you know exactly where you're aiming for as you go into it - and very few students do.

 

FYI, most graduating film students end up working in bars, offices, at film festivals etc... on a low wage after their degree/masters as they struggle to make their way. Most don't make it at all - if they're lucky, they'll start making commissioned short films, or running or production assisting on larger productions - which doesn't pay all that well either.

 

It's not a career to take up if you want regular hours and a regular wage. Believe me. You have to really, really love and be committed to what you're doing - or trying to do. AND be very good at it.

 

 

Laurie, feel free to PM me if you've any questions, concerns......

 

I know a few people who have done media / film degrees and none of them work in media. From what i've read and heard, media degrees are up there with Psychology as one of the most pointless degrees possible. The business seems to be about personality, perseverence and good luck and all of the degrees in the world are not going to hep with that.

[Mr Romanov Saviour of HMFC]

How do you even go about getting back into education?

[cosanostra]

How do you even go about getting back into education?

 

I figured out what course i wanted to do then contacted the university direct. The prospectus has details of the academic selector so call them. They will tell you about the course and the entry requirements. I had plenty of UCAS points to gain automatic entry but they insisted that I needed to do higher physics as the course is quite physics intensive. They arranged for me to do higher physics at summer school on a mon-fri 9-5pm basis which took 3 weeks with the exam at the end. The academic selector can also give you info on funding and job prospects etc. Basically, think of a few jobs that you want to do and work out how to get there, step by step.

[redm]

I think it's a great idea Laurie. I don't know much about the subject so I can't comment on how useful the degree might be in terms of getting a job, but I went back to Uni when I was about 24 after having been twice before (long story) and then working for a while. It was the best decision I have ever made. I had life/work experience behind me which is always useful, regardless of what subject you do - it gives you a different sort of work ethic and a different approach to things such as preparation and deadlines, as mentioned by AR.

 

Totally agree with the comments about choosing your groupwork colleagues carefully. I would tend to try and steer clear of the school leavers where possible for the reasons mentioned before. Young 'freshers' are notoriously unreliable and they tend not to be the most resourceful either. They also look to the more 'mature' members of their groups to take all of the responsibility and it becomes very wearing and frustrating. They're also often lacking any sort of self-discipline and being straight out of school, they haven't yet grasped the concept of independent learning or the skills required to do so. Not their fault really, but you can do without the hassle I'm sure.

 

Anyway, lots of luck - I'm sure you'll have a blast.

[makateer]

This month I made a decision that I hope will prove to be one of the most important of my life. It has been 5 years since I left school after completing my Highers in Stonehaven, but after working a few different jobs and living down South for a bit and in Edinburgh I've decided to go back to education and start university this month. I will be doing Film & Media at Queen Margaret and for the first time in a long time I feel I'm doing something positive career wise. I guess I have a few worries about being a potential "mature" student amongst what could be school leavers, and on top of that I have a mortgage to pay. Luckily the flat I own is in Musselburgh thus making uni a mere 5/10 minutes away.

 

I just wondered if anyone else was starting Uni for the first time this year, or more importantly how people have found going back to education as a "mature" student? I'm pretty excited about the whole thing but a bit nervous at the same time, I'm sure it is the right thing to do though as I had become pretty fed up of the 9-5 lifestyle.

 

 

Can I be first to say welcome to Queen Margaret Uni (I work there ).

There are many students far older than yourself at QMU, so don't worry about being labelled a mature student.

 

Anyway, I was the same as you. Left school, got bored of doing crap jobs with no future and ended up going to Uni at 22 and it was the best choice I could make. If you have any questions about QMU, PM me and I will do my best to answer them.

[yvonnejambo]

I went to Uni when I was 32 and I had left school with no qualifications as I was a rebel when young. I did an intensive summer school at Aberdeen Uni got the qualifications I needed for my degree course and that was it.

Got my degree and I had a ball even though I was mum to about 1/2 of my coursemates.

For me personally there was no chance I would have been sensible enough to do a degree after leaving School and I have never been really academic. For me I had given up my job, my home and moved my son to a new area to go to Uni so failing wasnt an option. I had to work really hard as a lot of the younger students were much more up on writing essays and PC savvy than I was but I did it. Im still not a brain box but I do know now that anyone can do a degree if they put their mind to it and regardless of educational background or age.

