This is the time of the year when levels of apprehension start rising in those starting college for the first time. Doubts about one's ability to understand the lectures, write essays and make friends afflict all students regardless of age but mature students tend to admit to such insecurities where younger students do not.

Mature students often have a lonely time especially at the beginning of term. Being on your own in a class of younger students or sitting alone in the restaurant is a very isolating experience, but it usually passes quickly as mature students tend to seek each other out and the cliques of younger students become less steadfast as the term progresses. Mature students have a number of key advantages over their younger classmates. For a start they are normally more focused and more secure in themselves. They want to be in college, they have chosen their course with care and they have rearranged the rest of their lives to accommodate their new commitment so they are going to make the best of it.

They also tend to be less distracted by the social side of college and to spend more time in the library and less time in the bar or moaning over their love lives. When it comes to exams they may be as nervous as their more youthful classmates, but they tend to handle exam stress better and to be more philosophical in their outlook. The downside is that older brains may not be as quick as younger ones and it does get harder to remember things. Mature students also report having to read things two or three times before they sink in and that's quite normal.

One of the ways of coping with the heavy workload is to form a study group. Older students are much better than younger ones at setting up enduring self-help groups which can be an excellent way of getting to grips with course material and a great source of friendship and mutual support.

Being a mature student is not easy especially where it involves a juggling act between college, kids and other domestic or work commitments. Those who have survived the experience say that there is a period of adjustment as both the student and his or her family or colleagues get used to the idea. It can be particularly hard where there are children who don't like the idea of mum or dad not being available to them because they're studying. The support of one's partner and family is crucial for a mature student because things do change within a household when one of its members takes on a significant outside commitment.