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?

Thanks notgivin, I don't know why I come on here sometimes. I can take criticism, but outright stupid criticism that makes no sense just pisses me off.

If the sums work, go for it. But be really sure that they will, because it'd be fairly soul destroying and stressful all round to start and have to stop, and that could prevent you from getting onto the course again.

I suspect; sadly, that the childcare grant information you've been given is out of date - the link you've posted is from 2015. But I hope that there is a way that you can make this work!

OP, are there any SLT positions available in your local Trust? How does this work...do you qualify and walk into a job or do you have to wait for a vacancy.

My concern is that with all the cuts they may be reducing the number of SLT's and that after 3 years there may not be a job available.

Can you do SLT and then move to something similar?

SLT is not just NHS, I can do private practice too and there are also charities that advertise jobs for SLT like The Seashell Trust and The Together Trust.

I'm aware of the cuts, but so is everybody else doing NHS and public sector jobs right now. It isn't enough to put me off SLT, perhaps if it were nursing it would, but SLT is different to nursing in many ways.

My only other realistic option (at least temporarily), of going back to insurance, looks bleak anyway. There are changes to legislation that are making the job I did make massive cutbacks. I was already made redundant from a large insurance company because of this.

I just don't want to waste my life in crap jobs that I have no interest in. Working is a huge part of your life, and I'm going to be doing this until I'm over 60. That's a long part of your life to feel unfulfilled :(

Sorry OP no advice but following with interest as I too am contemplating going back to university to get a second degree so I can work in the NHS

I suppose one consideration of putting it off is that we never really know what will happen in the future with funding so it's quite possible if you put it off a few years, the government will no longer be funding second degrees. Personally I think if you can afford it and DH is on board you should go for it.

Placement was the most difficult part of my degree and it's almost always during the school holidays. You can be placed anywhere. You can say where you would like to go but don't expect uni to place you locally.

Thanks Smashhits, it was explained to us during our interview process (which was two hours long! I thought it would never end ).

Apparently we do some 'day release' and some block placements. In the first year it is nursery and Reception, then some KS3/4 placements too, roughly 16 sessions for the year. Then typically increases to 30 sessions for years 2 and 3, but changes to a mixture of block placement and day release. Obviously this is subject to change as I don't start until next year. :D

Re placements is that the case for all NHS degrees?

In the nicest possible way, whyare you still posting op? Why did you post at all? Just do the damn course !

Nobody here really knows you, or cares about you, as your own family does. If you want approval, then Aibu is the last place you’ll get it, as demonstrated up thread. I think you’re just going to get pissed off by some people posting on here. I honestly would just hide it now and get on with your course, which sounds really interesting.

Don't SALTs also work with stroke and MS rehabilitation and do food and drink assessments etc for dysphagia?

Don't SALTs also work with stroke and MS rehabilitation and do food and drink assessments etc for dysphagia?

Yes, well done. A lot of people think SLTs just work with children.

I suppose one consideration of putting it off is that we never really know what will happen in the future with funding so it's quite possible if you put it off a few years, the government will no longer be funding second degrees.

Yes, that's a very good point.

I'm really interested in SLT too OP. I cannot decide whether to finish my half-completed Psychology (fell ill during my course, got good grades but left!) or apply for SLT!

I really think that you should go for it next year if you can fit it around your life and afford it.

*degree