Advice for Unemployed Applicants

Your Learning Journey Starts Here 

Welcome and congratulations on your decision to go to college. We understand that re-entering education presents some particular challenges for people who may have not been in formal education for a while. New surroundings, new ways of learning and new people, whilst exciting, may make you feel completely out of your comfort zone. At LYIT you are a valued member of our campus community where everyone wants you to succeed. This section aims to provide some practical tips to help make your learning journey a positive and successful one.

The first piece of advice is give yourself the credit you deserve. It takes real guts to begin higher education.  At LYIT we work in partnership with adult learners to enable them to reach their full potential.  The Curve support centre at LYIT offers support for mature students in academic, personal and professional development. Contact Brian and the team before you start your course, they can give you one-to-one guidance, usually over a cup of tea, which may help to alleviate some initial worries. 

At LYIT we recognise that mature students add enormously to campus life and make a significant contribution towards the learning experience of all students. Remember you can talk to any of the people here, lecturers, admin staff, Heads of Department, if you’re unsure or feeling out of your depth. They will listen, advise and guide you whenever you need it. 

Top Tips for Entering Third Level for Adult Learners

  • Don’t underestimate the knowledge you already have.  You have more skills than you think, some of which may count towards the course you may wish to study. For more information on this click here.  
  • Age is just a number. You’ll be surprised how mature students and the general student population help each other and share many of the same issues.  Get to know your fellow students.
  • Become familiar with your timetable and key dates to note, e.g. exams, deadlines. Sounds obvious but this will give you focus and help to plan your study. It will also allow you to factor in social and free time too.
  • Plan ahead, schedule your study over the semester to meet deadlines. Break it down into modules and allocate realistic study time for each one. This can help take away the stress of cramming and last minute deadlines. It will also help you to become familiar with the subject and what’s involved so that you can allocate the right amount of study time. For more information on this click here.
  • Don’t suffer in silence. Talk to someone right away if you’re feeling overwhelmed, or if you’re simply unsure about something, always ask.  The Curve as outlined within this section can help or also LYIT offers a free Student Counselling service. For more information on this click here.
  • Remember why you’re doing this.  Learning at third level takes place gradually and is a process that takes patience, perseverance and determination. There will be times when you may need to remind yourself what your motivation is. 
  • Seek out other adult learners to share experience and solve problems.  
  • Manage your emotional wellbeing. Balancing study and other commitments means college can be a juggling act.  Make time for yourself, exercise and do something you enjoy every week.
  • Engage in campus life. Visit the superb facilities like the gym at An Dánlann and incubation centre CoLab or even join a club/society.   It’ll make your experience even more rewarding. 
  • It’s not all about study. Life at LYIT can help you fulfil your potential but it’s also about having fun along the way