To go to university again?

[hopelessandhopeful]

I am married with 3 DCs aged 5 and under. I have a university place for September 2019.

I'm currently a SAHM, DH earns 21k as of last month, for years it has been around 19k. We rent and just got our first car in February. We have about 12k debt. We both have degrees, but I need another one to do a degree which will enable me to work in the NHS and also independently if I wanted to.

AIBU to prolong our debt status by going back to university, graduating when our DCs will be 10, 9 and 7?

I can't decide whether it is best to do it now and get it out of the way, or do it later when it's more convenient. The catch is, our youngest doesn't go to school until 2020 and even with the 30 hours, RTW now when I've had a long career break to a decent wage will be difficult. Unless I go full time I won't be able to work in my previous sector, so I am left with very little prospects unless I give up my time with my DCs.

So, AIBU going to uni?

If your DH wanted to do another degree in the future will you provide reciprocal help and support. If you can afford it and you have the motivation I would complete the course. I would strongly recommend investigating if it will guarantee you a job and what will the salary be ?

Just to let you know I have a degree and a job that is in a completely different field of work.

Those 3 years will pass whatever happens. If you can find yourself as a qualified SALT with career prospects, in your dream job, then I'd say GO FOR IT.

I've met soooo many people who didn't pursue their dream career. Most have a longing inside them, that makes every other part of their life seem "dimmed" somehow.

Do it! Could you get an evening job if money gets really tight?

I think you should go for it OP.

The people who are advising that her DH should get a better paid job ? Well, what happens if her DH just ups and leaves her as a single parent with three small young kids and she is struggling to support them financially ? No offence OP. With that point, I would never rely on a man.

The BSC, is less intensive, you will get a lot of holidays and most of your lessons will be half days (depending on the University). Which is perfect to spend quality time with your kids. The matter of fact is, your kids will need you all through out their lives... because of this, are you expected to not do anything with your life in fear of not being with your kids 24/7 ?!!

Word of advice OP. No matter what you do, people will judge you. Do what you want to do. This is your life.

Lots of holidays not guaranteed-NHS courses are full on. Nurses get 4 weeks in late August but are expected to work through bank holidays etc.
And YY to not being reliant on a man financially.
I didn't do what I wanted for family reasons at the time, it was a childhood dream. I did something else, excelled exceptionally, and have a good academic job now which pays well.
The dream hasn't gone away but would be impractical now financially and regarding the practicalities with kids. I know I won't do that now and I'm saddened but don't feel 'blunted' because of it

Lots of holidays not guaranteed-NHS courses are full on. Nurses get 4 weeks in late August but are expected to work through bank holidays etc

I’m not sure about other NHS courses but as I applied to do the BSC and the MSC in speech and language therapy (will be doing the MSC in September) some of the universities kindly allowed me to look at last years timetable, and they get more holidays, in comparison to the MSC. OP will get a few reading weeks, Christmas, Easter, Summer term breaks... as it’s the BSC, most classes will be half days e.g. 9am - 11am... but with a one or two full days 9-5pm and you will have a day off. The only issue is the placements. Though, this all depends on the University.

Most semesters are only Sept to May.

I think nurses get a bum deal in most things not, so you could well be right. Things like occupational therapy and radiography are a piece of cake in comparison, in terms of physical and mental expectations. Yet they get the most criticism and the worst working conditions.
Anyway by the by, as that is off topic.

Yet they get the most criticism and the worst working conditions

Yes they sadly do. Unless your higher up or some sort of specialist.

Notgiving:
Yes, but you would get less pay in comparison to a qualified speech and language therapist.

I don't think that's the case, or at least it's not my understanding. Post qualification/registration I don't think there would be any difference. You would be newly qualified Just as would any therapist at that stage post degree. It's just an alternative route in. You would also be paid as an apprentice throughout your training so probably considerably better off.

