to think this degree was a big mistake?

[cakedup]

I am a mature student in my 40s, lone parent, in the final year of my degree. I've sacrificed a lot to get here. Am currently trying to muster the enthusiasm to write my dissertation.

I feel this degree has been a very time consuming and very expensive mistake.

Reasons I decided to do my degree:

Better job prospects - the main reason. Not only to increase my chances of getting a job but my aim was to have a job that I actually enjoy.

To prove something to myself - more of a sub-concious reason that has become more apparent. I failed at school and have always had a 'stupid' complex.

To be a good example to DS - not specifically in terms of going to uni, but felt I had generally achieved very little and wanted to do something that required sacrifice, hard work, determination etc.

Unfortunately it hasn't quite panned out that way:

Re job prospects - I thought by now I would have developed a passion for my subject, but I haven't. In fact it's had the opposite effect, I've gone off it.

Re my stupid complex - I've never felt more stupid in my life. My grades have been getting worse and people young enough to be my children are sailing through. My access course tutor had high hopes for my getting a first which has only exacerbated my feeling of failure . At the moment I'm on track for a 2:1. If I fuck up my dissertation then I could get a 2:2 and I really don't think I could handle that tbh.

Re good example - There are many other less time consuming and cheaper ways I could have achieved this! Hindsight and all that.

Anyone feel/felt like I do? Any encouraging stories?

I think you need to finish it to the absolute best of your ability, for your own long term satisfaction and yes, to set an example to your children.

Its always hard in the final stretch, everyone becomes thoroughly irritating and you just wan to escape. That's normal. But you have to push through to the end I think or its definitely a complete waste of the time you have spent getting there.

Good luck with it all anyway.

I feel you, I am hating my course right now. I am doing a health care course, I'm working full time permanent nights because my mentor only works nights and writing a dissertation at the same time. It is hell and I completely feel like giving up. I feel like it's never going to end and I'm just going to keep doing it forever.

Good luck though, I think once you've finished you'll be proud of yourself. Don't be afraid to ask for an extension for your dissertation if you need it too.

Bear in mind, a 2:2 earned whilst working part time and running a household etc is worth more than a 2:2 earned by a 20/21 year old who has pissed their loan up the wall in a 3 year bender. Any employer will recognise that

This is nonsense, and extremely condescending. I am also a mature student, my cohort is comprised mostly of mature students, however about 10% of the class are school leavers and they are brilliant. No employer would ever make the judgement you give above, thankfully they tend to be a little more open minded than you.

Pandora, keep your chin up, you are getting there! That is awful you are stuck on nights, our uni tell placement that we shouldn't do more than 20-30% nights, it should be mostly days.

A 2.2 is not worthless.

I have a 2.2 and a master's degree. It isn't worthless at all, I have a good graduate-level job. I'm also not thick I just hated my degree and couldn't get into it.

Once you have a job nobody cares what class your degree is.

The only issue is to get a job you have to be more creative than the standard milk round type recruitment.

February is the low point in the academic year, nearly everyone runs out of steam. You are not alone!

I know how you feel! I'm taking an a level to work towards a second degree. I missed a first by .5% in my first degree. I got 1st class grades on a postgraduate nursing course. I'm very bright, yada yada... It's a whole new ball game now. I have 3 young children, one with special needs. I'm a school governor and I'm doing a course related to that. I'm starting a return to (nursing) practice course next month.

I've come to realise that 'only' getting a B (I only actually need a C for the course) may have to be good enough because I don't have time to devote the hours needed to get a stellar grade.

At the end of the day it is a major achievement to even get through the course.

Education of any sort at any level is never a "mistake". over simplifies

I'm 53 and doing a degree at the moment. It's really tough - don't be so hard on yourself and definitely don't give up now you have come so far!

MissDuke we have to do between a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 50. I've done about 40 now I think. I don't mind working nights, they go quicker than days it's just trying to do work at the same time is a killer. In the last 5 weeks I've done 4 weeks of nights and 1 week of days. My day mentor is having a new student though soon. I like my current mentor and feel I've come on well with her so don't want to change. I was meant to do more days with a different mentor but she's horrible and I really didn't want to go with her so I've managed to stick with my current one. I'm just going to have to ride it out.

Nothing wrong with a 2:2.

Mine hasn't held me back.

Employers are or should be interested in the rounded person - the degree is often just a tick box...

morningtoncrescent62 I went from thinking, I could never do a degree, I'm just not academically inclined, to - like yourself - looking at others and thinking, why not? Who says I can't? Then I did an access course and the tutor there was so impressed with me. He gave me so much confidence in myself - a little too much really, because I arrived at uni thinking I was going to kick ass and got my ass kicked instead! And that dread of writing an essay - I had a proper panic attack in my 2nd year over one essay. I like your philosophy re the 2 hours a day.

Pandora37 yes it does feel like it's never going to end, but it will. Imagine that burden lifting off your shoulders...I am going to feel as light as feather the day I leave uni, I can't wait.

I think the reason I'm scared of getting a 2:2 is because of my 'stupid complex' - there's a lot of emotion tied up with doing well or failing. Also my access course tutor thought so highly of me and expected me to get a 1st. And, I know I shouldn't compare, but most of the students in my class are brilliant. And many are getting regular firsts - it's just a bit of a crush that I can't match up to that. tobysmum77 it's good to hear stories of people getting a 2:2 and then going on to a Masters - it proves to me that it is not necessarily a sign of how much you can achieve.

That's very inspiring lougle. At the end of the day it is a major achievement to even get through the course. I need to credit myself for that.

nokidshere - do you ever feel out of place? I do. I feel like I've gatecrashed a 3 year long party and everyone is wondering what I'm doing there! I didn't really even know how to write an essay when I started uni.

You have gone too far to give it up now, just aim to finish it with the best grades you can realistically get. I have a PhD (which I gained whilst working full time), the last year was by far the hardest and it is only when I started writing up that I realised why so many people gave up so close to the end. I kept going because my father completed his PhD whilst married, working, building a house and with 3 young children. Finishing a degree shows your ability to complete an academic endeavour, and the dissertation is the hardest part.

In the end I did not need a PhD for my job, but I have never regretted doing it. In my job a degree and post grad is essential, and the class is also relevant, however if you are a lone parent and got a 2.2 from a reputable university that would be taken into consideration.

Your degree might not immediately land you the right job, nor the one you deserve, but it will in all likelyhood help you further your career in the long run, for example to be considered for team leader etc.

Getting an education is never pointless. Good luck!

I didn't know that was info that helped. But if it does, I also have a 2.2 (was v v disappointed at the time) from a red brick UK university and then an MA from another red brick uk university (taken 10 years later). I got almost a distinction in the MA, one point less, which was a "merit".

I achieved my degree as a mature student. I was 42 when I graduated with a 2:1. then months preceding the final exams and dissertation I almost gave up so many times. I have used my degree to get a job paying more than I could have without one, but not in the area of the field that I first imagined. Remember you don't have to necessarily stick to a narrow field. Keep going ..it's so worth it when you graduate!!!

cake, I would strongly recommend doing your dissertation on something you are interested in/passionate about. It really helps!

I have written 2 dissertations in the past two years, a total 35,000 words however I chose subjects that I was really interested in so the writing was much easier.

DO NOT GIVE UP!

Oh and MyTartan I did both my undergrad and postgrad as a single parent. I also worked two jobs during my postgrad. I saw my DD as positive encouragement to do my degrees.