Adult Learners - Case Studies
Philip, 30, never dreamed that he could get a degree. He had few qualifications at 16 and left school to get a job. He graduated last year with a degree in youth studies and now works as a development worker with a lottery-funded project that houses and supports single teenage parents.
'My father wanted me to join the Royal Marines - but I failed the medical. I got a job in an independent clothes shop. Then I became bored - and frankly drifted from job to job. I worked as a carpet fitter, then in retailing again, until at 22 I realised I was going nowhere and began to study psychology at evening classes. Then I began to think about university and did an Access course at a further education college. That was really, really hard. Even writing the simplest essay was difficult and when I failed some of the exams first time round I thought 'I'll never cope with a degree course'. There were so many times when I nearly gave up. But I kept going - and university then gave me no problems! I was ready for the workload and I knew how to study.'
'Fitting in with other students wasn't difficult. Ages ranged from 19 to 40 and we got on well. There was one difference in the age groups though! The minute I was handed an essay or assignment I started work on it. So did most of the other older ones - while the younger ones were out partying. The mature students never asked for an extension to deadlines! I needed to work hard Monday to Friday so that I had time for the family at weekends.'
'What was difficult was managing financially. My girlfriend worked all the time I was at university and we lived on her salary and my student loan. Money was very tight and I missed my former social life. We have a little boy who is now five and now that I am earning a decent salary I spoil him rotten.'
'I have never been happier in my life. I would do it all over again and would advise any prospective mature student to go for it. I loved academic work and would do a Master's if I could afford to.'
Jackie, 41, has a degree in psychology with philosophy and now works as a marketing assistant at her former college.
'I left school with A Levels and did a secretarial course. I had no interest in higher education. After a few years I got married and had a son who had special needs - so I stayed at home until he was eleven. I thought about doing a degree in my late twenties but it was about ten years later before I decided to test myself by doing A Level psychology. I was accepted for the degree course on the basis of my A levels without an interview. (I was amused sometimes during the course that people assumed that all mature students came in from Access courses).'
'About 25% of the students on my course were mature but all ages worked well together on assignments and in study groups. The noticeable difference was that more older students were around during the day. Many of us were tied to school hours and spent the day on campus. We weren't in the student village or working at part-time jobs. I treated the college day as a day at work - went in at 9am and worked between lectures - until it was time to pick up my son. And of course nights out and hectic social life weren't for us.'
'There were times when I felt I had bitten off more than I could chew. The level of academic work wasn't difficult but there was a huge reading commitment. There was one assignment that nearly had me in tears but I discovered that all the students felt the same --and in the end I got a good mark. I stuck out for a long time trying to live on savings and housing benefit but I soon found that I needed a computer and printer and reluctantly applied for a student loan. I couldn't manage everything else if I was constantly queuing to use the college ones. Childcare was sometimes difficult as my son was too old for a nursery and too young to be on his own after school. But I did cope thanks to friends and family.'
'My marriage had broken up before I started the course and I had horrendous financial problems. I had to negotiate a mortgage "holiday" and claim every benefit and grant possible. 'I had so many complicated forms to fill in. If you miss a DSS deadline your application is cancelled. At one point I had to choose between claim and coursework deadlines. The Student Services staff were wonderful. They gave me the maximum amount from the Hardship Fund and helped me through the maze of what to claim. I also got a bursary.'
'My advice is 'Go for it' - and apply for a loan straight away. You can always keep it somewhere earning interest.'
Mike, 34, couldn't wait to leave school at 16. He simply could not see the point of education. Jobs were plentiful and all he wanted to do was work in order to finance his hobby - climbing. So he left with two O levels (in biology and geography) and took a series of temporary jobs. Sixteen years later he has a first class honours degree in Sport Science and is hoping for a career as a university lecturer. He is the first person from his family to go to university.
What happened to change his mind? 'I was working in a factory and suddenly I saw no future. Here I was at 28 with a lifetime of routine work ahead of me. So I made enquiries at my local college, and enrolled on an Access to Higher Education course.'
The Access course was hard work - and tough going financially. Mike was lucky enough to get a small grant and his partner was working. He worked in a climbing shop for two and a half days each week to make ends meet. When he came to make his UCAS application, he could only apply to local universities and colleges. 'I had a mortgage and was settled in the area with my partner Clare'.
'There were only three mature students on the course and I was the oldest. To be honest, I didn't really notice. I was a local student with my own life, so although I got on well with all the group I didn't socialise much with the others. The 18 year-olds did strike me as immature though! They didn't seem to see the same need to work hard that I did. I suppose I was more motivated and was making more sacrifices to do the course. I had to continue at the climbing shop - two days a week in term time and full-time in the vacations.'
'I found some of the work a struggle at first - largely because I didn't have GCSE maths. 'Trigonometry is essential for kinesiology. But whenever I was in difficulty I asked for help - and tutors were brilliant. They all gave me extra time and went out of their way to help.'
'Mature students must have the support of their partners. We had talked it through and as Clare had done an art degree while I was working she agreed that it was my turn! We thought we knew what to expect - but she was a little surprised by the amount of study I had to do in my last year. I couldn't have done it without her support - and it was a struggle at times, but worth it.'
Mike is now employed as a research assistant on a government funded project to examine causes of lower back pain, involving a survey of 500 local people. He hopes to gain a PhD. while working on the project.