Mature Students - What can help?

Establish support networks with friends, family and other students before you need them. Support networks involve people available to help out when necessary. This might include a baby-sitting club, which works on a reciprocal basis.

Develop connections with other mature students in order to share experiences. For information about setting up a mature students support group at the College, contact Odette Lawlor.

Fine tune your time management skills to ensure you keep up with College work as much as possible. This helps avoid getting behind when something unexpected comes along. Your Course Coordinator and the Guidance Counsellor/s are available to assist you in this area as well as with any other study skills you may need to develop.

Organize your finances before you start a course - check if you are eligible for any grants (VTOS, Back to Education Allowance, maintenance grants). Find out about the different costs on a particular course and the expenses of being a full-time student.

Give yourself permission to study. Sometimes study comes last on the list of 'things to do' because of a belief that other people come first. Study is part of your work and you are entitled to give it the attention it requires.

Believe in yourself. Remember that mature students often do very well at College. This success reflects their commitment, enthusiasm and life experience.

Ask for help if you need it. You deserve to be supported!

 

Useful Contacts
 

Guidance Counsellor with responsibility for Mature Students - Odette Lawlor olawlor@scd.ie