General Chat

Clare You go for it girl. When I went to uni at 35 there were people there in their 60's. You are never too old. One day the kids will be all grown up and left home and you will have a new life. You can start laying the foundations for that new life now. Go to uni. Honestly, you will enjoy every minute of it. Dianne xx

No, no, no, no, no, no, no!!!!! Erm, did I say no??!! 'Cos that's what I meant!! :-) I started uni when I was 33, a single parent of 4 and the youngest had just started school. There were a number of 'mature' students and I can honestly say that the decision to accept the place on the course was one of the best I ever made. It was the start of a long relationship with studying and all of my children say that it was good for them that I was studying hard at the same time as they were. The perks are too many to list. If you 've got the opportunity - TAKE IT! Whatever the eventual outcome, there will be numerous benefits for you I am sure of it. Good luck! :-)

You go for it Clare! An alternative? You can learn all about nursing while working on the wards (hands on) Go for your NCQs (or whatever they are called!) you work at your own pace. My daughter was 28 when she started (a one parent family with 3 kids!)....She's 35 now and she loves it! and she's doing great!...one day at a time.... Her kiddies haven't suffered. GO FOR IT! Good luck Gerri x

very true heather

At 32 you are only a kid - you can get assistance for Uni up to 50 I believe, so you are a baby. The biggest bit is sorting the kids I should think. I wouldnt worry at all about being with younger people, they will love having someone older with worldly knowledge about and you will find the work easier than them because of your life experience.

NEVER to old to learn and make changes,u go 4 it girl....

my sis in law works in a childrens hospice and she is doing nursing too and she is 37 go for it rosex

No, no. no. Go for it Gwynne

Thanks Clare, Hope you and yours are well too!! A friend of mine just finished doing the access course last year she is 33 and was one of the youngest in her class and now she is starting Uni in September, she was worried about being stuck with loads of young people too but she said most of them were all mums so age didnt matter as they had something in common. Shaz

DO IT!!! When I went to Uni there were mature students on the course who did all the work to a higher standard, put loads of effort in and got higher marks. Do it all else you will live to regret it.

evening shaz haven't spoke for ages i haven't been on here for a while congrats on your nrw edition hope you are all well clare

Clare you must go for it and dont think you will be odd one out... I spent years thinking I was too old and kept putting it off. I had my 7th baby in December and this year I am doing just what you are doing, I'm 38 and was finally talked into it by my eldest son who is in his second year at uni himself. Shaz

Thanks for all your support

Not at all! Friend of mine did this and came out with her degree at 51. Mind from what she said it WAS hard work. As long as you've got someone to help you with the kids, GO FOR IT and all the best.

Clare, dont make the same mistake that I did. I wanted to be a nurse from the age of 9yrs. All I read was Black's Medical Dictionary from the age of 10yrs for years on end and still facinated by anything medical. . Because I was the eldest 8 children eventually, money was very tight for my parents, so I had to get a job at the age of 15yrs, parents could not afford for me to go onto further education. So trained as a Dental Nurse. Married at 22 yrs had my children, Husband died at the age of 36yrs, and life passed me by. Really wanted to be a Midwife, but never got around to it. My 17yr old Daughter left school a year ago. She is at Fulltime college, doing a two year Pre- nursing advanced course, that will hopefully take her to University. It is the only way she can get into Nursing. She has always wanted to be a Midwife. Ok, she might change her mind and go into a different type of nursing. It will be hard for you , whilst you have small childen. but definatley not too late to get there. I wish you all the very best in your new venture, Stick at it girl. Just go for it, else you will regret like I do now. You are definatley not too old to start, Grace my Daughter is studying with 45 year olds. Jenny.

Of course you are not too old, I did it at 50. A friend of mine who is twenty years older than you got his second BA recently and says he feels rather sheepish being a BA.,BA. An octogenerian has also taken an Open University degree. I know a thirtynine-year-old girl with two children who is embarking on a Science degree course. The 40-something year-old son of my neighbour is three years into a degree course in medicine. Len

My mother-in-law is at college. She is in her 50's and most of the others are late teens but she absolutely loves it!! I'm 32 myself and would not let that put me off. So go for it:) joanne

I started my degree at the age of 43 (part time whilst I worked)and it took me 5 years. I graduated at the age of 48 last year. Go for it girl !!! Viv

Thanks, i'm really lucky i have enough qualifications and for experience i work in the hospital. i am going to an open day next month so i will see exactly what is on offer

Claire, if you've got that far then it would be crazy to give it all up just because you think you are too old. If you don't do it then in years to come you will be kicking yourself...