I want to study but it all seems so hard

[Janie]

PS Don't worry about getting in - unis are very keen to have 'Mature Age' students as they have much better completion rates. You aren't judged by the same criteria as school leavers and I have not yet heard of a mature age student who has not gotten in (although they aren't applying to Medicine!). If you don't get in to your chosen course for any reason most unis offer a bridging course option which is worth considering. But you may as well apply and find out if you can get in! I just applied directly to the university each time (they can supply paperwork, etc).

Thanks Jennifer, it's good to hear that, but I still feel very nervous about getting in. I think it's one of the things that puts me off even investigating the courses I'm interested in. Not that I'm looking at doing it yet, I want to be finished with having babies before embarking on a uni degree. I think the one thing keeping me motivated (in my mind) to look to the future is that I feel very passionate about the career that I want. I'm okay with not having it now, I do enjoy my current one (as well as mothering ), but I do want it one day IYKWIM.

So sorry for hijacking Willow! I agree with the others.........if you really don't feel any passion for law, then don't do it! It might seem harder to start something from scratch, but in the long run it will be soooooo worth it. And don't totally disregard the whole LC idea, you never know what might happen that could make that happen for you!

[Smoke Jaguar]

Janie's

I want to be finished with having babies before embarking on a uni degree

I now know why women do this!! there is a lot of merit in this approach!
If I knew I was going to be pregnant in 3 months time when I was enrolling in 2005, I would have probably delayed study. Well, I'd like to think I would have! Really, the only reason I keep going is because I started before I was pregnant and kept going thinking I"d better finish what I started...though if I'd quit back then, I'd have done so whilst ahead!!
I don't really want to contemplate 4th Year until all the kids I'm going to have are at school.
I'm just no good at prioritising study over being as fully 'present' for my child as possible. DS will always come first, and that's starting to show in my school work I know students who are able to say "well, I have to do this now, I'll miss out on a bit of my kids, and it's just part of the deal". Which works for them and that's their thing. I just can't justify it that way. I get one shot with DS, and I won't be a parent/student who resolutely stays behind the shut door of my study whilst DS bangs on the door for my attention (I studied with someone who did this with her two year old and it broke my heart hearing it!).
So, to all those contemplating it, if you're not in an absolute hurry for it and you have children under 3yo, think about this aspect of it - your child is going through an intense developmental period that you can't put on hold and you can't get back; you miss it and it's gone forever. After this age, development takes on a slower pace, giving you a bit more leeway for your own pursuits.
That's just my take on it, as I said, and others will feel differently about how they spend time with their kids. Maybe I was just never organised enough to do it properly!!
Good luck all you students - it's crunch time!

[Willow]

Wow, thanks for all the replies - I didn't expect to get so many!

At the moment with an 11 month old breastfed baby (and no plans to stop any time soon) and a preschooler, the only viable option would be to study externally. It's hard enough to balance 2 days at work without attending lectures on campus etc.

The other thing I should have mentioned is that I do only work 2 days a week. There is also the option that if things got too hectic I could drop that back to one day - there's a reason I've stayed in this job for so long…the money's great

Janie - hello! I don't mind you hijacking at all. We've had a few chats about this, I know you're in the same place at the moment. Re the LC thing - I've really looked into it, spoken to a few LCs and it's just such a vague area. There is no direct line of study to qualify to sit the IBCLC exam (can't remember the name of it, but you know what I mean). It's possible that counsellors through the ABA could qualify after years and years of face to face counselling and undertaking extra studies to cover the medical/science requirements. We all know that Barb's done it. But even then, there's no guarantees I'd qualify. Apparently the exam is extremely difficult (as it should be I suppose) and even candidates with medical and nursing experience find it challenging. As you know, I was supposed to start my ABA counsellor training but I had to put it off because I just couldn't meet the time commitments at the moment. It requires a lot of involvement at a local group level and I just wasn't finding the time. Speaking of which, you've just reminded me that I have to plan a group meeting for one of my CE assignments - eep! Better get onto that over the weekend. Anyway, I digress…

I've just been reading your thread Amy - well done!!

Maya - you make some great points. I can sit here for the next 5 years saying 'it'll take too long' or I can get started and slowly work my way through it.

I guess I have a lot to think about. In the meantime, I'm just checking out some uni websites and might contact UAC next week and have a chat to them. As my DH said to me today, my biggest hurdle is the lack of confidence I have in myself.

