Any mature students on here who have gone back to study A-levels??

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I found one college that does a-levels for teens and adults but got put off by being in a class of teens..might look at OU as a back up opt, so much to think about right now but your input has helped a lot. Thank you v much. Wish I could have a study buddy..financing in something that shook going back to uni open day £9,250 per year..omg oh how 10-12yrs it's all changed!!

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I've been back with 16-18 year olds, it's not as bad as you'd think, the studying was worth it, I actually really enjoyed myself! I was one of three other mature students at my college doing science subjects. It hadn't it's annoying moments don't get me wrong, but it was worth it. Plus it's cheaper than trying private/exams centres where I live. Nearest place I couldn't go would be £12,000 a year just for the alevels!! Plus over an hours commute by train! So I either went full time at a local college or studied long distance and taught myself. When I considered needing AAA grades, I went for full time at college.
Slightly nervous about the prospect of living in halls in first year of uni...

Reply 221

Rustin

How old are you, Cowie?

Reply 222

Cowie315

Original post by Rustin

How old are you, Cowie?

26, going to be 27 starting uni again.

Reply 223

Philip-flop

Original post by Cowie315

26, going to be 27 starting uni again.

Still so much respect for you!! Do you know any decent websites for searching for tutors specifically to an exam board? I can't seem to find any for Edexcel's new spec. One place of tutors even considered that I switch exam boards from Edexcel to AQA just so they can help!

Reply 224

AmeliaLost

Original post by Cowie315

26, going to be 27 starting uni again.

Eee you're only a year older than me! This is reassuring :yep:

Though i'll be your age when I -start- college. Convinced I'm going to be ostracized for being ancient~

Reply 225

Cowie315

Original post by Philip-flop

I'm not sure if I can be much help with this one. Not all tutors are the same, and I went through recommendations from other students, mainly ones who needed the grades I did too, I also used recommendations from my college.
Another one of the benefits of being in college with other students doing the same things as you.

Depends where in the country you are, there might be alevels tutoring services you could get some advice from?
This is the slight issue with he new specs too, the exams have all changed so much, but a tutor with enough experience of the old spec should be able to adjust. Also some lecturers in local colleges will tutor during the evening to increase income. I know one of mine did. Good tutors get booked up quite quickly, my biology one had the same students from GCSE through to end of alevel. She helped so much, I was two UMS marks of an A*!! So frustrating!

Reply 226

Cowie315

Original post by AmeliaLost

Eee you're only a year older than me! This is reassuring :yep:

Though i'll be your age when I -start- college. Convinced I'm going to be ostracized for being ancient~

TBH I don't look that's old - according to the students who I am friends with from college. So unless I brought it up, everyone assumed I was the same age. No need for them to think otherwise really... there weren't a lot of mature students.
So I think it's only as much of a big deal as you make it, majority of students will leave you alone.

I did get teased once... it was so embarrassing :colondollar:

I was in a physics lecture and a group of the boys started trying to tease me about how one of the boys had 'got with me' I assume this means kiss... my lecturer just stood their trying not to laugh. I then have to explain that I am possibly a bit too old for him. I thought my days of teasing had ended!! Haha

Reply 227

Rustin

Original post by Cowie315

26, going to be 27 starting uni again.

That's not old.

I'm going to be almost 25 starting college.

Having read a few posts here and there, I've noticed that people seem to have forgotten that University is somewhere you go for education, and not some social club.

Original post by AmeliaLost

Eee you're only a year older than me! This is reassuring :yep:

Though i'll be your age when I -start- college. Convinced I'm going to be ostracized for being ancient~

What are you studying?

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 228

Cowie315

Original post by Rustin

I don't feel old haha, but I know my life has changed a lot since I was 18, how I like to spend my time and I can't quite bounce back from a hangover like I used to. I'm also a bit nervous about living in a grim student flat again, it was grotty the first time round!

Very true, it is for studying, but we all know all work and no play makes jack a dull boy! :biggrin:

Especially when studying quite a demanding course, making friends and balancing a social life too can really give a bit of relief and also provides great support! - studying too much sometimes can be counter productive.

One of the things that worries a lot of people I think returning to studying when they are older is being isolated. It Has the potential to be lonely, especially if you move away again.

Luckily a vet med course has quite a high percentage of mature students as it is often studied as a second degree. Surrey aparently have had over 2000 applicant this year :s-smilie:

What are you wanting to study at uni?

Reply 229

Rustin

Yeah, I see what you're saying.

