a million questions for uni student mummas!

[Shades]

I'd love to do Midwifery. I just don't know if it's manageable with the shiftwork and no support

[Me+him+bub]

i was in my fourth year of bachelor of nursing when I had my son, I completed it when he was only 12 weeks old, I then worked full time for a year as a graduate RN, and now it has been 18 months i'm pregnant with my second and am starting my diploma of midi at CQ university in february over another 1.5 years with yet another 3 month old! it can be done if u have the right help and determination, have u considered online nursing study via open university or charles darwin university, it helps alot!

[*EJ*]

All the ladies who are studying with a young family are an absoulte inspirtation to me, i really appreciate your honesty and advice.

It's a huge thing to take on study and motherhood at the same time (which i always imagined) i've found out from the replys.

What do i do!?!?

I have a lot of thinking to do, i know i want to do more study but it's the timing. Waiting for my youngest to be in Kinder seems like i long time (i could be getting closeish to 40 by then ) but i could be putting a huge amount of pressure on myself. I know i'm a strong person but i don't want to push the boundries .

So much to think about...

[Sopdet]

Children aren't in the mix for me at the moment but I am almost a full-time student and I work full time. I'm trying to work out the logistics of a child into all of this in the next year or so, still not sure if it is possible being pregnant during some of my subjects (specifically those that I spent time in the lab). When the pregnancy happens, I'll just have to manage & maybe rethink some of my subjects.

Next year I'm back to doing a mix of off-campus (on-line) and on-campus subjects, currently I'm 100% off campus and it has a lot of pros and cons, the fact I can study when I want to is a pro, but also a huge con! I procrastinate (like now, I've just finished one assignment, need to upload it to uni, plus finish off 3 more forum posts for one subject and I'm on here instead). I've found that I can get a nice 20 min chunk of study done at lunchtimes at work, which can be watching/listening to part of a lecture, doing a chapter or 2 of a text book. For the 3 subjects I'm doing now, I should be studying a minimum 15+ hours a week for them all, this is on top of 40 hours a week at work, running a household and having time for a social life (which is suffering at the moment). My final year will have to be done full-time.

[krysalyss]

I would just try it and if it is too much drop back to part time. Even if you only do one subject a semester, when your youngest is old enough for kindy you will already have done quite a lot and it will take you less time to do the rest.

[*EJ*]

Realisticly how do you think someone would go with a 5yr old in kinder and a 3yr and 12 month old at home (which is what it would be next year)???? I think i would only consider part time or off campus.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I've been doing one unit per semester (after a spectacular fail trying to do two) and this semester I have to squish in two just to be allowed to finish, because my time limit is up. I put in 6 months intermission for DS, and 12 months for DD, which if far more than is usually allowed (she was due in October, no point starting Sem 2). Seriously bad timing because of our circumstances this year, but the squish is the only way now! So, just to warn you that the clock starts when you begin, and dropping back to part time will put the pressure on to finish within a certain time frame, where if you wait to begin, once you've started you just power through.
I realised that by the time I have a psych or social work qualification, I'm going to be nearing 40, or in my 40s. Meh, that's ok by me - when I'm 40 I reckon I'll still feel unstoppable
My mum didn't get her HSC till I was about 8, and then she worked different jobs before embarking on her teaching degree when I was in high school already. It wasn't easy, but even now that she sees me struggling with study she admits that at least we weren't little when she did it!

[krysalyss]

That's a good point Mayaness. Didn't think about the time limit. Is it 10 years?

[*EJ*]

Thanks for the insight girls, I really want to do this but i'm leaning towards waiting for a year or two to start. I really want to be there for my kids while they're at home. Maybe by the time i get to begin i'll be so ready for it i'll power through and enjoy it without feeling too much pressure and guilt

[hj1981]

how old were your children when you started studying? I did my Tertiary Prep Program when Miss B was a few months old, than started studying my Bachelor of Midwifery when Miss B was 18mths old, fell pregnant again in my first year and had bub the day after my last uni exam for the year! now i am half way through 2nd year with a 2.5yr old and 8mth old

Do you study full or part time? Full Time

To those of you with no/little support, how do you do it!? Im very lucky to have a very supportive hubby

Did you find it hard getting into it after a long break from high school? Yes! Uni is completely different to high school! but i feel the TPP helped prepare me!

[peanutter]

how old were your children when you started studying?

I did some masters units while UTD, and DH has done 2-3 undergrad units per semester during the pg and while DS has been here. He's also planning on doing one or two summer subjects, just to keep things moving, and not get out of the habit over the summer break.

I also did full time uni while we had foster children (1-4 kids aged 9-17) and worked full time. I don't really recommend it, but we made it work...

Do you study full or part time?

with out own kids, only ever part time (but I think technically at some unis 3 subjects is considered to be full time).
wouldn't have gone full time because although the contact hours aren't too demanding, the amount of reading and study and work required outside of hours was very intense.
although it takes a long time, we figured that if we delayed it until kids were older, it would actually be further away that we would finish, if that makes sense ...

To those of you with no/little support, how do you do it!?

Ummm ... I usually don't need much sleep. 5-7 hours is all I need most of the time, with a sleep in every now and then. And I usually really enjoy my job, so while I sometimes get tired, in the usual scheme of things I don't find my main occupation to be draining emotionally. Same for DH - he's ordinarily a SAHD which he loves, so when he goes to do his study, it's another thing he likes, even if it's hard or time consuming. I think you can get most things done if you're enjoying the majority of the things on your plate.

