Getting back into study after a few years may not be as hard as you think.
The good thing about not being a student for a few years is having had the time to think about what you really want to do with your life.
You're more likely to have a better idea of a career direction and what you want to study than is the case for many school leavers.
And if you've been working, you'll have developed some skills that you can definitely use as a uni student.
Things like teamwork, time management, problem-solving and other soft skills.
Of course, studying at uni is not the same as studying at high school.
You'll need to be able to research topics, write essays, reference sources and other new skills.
But you can learn these academic skills by preparing for university before starting an undergraduate degree.
University preparation courses
These are free courses that prepare you for uni by teaching you the skills required for academic success – with an emphasis on you becoming an independent learner.
This includes information/communication technology skills, academic research and writing, mathematical concepts and techniques, and a wide range of interpersonal communication skills.
And you'll get course and career advice to help you make informed decisions about selecting a degree.
Eamon Gilbert, an ECU student who'd always been passionate about sports, says he was nervous about how he would go at uni and thought he would struggle.
Eamon hadn't done ATAR and since high school had been working for a few years on minesites before finding his way into a Bachelor of Sport, Recreation and Event Management degree via ECU's UniPrep course.
"Starting with UniPrep was the perfect way into university for me, teaching me all the things I needed to know like essay writing, referencing and generally getting me ready," he says.
Eamon is currently working for the Carlton (AFL) Football Club in Melbourne and is loving it.
ECU student Eamon Gilbert at his new workplace at the Carlton Football Club in Melbourne.
Upskill during your course
If you're accepted direct into an undergraduate course, you can also take advantage of all kinds of academic support during your first year and beyond.
That could be getting help from a peer mentor assigned to you in your first semester.
Or consulting a learning adviser about how to prepare assignments, for example.
Uni librarians can also teach you how to do referencing or to improve your research skills.
And there are many free online services offered by universities to get you off to a good start.
Having concerns about coping after a break from study is understandable.
But we think you've got this.
You've read this far, why not keep going with the dream?
