Mature students in DCU

Little Miss Sunshine

Hi!

Has anyone gone back to college as a mature student to DCU? If so how did you get on.....any tips?!

Thank you!

XPS

Howdy - I have - I am now going into my final year. I will be speaking at the mature student summer school as well but my two cents....

1 - Got to actually be a student - never really did before - nothing better than sitting in the bar with not a care in the world, for a short period anyway!

2 - Money, and the lack thereof - just be ready for that, I wasn't

3 - Clubs & Socs - get involved in a few, if you have family commitments etc it will be more difficult but it will help your classmates to see outside the lecture setting, and you will actually make some great friendships.

4 – Talk to your classmates – believe me they will be happy to get to know you. There is always this belief that mature students are different and look down on the younger students – not true, and you will find the students very welcoming.

5 – Get involved in study groups, if you are finding getting back to study difficult these will be a life saver!

6 – Lecturers do treat mature students differently – and not in a bad way. As we often have more pressing commitments sometimes they will happily be more flexible.

7 – Use the facilities – the health service in DCU is much cheaper than your GP – so if you don’t have a medical card, and you aren’t going in for stupid things then use it. After all your taxes during your working life paid for it.

Got any specific questions??

Little Miss Sunshine

Thank you that was very helpful!

I am very excited and nervous about going back to college and I think fitting in was my biggest worry! But I am a young...(enough!) mature student at 27 and Im sure I should be fine mixing with people of different ages.
Thanks for the advice about the study groups hopefully this will ease me back into studying again!!
I dont have any family commitments etc so I will be pretty flexible to join any clubs or societies so that will be great!

Im looking forward to the summer school I think it will be very helpful.

XPS

Same age as me so!

What course are you starting?

XPS

Oh wait - I see you are doing Multimedia - good course.

Tmoll1985

You're not the only one miss sunshine! I'm 25 and I'm going to DCU in September. I'm sure there are many more like us!

XPS would you have any advice for accomadation around DCU for mature students?

Little Miss Sunshine

Tmoll1985 wrote: »

You're not the only one miss sunshine! I'm 25 and I'm going to DCU in September. I'm sure there are many more like us!

XPS would you have any advice for accomadation around DCU for mature students?

Yeah I'm sure once we get started and meet everyone it will be great! I think with the way things are there are more mature students than ever.

XPS

In terms of accommodation - I have my own gaff in the city, but have been really tempted to move on campus for my final year.

Depends if you are working, depends how you want to enjoy campus life and more importantly will depend on your external commitments.

I think everyone should try and at least live on campus once - but campus accommodation is often more expensive than private rented accommodation - but for the most part DCU accommodation is much better than that I have seen in other colleges.

There can often be peace of mind by living on campus - it is much more convenient - you have your own room and bathroom - the problem is you dont get to chose who you live with and if you get landed with a bunch of very very young first years who go wild because they are finally away from the parental units then you will be in for a terrible year. Mind you students often die down after the first few weeks, and a cutting glance will often work wonders, in saying that I have heard of times people were able to move apt.

DCU isn't too far from the city you will walk in under an hour, cycle in 20mins and bus it in about the same so depends on how healthy you want to be. Just pick somewhere that is close to a supermarket and is secure and well lit!!!!!

XPS

There will be lots more mature students and this can only be a good thing. However it will mean a lot more pressure on student services - mature students and international students tend to be the most heavy service users in education and where this is happened it has caused somewhat of a backlash against them, hopefully DCU will have the foresight to see this and plan accordingly - mind you its all well and good planning but if you dont have the money.....

Expect a sharp rise in the registration fee next year if tuition fees dont come in.

Quatre Mains

Hi there
best of luck first of all. I'm 35 and just finished a masters with a class of mostly 23-25 year olds and had a ball. My advice would be this, if you are going to be moving to Dublin for the course then seriously consider the campus accomodation. I snubbed it and went for a city centre place but regretted it after, as I was so busy that I didnt get the chance to go out in town much and asted time goin in and out of colelge every day. They put mature students and postgrads separate to younger students and the blocks are really nice.

Make sure you are not in too bad shape financially. Depending on your course you might not be able to work many hours part-time during the year.

Aureli

I find out tommorrow if I get a place in DCU, really nervous, half hoping I dont get it cause It will just be easier, if I do get it, i'm worried about going back to college as a mature student, finacially wise and work wise, am I able for it? also worried will people think I've gone mad going back to college at my age. I'm 27

XPS

Don't be daft - I went back at 27 and I left a job in the civil service!

Just make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and you are not just going back for the craic - in terms of money - its a major change in income, and depending on how well you are at budgeting it can be a big shock to the system, but no harm in living a bit trifty for a bit!!

mojesius

Aureli wrote: »

I find out tommorrow if I get a place in DCU, really nervous, half hoping I dont get it cause It will just be easier, if I do get it, i'm worried about going back to college as a mature student, finacially wise and work wise, am I able for it? also worried will people think I've gone mad going back to college at my age. I'm 27

How many hours per week will you be working? I'd limit it as much as possible. Just keep in mind that it gets harder to fit work in as the semester goes along and deadlines/exams start creeping up on you. Try to do as much of the assigned reading as possible, get into the habit of it from week one. Concentrate especially on the topics that interest you - this will make assignments much easier when you come to do do them. The lecturers usually post stuff online, so it's fairly accessible.

