Mature students

with a view to what? something with a professional career path following, or just self advancement, so to speak? Both are good, if you have a firm idea what you want to achieve.

Well I was fancying doing retail management as I think the environment is quite good to what Im used to and believe some of these supermarkets are good to work for again compared to sales which I do ar the moment.
That said brother in law is in computers and said that thats where the money is so undecieded now.

Im 30 as from other day hence why Im wanting to turn things around before to late.

Retail with management or poss business.

you don't need to go back into education for retail management really

I've seen a lot of people do part-time courses at uni as mature students. They seem pretty happy but the course is only a small part of the uni experience. At 30 you're not too old to immerse yourself in the whole experience, and nor will the other students think that you are.

I went back to Uni at 35, did a History degree, then did my Masters. Now at 41, got a job that I really like and looking back it was the best decision I ever made. As an aside, made some great new friends also, from different walks of life than perhaps I may have done.

Go for it bud if you can afford it.

SPYKES, they only offer part-time positions so if someone is sh!t they can get rid of them easily. If you're any use you'll be able to get a full time position within 3 months max. That said, you will have to put up with a LOT of sh!t to work your way up to management position...which can be entry level for someone with a degree.

You'd obviously have a lot of experience behind you, though.

Cheers roycas the friends thing is a bonus yes. Appears I dont have much in commen with most my mates seem to have less in commen as the years pass.

Can afford it just I think but gotta start looking at the bigger picture for a change.

might do it one day out of boredom. dont want a job but could be interesting doing a degree. got a degree in computing but i mean something more interesting like geography or politics.

Just a general point about supermarket managers. In my opinion, none of them, be they store or department managers, are really managers. They're all obsessed with meeting 'test' targets on availability, mystery customers, wastage, rather than the bigger picture. Basically the company doesn't trust them to do good job, so sets all sorts of benchmarks and checks - trying to pass these on the odd occassion they take place, the store operates completely differently from how it normally does, which rather defeats the purpose.

yes, and also you'll meet some top grade clunge.

I was coming to that sparks. How do I stand at 41 do you reckon?

Already got too many regrets dont want this to be another.And yes the fann y would probably have me drooling like a dog.

In the army they are taught, if you are choosing between action and inaction., do it.

hmmm. Not sure it equates to political decisions, where the rule should be reversed imo.

Been in FE. Saw so many take years of doubting themselves and plucking up courage to do it, then realising how quickly time passes on course. get started and, as you understand the pressures of mixing study and your work/family life as well as your capability, you'll be ahead of where you would have been had you waited. Then, if necessary, steer yourself to where you want to go if you are not on the right track. Many courses give credits for stuff already achieved. Even better, find a course that has placement or do a deal to work PT. Fact is the academic year lasts about 30 weeks, class contact is often in single digits so it can all be coped with easily by good communications with employer and family and, nmost of all by getting the work out of the way ahead of the deadline (I never did but do as I say, not as...). All my promotions came from showing that I was interested enough to better myself.

One thing about mature students:more women than men! I reckon the women look at themselves, knowthey have a problem and do somehting about it; they also support each other better; some even do it for social reasons, to ge tout of the house instead of watching his footie on TV waiting for him to come home. Men, I reckon, are afraid of what the lad's will say and blame their situation on other factors.