In the meantime, keep the responses coming ladies, I'd love to hear from more of you that are studying…

[Aimz]

Willow you don't need to apply through the UAC if you plan to study by distance. All distance education students apply directly to the university. Call the admissions office at your chosen university and ask them HEAPS of questions - that's what they are there for!

[Willow]

OK, thanks Amy. Will have to check out the unis again. Our 'local' uni isn't offering psychology any more anyway.

[Muppity]

Willow if you think that you can study law you can study anything. And it is just so much easier to study something that you are genuinely interested in.

The girls here have made some really really good suggestions. And I think all you have to do now is choose which way you want to jump.

So, hold your breath and take the leap. You can do it!

[Willow]

Aww, thanks girls. You've really boosted my confidence, maybe I could pull it off after all....

**ETA: OK, just looking at the Sydney Uni site and this has totally freaked me out...

The Bachelor of Psychology offers study in a range of specialist aspects of psychology which include behavioural neuroscience, social psychology, perception, intelligence, learning, research methods, memory, attention, abnormal and developmental psychology. This degree is a specialist four year Honours degree in Psychology, particularly intended for students who have obtained a very high UAI and students who have decided on psychology as a career. Entry is competitive.

Degree profile
In the first year students usually study psychology, mathematics and statistics and two other first year areas chosen from courses available in the Faculties of Arts, Science or Economics and Business.

Mathematics...I SUCK at mathematics...

Think I'd better keep looking...sounds like my suspicions are correct, this is more for brainiacs and high achievers..I am neither I'm afraid.

[Spring Angel]

Willow

Now you know I'm going to biased on this one but here's my two cents.

I went to uni directly from school to study law. I actually loved study (and miss it to a degree) and found that I really enjoyed law. I have fond memories of being stuck in the library for hours on end with the musty smell of books wafting around me trying to get my head around the complexity of Constitutional Law. I wasn't the most committed student though. I had an Administrative Law exam on my 21st Birthday so met up with my mates at the Uni club for a beer before my exam (LMAO) still managed to get a good mark from memory. As you can see my social life still ranked high in my list of priorities but I found that once I found my groove at uni it all just fell into place.

I did 5 years full time. Some of my other friends were out earning money, getting cars, going on holidays but I just stuck in there and I have to say it is the best decision I ever made. I'm now working as a Senior Lawyer in a Federal Government department, I love my job and I am fortunate enough to be able to combine my part time work with motherhood. I feel challenged at work (and stressed at times) and I feel a different sort of self worth after a day at work. Don't get me wrong, my most important and difficult role is that of mummy, but the thrill I get after winning a complicated litigation is something that can't be replicated anywhere else.

I think whatever you do, don't doubt your ability. Challenge yourself, you will never know unless you jump in and test the waters. Don't be scared of failure, it would only be a failure if you didn't follow your dreams because you didn't think you were good enough.

Oh and if you do decide to go down the law path, I'm always here to help... for a small fee (ONLY KIDDING LOL)

Go get 'em girl.

[Janie]

Oh and if you do decide to go down the law path, I'm always here to help... for a small fee (ONLY KIDDING LOL)

Oh Spring, if you knew how hard and loud I was laughing at that comment!!!!! Too funny hun Thanks for the giggle.

[Jennifer13]

Aww, thanks girls. You've really boosted my confidence, maybe I could pull it off after all....

**ETA: OK, just looking at the Sydney Uni site and this has totally freaked me out...


Mathematics...I SUCK at mathematics...

Think I'd better keep looking...sounds like my suspicions are correct, this is more for brainiacs and high achievers..I am neither I'm afraid.

Don't despair, Willow, the same UAI requirements do not apply to mature age students.

HOWEVER, I hear ya on the mathematics AND statistics thing (if you think maths is bad, stats was even worse in my experience!). I took Economics and Computer Science in my first degree and despite doing really well at school maths and really well at everything else at uni I found those two subjects extremely challenging. But I passed (even got a credit for maths, don't ask me how) and you only had to take them for the first year. So if you can grin and bear it for a year, it's over. Kinda took the pressure off myself too, knowing there was no way I was going to get a really good mark, so I learnt about 60% of the subject and learnt that part REALLY WELL!

Plus, Syd Uni is not the only uni to offer psychology and can be the hardest to get into. Have a look at the other unis as well.

[Aimz]

Charles Sturt University offer a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and it can be studied by distance. Their online learning and distance education program is one of the best in Australia due to the high number of overseas students.