International Mature Student Question

Bluntly if you are paying International fees I think there's a reasonable chance you will get some offers

When did you do the SAT?

Posted from TSR Mobile

I have an extremely strong personal statement and reference. Without going into detail I have an "inspirational" story explaining my life away from education and my journey back. I am aware my lack of qualifications leave something to be desired. Obviously the smart option would be attending university in the US. Then I assume I will be told to consider a year abroad as an option. However, this is not going to get me where I want to be.

I mean apart from our ages, our situations are totally different, but I just wanted to say I think universities actually tend to really like mature students, so you can maybe feel positive while waiting.

Well thank you for that! That does help. I am glad to hear you had such a positive experience. It has been extremely frustrating but this place has been very helpful.

I'm curious why you applied to those specific universities? I wouldn't have thought they would be on an American's radar. Personally I don't think they're worth paying international fees for, but that's just me.

I am not a typical American. My qualifications left something to be desired. I knew I was relying on the strength of my personal statement and reference. I wasn't going to match up to high quality applicants at "better" universities but I knew geography might not be the most popular course for international students.

I tried to level the playing field before I even started playing the game.

I thought the universities seemed appealing. I plan on continuing through to a masters and I believe it's how you do as a student IMHO...same thing in the US. I am hoping for Aberdeen to offer me a place.

Tuition in the US isn't cheap either. To go to a nice university where they actually provide a decent geography course (Americans don't care about geography) I would be paying nearly 18,000 USD and paying more for rent and cost of living in say a city like Pittsburgh than I would at any place in Scotland, Wales, or anywhere that isn't London really. I'm paying about the same..maybe a bit more...for an experience I have dreamed about having since I was young.

You are right that better universities probably would not accept someone with no recent qualifications, but you could have applied for a BSc Geography with foundation year degree, I know the Durham does one (a very good university), but never mind. Tuition in the US is actually cheaper at state public universities, and the cost of living is probably cheaper too.

I think you should do something to prepare, do an online MOOC or something. University in the UK is going to be a shock to the system, but it will be even more difficult if you haven't done any recent study. I have a PDF book you might be interested in reading; it's not directly related to geography but its designed to give students a general introduction into the sciences (including earth sciences), so it might help you a bit.

You are right that better universities probably would not accept someone with no recent qualifications, but you could have applied for a BSc Geography with foundation year degree, I know the Durham does one (a very good university), but never mind. Tuition in the US is actually cheaper at state public universities, and the cost of living is probably cheaper too.

I think you should do something to prepare, do an online MOOC or something. University in the UK is going to be a shock to the system, but it will be even more difficult if you haven't done any recent study. I have a PDF book you might be interested in reading; it's not directly related to geography but its designed to give students a general introduction into the sciences (including earth sciences), so it might help you a bit.

Thank you for the suggestion. That would be absolutely wonderful - I would love to read through it!. I am a little anxious about course work but I have faith I'll manage. I deferred my entry to 2017 so I have plenty of time to prepare. I considered taking a class or two at Penn State University to reacquaint myself with the academic life. I am waiting to see what offers I get and then ask the university's advice.

It sounds like the OP has researched all his options fully, so if he wants to spend his money on studying in Scotland or Wales partly for the "experience" then surely that's up to him?

It is up to him, but there's no harm in expressing my own opinion.

There's no harm in expressing your opinion, but the OP clearly said the cost of living would be more expensive, and you're saying you think it would be cheaper based on what?

I think taking a couple of classes at your local university would be a great idea, if the cost won't be a problem. In fact, doing this first might have made your application stronger, so it might be something to consider if you decide you're not happy with the offers you get and want to reapply.

With what you said about your PS, without reading it, obviously I can't be sure, but it still sounds a bit unusual for UK applications. That said, some admissions tutors may really like it and it doesn't sound so off the wall that it will get you rejections. It's just something I've seen before with US students, who I've talked to on here in the past.

Yes, I imagine that would have strengthened my application, but it would be a year's worth of tuition wasted when I couldn't guarantee the classes would be applicable to UK programs - I thought I'd take my chances with my current stats quo. If I hadn't got an offer I would have defaulted to that plan.

I am happy to have received one offer so far. I am planning on continuing to a masters so if need be I'll apply to another university for that program when the time comes.

I am certain it is completely different than the standard UK personal statement or at least different. They express a need to make it stand out but one would assume they have read almost every variation of books quoted, facts presented, and statistics rambled Have been done. If all the ideas in the box have been used I have to think outside of it. I would think most mature applicants don't have any recent qualifications.

That is the ONLY thing I can say I like about American university applications better. That defining who you are is more important than your academics. Well not entirely, but much more than the UK or so it seems. However, the U.K. has a superior system by far ad there doesn't seem to be as much educational diversity in earlier stages. Our country is entirely different from one state to the next, even one town to the next...as is the education.

I don't know what state the OP lives in, but let's assume its Pennsylvania. Penn State estimates a total cost of $34,598 (£24,186) per year, that covers tuition fees, accommodation, food, books, everything really. International fees at Aberdeen are £17,200. The cheapest catered accommodation I could find at Aberdeen was £154 a week (39 weeks). Aberdeen also anticipates students will need an additional £200 a month to pay for lunches (which are not included in the accommodation cost), travel, and other general living costs. So that's a total of £25,206 - and that does not include the cost of books or flights home!

Paying a bit more to have an international experience and to receive a higher quality of education are perfectly good reasons for coming to the UK. However, considering that all British universities outside London cost about the same, I think it's a bit of a missed opportunity not applying to more prestigious and internationally recognised universities.

Sometimes, you just have to jump through the hoops and fit inside the box