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Applying to Uni as a mature student...
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Ok so I've already taken a year out, I got into Southampton uni but I deferred my entry for a year because I wanted to travel in South East Asia and Egypt (now changed to Australia), which I've done/am doing and I fucking love it!
You see, as some of you know, depending on what happens when I go to Australia in May... I MIGHT end up living out there for a year, and then possibly going travelling in South America and Africa for a year after that.
Even if this doesn't happen, I'm still not totally sure I'm ready for Uni yet... there's still so much of the world I want to see. Even if I don't end up living in Australia, I'm still considering cancelling Uni for another year just to do more travelling.
The problem is, I'm scared I'll never get to Uni lol.... but is Uni even that important, do half the degrees even help you get a job, or is it just something to do cos everyone does it, which then leaves you in fuck loads of debt?
Also, I've only applied for Uni through UCAS, with my college's password e.t.c... has anyone else applied for Uni at a later stage, how do you go about it? And what's it like being at Uni and a few years older? Do you still have the wild social life?
EDIT: Sorry this was supposed to go in STUDENT. Can someone move it for me please?
You see, as some of you know, depending on what happens when I go to Australia in May... I MIGHT end up living out there for a year, and then possibly going travelling in South America and Africa for a year after that.
Even if this doesn't happen, I'm still not totally sure I'm ready for Uni yet... there's still so much of the world I want to see. Even if I don't end up living in Australia, I'm still considering cancelling Uni for another year just to do more travelling.
The problem is, I'm scared I'll never get to Uni lol.... but is Uni even that important, do half the degrees even help you get a job, or is it just something to do cos everyone does it, which then leaves you in fuck loads of debt?
Also, I've only applied for Uni through UCAS, with my college's password e.t.c... has anyone else applied for Uni at a later stage, how do you go about it? And what's it like being at Uni and a few years older? Do you still have the wild social life?
EDIT: Sorry this was supposed to go in STUDENT. Can someone move it for me please?
Post edited by JustV on
0
Comments
I did a college course after school but I never went to uni. Instead I just started at the very bottom of the company I work for and slowly worked my way up.
In terms of debt and time I feel I was better off not going to uni and I now have nearly 5 years of experience behind me to back me up for getting new jobs in the future.
The one thing I would say is that I do sometimes think that I might have missed out on uni more for the experience of it all than what you actually get out of it in the end. Saying that though you don't many better experiences than travelling the world!
I was 21 when I started my second year, so not as young a most but not really what you call old. I find some people very young, immature and irritating, but have a great time with some brilliant friends. Social life won't necessarily be any different unless you are really old by the time you get to uni.
I have to say that i can't see a dramaticly difference in salaries between my friends who did and didnt' go.
In general degrees are worth much less these days then they were previously as everyone and thier dog seems to have one.
But if you want to go because your genuinely interested in studying something then i would say its worth it. I made a massive effort to work harder at university than i did at school becuase i kept on reminding myself that i could be in much nicer places - so i really had to justify why i was there.
i guess that meant i missed out on the whole university going out and getting supidly drunk scene but tbh i was so over that by the time i got there.
Ohh and lastly i started at 20 and was the 2nd youngest on my course.....
I don't want to be a Lawyer or anything like that. Hmmm
I think you should carry on with what you are doing if you are enjoying travelling. I looked at your profile and you're only nineteen, not exactly over the hill to take time out and go to uni if you ever feel you want to.
Hmm Yeah that's what I'm thinking. But I just feel like I should go because it does look fun and someday I do need to actually think about what the fuck I wanna do for a career, because right now I'm pretty clueless.
The thing is, I got a letter from my Uni this morning asking me to confirm whether I still want my place in Sedptember....well for a start I don't know what I'm doing about Australia until May. So what do I do? Should I just say 'yes' and then cancel nearer the time if I want to? Can I do that?
Your still only young, you could even join uni around the age of 22/23 and still be fine.
If you got the opportunity to go traveling around, then go with it. As long as you have never had a lifelong ambition to be a doctor, lawyer etc then roll with it. Going travel can be just as beneficial as getting a degree, and I would guess more for filling.
Good luck
Because I'm part-time I work at the same time so when I graduate I'll have work experience and a degree and I did 'nuff cool stuff when I was 17-20 without my head in the books. I like the way I'm doing it but it wouldn't suit everyone as it's taking alongtime, but I'd be staying in this area anyway to keep mydaughter in the same school and stay near my family.
You wanna travel, well you could do it now, or do your degree and travela fterwards. I did the travel a little first thing, which would have been more if I didn't havefmaily commitments. One of my brothers did the uni first thing, then got a proper job and he still manages to travel, the oppurtunities are out there, make a decision and run with it, nothing is irreversable anyway.
Good luck.
i applied as a mature student 3 years ago. (25 now!). Uni matters-but it depends on what job you wanna do. Personal choice-me thinks.
Yeah there was various ages on my course, the majority went out every week end and partied like sheep. ;-)
Mate I was so mature by the time I started my History degree we were studying events I'd lived through (no joke!!!). You're never too old to study, trust me. Go out into the world and live your life until you're 100% ready. Most of my friends who went at 18 have never used their degrees as they chose them without really knowing what they wanted to do. At 3-4 k a year in tuition fees its worth waiting until you're sure its right for you.
Forget the age gap, it meant nothing to me and I was twice the age of my fellow Freshers. Although I often found myself on nights out turning into Dad role, deterring sleazebags from my female friends and putting them into cabs at the end of the night when they were spinning out. :yeees:
But hey I don't regret anything :thumb:
Geography teacher?