University / Mature Student help?

[TheTwirler]

Hello all.

 

I am hoping to go to University in 2009 as a mature student (I'll only be 23 but I'm hoping to go with Work Experience, rather than A-levels. The reason for this is when I left school, I don't think I was mature enough to have gone through with it all. However, I now think I'm grown up enough and ready to actually see it through.

 

So..

 

Does anyone have any advice on how I should go about this? Am I better off applying for a BSc. degree or choosing an entry level course and then moving onto a degree in the chosen subject (this obviously narrows my choices).

 

Any help/experience with this at all would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[pinklady]

mature students do get into uni with life experiences, however they do tend to insist on you having maths and english

 

what area are you considering study in?

[D2J]

I've just started University at 29, Im a full time network student with no GCSE's etc (well nothing above D anyway).. I do however have a lot of work experience behind me which worked in my favour.

 

I had the option of either FDsc or BSc so I chose the latter and Ill be graduating in 2010 now as Im not doing the full 4 years (doing it in 3)

 

Hallam for example have Foundation degrees with the option to top up with a 3rd year to get a Bachelors.

 

What were your GCSE grades like when you left school? What work experience do you have and does it relate the path you wish to follow?

[TheTwirler]

I have 12 A-C's @ GCSE (Including an 'A' in English).

 

I currently work for one of the Major Banks in their Mortgage section. However, I was actually thinking that Geography or something Finance related would be my preferred options

[D2J]

It can do no harm to email them with an enquiry Thats how I started out.

[TheTwirler]

Nice one D2J, I might just do that

 

Thanks..

[shlg]

Bear in mind that for lots of degrees, your first year marks don't count towards your final results, so you've got time to ease back into studying.

[metalman]

Although that's true, it's also true that a sound knowledge of the basic stuff in the first year is a prerequisite for doing any good in the subsequent years, so don't ease off too much!

[Mathom]

I have 12 A-C's @ GCSE (Including an 'A' in English).

 

I currently work for one of the Major Banks in their Mortgage section. However, I was actually thinking that Geography or something Finance related would be my preferred options

 

One of the best ways in is to do an Access Course with Sheffield College. These are very good, and you used to be able to do some as evening classes ('used to' as I'm not sure if that still runs!). They will equip you for degree course entry and Sheffield's Universities welcome applicants from Access - to all courses!

 

How's your Maths? You might like Economics if it's good.

 

Check out Access courses and then check out entry requirements for degree courses you like the look of.

[Twiglet]

I would recommend you do an access course first. Mature students generally find it much harder to adjust to university style teaching as they struggle with study skills such as revision and essay construction. Most cope very well as they tend to have a much better work ethic than those that come straight after A-levels but they do tend to have done A-levels themselves, albeit some time ago. Doing an access course would ease you back into studying and hopefully put you on a par with the other students beginning the course so you aren't struggling from the start, which can be very demoralising.