Tips on applying as a Mature Student

Posy wrote: »

I am thinking of applying to a course, but since I already have a degree, I wouldn't get 'free fees'.
I was looking up the fees for the course and it had listed (for example) Registration Fee: €2,000. EU Fee Status: €4,000. Non EU Fee: €8,000.
Is it the 'registration fee' that I'd be paying or is that the "free" fee and I'd be paying the EU Status fee?

Hi Posy,

Generally the free fees in your example would refer to the €4,000. The €2000 registration fee can be covered for people eligible for the fee grant but as you hold a degree already you would be ineligible for this. In your case the total fees that would apply would be €6,000.

You can check your own particular status with the DES student support unit who implement fee policy: tel 057 9325317.

Scallywaggy wrote: »

I'm a very mature student, being 47, I feel this is my last shot at a 4yr degree as I'll be 51 on completion. I've always had a love of reading and found the two English Studies and English Literature courses would be right up my street. I've filled in everything on the forms and with a week or so to go I'm beginning to get a little panicked.

Hi OP,

As an aside note the oldest student I’ve worked with to get to college was a lady who was 61 when she started her four year degree so you have a a good way to go before being over the hill learning wise!

Scallywaggy wrote: »

My problem is the question "What aspects of this subject/course interest you most?"

You see, they all do! And I've been looking at a blank screen for three days now. I simply do not know what to write.

Writers block is common for students doing personal statements. One of the techniques we use is to get the student to write down absolutely everything that appeals to you about the courses you are applying for. Don’t censor or edit as you are doing it. Put it all down. The idea is that this is a little like a flooded river clearing the dam that’s blocking you. It can help clear the swirling mass of thoughts that can be going round your head when you try to be selective about what to include. It also gives you a bit of confidence as you are being productive and proactive around your statement and this can reduce the panic a little.

When you have this done go for a walk. Or wash the dog. Or bake a cake. Do something unrelated and hands-on. It helps the mind relax and the subconscious kick into gear to start sorting through the stuff you have written down.

When you come back to the personal statement you can put the editing hat on. What colleges are looking for is someone who is interested, motivated, and has the capacity to lean and the ability to stick with the course.
It can be useful to organize the info you have written under these questions:

• What interests you about the field(s) you have chosen?
Pick the one or two strongest points from what you have written earlier. The ones that resonate with you the most. Are there particular literary authors you enjoy and why. Relate this to aspects to the course, e.g. are there particular specialisms available that appeal to you and why.

• How have you developed your interest?
Practical examples, e.g. member of book club, literature study courses you might have taken, member of drama group, work in a library, volunteer after school tutor, Collecting the complete works of specific authors etc. Basically anywhere that your love of reading has intersected with your life. Examples can be recent or ideally a few over a number of years to illustrate the depth of interest, e.g. winning a short-story competition in secondary school, working as a voluntary family learning tutor, completing a local literature studies course etc.

• How does your previous work or education relate to your chosen courses?
You can look back at the things you have done in life and try to relate them to your love of English, Obviously if you have ever worked in media, journalism or library work you have lots of scope but if not then you may need to be a bit creative here e.g. someone working in a frontline position might have taken on responsibility for all report writing. Or if working in the home practical examples of encouraging reading there etc.

• What are your long terms aims?
What do you want this course to give you? Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years? What do you want to achieve and how will the course help you in this? The aims can be as big or little as you like. The main thing is to show that you have thought about the long term.

As Larianne said keep it to the point. A typed page is usually more than enough; many students average three quarters of a page.

Scallywaggy wrote: »

I'm also feeling a little intimidated about the fact that it will likely be literary academics that will be reading my application and my use of the English language is basic, despite my being Irish and it being my only language.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should write there? I've tried refering to the course subjects, but to write a little about what interests me most, takes up too much space. To write that I like them as a whole looks lazy and like I'm just picking it for something to do, and with four kids that's the last thing I'm doing. Help?

Finally don’t worry about the ‘venerable heads’ who may or may not be reading your application. The hardest thing is to write for other people so focus on what you want the college to know about you and why you are the best candidate for this course.
Your post was clear, to the point and expressive so you have a good faculty with language. Anyway you are applying to college to learn.

I’ve waffled enough.:o Hope this helps

IPAM wrote: »

Thanks Paperclip for the advice here and in the PMs, also thanks to Larianne, reading this thread helped me alot in filling out the CAO, hopefully it all works out

Yea me to, thanks Larianne Paperclip and everyone else who helped..........

Good Luck Y'all.............Dj.

Posy wrote: »

Two references (at least one of which is academic) are required. Should I put down two lecturers I had, or one academic and one from the head of my department at work? I'm worried that if I pick two academic, they'll wonder why I'm not mentioning work and think something's up! Or would two academic be the norm?

I'd go with the one work, one academic to be honest. It can give a more rounded picture of your suitability.

Posy wrote: »

They ask about any previous college courses-
Institution: (obviously name of college)
Qualification: (eg. Honours Degree etc..)
Result: What do they mean by this? Like the percentage? I'd have assumed I'd enter 2:1, 2:2- that type of thing, but I'm not sure, because that seems the same as qualification..

Result generally means 1:1, 2:1 etc. Yes it is a bit confusing.

