Recently, the Centre for Lifelong Learning Team caught up with Taiwo Ogunrinde, former student of the Gateway to HE course who then progressed to a degree and is currently studying her second year of the full-time Social Studies Degree. She shares with us her seven tips for mature students and her inspiring journey to education.

Tip Four: Believe in yourself, ignore your past exam results. That was then, now is a new chapter.

“Failure does smash your confidence. Seeing your results will help you build your confidence again. Gateway helped. It showed me the results I could achieve.”

The Gateway to HE, which runs twice a year part-time, teaches classes in an informal style, allowing students to settle back into study. Senior Teaching Fellow, Dr Steve Gascoigne, who teaches the Gateway course, himself came to University in later life after working in the automotive industry. His story inspired Taiwo, and this helped her drive to study a degree. He is now also her personal tutor in her Social Studies degree.

“Steve’s story inspired me, he was open and honest about his own background and how he came to Warwick as a mature student. How he worked hard to get here. That inspired me.”

If you're considering joining us on our free Gateway to HE course this November, you can find out more on our course page.