Mature student, with child and partner?

[Rixera]

Just wondering how any of you manage?
I missed out on uni due to hard home life, now with a 20 month old DD I'm starting to wonder again. I always dreamed of studying at Cambridge and though that may be out of reach I'm about to begin an access to higher education diploma with a view to getting a degree in English.

I'm just a bit lost as to how to manage picking us all up and moving to wherever might accept me in two years. We have all our furniture, thoughts about DD's schooling, OH finding another job, finding another place to rent, childcare...
But in the same breath how could we manage if I moved to study alone? The extra drain on finances, OH effectively a single parent, DD missing her mummy.

How does anyone do it?!

Sorry not to reply, OP! But I would absolutely say YES YES YES to at least checking out Lucy Cavendish properly if Cambridge is one of your dream places to study. Because they are entirely set up for mature undergrads (they do take postgrads as well) they have a very diverse intake and can offer the sort of support which another college would be lacking. In fact, I would say that if you are thinking about Oxbridge a college like that should probably be top of your list - you get the support & understanding about coming back into education/family life etc but also the wonderful resources of the larger institution. Same goes for Harris Manchester at Oxford. Both have good reputations for English as well. Do PLEASE give it a try. They are really actively seeking people like you - coming back into education through non-conventional routes rather than just straight a-levels, and what will stand out to them will be passion for the subject, so reading around and deepening your interests in the writers/playwrights/poets you love best should be a real focus. Email their admissions team and have a chat with them, and go along to an open day. Don't think it's out of reach for you! It truly is worth a good look.

I also think that the advice given by Elves above is very good - one alternative route might be to go to a university within reach of you and then consolidate that with a MA (possibly directly related to publishing) which might be easier to make work in terms of travel etc especially as your DD will be older then. So that's another way into it if you decide to stay local. Although I don't see why pps have said that "When you have a child it's not an option to move away and leave them to fulfill your dreams" - willing to bet that it would be different if it were the man having to leave for work, which is a very common set-up and somehow much more acceptable generally than a mum doing the same thing.

GOOD LUCK OP. Yes, you have to prepare yourself in all sorts of ways, but mature students are often some of the most impressive students I've encountered, with strong work ethic & determination. Please do look into Cambridge further if it is really a dream of yours, and have a chat to them. All the best!