Mature student - help needed!

Hi there,

I'm looking for a bit of advice regarding my UCAS application for either 2015 or 2016 entry.

I'll try to keep this as brief as possible, when I was 18 I got part way through a course at University before quitting due to personal familial issues that have since been fully resolved.

Upon quitting, I applied to join the Marines, and during training for entry I injured my back. This required surgery which then barred me from entry, so I undertook an apprenticeship in carpentry which I have just recently completed.

Having resolved my personal issued, I feel in a good place to study a subject I love (before it's too late). I'm looking to apply to the same universities as I did previously, for the same course, either for 2015 or 2016 entry, and have a few questions regarding that. Any light anyone can shine on this would be greatly appreciated:


+ References - previous teachers or employer? Given my employer is my Dad his reference will be unavoidably biased and the university will surely pick up on that?

+ Personal statement - is it advisable to include a concise history regarding quitting university first time around/work since then etc as I did above? Or should I keep it purely academic (i.e. why I love the subject/why I.m suited to it etc)? Is there anything I should include as a mature student that I wouldn't have as a post college 18 year old?

+ I presume the University I was previously at will be ale to see that I've quit before. How much will this be taken into consideration? Will I get any opportunity to disclose the details of why I quit etc? Plus will they have access to my academic record whilst I was there (as if so, hopefully they'll see that I didn't quit due to struggling with the workload etc)?

+ Is it too late? Starting my first year at either 22 or 23, is that too late? I'm passionate about the subject I wish to study, but I do acknowledge undertaking a degree at my age could be seen as a 'folly'/undertaking study for the sake of it (certainly not true in my case, but that's nonetheless some criticism I've faced).


Thanks so much if you've waded through this far! - This all seemed so easy when I had access to various teachers' aid, but not now I'm applying 'independently'.

Thanks again.

Hi there,

I'm looking for a bit of advice regarding my UCAS application for either 2015 or 2016 entry.

I'll try to keep this as brief as possible, when I was 18 I got part way through a course at University before quitting due to personal familial issues that have since been fully resolved.

Upon quitting, I applied to join the Marines, and during training for entry I injured my back. This required surgery which then barred me from entry, so I undertook an apprenticeship in carpentry which I have just recently completed.

Having resolved my personal issued, I feel in a good place to study a subject I love (before it's too late). I'm looking to apply to the same universities as I did previously, for the same course, either for 2015 or 2016 entry, and have a few questions regarding that. Any light anyone can shine on this would be greatly appreciated:


+ References - previous teachers or employer? Given my employer is my Dad his reference will be unavoidably biased and the university will surely pick up on that?

+ Personal statement - is it advisable to include a concise history regarding quitting university first time around/work since then etc as I did above? Or should I keep it purely academic (i.e. why I love the subject/why I.m suited to it etc)? Is there anything I should include as a mature student that I wouldn't have as a post college 18 year old?

+ I presume the University I was previously at will be ale to see that I've quit before. How much will this be taken into consideration? Will I get any opportunity to disclose the details of why I quit etc? Plus will they have access to my academic record whilst I was there (as if so, hopefully they'll see that I didn't quit due to struggling with the workload etc)?

+ Is it too late? Starting my first year at either 22 or 23, is that too late? I'm passionate about the subject I wish to study, but I do acknowledge undertaking a degree at my age could be seen as a 'folly'/undertaking study for the sake of it (certainly not true in my case, but that's nonetheless some criticism I've faced).


Thanks so much if you've waded through this far! - This all seemed so easy when I had access to various teachers' aid, but not now I'm applying 'independently'.

Thanks again.