What are you all studying?

[Coper]

I was training to be a nurse but my husband ran off with another woman and it became impossible for me to cope with the shifts etc (childcare became too difficult plus travelling ). I really want to do something health care related that is 9-5 ish (possible occupational therapy). I could cope with that. The trouble is i'm 41 and feel I may be too old.
I'm just interested to see what other people are studying in case it gives me some new ideas.

Thanks

hi, i have just started an open university course called childhood and youth studies, hoping to eventually go down the youth work/social work avenue. its good because as i don't have to decide exactly what at the moment. the course i am doing can be put towards a diploma or a degree (of which there are several i can put it towards), need to make a decision before October however but for now i am just enjoying using my brain. i have a ds with special needs so hoping to aim along something to do with helping/understanding children with special needs i think.

Coper - I am studying Occupational Therapy and am in my second year currently. I love it - is is by far the best thing I have done in years. I am 32 but there are a good mix of ages on my course. Many are in their forties and a couple of ladies are in their fifties. My placements have all been decent hours (8.30 - 4.30 and 9-5) and if you have kids they will do their best to accommodate you placement wise so you will not be sent miles away. You will get a bursary to help with living expenses and a loan too.

Which uni are you hoping to go to?

Good luck in whatever you decide to so and sorry about your shit of a husband. He may just have done you a favour if OT suits you better

Thanks for your replies.

DLI your course sounds very interesting. I should probably have done something like that first but I feel I don't have the time now. I will have to make a decision. If I am going to have a career in health care.

Notalone - thanks it's good to hear you're enjoying the course so much. Yes I do have kids and they are now old enough to walk to school etc. I was just not able to leave them if I did night shifts etc. I would be able to apply to Coventry, UWE, Oxford, and possibly Cardiff. Where are you studying and what are your uni hours like? I would be really grateful for any info. It makes me feel excited about applying.

I am at Sheffield Hallam Coper and the hours vary each week, but I understand this is unusual for a uni. However they do take into account that lots of us have children so the lectures rarely if ever finish after 5pm and never start before 9am (some other courses with a younger cohort often have lectures until 7-8pm)

The course is fab - really really interesting and I have had 2 amazing placements including one in forensics. The thing I love about OT is that it really is so varied. There are so many areas to work in once qualified and I find that incredibly exciting. Yes the work can be hard assignment wise but so worth it. I wish I had done it years ago!

I got into Oxford Brooks when I initially applied for uni and it looked great but I couldn't afford to live there so came to Sheffield instead. I don't know much about the other unis instead but I am sure they are all good. Are you looking to go this Sept/Oct?

I am a final year social work student. Our class has a broad range of ages, from about 24 to 50 I think.

I certainly don't think you are too old to start a course

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I'm midwifing. again - age range from early 20s to late 40s. the hours are crap though.

Thanks everyone.
I feel a little more confident about the age issue.

I have missed the deadline for UCAS this year. I could apply anyway maybe. It says you can but the unis may not look at your application. Did anyone else apply after the deadline.

I may just do an OU short course and visit some OT's so that I can put that on my application and apply for 2011. I would rather be able to do it now though.

Notalone do you know how many applicants they have for OT? Is it very hard to get into? and would you mind telling me what you did in the forensics placement. It sounds very interesting. Don't worry if you don't have time.

Eccentric - I have a friend studying midwifery and like nursing the hours are very difficult with kids. She finds it quite stressful. Very rewarding but quite scarey. I watched "One born every minute" tonight and it scared the life out of me. I always think babies look dead when they're born - unless they're screaming of course.

Wilts - thanks for your words of encouragement. Are you enjoying your course?

I an doing Radiography, this is pretty much 9-5 on placement, there's a late lecture a week whilst in Uni though but they end at 6pm. I didn't apply through UCAS, I just phoned them up to see if they had a place through clearing. I quite like my course, people do such stupid things to themselves sometimes, everyone should know that it's not a good idea to put a lightbulb etc near your bum!

The hours are alot better then nursing, I tried this aswell. Does your uni not offer a extended course where you are able to work term time and school hours if you have children???

Coper- I have found my course a struggle, juggling placements, academic work and the children. But I am on the final stretch now, on placement until June then qualify and I am so pleased I have stuck with it.

I love my placement and enjoy going in everyday.
Now if only I thought there would be jobs on graduation, everything would be ok as despite what the media say, there are naff all jobs in our borough

Have you thought of applying to be an occupational therapy assistant so you get an idea what its like yesterday i gave up as an ot assistant and i start my nurse training on monday morning ot just wasnt for me i have worked on a stroke rehab ward for 2 years and i have loved learning about strokes etc i work part time 9-15-2.45 so ideal with my 3 rug rats some trusts also offer secondment for doing your training

good luck with whatever you decide

Hi Coper - sorry for the delay.

OT is becoming harder to get into because demand is higher. However if you can demonstrate a good reason why you wish to do it and can show a holistic client-centred approach to working with people you should be fine.

My forensic placement involved working with offenders - I helped facilitate groups such as art groups, sports etc (I am so not arty or sporty but it was fine!), worked with patients in relation to health promotion, confidence building and insight awareness, carried out assesments, helped a couple into work and assisted on outings such as cinema and bowling. It was fab - I loved every second of it!

I carried out a few visits to different OT areas before I applied. It was useful to me as it gave me an idea of what to expect plus it showed I was serious on my application form so perhaps you could do this too.

I hope this helps - if you need to ask anything else please don't hesitate and good luck in your application

I am very excited. I have been offered an interview at Oxford Brookes to study Occupational Therapy. It is a group interview.

Notalone - I see you were offered a place there. Could you please tell me what the interview was like. It would be so helpful in helping me prepare.

Thank you all for encouraging me to go for it. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I get in. If not I will apply again for next year.

Coper, that's fab, well done. Good luck! I know someone just finishing her second year of the Brookes OT course, with a two year old, so it's definitely managable with children.

I'm at Brookes, studying the GDL part time (post-grad law conversion course). I do two full days a week at uni, and then about 10 hours extra study/reading outside that. My DD is two, and I'm finding the balance just right at the moment.

Are you in the Oxford area?

Thanks Freckle,

I'm glad your course is going well. I think Oxford Brookes is quite good for part time study. I want to be full time but it is good to know that part time is an option.

Is your friend studying part time or full time? Do you know how many days she is in uni etc.

My youngest is 11 so I hope it will be doable. I will have to travel about 40 miles each way as unfortunately there aren't any unis closer to me that do OT.

Good luck with your course. I'll let you know how I do.