Aibu to think this is impossible (uni related)

[UrbanDecay]

I don't want to say what the degree is but it's something I've always wanted to do , have the necessary entry requirements and will lead into a career .

I'm a single parent of 4 and would need to move some 250 miles away to the uni I've been accepted to . I have no family support where I am and where I would be living there would be a few relatives who would possibly help out with childcare occasionally. I live up north atm where housing is cheap and we'd be moving to a much more expensive area .
Would this be madness ? I'm currently unemployed and could only ever work in minimum wage jobs if I don't do this degree - I've studied hard at college as a mature student to meet the entry requirements.

I want to create a better life for me and my kids but I know there's going to be a hard few years of scrimping and saving even more than now , plus the whole upheaval of moving down the country alone with four children is a scary prospect . Would it be madness to accept the offer from uni and go for it ??

I suppose the aibu is am I being unreasonable in being worried about whether this would be the right thing to do or not ?

I’d say it’s defini the right thing bayou haven’t got many realistic prospects without it. It’ll be difficult, but worth it in the end.

Talk to student welfare about what support you’d have. Other things to consider: age of your dcs, would they need new school places? And how lokely are you to get employment afterwards?

The kids are between 9 years and 11 months do would need school places plus nursery / childminder .
There is a 95% rate of employment leading from the degree so a fairly good chance !

Would it mean moving them 250 miles from an involved dad? Because that could be problematical? If no dad, then I would say go for it!

Is there really no where closer that offers an equilvilent degree?

Dad isn't around . There are other places but I didn't get an offer . It's quite a competitive degree and the qualification I already have only lasts for 3 years .

Is the father contributing financially?

At present , no . I am pursuing it through CMS

Go for it. I wish you all the best

Can you afford to move? Seems like a long way to go for a degree. Why didn't the other places give you an offer if you have the necessary requirements?

Are you not able to do the degree online or up your qualifications to be potentially accepted to a closer uni next year?

I don't think YABU at all to consider it.

Do you think you could afford to live off the loans and any benefits you can get without having to work at all? It would be tough being single parent, full-time student and having to work part-time too. But you might find that with the loans and any benefits and uni bursaries, etc. you might not be any worse off than working a minimum wage job?

I think childcare needs to be very seriously considered. I'm a single parent, currently back at uni re-training. My DC's school has breakfast club and after school club. Would be impossible without this.

95% employment in that field or in general?

If you can afford to move I’d say go for it. You might regret it otherwise

Can't you do it through the Open University?

Do it

Do you know what the teaching requirements are and what the course structure is like? More science-based course are more restrictive in their hours and require lab time. Humanities based subjects often require a lot of self study which whilst also time consuming is more flexible.

Doing either is possible, it just might be another thing to factor in as it could affect your childcare arrangements.

Why didn't the other places give you an offer if you have the necessary requirements?

Some courses are very competitive, only offered at a small number of universities, and not everyone is offered a place. I'd guess this is a professional degree like medicine or dentistry that's worth this sort of effort in the OP's circumstances.

The other places didn't give me an offer because it's a very competitive course and the applicants far outnumber the available places . It's not something that can be done via open university .
The uni says that 95% of graduates from this course go onto employment or further training .
In all honesty I haven't given it much thought before this week because I didn't actually think I'd get an offer ! I applied to the two unis closest to me and this one because of the family link I have in the area .
I need a proper think about it all - that's why I'm asking for non biased opinions and experiences of single parents doing a degree .

Suggest look on rightmove.co.uk or Zoopla to find out property prices to rent or buy. Have you factored in cost of move eg hire of van, post redirection, deposit if renting or does the university offer housing for parents. Im not trying to put you off doing the course, would you be able to work part time ? Moving is costly

The uni says that 95% of graduates from this course go onto employment or further training

This jumps out at me, or further training, which isn’t 95% employment rate. You’d need to find out the percentage break down and how likely a job is afterwards, especially one that is kind on a single mum with 4 children. It’s tough because you’ve worked so hard for his but you have 4 very important people that need you to fully investigate this properly.

Absolute first port of call is to contact the student welfare bods and ask what help they can offer.

Do you know how many days and times you would be in class?

How would you manage if you had children in three different schools plus a nursery over a large area- how would you manage drop offs and pick ups?

How would you manage if they were ill when you were due in class/had an exam etc?

How would you manage for teachers training days?

I’m guessing you have a house to sell and or savings to fund the move, deposits and living expenses- but will it be enough?

I was a single mum at uni and lots of friends were too, a few had husbands/partners. All except 2 who were married had to work part time, as loads etc was not enough to pay rent/bills etc.

If you need to find a job in the evenings/weekends- will you have someone to look after the children?

Make sure your child are is water tight! You’ll be surprised how often you will be in the library, on top of all the other childcare. I had days when I was in the library from lecture end at 5pm until 7/8pm somenights. It was rare, but don’t miss this out of things you need to think about.

Good Luck though! It will be so so hard, but so so worth it!

Do it. Absolutely do it. I was a single mum in a horrid high rise in Bristol and moved to do a law degree. I was on income support and it was hard for a few years. Desperately hard. I worked my goddamn ass off. Now I’m own my own home and earn a super salary in a job that I love very much. It was hard no doubt. Without doing it though, we’d still be living in poverty perhaps. Who knows. But I wouldn’t be where I am now. Do it! Do it!

The family link/possible childcare would need to be certain before I would move 250 miles for it. I think you need to be prepared to do it totally alone without any family help and consider any babysitting a bonus. Get proper paid for childcare in place rather than hoping family will help out.

I would be able to afford moving costs and a deposit with a months rent upfront but that would be my savings wiped out . Rentals are almost double the price monthly to what I'm paying now ! I get housing benefit atm , not sure if I'd still get that so that's something to investigate .
Thanks everyone who's replied , I've lots to think about !
Nobody from my family has ever gone to university so I'm a bit clueless really- can you tell ? 😆