Financially, it's a bit of a lifestyle change, but well worth it. You get used to buying books instead of pints. I'm 27, just did my MA, fininshing my thesis, I loved my time out in DCU. Really sad that it's over .

InkNut

Mature students never have a problem fitting in at DCU. I've just finished first year at the age of 21 and there was never a problem with younger and older students interacting at all...

We're all friends despite the age difference. We all go out together on nights out where the age ranges from 17 - 32 and we have a great time. Students in the course share common interests and ambitions due to the specific course and thats what brings them closer and makes them friends. It might sound a bit cliche but age really is just a number, and nothing solidifies that statement more than coming to college, at any age, and letting loose and having fun with everyone:)

redout

InkNut wrote: »

Mature students never have a problem fitting in at DCU. I've just finished first year at the age of 21 and there was never a problem with younger and older students interacting at all...

We're all friends despite the age difference. We all go out together on nights out where the age ranges from 17 - 32 and we have a great time. Students in the course share common interests and ambitions due to the specific course and thats what brings them closer and makes them friends. It might sound a bit cliche but age really is just a number, and nothing solidifies that statement more than coming to college, at any age, and letting loose and having fun with everyone:)

Not trying to be smart but 21 doesnt even qualify as a proper mature student. College is full of 21 year olds albeit not first years but plenty of 3rd and 4th years. Officially you cannot be classified as mature unless you are 23 or over.

Little Miss Sunshine

Aureli wrote: »

I find out tommorrow if I get a place in DCU, really nervous, half hoping I dont get it cause It will just be easier, if I do get it, i'm worried about going back to college as a mature student, finacially wise and work wise, am I able for it? also worried will people think I've gone mad going back to college at my age. I'm 27

I am 27 too! And was really nervous at the thought of going back as a mature student but I have to say people on this have made the thought of it a lot easier! I cant wait for the summer school on the 13th to meet everyone, have a look around DCU and begin my college adventure! Did you get your place?!

Little Miss Sunshine

InkNut wrote: »

Mature students never have a problem fitting in at DCU. I've just finished first year at the age of 21 and there was never a problem with younger and older students interacting at all...

We're all friends despite the age difference. We all go out together on nights out where the age ranges from 17 - 32 and we have a great time. Students in the course share common interests and ambitions due to the specific course and thats what brings them closer and makes them friends. It might sound a bit cliche but age really is just a number, and nothing solidifies that statement more than coming to college, at any age, and letting loose and having fun with everyone:)

21 isnt a mature student!! Your only a baby!! Nice post all the same

InkNut

redout wrote: »

Not trying to be smart but 21 doesnt even qualify as a proper mature student. College is full of 21 year olds albeit not first years but plenty of 3rd and 4th years. Officially you cannot be classified as mature unless you are 23 or over.

No I wasn't saying I was a mature student myself, but rather pointing out that the non-matures and matures get along just fine in our course as if there were no age gap at all, the age gap is 100% irrelevant and from the looks of things it seems to be the same way in other courses in DCU.

By saying I was 21 I guess I was trying to get across that I'm kind of in the middle between the 18 year olds and the mature students, and like i've said before age really doesn't matter, Prepare for the time of your lives and enjoy it:)

Good luck to you all;)

Meely

Hiya,

I am going to be doing a masters in september, 27 and mature like yourselves.Just wondering what this 'summer school' you speak of is? I havent had any info from DCU, only PAC when I was offered a place and accepted. Been googling DCU just to get some info, and found this thread

stringy

Meely wrote: »

Hiya,

I am going to be doing a masters in september, 27 and mature like yourselves.Just wondering what this 'summer school' you speak of is? I havent had any info from DCU, only PAC when I was offered a place and accepted. Been googling DCU just to get some info, and found this thread

Postgraduate students are never regarded as mature students. A mature student is someone over 23 who has never completed an undergraduate degree.

Meely

well i did apply & get the grant as a 'mature student ' .... not regarded as mature for this thread so..... no worries. best of luck everyone for September

Elixir

Hey LittleMissSunshine, I'm 28 and also starting Multimedia in DCU this year. Good to know there'll be a few other mature students on the course. Either way, I can't wait to get started. I think it will be a great course.

Little Miss Sunshine

Elixir wrote: »

Hey LittleMissSunshine, I'm 28 and also starting Multimedia in DCU this year. Good to know there'll be a few other mature students on the course. Either way, I can't wait to get started. I think it will be a great course.

Hi Elixir! I went to the mature student summer school last week! There are 8 of us mature students doing Multimedia. Yeah I cant wait to get started either, we had a look around the classrooms...very exciting! Orientation tomorrow and Thursday then its all go from Monday!