It may seem a little daunting for older students to start studying again following years of absence, but a university expert and a mature-aged student say there’s no time to waste.
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For 29-year-old Aaron Fairbank, apprentice chef at Birdhouse Bar, it had been 13 years since he had graduated from school and the last time he had studied.
“I started a certificate three in commercial cookery at TAFE last year and I felt a bit uneasy because I had been out of school for so long, since 2005,” Mr Fairbank said.
While Mr Fairbank felt a little uneasy at the thought of returning to study, he was “surprised” that more than half of the students in his course were the same age or even older.
He said there was no time to lose and encouraged mature aged students to just start.
“You know what you want and you are getting into study for a reason,” he said.
“There’s no point about being shy; it’s your career, you know your worth and you’re old enough.
“So just do it and get it done.”
Universities across Australia identify a mature aged student as 21 years and above.
Wagga CSU student services officer Diane Middleton gave her top tips for mature aged students, with less than a month until semester one commences.
“Put your life into a timetable; it’s all about planning,” she said.
“Make sure you schedule the hours you need to complete your university and treat it like a job, don’t turn up to work late and therefore don’t turn up to university late.”
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Ms Middleton urged middle aged students to not be discouraged by their age and the age differences among their peers.
“There’s usually other mature aged students and just because you’re a bit older, doesn’t mean you can’t interact with younger students,” she said.
“It’s important for students to build a peer network around them.”
Ms Middleton works with the outreach team and majority of her students are older, who often have worked before and said being organised is imperative when juggling a family too.
“Explain your situation to your family and friends that you will be studying and need a quiet place without distractions,” she said.
“Work solidly for about 25 minutes and then have a short break, leave your study and then return for another 25 minutes and repeat this three to four times.
“This is a much better method than cramming or studying in big chunks.”