Mature Students / Going back to Uni

Bubbs · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 May 2009 Karma :

Just wondering if anyone on here has been in my position and has done something about it.

Basically I finished uni with a basic degree back in 2006 in a subject which at the time I had no interest in and only completed because Id already invested two years of my life. At the time I thought I was mature enough to be in uni and to make something of it. However the reality was that like most 18 year old's going to Uni I had no freaking clue what I wanted to do with my life, all I knew was I wanted to go travelling after uni, and was brainshwashed by schools into going to Uni no matter what. This lack of interest stunted my ambition to complete my degree at anywhere near a high standard.

So I ended up walking away with an unclassified degree which I achieved due to the amount of points I'd accrued.

My degree was in Business and Information Systems.

Present Day:

I have done my travelling and had a blast. Been all over Europe and Canada and snowboarded to my hearts content. Doing low level jobs to keep me ticking over I was happy as a pig in shit.

But I'm now at the point where I don't have anything to fall back on career wise. I come back and the most I can hope for is working as an Administrator which although isn't a bad job is not something that I can throw myself into and develop.

So after such a long winded intro:

Is there anyone here that has been in a similar situation as me?

What did you do about it?

What do you do for a living now, and do you enjoy it?

My loose plan is to find an admin job, and possibly go to night school/uni and retrain in something that actually interests me. Just don't know what that is going to be. Seeing that other people have done this already would be a confidence boost.

Thanks in advance.
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Dazbo666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Karma :

I originally finished A levels etc at high school, and left with no real idea of what I wanted to do.
Resulting in me spending 3-4 years on various job training schemes, and bundling my way thru a few crap jobs before realising that extra qualifications might help me to increase my opportunities.

So I went back to a re-start college course, and eventually to uni as a "mature student" (in my early/mid twenties) studying with other students around 5 years+ younger than me.

Dunno if 5+ years counts, but it was one of the most valuable career benefits for me at the time
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temeluchus · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

The OU is a good bet for someone in your situation.

I am partway through a degree in Astronomy.
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temeluchus · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

I tried a bricks and mortar uni a few years back as a mature student, but found all the teenagers to be an annoying distraction.
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Imonster · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Karma :

Bubbs · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 May 2009 Karma :

fatpies · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Mar 2011 Karma :

Costs a packet to do these days because of the funding changes.

There is always the option of a masters which is a little bit cheaper, but they are viewed as vocational to what you want to do tbh and it is more self research than being taught.
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Agreed, if you want letters after your name, go straight to a Masters. You can also do a taught course, a Postgraduate Diploma - add an optional 'with Project' to essentially get an equivalent to a Masters.

At your advanced age though, you should be getting jobs based on who you know. Whether you nobbed up your degree or not, that was your chance to schmooze with the management of the future - did you make any useful contacts?
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fatpies · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Mar 2011 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

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Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

I went to university late, as a 21 year old mature student Laughing

and did a four year degree and came out and eventually ended up back in the industry I was in originally.

After travelling I decided to change my career direction, and did some more studying with practical experience, and then looked into doing another university course. Got accepted at both Reading uni and Bristol uni (where I would have been parting with £8k tuition fees (not including books, accommodation etc.) I sat and considered both places and decided to turn down both uni places, and find work where I would be able to do studies alongside work rather to be out of work and in debt.

Finding work was tough and slow, although I am now in a decent job where I could start building up a career and get some training. I have decided to hold fire on the additional education front, till I have been here at least a year, because the work is so involving and tiring, I'm not sure I could cope with study on top of a full time job.

My advice would be - before you plunge yourself into a new course, really dig deep and think about what it is you want to be doing for your career. Would a course really be the answer, because when you have to pay so much for it, and you have the potential to be in debt for the privilege, you need to be really sure.

Could you maybe find yourself gainful employment where you can get in-house training - potential to do study part-time. I think this might be a wise move, especially at the moment. Karma

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WildGoose · White Van Man Joined: 20 Mar 2002 Karma :

Can someone explain to me what a 'career' is, and why it matters so much?

To me it's just a bullshit word, but seems to be a sticking point for a lot of people.

What do you actually want to do in your life?

Is qualifications (meaningless bits of paper, when broken down) actually going to help you achieve it, or do you just think that it will. As someone above observed, its mostly who you know, and what you can get yourself into.

Do you actually want a 'career' or do you just think you do, because it is what everyone else seems to have, and there is some unspoken pressure there?

Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

TheDonUK · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Karma :

Marcg868 · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Karma :

I went to Uni late I was 22 when I started my Nursing diploma. Did 2 years and had to discontinue due to health problems. I'm now waiting to go back to Uni in March 2012 after having various operations. I'll be 26 when I start my course.

Now When I was their previously, i was the 4th Youngest out a Cohort of 200, so a wide variety of ages.

Your never too old to retrain and get an education.

Some jobs, especially Nursing, I think requires a bit of general life experience before starting. I don't think id be able to cope with the major stresses and shocks you see on a ward as a fresh faced 18 year old.

Find a career path that really interests you and then look at what training and qualifications you need to do it.

Don't do what I did, I wanted to become a Nurse from a young age, but always thought I was too thick to become a Nurse. So I decided to become a bloody Travel agent and spent three years at college doing that. Luckily, the BTEC and A levels i gained from doing that enabled me to get onto my Nursing diploma, with a bit of Personal statement bullshitting from Mum who teaches Community nursing at the University I applied to.

My aim in life is to be a Nurse Practitioner, maybe in Oncology. Who knows.
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bikertomm · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jul 2010 Karma :

I'm 18 and I guess in a fairly similar situation, I came out of college a few months ago with equivalent to 3 A's at A level and have had uni rammed down my throat for the last year.

But like what has already been said I don't think uni is the right option if you are unsure on what to do. I have no fucking clue, and think uni could be a huge loss of money / debt. So now I'm working in a very low job while I figure out what to do.

Better to be working than not... right?

It's weird someone mentioned HGV licence I was thinkning of that the other day..

Fuck it, I don't know either. Rolling Eyes

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fatpies · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Mar 2011 Karma :

bikertomm · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jul 2010 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Think (as Goose has alluded to) HGV driving used to be a well paid job but no longer is. Possibly to the extent that actual pay now is less than 25 years ago let alone in real terms.

All the best

Keith
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