Australian University for Mature Age Students

I remember my first boss’s words after I had finished the contract, “Luke the company can’t do without you but starting from Monday we are going to try”.  Since then a few jobs have come and gone but one started in a very unusual way.  It was during a conversation with a neighbour trying to work out my employment problem who said “If you’re so smart why don’t you go to uni”.  This statement would be quickly dismissed by so many of us but the fact is it is very simple to go back to study. I personally only had a year nine education and had worked in only simple labour roles, so like many I simply dismissed it.  However, the neighbour did say that there was a course that was run on university campus for the educationally challenged, like myself. 

I applied and my paperwork was lost until two days before the course started, I received a phone call from a most apologetic academic who said they thought it only fair that they should include me as a potential student and could I come to the office ASAP.  I think they gave me a very simple test and interviewed me (If you can read and do simple maths you’re in).  After one year of pre-study in which I did very well, I enrolled in the science program at Central Queensland University (CQU). As a mature age student you may get first round offers before the year 12 students, this give you a little more time to prepare. 

Some things you should know are: 

(1) The Australian government will give you very little money for you to study so a part time job may not be such a bad idea if it doesn’t impede your study (unless they are killed in tonight's budget). 

(2) If you are not an Australian citizen and eligible for a HELP debt it may cost a fortune to pay the university fees. 

(3) University is no harder than life and interest governs memory so if you are not really interested in a subject DON’T DO IT otherwise take the challenge.

(4) Go for top-up scholarships but remember to research what other people who had previously received them, were doing to get them.

(5) The cost of the books will send you broke, find out if they were the same as last year, other students may sell you theirs. 

(6) Talk to the second year students find out what exams they had, the lecturers will probably give similar questions year after year.

(7) Attend all classes, the lecturers will often give hints at what is on the exam.

(8) If you can reduce your study load and extend the course by one year do it, it is better to do well in all of your subjects than to fail any.

(9) If you aim to pass a subject that is all you will do.  Aim to have a high distinction in all your subjects, it is far better to sit outside an examination room with the knowledge that you have already passed than to be totally relying on the exam to pull you through.

(10) Note on point 9, the exam is the most important part of the semester, find the best way you learn and stick to it; read Edward de Bono and understand that there are seven learning styles visual, verbal, aural, logical, physical, solitary and logical.

 

University is not school, your failures in the past will not dictate your future.  As a mature age student, you already know from life that you must take and not wait for another to do it for you. Old-school thinking will not get you ahead in the current world, you will need to challenge yourself to be more of a go-getter, talk with the younger students find out what they are doing to improve their future and don’t be afraid to take it before they do, for their youth is an attraction to potential employers, you have to beat them at their own game.  If you have any problems there are always free or cheap counselling services at all major universities.  Get your family onboard and make study as a part of your daily scheme, you don’t have to be in university to do this.  University can be fun and fulfilling, look forward to it, become that excited child again.  Finally, university can be treated as a job and most times it will led to employment.