Never too late: the benefits of starting uni later in life

For some, the transition to university life is decidedly simple. Finish high school, sleep for a few months, start uni. For many though, life takes a different direction.

A lot of people need a break after high school. They may take a year off to travel, a couple of years to kick start their working lives or a decade to start a family. By the time they consider going back to study, the amount of time that has passed can be a concern.

However, there are distinct advantages to holding off university for a year or three or more. For example, The Good Universities Guide lists a few key benefits and observations that may make you think differently about heading back to study. Their article ‘The advantages of choosing to study as a mature age student’ highlights the following:

Different priorities impact your view of education
Greater stability in your life
Wider experience provides better context
You know what you want
Mature is a relative term.

At Flinders, we have a long history of supporting adult entry students (we prefer ‘adult entry’. ‘Mature age’ sounds as if you should be wearing a cardigan with leather patch elbows). We’ve helped hundreds of adult entry students balance their lives with their uni studies, and one aspect of adult entry students has always stood out. Perspective.

The shift in perspective gained after as little as a year out of the school system is amazing, and shouldn’t be understated. Adult entry students have had time to experience life without the framework of formal schooling. They’ve stubbed their figurative little toes on the reality of the outside world, which usually means they’re walking into university better prepared mentally, emotionally and often financially than their younger counterparts.

If you have any concerns about starting uni as an adult entry student, don’t underestimate how powerful that shift in perspective is. And remember, at Flinders we have a range of support options available to ensure you have everything in place to make the most of your studies without throwing the rest of your life out of balance.

Speak to the team at Flinders about your particular situation, and find out more about adult entry study.