Mummy students?

mummyroysof3

I part time study at home so don't have many of the issues that people at brick unis do but it's hard work and rewarding at the same time and I really enjoy it most of the time

Buttonmoons

I start access to nursing (level 6) in August, I'm doing level 5 currently and finish that in about 7 weeks. I've found college fabulous (I'm 25 and a single parent) - I've made friends, I've found the course easy (although I know it will get more difficult!) but even at the level I am doing there is a lot lot lot lot of writing involved! I have a project due in for next week, an exam next week, an essay due in tomorrow, and 2 tasks set currently on Nhs, local authority, private and voluntary sectors - all the while in about 3 weeks I have a human body essay due in and the exam the following week - I work part time too, but I can't see me being able to maintain that at university since you are on rota - -

From what I gather at the moment, tax credits don't count your training in hospital as actual work and I'd have the bursary to live off - but I'd have zero wages and no WTC - So not sure what my finances are going to look like then (shocking I assume)

I've been offered a voluntary job working for childline too, but I have put that off for the moment as I just have too much on + spending time with my daughter.

I'm considering doing a higher in English in August too - combined with my 2 highers I'd be doing + all my NC's come August.

bagpuss38

As an update I was turned down by my college due to lack of experience, so my plan is to look into gaining more experience, then reapplying for 2014. Little one will be going into reception so that makes childcare a little easier.
Good luck to all those of you who start this year and well done to all those who have made it to the otherside :T

Kayalana99

My DS is 7months and have another on the way! My goal is to train up to be *something* by the time they are both in school (so basicly I have 5 and half years to complete course)

I'm still debating what I want to do...part of me wants to be a social worker but after hearing some others have said basicly it being an all hour job and the part time SW struggle to keep up I wouldn't want to put anything before my family....

The reason I have had my kids so young (I am 22) is so that I can do something later on in life so I am thinking if I do an accountant course now on ICS which is 5 parts (each part takes about a year although saying that im going to have my hands full!!) I could perhaps do that for a futher 10 years and maybe retrain as a social worker once kids are older...and I would hopefully have more funds avaible for uni?

I can't think of anything I would like to do really apart from either running my own business or a social worker...and as for running my own business its what kind of business lol!!

Accountancy is just because I am good with numbers and feel its something I could do and the fee's arent to bad (£400 per course + exam fee's)

Well food for thought formyself ;-|

Girlzmum

twinmumagain wrote: »

I'm so glad it worked out well for you
Can I ask...... is placement from the off? I understood if didnt start until second year? I'm in Leicester, Midlands if thats of any relevance.

(sorry to highjack the thread too lol!!)

Over here we did 6 weeks in uni and then straight into 6 weeks placement! I actually preferred placement as it was over 4 days including weekends so less childcare was needed (our uni hours were properly Monday to Friday, its not a light work degree!)

My mum has actually just qualified as a nurse as well, she was a healthcare assistant for years and was seconded through work to study for her qualification in the Open University.

Kayalana99

I know this thread isn't very active but just wanted to update...turns out the course I wanted to do wasn't enough to become an accoutant in the end but I am now doing an AAT with Kaplan..then planning on doing the ACCA with them to become an accountant (but you also need three years experience)

Just wanted to say if anyone is thinking of a similar career path and wants some information about Kaplan feel free to ask, I have only just started though but I don't mind helping.

As for Kaplan verus ICS I love the fact that Kaplan have thier own centers everywhere you can do your exams..one of the biggest problems with ICS is that you have to book your own exams as an external candiate but Kaplan do it all through them. (Although your alot more limited on what you can do with Kaplan but tbf I didnt look through all thier courses)

Havn't booked my first exam yet though so we'll see how I go..

Good luck to you all ..Its my first day studying so to speak and already im feeling the strain...so hard to concentrate with my little one whining...hes teething atm but I'll manage somehow...

Girlzmum

Good luck with the course!

Catriona_P

I'm also a studying Mum. I'm halfway through a Diploma course (NVQ Level 6 equivalent) which is work-related. I have to have this qualification to get any further in my career basically. I've done 18 months and have another 18 or so to go - if I pass everything I'll be finished in September 2014.

Between FT work, looking after my daughter (who is 2), and doing mundane things such as house stuff, I'm pretty much exhausted most of the time. If you have support from family (I don't) who can take the kids off your hands so you can study, I think it's much easier. All my studying gets done in the evenings. My undergrad degree was NEVER as hard as this!

The problem I'm also finding is that since most people who do this qualification are men, and mostly a lot older than I am, there's a bit of a presumption that I have as much time to study as they do. I've never heard a man doing my course complain about having to juggle childcare on top of everything else!

Good luck to us all, I think being able to do any kind of studying when also a Mum is very tough. But hopefully worth it

Aphrodite12

I am also a studying mum/student nurse. I work also as my partner is a student and I do most of the housework. I just thought I would mention that different unis have a slightly different structure, where I am we do one day a week lectures and two days a week (16 hours) placement. So for me the full time nursing course is only 3 days a week. Plenty of time to do other things. So shop around when applying and get good info on what the timetable is you may be surprised!