Please Help me Decide - I Haven't Got a Clue What to DO!!

[steffee]

Well, I started Uni yesterday. The course sounds great and the people seem to be brilliant too, so far.

But I still haven't decided whether to stay at Uni or go with the OU. There's advantages and disadvantages to both.

Advantages to staying at uni:

• real lectures
• interesting people to meet, both other students and lecturers
• excellent nursery provision

Disadvantages:

• cost of books, childcare, travelling, fees, everything (I've only got the basic loan of £3000 whatever it is and have to pay tuition fees of £1175 and all living costs out of that.)
• me and dh having a split so money is even tighter - I'm not sure how I'm going to get childcare help as I'm not working, but not fully assessed for student support due to dh not giving me his P60
• did I mention the cost of renting a house (£550 pcm)

So basically, I have child tax of £108pw, child ben of £42pw (I think) and Loan of just over £3000 for the year. Total of £10,800. Fees are £1175 and rent is £6600, and expected childcare costs is £6000, total of £13,775. So I'm short by £3000 without counting gas/elec/clothes/food/travelling and everything else.

Looks like it might have to be the OU, lol

I'm sure you've already thought of everything but what's your timetable like? Would it be possible to fit in some part-time work or would it just go on childcare? Depending on your earning potential after graduation could you take out a loan?

I haven't got a full timetable yet, but I could probably squeeze in a couple of hours each day during the day, when it would be pointless taking the children out of childcare anyway just to take them back later on.

E.g. so far on Mondays I start at 9-11, then nothing until 4-6, so could maybe fit in a shift then, as by the time I get to the childminders (I don't drive) it might not be worth it. The eldest is at school and the middle one goes to nursery in the afternoon, but it's a long day for them to be stuck in childcare, which is another disadvantage I forgot to add.

I could get an overdraft of £1000 too, and will be eligible for a different rate loan from next year. I could always ask dh to help out too, I suppose.

I'd stay at OU. But I've also paid back student loans in the past, w/my first degree. It took years to get that albatross off my back and so now I'd rather do it the hard way than go through that again.

Did you apply to your ELA to get your fee's paid for you? I;d try it if I were you, I got mine paid for me.. and check if you're entitled to a bursary too

Message withdrawn

there are two secret funds you can apply too - no one tells you about them they are called
the access fund and
the hardship fund

get in quick - becuase the few that do know take the money sharpish

I am not sure why you only have the £3000 minimum because with having a dependent and being a single mum then you should be entitled to more, are you sure you have applied for everything you are entitled to? I got the £3000 minimum loan only because my mum and dad earned a fair bit...but most people I know got more than that, and the students with kids definately did.

The OU is harder to stay motivated with, because you don't have lectures so have to read textbooks on your own.

I didn't get the full assessment because I wasn't on benefits, and dh wouldn't give me his P60, so I just asked for the basic non-assessed loan.

Oh and thanks custardo, for listing those funds. Will have a look into them.

your welcome.

I'm sure you should get your fees paid, my dd1 gets her fees paid and a max loan based on my income

Go back to your LEA and say your circumstances are changed, you ARE entitled to more money than you are getting, you should not have to drop out due to lack of money.