SEAMUS MULCONRY was 19 when his father died and he was forced to drop out of college and return home to Co Clare to run the family business. "I'd always wanted to do a degree and my ambitions were cut short by my father's death," he explains. Eight years later Mulconry, feeling that he was in a rut, decided to take the plunge and go back to college. "The biggest thing was making the decision to go back - it took me a long time to make up my mind," he explains. However, "it was the best decision I ever made," he now says.

Mulconry was admitted to St Patrick's College, Drumcondra's BA in humanities programme. "It's a brilliant college with wonderful lecturers and I had three fantastic years."

Even though he had spent a year at third level, Mulconry was fearful that he would be unable to cope at college. "I was terrified about the essay writing and the exams. I submitted a rough draft of my first I essay I was so concerned," he recalls. In the event, Mulconry found that the self discipline he had acquired in the workplace served him well at third level. "If you consider it as a job and work nine to five, five days a weeks, you won't have a problem. I think school leavers have a harder time adjusting to third level. The difficulties faced by mature students can be exaggerated. My group in college all managed to have a good social life, get involved in college societies and study as well."

Mulconry who is now enroled on TCD's MBA programme, says that money is a major issue for mature students, but he admits that he has been fortunate financially. "I didn't get a grant - I had savings and with summer work I have been able to manage. It's very difficult to survive on a grant - it will cover your rent but nothing else."