Final year - should I stay or drop out?

[islawigdet]

I am in my final year for Speech and Language therapy but I just can't cope.

I have two children on is under one and one had started school in September. My school age child is at a school out of catchment and we are appealing (with low hopes) due to recent health issues. My youngest won't sleep unless he is somehow on/next to me. I feel like I am letting them down when I should be at home to look after them. I don't have any real life support because we moved for my degree. I haven't got time for baby groups and all my school gate mum friends got into the old school that we didn't.

University - I went on maternity leave because fourth year and my dissertation tutor refused to see me until the summer before I was meant to return. This turned into October and I was told my dissertation was impossible as we wouldn't get it through ethics. I am now doing a project for her but she keeps going away and not telling me.
I have an essay that I found out about half an hour ago due in on Monday - completely my own fault, I got the module codes wrong and thought the lectures were this term but they were last term. I am so stressed that the past few days I just cry. I feel so pathetic before I found out I missed the whole modules lectures etc.

What is the point in being a shit student and a shit mum? Is it even worth completing? Any graduate student mums about to give advice/hope on final year and if its worth it?

Hang on in there. You have done so much work already, you will be kicking yourself in the future if you don't see it through.

Unpicking your post, it sounds as though it would help if you separated the home and university issues to stop them bundling into a big ball of stress and tackled them one by one. Suggestions from me:

1. You have done and are doing everything you can about your eldest's school. Check to see that you are getting any travel payments you are entitled to to get them to school. Use the wraparound breakfast and after-school club provision if you need to.

2. Call your health visitor and ask for a visit to discuss sleep training your little one. Even if you think you've tried everything, it can help to talk it through with another real life human being and make a plan that has some support.

3. Dissertation tutor. The great thing about being a university student is that you are an adult and therefore don't need to have the same relationship with your tutor as you would with a school teacher. Schedule a meeting with her in the next two weeks at which you can discuss your concerns regarding your dissertation and ask for her availability for the next term so you know when she is away. It's not asking a favour, it's arranging suitable ways of working.

4. Yes you got the schedule mixed up, never mind. Contact the tutor who has set the essay and ask for help: any lecture materials she could send you, deadline extension, a call to talk through the assignment. Again, it's two adults working together to solve a problem.

Deep breath :) Not long to go now and you'll have a degree under your belt.

Hang in there. Good advice above. Your future will be so much better!

Hang in there!

I went through the exact same thing as you. In my final year it was getting too much, I spoke to my tutors and they gave me extensions, so that I was able to submit the work later.

You can do it.

Hang in there. Your 1 year olds sleep is bound to improve this year. If you need extensions/help ask for it rather than burying your head in the sand. They are likely to help but won't if they don't find out until the due date has passed. Ask the uni if they offer any help-free childcare etc. If you are really struggling then sometimes they will split a year into two part time years, though obviously this does drag it out. Good luck.

Another for hanging on in there. It can all seem extremely overwhelming at times but I second the advice given above re. breaking it into different chunks.
Might be worth discussing an extension for your essay too? Do you have a student adviser to offer pastoral support outwith the course tutors? They can be good for offering advice or just someone impartial to vent at about the course!
You have done so much and are really at the last hurdle! Stick it out as it will be so worth it :)