 

Good luck

[ArmiyaRomanova]

The business seems to be about personality, perseverence and good luck and all of the degrees in the world are not going to hep with that.

 

Yup, I'd agree - and I'd add professional contacts and reliability. And ability.

 

And you have to be in the right place at the right time with the right skills or project....

 

I haven't had a regular monthly wage for years - but when I do work, I make enough to tide me through the lean months.... most of the time.

[BigC]

I went back to do Marketing at Napier aged 23.

 

When I started I was working as a lifeguard, but I stayed with the same company and they pretty much created a role for me when I graduated to keep me on and then eventually promoted me to Sales and Marketing Manager.

 

It's definately a good idea to make sure you work in a job that's relevant to your degree whilst you are studying.

 

I had done an HNC in Leisure Management before starting my degree (going straight in 2nd year) so choosing marketing just made me promotable and separated me out from all the other guys that were looking to move up the ladder.

 

I would also recommend that you socialise as much as you can early on.

 

I went straight into 2nd year so I didn't know anyone, and I didnt attend any of the nights out because I was always working and had my own mates. It's really easy to do when you are going to uni in the town you live in. But in the end I really felt it had a negative impact on my enjoyment of the degree course.

[Generic Username]

I think further education can be a fantastic route for people to go down.

 

My biggest problem/gripe with it is that it's rammed down your neck from the age of about 16 that you should be going into further education - uni/college and thats all thats really spoken about as your options when you leave school.

 

If someone had said to me at 16 "don't worry about uni, you can go and work for a few years, try out a few things and see whats for you then if you want to do university, the doors still open" I'd of been thrilled but it's all "UNI OR NOTHING" or at least it certainly was when I was at school.

 

Not thinking about further education right now, I've got by well enough with what I left school with but there's definitely a few things I'd love to go and study.

 

All the best with it Laurie.

[Walter Payton]

out of interest, how have people coped without the salary coming in when becoming a mature student? It's definitely something I'd be interested in but can't imagine how I'd pay the mortgage etc.

[Brian Whittaker's Tache]

I graduated at 32 from Central St Martins in London

 

Best thing I ever did, I now have a job I really love and I left school at 16 to do an apprenticeship.

 

As far as employment is concerned, I'd give you two bits of advice (one of which my tutor gave me just before I graduated as I had the same worry as you)

 

As long as you're a cool reasonable guy you'll get a job. No one wants to work with an ar5e, especially in the creative industries where you tend to work as a close knit team on projects. Be an outgoing personable chap and it'll be easy. I'm a creative director now and i'd take the cool person who was easy to get along with in the studio with a 2.2 over a someone with a 1st who was a pain in the rear.

 

On the age front, don't sweat it, again employers look favourably on mature students. One it shows commitment for what your doing, and that you have made a real decision to change your life. And two youre less likely to burger off on a career change again. So many students i knew got a dgree from a great art college then ended up working in a bank or the likes cos they had no idea what they wanted to do in the first place.

[Guest casper]

out of interest, how have people coped without the salary coming in when becoming a mature student? It's definitely something I'd be interested in but can't imagine how I'd pay the mortgage etc.

 

I worked just about every weekend and throughout the holidays and sometimes at night during the week. I'm fortunate enough to hold a HGV licence and there's always plenty work for drivers. Couldn't go out on the bevvy that much like most of the young ones but I didn't go to uni for the social life. It was hard money wise and fitting in time for study but well worth it in the end.

[ArmiyaRomanova]

 

As long as you're a cool reasonable guy you'll get a job. No one wants to work with an ar5e, especially in the creative industries where you tend to work as a close knit team on projects. Be an outgoing personable chap and it'll be easy. I'm a creative director now and i'd take the cool person who was easy to get along with in the studio with a 2.2 over a someone with a 1st who was a pain in the rear.

 

On the age front, don't sweat it, again employers look favourably on mature students. One it shows commitment for what your doing, and that you have made a real decision to change your life. And two youre less likely to burger off on a career change again. So many students i knew got a dgree from a great art college then ended up working in a bank or the likes cos they had no idea what they wanted to do in the first place.

 

 

So true, on both counts.

 

A major problem is that the media doesn't realistically represent the inner workings of the industry, creating unrealistic dreams for students (the myth that directors are in total control of a project, for example).

