Academic and personal support plays key role in student’s GCU experience

An MSc Occupational Therapy student, who previously studied Social Sciences, has spoken of the supportive environment at GCU and the impact it had on her returning to complete a second degree.

Chloe Hunter completed her Undergraduate in 2018 and decided to return to GCU in January this year to study a Masters.

We sat down with Chloe to discuss changing career path and hear about the help she has received during both her degrees at GCU.

Undergraduate to MSc

"My first step after finishing school in 2014 was studying a BA (Hons) Social Sciences degree at GCU. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do when I finished school, so I just decided to study social sciences so that I could do a bit of everything. When I graduate, I had nothing in particular that I wanted to pursue in terms of an actual career.

"I had a look online and actually thought about coming back to do physiotherapy, but I then heard of occupational therapy and read a bit more about it. One of my friends happens to be an occupational therapist and I asked her if I could come along to see what it is that she does, because I really wasn’t sure about the difference between occupational therapy and physiotherapy. I found it really interesting and decided to apply for the course.

"The progression to MSc Occupational Therapy might not seem related in any way, but there’s actually quite a lot of overlap with sociology in particular - especially in terms of social justice and occupational justice."

Support

"I studied my Undergraduate at GCU and the University actually helped me find out that I have dyslexia.

"One of the other students on my course asked me if I’d ever been tested and I told them that teachers used to just say that I was bad at English and good at maths, so it couldn’t be dyslexia. I never really thought anything of it because most people are good at one and not so strong at the other.

"I thought getting tested was maybe me being a bit overdramatic, but I went to the Disability Team at GCU and they told me I was ticking all the boxes. It was a massive relief because I thought I was just bad at certain things. It’s allowed me to get more time in exams and that really helps me calm down and absorb the information.

"I also used the Learning Development Centre (LDC) for a bit of support with writing my essays. I had such a good experience with them, they really went above and beyond. It was really big classes throughout my Undergraduate so understandably you weren’t able to get that one to one support from lecturers. The LDC were able to provide that for me and the difference it made to my journey at GCU was crazy – I’m not sure if I’d have completed my degree without them.

"The Disability Team and the LDC were the main reason for me coming back because I knew I was going to get the support I needed."

Returning to University

"It wasn’t an easy decision to return as a mature student. I graduated from my Undergraduate in 2018 so there was obviously quite a big gap before I started my Masters in January this year. I think COVID gave me the push to do it because everyone’s life basically got flipped upside down for those two years, myself included!

"I was thinking about how I didn’t really know where I was going in life. I had a really good job as a postwoman, which I’d been doing since leaving University. I loved it but I felt like I wanted to do something more me.

"The leap into actually applying for the Masters was the scariest part because I was 26 years old and a bit worried about being “too old”."

January 2023

"I would say I was more excited than nervous when it came to actually starting. I was so sure that this was something that I wanted to invest my time into. It was something I’d grown passionate about between being told I’d got a place and actually starting.

"It was challenging at first: I remember sitting there during week one and the lecturers were talking about referencing. I’d completely forgot about it but it’s actually quite surprising how quickly it comes back to you."

New experiences

"Placement was another thing that was completely new to me, I’ve never done anything like that. It’s been really good having that opportunity to go out and experience your job before you do it. That’s definitely my favourite part of the course. My first placement was with East Renfrewshire Council and my second one is in North Ayrshire with the NHS.

"Throughout everything, the staff within the programme have been amazing with me. The main thing is that they want you to achieve – everyone is there to help you. I think first time around at University, I probably viewed lecturers the same as I did teachers at high school. The staff on my Masters have been amazing and I just feel like they really are there to guide you through all these new experiences."

Reflection

"I definitely don’t have any regrets. It was a nerve-racking experience to actually take that step into returning to University, but I’m so happy I did.

"The amazing thing about GCU is that you’ll never come across anyone that’s unhelpful. Lecturers, Librarians, Funding, the Disability Service, the Learning Development Centre - I’ve engaged with people across all these different areas since coming here and I’ve never had a bad experience. It’s definitely reassured me that I made the right decision to come back and study here, and I’m now really excited for my future as an occupational therapist."

By Ross Clark      
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter