Offered a place at university - Lung Conditions C...

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Offered a place at university

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMT
β€’51 Replies

Always regretted not going to uni due to illness and moving around a lot but finally get my chance! I had been thinking about it for a few years but after doing the rounds with my middle son, looking at uni's, decided to bite the bullet. Filling out the UCAS form was fun (not), as it did not recognise some of my qualifications but applying direct to the university meant humans could see what I had done. I am SO excited!!

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AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMT
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51 Replies
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sassy59 profile image
sassy59

That’s terrific AnnaMT. Good for you. Xxx πŸ‘

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply tosassy59

Thank you. I feel a tad nervous but my family have been so supportive.

Damon1864 profile image
Damon1864Volunteer

Good luck, what course are you going to study. I'm studying at the Open University and love itπŸ€—xxx

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply toDamon1864

They have a nice place in Oxfordshire.

That's fantastic! Well done and the biggest congratulations too!! What are you going to study?

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply to

Joint honours in Computing and Education Studies.

β€’ in reply toAnnaMT

Sounds great. Do you already work in that area or is this a completely new direction?

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply to

Not quite, although pre-children and after the birth of my son, I did teach IT to adults from 14 to 80+ and teach business people but that ended when we relocated and my second son came along. Whatever I did job wise, there was always an element of helping with IT.

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply to

What are you studying and do you have to do residentials?

Good for you. After failing to go to uni from my gramnar school and then having a full life raising children I did a couple of years OU followed by a degree and MA at Warwick. It truly changed my life! Go for it and I hope that you enjoy every minute.xx

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply to

Thank you - I intend to πŸ™‚. What did you study?

β€’ in reply toAnnaMT

History and politics and then an MA in early modern religious and social history. An absolute indulgence!

HungryHufflepuff profile image
HungryHufflepuff

That’s awesome! You’re so courageous. I hope you really enjoy the course now that we’re old enough to appreciate that learning can be fun. I also didn’t go to university because of illness. There are so many new fascinating subjects that didn’t seem to be around when I was at school. I often think I’d like to learn something new, not necessarily at degree level. Unfortunately I live in the middle of nowhere, so traveling to a physical place of learning isn’t an option for me. At one time a year or so ago there was talk of getting video learning (?) if enough people were interested. I listed about 10 things I’d be interested in, but alas nothing came of it. Maybe no one else was interested. Anyway I hope you have a wonderful time learning and studying 😊

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply toHungryHufflepuff

Thank you.

knitter profile image
knitterβ€’ in reply toHungryHufflepuff

Hi HungryHufflepuff.....have you tried the OU s Future learn courses on line....you can study short courses for free , although you can pay for a certificate as well.

I have studied many of their courses , some only last a few weeks and for free. I learnt about them on this site.

I also gained my degree with the OU, many years ago now, they helped me work around my poorly lungs,

HungryHufflepuff profile image
HungryHufflepuffβ€’ in reply toknitter

Hi Knitter, no I haven't tried those courses, can they be done entirely from home? That sounds really interesting if so, and definitely something I'd look into. It's a bit daunting, learning somehow gets harder as you get older, but I try to learn new things all the time (currently Norwegian and Swedish) so that my brain doesn't seize up entirely. Thanks for telling me about this 😊

Valsha profile image
Valshaβ€’ in reply toHungryHufflepuff

Google MOOCs. There are similar courses from EdX, Coursera and other platforms. All free. All interesting. Have fun!

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply toHungryHufflepuff

I know it is not university as such but there is the U3A (University of the Third Age). I have known quite a few people do courses with this. My mother is studying art and is very accomplished. I think you can join from 55.

HungryHufflepuff profile image
HungryHufflepuffβ€’ in reply toAnnaMT

I didn't know U3A offers learning courses. I'm early(ish) 40s but it's something to bear in mind for the future πŸ‘

Well done you πŸ’« Maz

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54

Hi oh well done that's brilliant. I was in my late 20's when I saw an advert for mature students in the paper. I well remember staring it and it was a lightbulb moment. I too regretted that I left school at 15 and was desperate for a chance. I applied straightaway and got in. It transformed my life and I have never regretted it. x

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply tohypercat54

My husband was in his late 20's when he did his teaching degree and he never looked back.

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54β€’ in reply toAnnaMT

Education is a wonderful thing. x

skischool profile image
skischoolβ€’ in reply tohypercat54

Still waiting to do the 11+ they cancelled it as an experiment when i reached the age and i ended up in secondary modern and the university of life whereas my bro went to grammar school and then onto university and a degree that certainly helped him in life :) x

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54β€’ in reply toskischool

Well I failed the 11+ so went to secondary school anyway. x

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply tohypercat54

I did the 11+ on Guernsey as they carried on doing it long after the mainland. The only thing is, I was in an older year group and returned to primary on the mainland, so nothing became of it.