 

So many students dream of becoming directors, convinced that this means that they're automatically auteurs, that producers are only there to raise money for them to indulge themselves, and creative teams there to carry out their every whim. The idea that there are markets out there, with financiers who have expectations that need to be met, doesn't enter into consideration.

 

This is pervasive to the point that when I discuss how the industry works in lectures, a few of the younger students just don't believe me - seriously!

 

Mercifully, when they begin to work together on projects, the penny drops for most of them.

[spud]

I was in the civil service in Edinburgh for over 10 years. I find that sentence really frightening but one day I walked into Edinburgh University and asked them if they would take me on to do a BSc in ecology. I think that the staff and other students found me a bit strange at first but gradually it worked out. I even ended up as class rep. I got an honours degree, followed it up with a Masters and followed that with a PhD. During my PhD, I lived for 2 years in the Kruger National Park, for 1 year in Mozambique, had training in using automatic weapons and a Magnum handgun, got stalked by lions, attacked by elephant, took tourists on night drives. I?m not showing off; I could not have done all these things sitting in the civil service counting the days until I retire. Livings never too late.

[Walter Payton]

I was in the civil service in Edinburgh for over 10 years. I find that sentence really frightening but one day I walked into Edinburgh University and asked them if they would take me on to do a BSc in ecology. I think that the staff and other students found me a bit strange at first but gradually it worked out. I even ended up as class rep. I got an honours degree, followed it up with a Masters and followed that with a PhD. During my PhD, I lived for 2 years in the Kruger National Park, for 1 year in Mozambique, had training in using automatic weapons and a Magnum handgun, got stalked by lions, attacked by elephant, took tourists on night drives. I?m not showing off; I could not have done all these things sitting in the civil service counting the days until I retire. Livings never too late.

 

Creag?

[CostaJambo]

You will have a great time at QM if it's anything like when it was in Clerry, the union was always full of birds. Especially since you are doing such a diddy course.

 

Seriously though, you will get far more out of it now than if you'd gone straight from school. I worked for 4 years before going to Napier to do a pretty job specific course in the same line of work and the lads straight from school didn't have a scooby.

[Laurie]

Thanks for all the advice everyone, and I'll be sending a few PMs when I get a proper chance (working every day until I move back to my flat in Edinburgh).

 

What I would add is that I am very aware if the course and I certainly don't expect to just have a 4 year learning stint and then walk into my dream job right after. In fact I full expect to start laying foundations along the way with extra curricular work. For people who know me they will be aware I'm as outgoing and sociable as they come, and I'm pretty resourceful and always full of ideas and willing to go out there and make things happen. Even those of you who just know me through my work with Hearts on matchdays and writing for Planet Hearts (OK it was only once I know) should get an idea that I'm not someone who simply wants to waltz into a perfect job that is ready made for me.

 

In fact the challenge of it all is partly what motivates me, if I've learnt one thing over the past 5 years it's that I really need a job that requires me to be both creative and show plenty initiative of my own. The reason I've went for Film and Media as opposed to a more specific Film course (in case you hadn't guessed that is my REAL passion) was that I want to give myself other possibilities as well. I already have my own web design business that I do on the side for a bit of extra cash here and there (don't worry fully registered with HM Revenues!) and I also like to write as well. There are a few post grad more specialised courses I've looked at that I may consider taking if I decide I need/want to develop further skills more specific to Film, but for now I think this course in an ideal way to both get me back into education and also start me on what will hopefully be the right track to what I want to do with myself.

 

Incidentally to those wondering about becoming a mature student I'm not sure if you're aware or not but if you have been out of education for 3 years or more you are entitled to the full ?4,500 p/a SAAS loan (Scotland of course) and for me if I work that out over the course of my studying year (remember you can work full time in the summer for a while) it is almost my mortgage paid every month. Granted there is still a lot to make up but there is always plenty part time work and - dare I say - 0% interest on student overdrafts! When you add that to the fact I will no longer have to pay council tax or charges and interest on my current disgustingly high overdraft I'm not actually that worse off than I was before I decided to go to uni!

 

And audioslave in regards to your post I completely agree, thankfully my parents did go down the route of saying "do what you feel is right, and we'll support you either way" and I'm very glad I did because I would't have stuck uni out at 17 and I probably wouldn't have chosen the right course either. So many of my mates went and have got degrees now in things they didn't even want, and they are actually working in the same jobs I am!!!

 

Cheers again everyone, I'll hopefully chat to a few of you in more detail soon!