New to this and needing advice!

[UniversityOfMum]

Hello fellow student parents!

A bit about myself.

I'm 20 and mother to a 4 month old DD. I had only just started my first term of university when I discovered I was pregnant. I left so I could work and save up some money during my pregnancy but am now keen to get back into it and start my degree again in Sept 11.

I've just started my UCAS application, its even more fun the second time round .

I was wondering if anybody had ANY advice they could give me on universities, nurseries, finance, personal statements...pretty much everything.

Would love to speak to some fellow student mums and steal their knowledge hear their stories.

Thankyou!

And thankyou for your response, my post did look a bit sad and lonely .

I'm new to this site aswell, thought it would be a bit busier . Maybe not that many mumsnetters are student parents?

Did you have particular location in mind? Are you still with the father or will you be going to uni as a lone parent? I did my undergrad as a lone parent, got married mid way through my masters and had a baby half way through my phd so I may be able to help.... What course will you do?

Thankyou prolesworth, I've heard scary things but so far so good. I'll have a look at that and see if we can wake it up a bit.

notremotely, wow. You've certainly been busy! How the hell did you manage all of that?
I am a lone parent but luckily have very lovely parents who want to help me through my degree.
I'm looking at unis around SW London, my first choice is Royal Holloway. I've pretty much decided on 4 of my choices just one more to go. I'm going to be studying Business with Human Recourse Management, yawn I know.
Where did you get advice on help with childcare costs? And when do you apply for it, before or after you've sent of your UCAS?

Hiya, it was hard work and still is! Dd is now 1, d's is 11 and I haVe about 14 months left on my phd...

Ok, childcare- you should qualify for assistance from student finance/loan people and the grant will be non repayable! Apply as soon as possible as there is always delays! Also contact tax credits as you may get more too and look at each uni's financial aid office and on site nurseries - students normally get a discount and you can apply to the access to learning fund/hardship fund to cover ant shortfall in childcare fees etc - again apply asap as the money usually runs out by Xmas of each year so as soon as you enroll apply!!

Don't forget too that as a student you will be exempt from council tax so get an attendance certificate once enrolled and send to the council... If you live with another non student adult it would give 25% discount off of bill...

Make sure you get a nus card too for loads of discounts and always ask if they offer it... Peacocks is great for little ones clothes!

Try and contact uni before you enrol for a reading list and either get books second hand from amazon or eBay or hit the library before everyone else!

My numb one tip to survive the degree is plan... Use diaries and wall charts and at the first sign of problems talk to your tutors! Don't hide from them! Also use the student union advice centres at the uni!

Study in the evenings once dc are in bed... It's such a productive lovely thing to do and you won't notice being alone!

Enjoy it though, it's great being able to study around tfe children and be there for them if I'll or in the holidays!you are also being a great role model to your dc!!

Oh and apply for housing benefit if you need it... Thru count your student loan as income even if you dont take it though as it's monies available to you... I had a few part time/ bank jobs during mine to try and pay my way a bit but to be honest it wad more hassle so prob best concentrating on your studies and dc if you can! I'm now on a fully Funded phd and it is so worth the hard work!! Good luck

Thanks for all that info, good to at least have a starting point. Now just to wait and see where i got in...

Hi there, I'm fairly new to this site (only just seen this talk 'bit'), and wish I'd been here longer! I'm a uni student (children's nursing degree) in my final year, only a few months to go. Have a 2-year-old, and a fab DH who works full-time. (Oh and a gorgeous little pooch!) I'm not really here to give advice, just to join the gang! I am finding it soooo stressful trying to be a mummy, wife and student all at once! Keep telling myself I will be fine and get through this, and get a job at the end of it!...?! :)