I think it's a good plan in general terms, but I wonder whether you should defer it for a year or two. I studied full time when mine were small, including one pre-schooler, and the pressures were not so much financial (although those were not inconsiderable) but more to do with the logistics of being very, very busy and rather stressed with very dependent children to think of. In your shoes I would be looking very carefully at my support network so that the wheels don't come off the minute one of the kids is ill, or if you're on a placement that makes it hard to manage school/nursery hours etc etc. Also your DH needs to be totally on board and ideally have the flexibility work-wise to pick up the slack if you're having a deadline or revision panic or someone is ill. Given you said you were a LAC, I'm guessing you have no or little extended family support, so you'll need school gate friends who can ferry/mind kids in an emergency or on an exchange basis. And brace yourself for missing some key school occasions and feeling a bit sad and crap about it. But ignore the holier than thou crowd telling you to pay off your first student loan before getting another. Some people have no idea what it's like to be in a position where if you don't do what's necessary to improve your lot your prospects will just get worse and worse. Good luck.

Mrs Lupo I was referring to the 12k debt not student load debt which nobody ever pays off anyway. That's a lot of debt particularly when entering education again. The interest alone is difficult.

I’ve been desperate to do veterinary medicine for 20yrs but just can’t afford the fees as a graduate- it’s my greatest regret

I Agree with fash84 and I think yabu for several reasons

Geppetto Sorry, I meant they get more holidays in comparison to the MSC. I don’t know why my phone auto typed “pay”.

Ah! Just realised. I’ve read an apprentice speech and language therapist will get less pay...

Assistant SLT wage is low yes, so won't solve any of the things I'm trying to achieve.

Why would I want my DH to get a better job, unless he wanted to? This is about me and my career, not him. I'm a person in my own right.

MrsLupo I think it can be done. My DS was two when I started my first degree, it was much difficult when he got to school-age and he had parents evening, school plays etc. But it can be done. I’m lucky that I never missed DS school events, even if I had to miss my morning lectures.

Mrs Lupo I was referring to the 12k debt not student loan debt which nobody ever pays off anyway. That's a lot of debt particularly when entering education again. The interest alone is difficult.

I'm on a DMP so not paying much interest. I pay a set amount each month, which will increase later this year when I stop paying for my Access Course.

Still massively confused at the suggestion that because I didn't use my first degree I won't use my second. I'm 30 with 3 kids and married. Why would I put myself through uni full time 9-5 and placements for three years, after being a SAHM, for absolutely no reason?

MN is a weird place sometimes.

Well you didn't do anything with the first degree and had no dependants then so the world was your oyster. You've not worked in years so no recent experience of any kind to add to your CV.

If you had wanted to work you would already be doing so. This just seems the latest whim where you can continue to draw down on benefits, make minimal debt repayments and not providing for your family.

A new extra degree won't suddenly render you the top of the pile of applicants when it comes to getting a job after. Employers tend to look at the whole picture. You'll be competing against younger graduates with no commitments so won't simply walk into a high paying job as you assume. Plus childcare for three will be expensive so will eat a huge part of the household income anyway.

I've seen lots of adults do a second degree and do nothing with it, it just seems a get out of jail card to many. They can't be expected to work as they are a "student ".

Did you read any of why I didn't? Did you read any of how hardly anyone I graduated with, including my husband, didn't? Did you graduate in 2010 and did you see the job market then? I doubt it, yet here you are, still banging on about how I didn't use it.

What exactly could I have done with my Criminology with Forensic Science degree and no work experience then? I've been waiting for an answer since a few pages back.

I graduated, moved across the country to live with my husband's parents, and got a job within 2 weeks. Did that job for 2 weeks, got another job in insurance. Got myself promoted twice in 6 months, left for a better paid job and worked there until I had my daughter. What did I do so wrong?

I started that second job on 12k (first was a bar job), and 6 months later was on 5k more. I'd say that proves I'm pretty competent and I'm also well educated, educated enough to know that if I do another degree and sacrifice my family time that I will bloody use it.

hopeless don’t listen to people like Box, don’t even entertain them. She/ he sounds like a very bitter person.

Anyway, a huge majority of people don’t use their first degrees.