Posy wrote: »

Then they ask for Personal Achievements and Professional Associations.
Achievements: eg knowledge of languages, computer skills etc.
Associations: Include the details (association, period, level of involvement) of any membership of professional associations, institutions, national and international bodies.
I don't understand what this part means!!!

If you held a position like the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, or were a very active member of any association for example the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, Aontas, EGSA, Royal Institute of Architects, etc.

Posy wrote: »

Also, I have to upload copies of my transcripts etc..
I did a masters degree many years ago, and have a letter from the department 'Dear Posy...the examiners have accepted the recommendation that you be awarded the degree of masters...' and I have a cert with a load of Latin on it that I got on graduation day that my mother has in a frame somewhere. Is that what I'd need to scan- or would I have to call the college and get something from them?

A copy of the letter and the parchment is fine.

Best of luck with the application

GaelicAnna wrote: »

Can someone please advise, I have applied to Trinity for the 4 year Social Work degree, and if I am lucky enough to get called for an interview, what kind of questions will they ask of me? I have no concerns about applying as a mature student, as a matter of fact I would embrace the role. I grew up around Trinity College and the grounds were my playground, much to the annoyance of staff! I also went to my first disco there, and met with the Students Union, as a Union Rep! You could say I am intrinsically linked with Trinity!

Anna

At the start of this thread she talks about the questions that were asked.
First page I think?

Larianne wrote: »

She is me!

The cats mother !..........:eek:

I'm not sure I even thanked you Larianne for all the fantastic info in the past so Thanks a Mill....:)

Maths is very important.I would suggest starting afresh with "Algebra 2 for dummies" and "leaving Cert Maths".

Your math test wont be based on nursing.
It will be leaving cert exam stuff.

Differential calculus, slope, midpoint, trigonometry, algebra 2, quadratic equations, linear maths etc...

Hi folks just looking for some tips from those of you who have been thru the whole interview thing.

I had an interview yesterday with AIT went ok I think but everyone ahead of me had loads of papers they were bringing in with them all I had was my leaving results and a cv, should I bring anything else to the interview i have in carlow next week, i haven't done any other certs/courses that are relevant to the course ive applied for.

thanks

Here's a few things I've noticed over my two years of applying for medicine as a mature. I can't "prove" most of this, it's just my opinion based on what I have observed. No one can tell you how to make the perfect application, most of it is shaped by things you've already done and life experience thus far. Certain things are worth knowing and do help to get that extra edge. Go the extra mile if there are weak points in your application, and always ask for feedback from each college if you don't get in, pester them until they give it.

- What they are looking for varies slightly from college to college. TCD/UCD seem to go for matures with a long history of volunteering and charity experience building up to their application. Last minute/token efforts seem to fall on deaf ears. They seem to take charity/volunteer work more seriously, and focus slightly less on academics.

- RCSI seem more likely to take people crossing over from random degrees, and they short list initially based your HPAT score.. the higher the better, but 160~ ish seems to be enough to at least get to sending in the personal statement stage. They made a big deal of my hpat score this year, I went up, from 174 to 192 and they seemed really impressed with this. They want candidates that are first and foremost, really strong academically. I've talked to people that have TONS more volunteer experience than me who didn't even get offered an interview with them, but did in other colleges.

- Can't comment on Galway/Cork since I didn't apply there, but I'm guessing they are at least slightly easier to get into than the Dublin colleges just based on numbers applying.

- RCSI DEFINITELY favour some sort of science background. That doesn't necessarily mean you need a science degree, just that you've actually proven your aptitude in science subjects before coming in.. even at leaving cert level. I think that went against me last year, since I did engineering and never did chem or bio for leaving cert. This year I took on those subjects as an external student and have a place in RCSI conditional on getting a B in Chemistry.

- I haven't heard of any matures in RCSI that did premed, from what I gather they keep the matures together and they all skip premed (have never heard otherwise). So if you aren't eligible to skip premed chances are you won't get a place.

- They want people that have seen the work of doctors directly, and know what they are getting themselves into. Charity/volunteer work that lacks exposure to doctors at work doesn't seem to mean all that much to application in RCSI. Push hard and keep your ear to the ground for volunteer work that actually exposes you to observing real medical work. Go abroad if you have to. There are plenty of third world countries with less red tape where it's easier to actually do something useful and get meaningful experience.

I haven't posted in this thread before but I have read through it many times and found it to be an excellent source of info for my application. I got offered the only course I applied for this morning and don't think I could have done it without the advice in this thread, so I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed towards it. Thank you all.

Liamu2 wrote: »

Does anyone know, If im 23 on the 9th of Jan can i apply as a mature student? I seen its the 1st of jan but surely theyd let me away with 8 days?

Sorry Liamu2, but you wont be considered a mature student until the following year.

agreenyblue wrote: »

Cheers folks,

That makes a lot more sense, I misunderstood the information I was given, I think.

Yeah, I'll find out after volunteer work and the access course if it is for me, If I've no ability there'd be no point. I only did Physics in school, sucked at it, but I sucked at everything in school.

Very grateful for the input.

Do a PLC course. If you want to go into science.
I did a PLC course last year. I sucked in school but did well in my fetac level 5 laboratory techniques. i got accepted for astrophysics Bsc (Hons) at DCU. Starting september after 15 years out of school. its the same as a leaving cert but a bit higher. it gives you a great feel for college. also well cheaper than the access programs.