Hi,

I am a mature student also and the hardest thing for me was the financial aspect of not being able to work full time.
My loan and bursaries don't cover my outgoings (which are minimal) so i have to work part time during term and full term during holidays. I felt that the extra work affected the quality of my uni work so now i only work one day a week so i have at least 1 day to "rest" on. By rest i mean catch up on house work, social life and any homework that needs doing (theres usually something!)

Clinical placements in the 2nd and 3rd years are very tiring especially if you have to travel far to get to them, but they are extremly enjoyable and you learn so much. The good thing is that the hours will be set: monday to friday usually 8-4 or 9-5 depending on the area (eg in outpatients they tend to work later into the evening whereas community will be more daytime. When in uni the hours really vary as the degree is taught in semesters each semester will differ.

The main complaint from the mature students on my course (apart from the workload) is when scheduled lectures/teaching sessions are cancelled or changed at the last minute, as a lot of us commute to uni its very frustrating to have wasted time like that, also the petrol/traveling expense/babysitting/child care etc..

On a positive note- although it is a bit of a balancing game it goes very quick and if you know that this is what you want from life it will be rewarding in the long term. Future employers will appreciate the extra life experience you have and all the transferrable skills from previous jobs and raising a child.
By the very fact that you will have juggled all these priorities it can only be seen as a very good thing, not everyone can do it and it will make you a stronger person!

Have you done some work experience/shadowing of a physio? This is extremly important as im sure you will already be aware.

I absolutley love what im doing and although it has been erm ....challenging i would not change anything at all!

Sorry if its a bit waffely im supposed to be revising

all the best

Rachel