applying for a masters - personal statement. also, is this wise when i'm ttc?!!

[dancingqueeen]

I'm applying for a masters degree as likely to lose my job in the next few months. does anyone have any tips on writing the personal statement part of the application? or any good sources of advice on the internet about writing this?

also, have been ttc first child for 6 months now without success , don't want to hold off ttc, and wondered if anyone had any experience of falling pregnant when on a taught masters course (and coping with the pregnancy/ birth/ new born)?? I'm planning to study the masters part time (hopefully finding a part time job to supplement dh's income). I know from my past studies that I'm good at organising my time, and dh would be supportive and has a flexible job so could take on child care during classes hopefully, but i'm worried i'm being over optimistic in thinking I could combine both? What are uni's like if you decide you need to postpone for a year till child is older?

thank you!

I'm doing a 4-year pt masters and know of people who've taken a year out to have a baby, with no probs. I think if you have some control over timing it can work out a bit better - i.e. if you are very fertile plan to have the baby in autumn/winter so heaviest bit of pregnancy over summer break and then the baby will be old enough by the following autumn for you to go back to Uni. I think it depends on the course and whether placements are involved - it's certainly something Unis are used to as a lot of masters students are mature and often have one or two children already.....what are you planning to study?

I found the personal statement part quite straightforward - a bit like a job application really - just outlined why I wanted to do the course, what interested me particularly about that uni, why I'd be suitable for it and what I planned to do with it. I already have kids so I added a bit about how I'd organise my time and fit it around work etc. Good luck!

thanks thirtysomething, thats really helpful. not managed to conceive number one yet so think I just have to keep going and not try and time it, although I can see that would be ideal...

its a law related masters, so no placements luckily.

thanks for your advice regarding the form too.