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54β€’ in reply toAnnaMT

Oh dear that's not fair! x

Emmles70 profile image
Emmles70

Congratulations! That's fantastic! πŸ™Œ

GintyFerguson profile image
GintyFerguson

Fab!! Well done!!

nina30795 profile image
nina30795

Wonderful!

Katebeach profile image
Katebeach

My 43 year old daughter has been accepted on a 3 year degree course in Contemptorary Crafts, she left school at 16 and is a very accomplished willow weaver.

Izb1 profile image
Izb1

This is great news AnnaMT, well done x

SquirrelsHolt profile image
SquirrelsHolt

Go girl,go!! Well done AnnaMT and I hope you give yourself a huge pat on the back for being accepted. Do let us all know how things go,won't you?

Enjoy your weekend.

watergazer profile image
watergazer

Great stuff!! x

12345pink profile image
12345pink

Well done. Good for you. My sons been studying AAT for last 3 years and hes 39. Your never too old. Do what you want to and you’ll never regret it. Good luck.

β€’ in reply to12345pink

I said to one of my friends who was 60 last year that if she really wants marriage and a relationship 60 is in no way too late for one.

I used to think that you were too old to be married when you were 35 but that's just silly looking back as next year in February I will be getting married and will be 43 and a colleague got married last December at 43 and I said how the best ones get married over 40!

I think with that it's normal to feel jealous when you hear someone else is getting married when you aren't as like my ex said its normal to feel like that as it shows that you only wanted the same things which was right.

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply to

I read recently about a couple getting married in their 80's, so it really is never too late.

β€’ in reply toAnnaMT

Yes I have heard stories of marriages in nursing homes and a former line manager at our place got remarried when she was 65!

Badbessie profile image
Badbessie

Good for you. I did not start my degree until I was in my thirty's. I found life experiences really helped.

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMTβ€’ in reply toBadbessie

50's for me, ha,ha.

Congratulations and best of luck!

Carnival567 profile image
Carnival567

Well done!

patmc1 profile image
patmc1

Congrats---you are going to love it!. I had "messed up" my early university education . I ended up as a customer service manager (and short term wife and step-mom) but always felt incomplete although I still was a dedicated reader. At 30 I decided to start over and applied at DePaul University as a full time student although I worked full time for 2 more years. On the basis of my ancient test scores I was admitted to an honors program (however not in math--I had to take a quickie review and test) and HAD the time of my life. I became a reading and writing tutor (although I thought I really wasn't all that capable a writer) and more comfortably the history tutor. I loved almost all my classes which at DePaul were small and interactive and graduated with a perfect 4.0 with a double major in History and Literature. (It possibly helped that I was eating and drinking friends with some of the professors and that I was sincerely earnest about learning and questioning everything).

I had an episode of extreme "cold feet" the year I spent applying to grad school and eventually drifted back to full time at the food store chain. However, the quiet pride I experienced in my four years has never diminished. I proved to myself that I could be brave and fulfill a dream.

You can and will succeed . The best of luck and I envy you.

Nicholatracy profile image
Nicholatracy

You go girl. 🐞

AnnaMT profile image
AnnaMT

Thank you all for your lovely thoughts and stories. I never thought I would be going to uni shortly before I turn 55. My colleague at work just texted me and said to make sure I get an NUS card for the discounts!

Cateran profile image
Cateran

Good for you AnnaMT. I started my university education as a mature student at Edinburgh University when I was 28. it was the best move that I ever made and seriously improved my employment prospects in teaching English at secondary school in Scotland. My wife, who was at Edinburgh College of Art, was very supportive, which made all the difference for me. In those days the Scottish Education Department gave out mature student grants, for which i was grateful. I appreciate that such a golden age of financing by the system is long gone, so your income may well be reduced Anna. It will be a struggle but please do stick in there, and the best of luck.

Elephantstraw profile image
Elephantstraw

Thrilled for you! All the very best for the future.πŸ‘

Matilda_1922 profile image
Matilda_1922

Well done it's never too late. I went to university in my mid 40s

Burbagegran profile image
Burbagegran

Good on you, Anna MT, enjoy!

Tilly2402 profile image
Tilly2402

Congratulations Anna, well done. 😊

Jaybird19 profile image
Jaybird19

That is brilliant. I am sure you will enjoy it. I had to get my qualifications at evening college after work. Written, practical exams and vivas . 7 yr course for fellowship but was worth it all. Now retired and learning about geology. Never stop learning.

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