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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Four hours to decided what to do. Advise me please.

20 replies

messeditallup · 11/09/2014 19:28

Name changed.

I am doing a degree with the OU. Under transitional fee arrangements. For various reasons I completely screwed up this year. I ended up not sitting the exams for both my modules and failed miserably. I have now not been awarded financial support. I have appealed and that failed too.

My options are:-

Pay my course fees myself - around £1500. It would have to go on a credit card though. Next year though I would more than likely get financial support again as I will have completed enough modules. However this money will be a hard hit though not disastrous.

Give it up as a bad job and hope I can do a degree in the future. I will not get financial support or transitional fee arrangements. I am in my late thirties and this was kind of my last chance to get a degree really.

Further information. I am trying to move house and the money that would pay for this course would have paid for the move. We are overcrowded and dislike living here though it is acceptable for now.

I have a child with SN and it would be very difficult for me to get out to study as I am his full time carer.

I need to decided today. 11th September is the deadline.

The only other qualifications I have are a few GCSE's. My employability in the future is pretty much zero.

I got a distinction of one of my modules last year so was doing well.

Please tell me what you would do.

OP posts:

NanooCov · 11/09/2014 19:35

Do you enjoy the degree? Are you likely to cock up next year too? (Don't mean that in an offensive way, just using it as shorthand as you don't say what happened this year) Is the degree likely to improve your financial future?

Isseyesque · 11/09/2014 19:37

It completely depends on what the 'various reasons you screwed up' were and whether they are likely to persist - if so, it's probably not worth investing in the course.

Original poster

messeditallup · 11/09/2014 19:42

I screwed it up mainly because I was under a lot of pressure with my child and a close relative was diagnosed with a serious illness combined with an admittedly large dose of can't be arsedness.

I don't think I would mess up again this year, it would be hugely expensive screw up for me.

I think that with my lack of qualifications this degree could improve my financial future, yes but nothing is definite. If my child does not become more independent then it is unlikely I could ever return to work anyway.

I mainly just wanted to be formally educated to at least have that to offer. I didn't find it particularly difficult and progressed well the first couple of years.

OP posts:

BeerTricksPotter · 11/09/2014 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RabbitsarenotHares · 11/09/2014 19:45

If I were you I'd go for it. If you can afford it then do it. Plus, if you change your mind in a few weeks you should get most, if not all, the money back. If you don't sign up and change your mind in a few weeks then you're screwed.

What course are you doing this year?

Serenitysutton · 11/09/2014 19:45

Is it move or pay fees?
If so I'm afraid I'd move as that benefits your whole family.

Truthfully, unless you have a very clear path to this degree earning you more money I'd be hesitant to throw good money after bad.

frazmum · 11/09/2014 19:49

Could you delay for a year or so and in the meantime start putting some money aside for the degree? It's frustrating to miss out on the transitional fees but it sounds like you need a break.

Also is there some independent study/research you could do on the meantime to keep the study habits going and prepare you for your next paper?

Original poster

messeditallup · 11/09/2014 19:53

It isn't move OR pay fees but it would take longer to move if I pay the fees. There is a path to me earning money in the future BUT it all depends on how my child progresses. The degree is in Childhood and Child Development with modules in autism. I am hoping to be a SN teacher in the future so for what I want to do it would definitely make me more employable.

OP posts:

allisgood1 · 11/09/2014 19:58

I would put it on the credit card and carry on. The world need SN teachers like you who have their heart in the right place

trixymalixy · 11/09/2014 20:01

Stick the fees on a credit card.

CheesyBadger · 11/09/2014 20:10

Also agree, keep going and pay the fees. You may regret it if you don't and it would be hard to get back into study. I am doing an OU degree too. If you need to talk, feel free to pm me

CheesyBadger · 11/09/2014 20:11

Also agree, keep going and pay the fees. You may regret it if you don't and it would be hard to get back into study. I am doing an OU degree too. If you need to talk, feel free to pm me

LIZS · 11/09/2014 20:12

Would you qualify for an Advanced Learning loan ?

WeirdCatLady · 11/09/2014 20:13

Can't you contact student finance and get a loan? I'm also doing an OU degree and don't have to repay my tuition fee loans until I earn over £21k

Original poster

messeditallup · 11/09/2014 20:15

No, don't qualify for the loan, already checked that out.

I am going to do it I think. I know I will regret this forever if I don't, feeling a bit sick and nervous though but inside I know it is the right thing to do.

OP posts:

WeirdCatLady · 11/09/2014 20:23

Yay! good for you x

Mitzimaybe · 11/09/2014 20:24

Be 100% realistic with yourself about whether you are likely to "screw up" again - the issues with your child and the "can't be arsedness" are likely to be still there even if the relative's illness is no longer an issue. If you are sure that you will make the required effort then pay the money and do the course. You will never regret getting a degree but you may well regret not getting one when you could have, and there is unlikely to be a better time in your life than this to do it.

If you can get a long-term interest free credit card then by all means go for that, but if you're having to pay interest, such a huge amount on a credit card is a no-no. Try to find a better rate for a personal loan / authorised overdraft / remortgage if you have one.

Mitzimaybe · 11/09/2014 20:25

Oh and good luck!

Bonbonbonbon · 11/09/2014 20:30

If you think you are capable of doing the course work and not messing up a second time, I'd say do it. I know a woman who was in almost exactly your position, same family scenario, same degree, OU, etc and she went for it and it had a significant positive impact on her life.

ReindeerBollocks · 11/09/2014 20:42

Can you pay in instalments? I am currently studying for a third year in a row. I completely messed up the first year - didn't take a module exam and failed the other module. In that year I had a very sick DC and a miscarriage - I mainly wanted to crawl under a duvet and forget about books. So I understand that feeling.

However two years down the line - having applied myself last year, I have passed all current and previous modules. I feel much better going into my third year despite having to put in a lot of effort last year. However I really want to progress in my studies and like the area I'm studying.

This is vital if you have to dedicate yourself to the studies - I've had modules I've been less keen on and it is so hard to apply myself to the extra reading.

If your university can offer a pay instalment basis - it's normally pay 33% upfront - they then add a % and divide the rest into more manageable amounts. That way you could put the first amount on a CC if necessary and save for the rest.

Best of luck with it - you can do this if you put your mind to it.

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