Hey everybody, long-time listener, first-time caller.
So there I was in January 2004, off of work from an injury (I was a labourer, factory worker, cleaner etc.). We had Cody due in July, and we were saving for a modest semi-detached house (big ups to Elizabeth, SA!).
I had started looking at doing something at TAFE, so maybe I could be head sh*tkicker one day. Didn't really find anything interesting, although the career advisor at TAFE mentioned some uni courses. "I could never do anything like that", I thought. I hated high school, and my marks were disgraceful. Thought no more of it.
So back I went to work. Sorry mate, the boss said. We don't have much on. We'll give you a call.
Still had some money owing, but that's another story.
With a little extra time on my hands for a week or so, I had another look at this uni idea.
Every uni in SA has special entry programs. All one has to do is sit a very easy test called the STAT (Special Tertiary Admissions Test). This does not test you on knowledge, but is basically a series of written passages and graphs with a couple of questions at the end of each one. The questions are all answered in the graph or passage, so all you have to do is comprehend what is being said. This test will get you into most courses (unless there are prerequisite subjects).
If it's been a long time since you last studied, or you are under the age of 21 (you could technically drop out of high school and do this), there are part-time bridging courses which, from most accounts, are the equivalent of year 10 work, but with less hormones (unless you are doing the course because you are under 21). When I say part-time, I mean the Flinders uni course, called the Foundation Course, is two hours a night, two nights a week for about 25 weeks. At the end of it, you can get into
any course you like. Medicine, engineering, you name it.
I took the STAT. I had a little (!) marijuana problem at that time, I smoked just before the test, and my TER (Tertiary Entrance Rank) was 83, meaning that I scored higher than 83% of the other people doing the test. The highest one can possibly get is 99.
I got into my first choice of course. Other mature age entrants I know are:
- A lady, about 40, single with 4 kids, doing a double degree in Law and Biotechnology
- A guy who left school at 16, he's now 35ish, doing double major science in Maths and Physics (must be into pain)
About 30% of the students at Flinders are mature age. The demonstrators and lecturers (teachers) prefer to teach mature age students, as we try harder and we know how to listen. We know what we are working towards.
The work is not very hard. In first year, it is assumed that you know nothing about anything. You start from the bottom, and because you chose a course that you are interested in, you learn quickly and enthusiastically. Exams are much easier when you are too old to be stressed about them
The money is tight on Centrelink benefits and a cash job here and there, but we manage. You don't have to pay any fees (google "HECS").
I am 6 months away from finishing my Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation. I went from hoping that I could be head sh*tkicker applying for professional positions. Last month, a mining company flew me to Perth and put me up at the Hilton so that I could have an interview with them, and the interviews continue. Sam and I are pretty excited about the future now, rather than just worrying about it.
If you have ever thought about going back to study, please talk to a career or student advisor at your local institution (I saw the one at the local TAFE. I wasn't a student, it was free). (S)he won't judge you, or ask awkward questions, but you will receive some great advice. If you don't, then go to another one.
The Uniguide and TAFEguide books should be coming out at the newsagent some time soon. These have the forms you have to fill out to do the STAT or enrol in a bridging course, as well as information about the courses offered.
I hope someone out there takes this advice. It will be a challenge, but trust me, you will never look back.
Good luck with it all,
Rick.
(June 2007) (
