Just a quick hello to everyone. My name is Maria and I live in London. I am due to start my Adult Nursing course at LSBU Harold Wood campus in March. So looking forward to it and meeting all the newbies like me. I am a mature student retraining after being told 40 is not too old to train as a nurse. Good luck to everyone and hopefully will meet some of you at the pre course days at the end of this month.

Hiya Maria, welcome to the forum. It's very good on here, lots of information and many people willing to help should you have questions. Good luck on your course!

Nikki x

Hi Maria

Welcome to the site!

I've applied for LSBU's March intake at Havering too, also for Adult Nursing. Good luck.

Hiya
Welcome to the forum :-)
Good Luck for LSBU in March!!
x

hi Maria

(great name hehe same as my daughter)

good luck with your course !

Thanks all for the warm welcome, look forward to meeting some of you on the course. Can't take the thanks on the name but it is great, and unless you are under 3, who all call me Ria, it can't usually be shortened.

Hi Maria,

Im Tracy and also starting at LSBU Havering on 15th March. I am so glad to hear you are a mature student (Im 40 in May) as I was really worried I was going to be the eldest there. Don't know anything about the introduction days yet as was only offered a place on Friday.

Im very nervous about starting the course as still have young children and need to juggle the 2.

Hi Tracy

congratulations on getting your place.

There is a short intro course on 24th Feb for three days. If you ring the uni and ask for Nursing faculty they should be able to let you know if there are any places left.

I don't think our age is a problem. When I went on the CRB check day the over 30's seemed to out number the younger ones. I think the teens tend to start in September straight from their other colleges which finish in July.

Hope to see you at uni on 15th if bit on intro days

Maria

Hi Maria,

I have read through my acceptance letter that I was given at the uni on Friday and it says I have to make an application through UCAS. have you done this and what do we actually need to do. Sorry to ask but none of this was explained to me on the day

Hi Tracy

I only knew about UCAS by asking someone else so please don't apologise. They are just the admin site to match prospective students with uni places. I am sure that it will be the same for you as it was for me even though you have already got an offer letter. It is straightforward albeit very time consuming. It asks everything about your education and qualifications you have gained. If you had your certs with you when you went on your recruitment day it will be easy to complete this section. I had to ask my Mum to get all my stuff out of her loft as I had not seen my GCSE certs for such a long time I was convinced I had got all A's I was wrong , but they accepted me anyway. The pressure should be off as you have your place you are just going through the system in reverse. You have to register with UCAS and pay the fee but as it is only for one uni it is the lowest about £7 i think. Have a look at the site because you can save what you have filled in so far and go back when you have the rest of the info. I hope the above helps but if you need anything else give me a shout.

Good luck


Maria

Hi Maria,

I started my Nursing diploma at LSBU in Sept 2009; I'm at Southbank!

It's brill and you're going to love it, I'm 33 and we've got a fair few girls in my tutor groups that are my age and older so don't worry about your age!

One top tip I can give you is to get a reading list for the units ASAP and buy them cheap at ebay and Amazon while you've still got time. Failing that; look at some student nurses wish lists on Amazon and get a selection of these instead - I did it and although my "library" isn't that extensive, I've got a great start for assignments!

Good luck with everything - but enjoy it!

Hi Maria, I cannot get hold of my school certificates and have not got a clue what qualifications I gained ( seems like a million years ago). I have started filling in the UCAS for but couldn't complete the references page. I don't think we have to complete it all as they have it all on file. Also I tried to find somewhere I could list my NVQ certificates and my diploma but there wasn't anywhere. Im going to give them a call tomorrow.

Hiya
40s a great age, I can say that as I've just entered the 40 club!

im 40 in may. Love you flump picture brings back memories

Hi

thanks for all the great advise Curly, I have been trying to get hold of a list early for the required books and order them but have decided to chill a bit as I am getting stressed and the course hasn't started yet. I will do as you suggest and get the list as soon as we start.


Tracy, with UCAS you are probably right to ring them, I have no clue how the system works in reverse, normally you make sure you get everything right because it is this the uni's see first, but in your case you did the hard bit yourself and so I not so sure the UCAS form is as important.

Good Luck


Maria

Hi Sarah

Yes I agree the 40 club is great. I do not have to worry about teenage spots, I am over the bit of I really hope I don't get wrinkles, my taste in clothes has improved, and I have finally learn't which shade of foundation I need. I have come to the realisation that this is it, my body is not going to drastically change shape overnight, my stretch marks will not dissappear with fancy creams as my son is now 21 and so are the marks, my nose does not affect my ability to make friends, so don't get it fixed and best of all I am about to start to study for something I really want to and not what everyone else wants me to.

the only worry is the 50 club, ableit as good, is not too far away and the membership card keeps getting closer.

COME ON THE FORTIES!!!!!

So glad that there are a few 'more mature!' people studying nursing.
I,m on an access course and have now become the oldest in the class (42) since others left. It doesnt bother me too much as life experience can come in handy with certain subjects and everyones great. would be great to know if there will be others around this age at uni ,dont want to be going through the hot flushes stage on my own!

Hi

After attending my CRB day and worrying that I would be one of the oldest I was really pleased by the range of ages of the other students. It seems nursing is the one area of Uni where age really dosen't matter. I also think that it is our attitude that either helps or hinders us. I have purposely avoided saying things like "i have clothes older than you, or my Son is older than you" and I think if we people in the 40 + club show we are not bothered by it I am sure that others won't. I was talking to another student on the CRB day who felt that she was much younger than the rest of us and she felt out of place. So I think it works both ways. Don't worry about your age I am sure us oldies will be great we just need to have the confidence. Good luck with your course. And the hot flushes, my friend loves, she doesn't need to wear coats and says it helps her lose weight as having the power surges burns more calories, she is the most positive person I have ever met. !!!