Starting uni full time in September, having a wobble!

[FoxPass]

Reassure me being a student mum can be done!

I have 2 DSs, 4 and 20 months. DH works locally and my timetable is not too hefty so only 20 hours of childminding a week and we can manage drop offs and pick ups between us. We have family willing to help too.

I'm starting a psychology degree. I've spent the last 4 years off and on doing OU psychology and am using those courses as my entrance qualifications.

I know the workload will be hefty, but for 1st and probably part of 2nd year, I will be covering stuff I've already done with the OU.

I have been at home with the boys for almost 2 years now after taking redundancy after mat leave. Doing it now feels like a great opportunity to get a qualification and change career (or go back to my old field, but better qualified). And I'll be off during the school holidays with them so it seems like that's a benefit too.

My mum is a bit catsbumface about me 'leaving' my DC to study. But surely it's an investment in my future, and their future? Or am I being self-indulgent? I just want to get cracking with my degree, use my brain properly to fully learn a subject I love, and get out of the house and feel like an individual person again. DH is totally supportive of me doing this but other people's mixed reactions and negativity is getting me down.

Please tell me you have successfully juggled kids and study :)

Congrats on your first day Foxpass. My friend who went touni at 18 said everyone always wanted to work withthe mature students as they worked harder so you will be very popular. (she also said they called the mature students their grandparents! but I ignored that!!!)

congratulations to all the those that have started!!!

I think most on my course will be mature students. Of the 8 or so at my interview, I was (at 34) about average age.

Fox- what kind of ice breakers?

We get council tax benefit- should I contact them?

Hi all. Anxiety about it all really kicking in today . I'm having trouble separating out everything that's bothering me, so I just have a huge ball of nameless anxiety. I've started taking Kalms today, which I suspect will be as much use as a chocolate teapot but willing to give anything a go!

Foxpass, congrats on your first day! Shame you are the only mature student - there's usually a few on most courses!

Well I'm off on a trial run of the commute to uni on Friday - my bowels are clenching at the mere thought of it (sorry tmi!).

I've just found out that not only am I entitled to a bit of funding (covers 3/4 of my tuition fees), I've also got enough credits from previous Open Uni study to let me go into 2nd year next year - I'm a part time student so am meant to do another 40 credits next year, then go into second year the year after that. I can also do second year in one year (same scenario), then go into third and fourth years full time, and I'll get my full funding (tuition fees and student loan)! This is a huuuuge weight off my shoulders, and means I'll finish my degree in three/four years rather than six or seven.

peg- here too. everythings going wrong today and i think im letting it get to me more than usual.

cat- wow, well done!

Cat - that's fantastic, one of those unexpected pieces of good news that gives you a real boost.

Cheese - sorry you're feeling a bit crap too. My dh has been away for a few days recently so I've been left on my own in the evenings to stew and ruminate on things. Plus I'm trying to referee a major falling out between my mum and sister which is pretty stressful

Hi girls

Glad I stumbled across this thread - I start my midwifery training in March next year but before then I will be having a baby early November!!! Am ok with the guilt of putting dd in full time childcare from 4 mths as its for the greater good etc.... But am stumped as to whether childminder or nursery is better???

I plan to bf too so would be interested to hear from anyone who went to uni while bf - how did you manage??

Good luck for all those starting over the next couple of weeks - I'm on maternity leave so am bored senseless!!!

Hi all

Me too! Starting Adult Nursing on 24th September. Anyone got any experience of applying for the NHS Student Bursary/ Childcare Grant etc?

Stargazer1 - I have appliedfor the NHS bursary for socialwork. The form was quite straightforward and you need to send off your student finance paperwork with it.

I have not heard anything back yet but I think you can apply any time in the first term. There was talk of scrapping it in 2013 do you anything about this rumour?

Just name changed (I was HermioneStranger but fancied something new).

I have enrolled in classes today! HAHAHHAHHAHA

oscar- too true!!!! i feel awful that im missing things at home but dh said 'youve done it for the last 12 years, now its my turn'

stargazer1- grrrr! bloody forms! theyre easy enough to fill in but theyve really messed with mine, ive sent off 3 lots of evidence and still clueless.

glenda- no experience but maybe post it on chat or breastfeeding? if people have done it their unlikely to be reading this about new students iyswim?

DH was really supportive up until tonight! I think it's the shock of it being real and having a list of instructions that has thrown him.

Hope your DH gets used to it Oscar and supports you :)

I matriculated today, had a PC and library tour and went to the freshers fair, which was totally shambolic but I got some freebies and joined the Uni psychology society.

I am so disappointed I am older than everyone in my year though :( they are all making friends and bonding, I am walking about on my own! I strike up conversation when I get the chance but it's like they don't really see me

Hopefully it will improve a bit when we start our lectures and tutorials next week and we all have to work together. I don't want to be a loner for 4 years!

oh and I'm currently procastinating over buying my first course textbook, for £28 off Amazon. It's just a book ffs, nearly 30 quid!

Thanks katedan and cheesesarnie,

Yes I've applied for the NHS bursary also but had no end of hassles over it...more evidence required, application cancelled then waited a week to be able to submit a new one, documents received but not scanned onto their system for weeks on end...

Nice to know I'm not alone in my frustration though!

Is anyone going to Manchester or Man Met? Blackwell's book shop, which is in between them on Oxford Road, has some second hand books. I got big poetry anthologies in there for much, much less than new.

Also, the second hand book stalls that pop up along Oxford Road are brilliant. I've got loads of books for secondary reading.

I'm off to manchester so top tip thank you! I'm doing history. Only one module has suggested reading so far. I think I'll wait until I start before buying anything.

Stargazer, student finance is just as bloody annoying! It is never easy come student loan application time. Plus next year I will also need an Nhs bursary so it is annoying to hear they are equally as inept!

Big hi to all the Manchester students! I was there for my first 2 years but transferred to a different uni when I had dd. check ou the Burlington society (for nature students) and herbi vore's veggie cafe!

Mature, not nature! And apols for all the other typos, phone is rubbish!

Re. book purchases. If you've got your NUS card, you can get discount from Amazon for all books for the life of the card - every little helps! I think you get a code from NUS site... Disclaimer - I am a very mature student and I can't remember what I had to do for the discount 12 months ago and haven't got my reading list yet so haven't done it for this year!

fox i'm sure you'll make friends soon.

itwillendinsmiles- oooh that's good to know! ive not brought any books yet- i decided to wait because plymouth are putting on a book fair for 2nd and 3rd year students to sell on books.

Oh you reminded me, need to renew my NUS. Amazon discount is great!

Will look at Burlington society. Will
They be at the freshers fair? I'm very lucky on my course in that I already know another mature student from my access course.

I'll know two from access plus I've been in touch with others via Facebook.

Thanks Cheese, I hope so too! This week it's straight into lectures and tutorials so hopefully I'll meet more people.

Great shout about the amazon discount, I've applied for my NUS card :o

I had so much trouble with the nus card that i've decided to do it at the su this week.