I don't know what I want to study at Uni yet. I'm starting a course at my local college which is a general introduction to natural sciences and applied science, which I'm hopeful will give me a good idea of which route I'd like to take.

What did you study the first time at Uni?

Reply 230

Cowie315

Original post by Rustin

That's a great idea, I hope you enjoy it.
I studied fashion design first time round, ended up hated it so much, but got offered a job during my degree so went to work in London which just confirmed to me it wasn't just my degree, it was the whole industry. I specialised in garment technology.
So I came back to try a become what i had always wanted to be. It's been pretty hard, going back to actually studying, my degree had none of it, I hadn't done an exam since I was 16. I had no clue haha took a lot of late night to begin with to even get An E or D in chemistry - we had weekly tests.

Reply 231

AmeliaLost

Original post by Rustin

What are you studying?

Going to be doing A-levels over two years (Bio, chem, maths, and psychology) and am aiming to study neuroscience afterwards. Was umm-ing and ahh-ing about doing an access to science course for a little while but I'd rather have the security of doing things 'properly'. I've always taken shortcuts in life and wanted to do something traditionally for once(!), plus means I can aim for Cambridge etc :biggrin:

Reply 232

Cowie315

Original post by AmeliaLost

This isn't exactly how I felt in regards to the access course. Whikstsnits an excellent options for the majority of people, it does pigeon hole you slightly. I was fed up of being stuck because of not having the broader qualifications. Plus I didn't want another thing to make me different starting uni. I wanted to be at the same level as everyone else! I do think the universities appreciate the commitment it takes to go back and do alevels too.

Reply 233

Kefte

I'll be 30 after Christmas (gosh, don't say 27 is too old). Anyway, I've been at one college doing A-levels for 2-years and now I'm at another doing other A-levels - the first college had a great mix of age ranges, the one I'm at now almost purely caters for 16-18 year olds and I have no mature students in any of my classes. But - the students are fantastic, doing A-levels they're motivated and smart (smarter and more interesting than most adults I know) and I am really enjoying it.

Admittedly, I haven't told them my age (they haven't asked) - so they may just think I'm 17 (brilliant).

Reply 234

Kefte

Original post by AmeliaLost

That was my thinking too.

Also, I'd read statistics suggesting mature students have reduced chances of getting into university, and I was wondering if it was because how they'd tried to access uni - as mature students are more likely to use access/OU. So, I just want to make myself as appealing as possible and get the place at the uni I want.

Reply 235

AmeliaLost

Original post by Cowie315

This isn't exactly how I felt in regards to the access course. Whikstsnits an excellent options for the majority of people, it does pigeon hole you slightly...

Those are some fantastic typos :wink:

Original post by Cowie315

I do think the universities appreciate the commitment it takes to go back and do alevels too.

Yeah that is the impression I got too. I'm hoping it will give more opportunity to really get to grips with the basic material too, as opposed to the mad flight over the syllabus Access seems to be!

Original post by Kefte

I'll be 30 after Christmas (gosh, don't say 27 is too old). ... Admittedly, I haven't told them my age (they haven't asked) - so they may just think I'm 17 (brilliant).

And no one has commented on the zimmer frame? :tongue:

This is my plan too - my sister is 17 and still thinks I'm 18/19 so hoping I can pull that off here too :mmm:

Reply 236

Cowie315

Original post by Kefte

Haha glad you are enjoying, and exactly most won't assume otherwise :smile:

27 definitely isn't too old, neither is 30. I am nervous about halls though!

Reply 237

Cowie315

Original post by AmeliaLost

Those are some fantastic typos :wink:

Yeah that is the impression I got too. I'm hoping it will give more opportunity to really get to grips with the basic material too, as opposed to the mad flight over the syllabus Access seems to be!

And no one has commented on the zimmer frame? :tongue:

This is my plan too - my sister is 17 and still thinks I'm 18/19 so hoping I can pull that off here too :mmm:

Haha, the worst part of using student room on my phone! :colondollar:

Sometimes when students do find out my age, they do this whole 'ahhhhh that makes sense, I wondered how you'd managed to work in London etc'
One of the girls I used to study with used to take a lot of delight from asking people to guess my age!

Reply 238

Quiet _One86

My fear of going to college to study, and the teachers being younger/same age would be my logic of reservation to go back to FE not Uni to study..haha! Cringe. But I think I might of found a way around my dilema, discuss with uni about doing something in the interim as a sandwich of sorts before the year study of study if needed.