When I decided to become a mature student last summer, I cast around the internet for information about the organisation I wanted to study with and found hardly any. I was about to commit to 4 years study and a large student debt and I was desperate to find experiences of real people to tell me what it would be like and whether it would be worth it.
I've now completed my first semester and my first module and I know the answers to the kind of questions I was asking 3 months ago, so I wanted to do a blog post about it to help others in the future...
Firstly I'm a part-time student studying Graphic Design with the Interactive Design Institute. IDI advises that this involves about 20 hours study a week and I'd say that so far that's been pretty accurate. Theo is in nursery three mornings a week and by the time the dog walk is done, I have 6 hours across those mornings to work and I'm very strict about doing nothing else in that time. In addition I work every lunchtime when he has his nap and I do a couple of hours every evening. I very rarely watch TV during the week and I don't have time for sewing. It's a heck of a commitment and I have no idea how you'd manage it if you work full-time. In fact from what I've seen discussed online I might be pretty much the only person who didn't fall behind to some degree this semester and that has a lot to do with my own personal determination and obsessive organisational skills.
As far as the course content goes. A lot of the reason I wanted to study was to learn how to use Adobe Illustrator and in some ways that target has been met, but not directly by the course content. IDI introduces you to the very basics of Illustrator, but if you want to learn more you have to teach yourself. As I now have a motivation and purpose to do so I have been doing exactly that and its been very fulfilling, but again so much of the course is about what you put in yourself.
Distance learning institutions like IDI often advertise themselves as a cheaper higher education alternative for school-leavers and it's true, they are, but if I was advising a school-leaver I would never recommend this route. At 18 you do not have the discipline to keep the momentum of study up and you miss out on loads that you'd experience at a bricks and mortar university. Going the other route might mean your debt is larger, but personally I think you are more likely to end up with a qualification to go with it too.
Anyway, the point is I have survived and completed my first module! Our brief was to design a poster to advertise a typographical conference, but of course it was much more than that. There was copious research, many hours of idea generation and development work and then there was at the very end, one poster. As a graphic designer you must fight the urge all along to over-complicate your design and you need to get the message across in a simple visually compelling way. I have a long way to go and a steep learning curve to climb, but I have my first poster and I have the knowledge that with one semester under my belt, I have now surpassed my previous record of university attendance 20 years ago!
This is an wonderful achievement. Be really proud of yourself. And I bet it will get 'easier' as you get into it and become familiar with what is required and so on. You may not be doing much sewing but think of how much value this experience will bring to future creative endeavours, sewing or otherwise. Well done you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rose for that really kind message, it's much appreciated! :-)
DeleteWell done. Your poster looks very professional. What kind of contact hours do you get with IDI teaching staff?
ReplyDeleteYou can email Monday-Friday and they reply within 24 hours (supposedly) they SAY that that's more than you'd get in a normal university, but I have nothing to compare it to!
DeleteClare you should be really proud of yourself. It is really hard to do courses online especially when you are tired and have other commitments like a two year old! I would also add take a course/degree that is manageable - it took me five years to complete my Master's in Nursing. I deposited my thesis the day before I would have been kicked out of the university in spite of all the work I had done. That being said, my marks increased dramatically from my undergrad to my graduate degree. I think it is because I was focused, studied something I really wanted to learn about and did not waste time on fluff. So keep going. Theo will be old enough to know what you accomplished when you finish. And I would never apologize for not completing a previous degree - it wasn't the right time or course for you. You will succeed.
ReplyDeleteYou are so kind Nancy. Thank you, your message was really appreciated and I particularly appreciate your words about how much you improved along your degree. It's hard not to want to be excellent right from the beginning!
DeleteWell done, the poster looks extremely professional.
ReplyDeleteYour poster looks very professional well done. I studied as a mature student over 20 years ago at a local university and loved every minute. But my children were grown up and my son was at a not so local university at the same time. We both came out with the same grade. Good luck on your journey. Sorry you won't have time to see anymore but your journey will be so rewarding.
ReplyDeleteIt's ok, I do still get to sew at weekends! :-)
Delete