Please reassure me that its possible to do an MSc part time (as well as work part time) with a lively 2 year old running about, and remain sane..

[columbolover]

Hi,

I've recently decided to start a masters degree, part time via distance / elearning.

I just got some info through re the assignment for the first module and am now panicking at the volume of work required just for the essay (7,500 words!) and have not even seen the actual course work itself yet. Plus it looks difficult!

I usually like studying but am beginning to think have made a huge mistake - I have a boisterous 2year old ds and a dh who works away a lot. My plan was to do the work at night (ds good sleeper, usually - touch wood!)and will have peace and quiet to do so when dh away, and take the odd annual leave day etc to get things done properly.

Is this realistic? I can hardly get to grips with things like the housework as it is even though I only work 3 days a week, so I imagine this will slide even further.

But I really want to do it - as much as just something for "me" as well as any possible career development, but I'm worried that I'm being selfish and possibly neglectful of ds - though I don't plan to do work when he is about - he wouldn't let me anyway!

Would love to hear if anyone else has managed this, how you organised your studying - how many hours per week is realistic, and how you coped generally and organised your life so that your relationships / dc etc don't suffer. At the moment I'm thinking I'll have to give dh and ds away to a good home

Yes it is realistic. I started my MSc when the sluglet was 2 years old and I was working full time. You need to be organised, don't let work, school and home cross over.

I found it was really good for the sluglet to see her mummy studying. I would drop her off at nursery, or 'school' as it was called from day one, then go off to my own 'school'.

When at uni I was absolutly dedicated, no slinking off for coffee in the union and no gossiping in the library. It's worth remembering that mature students statistically tend to do better than younger students, a fact not lost on my classmates when I walked off with the academic prizes that they thought should be theirs.

Thanks Slug,

That's interseting about mature students tending to do well - that has increased my confidence a bit. I think I'm going to have to adopt a more organised and structured approach like yours - will not be easy

Good for you for doing well!

I am doing my Msc full time at the mo with 2 DC (6 and 3)and husband away Mon-Fri. I love it ! I have lots of work on at the moment but it just means no wine and (very) late nights.

The house is generally a tip, but I don't care.

I work after bedtime and when DS2 at nursery 2 days a week.

And fully back what slug says about Maturer students. It seems conscientiousness is prolific and definitely tend to work harder and get the best marks.

You will be fine ! Enjoy it.

Peas - you have taken my breath away with how you have managed this, I take my hat off to you!!

And with no wine too, not sure how I'll manage that bit though

I know this is a slightly old thread now, but I've just come across it.

Yes it is possible, you may lose your head a little but it is possible. I'm currently 1 1/2 years in to my 2 year part time MSc. I started when DD was just 5 and DS was 1 1/2. It's hell, it's tough, but it's worth it and I echo what slug said above that it is good for DCs to see their mums working hard towards something.

Now that DS has stopped his naps, I go into the library one afternoon a week when he is at nursery, DH picks him up from there and DD from school and I stay at the library from 1pm to 9pm. I get literally 8 hours of solid work done in that time, I am so focussed it's unbelievable. I think in that 8 hours I do more work than most of the full-time straight-from-BSc students do in a full week. At deadline time (7,000 words per module over 2 assignments) I also work all day on a Saturday and later in the evenings at home.

If I were to be happy with a pass grade I would do far less work with this, I work this hard to maintain my distinction grade because I'm now applying for PhD funding and that will help my case.

It is true what they say about mature students doing better. I am top of my subject group and have a distinction in all modules completed so far -one more module and one disseration left to do! I hadn't studied for 10 years before starting the course and it was a steep learning curve but it is manageable and you will be so much more dedicated than a lot of the younger full time student (many of whom from my experience are only doing an MSc because they can't think of anything else to do and Daddy is paying).

Sorry, that was long. In a nutshell, yes you can!

Sorry Colombo, I should have added that I work part-time too - as well as having a now 6 and 2 year old. If I can do it then anyone can

oh thanks hockey your post has come just when I needed it! Was just looking on here for some inspiration.

Started MSc last week and already feel incredibly overwhelmed at the workload . I know I do have a brain in here somewhere but I just don't know where it is and can't see how I'm going to get the work done. Though in saying that, I've studied every night this week when ds has gone to bed, and on my days off while he's napped, (dh working away this week) and I have actually enjoyed learning this new material. I'm just really worried about getting my first assignment done - due v soon! - and the thought of failing is awful. Suppose I need to stop panicking and get on with it . Maybe it'll get easier when I get into the swing of studying again.

You've given me a little bit of hope and optimism, thanks

Plus I'm glad to see you've managed this with 2 dc, I've been feeling a bit broody lately! Though I see you didn't start until you'd had them both. Think I'd have to wait til MSc finished - though will be in v late thirties by then..

columbo - I'm so glad it has helped and so glad you have started. The start is undoubtedly the hardest bit becaus eyou're trying to train your brain to think in a way that it hasn't for a while and at a higher level than it has before, but it does improve.

At this stage you need lots of perseverance to just keep up the efforts and get that first piece of work in, your marks from that will dictate the amount of effort you need for the next stage.

I started thinking I would just try and get a pass (on my course 50-70 is a pass and 70+ a distinction). I thought I have no chance of a distinction so why kill myself trying for 65 when 55 is just as good. As it turned out my first result was 70 so I upped the work level and was determined to come out of it with a distinction.

However, in my experience, the only time a distinction will matter is if you want a career in academia. No-one else ever asks what grade you got, a masters is a masters outside of academia. So unless you're a budding PhD/lecturer then take it easy on yourself. I would have gone a little less mad than I have if I was only going for a pass!

Don't worry about having another DC. Most postgrad schemes are flexible enough to allow you a little time out, putting the modules you have done on hold till you return. If you want another DC then go for it! studying can wait!!