AM THINKING ABOUT DOING A DEGREE...... THOUGHTS PLEASE!!!!!

[lissielou]

i got 2a's and a b in my a-levels 11y ago and didnt go to uni coz i couldnt afford it. dh is a mature student doing a business degree and im considering doing a counselling/course. how have you found combining parenthood with learning??

I am just starting studying with the open university. My kids are both at school now so I have time through the day, but I am trying to get full time work now so not going to be as easy to fit it all in.

Are you considering full time study or studying at home?

prob full time tbh, i just need to do something now, and i think id be a good counsellor. what are you studying?

I am doing as short course Understanding Society first to see how I get on, then I will do DD100 An Introduction to the Social Sciences. I want to go on to do a degree in geography/ environment and work as an emergency planning officer. I might change direction as I study but thats the good thing about the OU, plus I can start earning a decent wage while I study.

wow! pre-ds i was a restaurant manager and i really need to do something different now iykwim

Lissie..there is a 10 week intro to counselling, that you could try before you committ to a degree...just in regards to your earlier thread. IFYSWIM, you don;t want to start then have to stop half way ...

do it.

yes you can do it I have been studying fo 5 years now due to finish in May I started on a 2 day course when dd was 22 months then started my degree course (had ds during 2nd year) you need to be really organised

lissie just thought TCAT do introductory courses and have a creche

Honestly? its actually (she whispers) easier than working

In that you can skip a lecture if you need; tutors are more flexible; YOU'RE paying THEM (or the LEA is anyhow) rather than the reverse; Uni's have childcare / semesters etc etcetc

Not to say its always easier, I am fully aware my B's would be A's were I not a Mum of 3. But it gives me a life and keeps me active and achienving at a time when otherwise I would be housebound and obsessing 24 / 7. Its flexible enough for my SN kids (2 of my 3 are) though that avries on courses

My degree (I'm in yr 2) is in world religion and philosophy; the idea is to do a PGCE in Re at the end but because of the sn / distance to Uni's that offer the PGCE, I may well do the PDCE in adult literacy.

im going to do the 10w course, which takes me to sept that way i can review in a few m and makwe a firm decision. gothicmama, im hopefully going thru tcat it'll be at the CHEC centre in madeley. ds needs to go to nursery now tbh, he's getting lonely!

im really excited about it now!!

I hope you enjoy the course

I've done the intro to counselling course- many a moon ago now

Its excellent: enough to give you a good feel for the course, but not so academic you want to cry your eyes out

A word of warning Lissie, and I hope this is OK to say: you will spend a lot of time talking about your issues and working them through. There's plenty of su[port for this, but you've been througha lot altely, maybe give your potential tutor a call to discuss fiorst if you're not 100% you will be OK with that

Great way to start lissielou.

hmm, thats a thought. ill call up on mon and have a chat

Hi lissielou

I've finished my degree last summer and have a young son. It is achievable but its damn hard work. I found that my social life was practically non-existent because I spent most nights studying even at weekends in order to spend time during the day with my son. In saying that I did aim for top marks (I'm a bit of a perfectionist!!) and came away with a first class degree. I probably could have got a 2.2 or 2.1 with a lot less work, it was just something that I personally wanted to achieve.

As long as you are organised, plan ahead, sort out all the practicalities and are prepared for hard work, you'll be fine.

Good luckxx

Bloody do it! I did with little 'uns and I loved it! Broke as anything - but hey you can get by!

Go for it & good luck. I did my degree now moved on to another course & am really enjoying it. Need to be quite strict with myself as I'm doing distance learning this time but it's not that bad once you get into it.

I have to agree with everyone else, definitely go for it.

I'm currently on a course for counselling skills as part of my Access course. Everyone in the class has said it wasn't what they expected.

Some students who enrolled with the aim of becoming counsellors are now reconsidering, because their preconceived ideas were so wrong.

On the other hand, there are students now considering perusing a career in counselling who hadn't really planned to at the beginning of the course.

Think it's a really good idea to do the introductory course first to get a feel for the subject. Also it's a prerequisite for many of the counselling degrees.

Plus despite having your A? Levels most universities insist on you having some formal study experience in the last three years.

Be warned though, as Peachyclair said the course can be highly emotional. You will be expected to reveal a lot of your own sensitive personal experiences. If you decide to train as a counsellor you will be required to have counselling yourself.

If you have any questions that you think I may be able to answer please let me know

Best of luck and let us know how you get on