With the lack of support, I sometimes got really jealous of other students in my classes who lived at home with their folks, and got packed lunches or lifts to the train station, and toasted sandwiches and cups of hot milo brought in when they were studying for exams ... I was working ridiculous hours plus doing a full time uni load plus foster kidlets plus other committments ... we had people from church who helped us out a bit which was great, and we got a lot of emotional support from family.

But to be honest, a lot of my self imposed standards just had to get a raincheck. Toilets don't need to be cleaned every couple of days. Once a week is great. Not every dinner has to be gourmet - chops and steamed veggies work too. The kids will not perish if they eat ramen for breakfast instead of a standard breakfast food. And the kids had to do chores! Very important, in my mind.

And we also had to be really realistic when I was doing so many hours of work and uni - DH was basically in charge of all the housework and cooking, and again I had to be realistic with my expectations, and very gracious and grateful. We even made a list of *all* the housework, and went through it to identify what couple of things he really really hates doing, to put them on my list to try to make him feel better about it. But the study and work was for the family, so it was all part of our long term plan, so we just had to make it work.

I guess my point is to be kind to yourself, and assess your standards, and why they're there, and whether they're serving you and your family.

Did you find it hard getting into it after a long break from high school?

I didn't have a break really ... there was a gap of 3 years between bachelor and masters, but you have to do hours of training and classes every year for my job, so it wasn't "new". It was pretty new for DH, but he got straight back into the swing of things, and actually is performing much better than at high school, because it's on his terms, IYKWIM?

sorry about the long response! I hope it helps ...

[My Three Sons]

how old were your children when you started studying? 19months, 3.5yrs and 5.5yrs
Do you study full or part time? I study full time- I wanted to do it at monash,and this was their only way. Also, i didn't want it hanging over me for 6 years. I wanted to get it done and start working and earning again.
To those of you with no/little support, how do you do it!?
I have support, as do most of the other mums in our group. I certainly take my hat off to those who do it alone (either their partner is mega busy or they are a single parent). I am very lucky to have my hubby there, as well as my mum and dad. I couldn't do this model of study i think without them!
Did you find it hard getting into it after a long break from high school? I did a Uni degree after high school. It was an 8 year gap though for me. I did get a credit though for one of my electives this year It was hard to get back into it, but the uni have a TON of support services. The library often holds little drop in work shops on essay prep/writing etc, and the learning advisers in there are always more than happy to help you in refining or improving your skills!


How do i even begin to contact uni's? The open days are acutally next month so i was thinking maybe going to some of those but what are the questions i should be asking? I'm currently a SAHM and DH is working so we're on one wage, are there alternative financial options available?

I see you are in melbourne I am helping at our Uni open day... if it is out your way come and visit us! (monash@peninsula)
If you want to apply it is all done via VTAC. TBH most unis suck at giving out info i found- and different people at the same uni gave different advice. But if you go to the open days you should get people who actually know!


For me, my week is VERY full on this semester- 2 half days and one full day of Uni PLUS an online subject PLUS 2 days of prac placement every week. Assignments and case studies to write, and follow through appointments/births to attend. BUT i love it to bits, and wouldn't ever go back and not do it!
Give it a go... if you get in, and it is too much, you can always defer for a year or 2.
Questions to ask would be - Do you offer part time (if you are interested in that), What qualities do you look for in your applications- do you look at experience, past degrees, STAT tests etc- what level degree would you need to be considered? What mode of teaching do you do? Is there lots of on- campus/off campus units. How is your practical placement offered and at which hospitals? Do we get to put in preferences for where we are placed?- at monash you are NOT given the option for Midwifery at least! How many students do you take each year?
Most of you Uni costs can go on HECS, but if you want to buy books etc, then that is all additional. Then you have costs of Uniforms and placement parking- (hospital parking SUCKS, but some are better than others) I perfer to buy my books, but plenty of girls get by using library copies. You also have injection costs to cover too to make sure you are all up to date, plus police check and working with children checks.
My husband is our sole provider. We have 2 kids in daycare full time and a school age kid. Childcare is a lot of our costs, and sucks, but it is doable. Thankfully DH is on a good wage, although i know there are others who do it as well who don't work! So it is certainly possible. Just means giving up extra luxuries while you study.

Realisticly how do you think someone would go with a 5yr old in kinder and a 3yr and 12 month old at home (which is what it would be next year)???? I think i would only consider part time or off campus.

I got 6 High distinctions and 2 distinctions last year... so i think that someone with a 5 year old, 3 year old and 12 month old (mine were 5.5, 3.5 and 19m) would do FINE!

[Glass half full]

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences.
I decided today to apply for the university preparation course at my local uni, buuuut I have no idea where my year 12 results are So I'm going to have to find out where to get a copy from before I can complete the application. It is very exciting to be taking a step closer towards higher education!!

Turns out the Uni open day was today. I almost went but the weather was shocking and DF got called out on a job (see what I mean about little support) I'm not too fussed though, they have a great website so I have found a lot of info on there.

Thanks again ladies

[My Three Sons]

YAY... how exciting for you!
Don't worry about missing open day. The first open day i went to was the one after i had been accepted- i deferred for the year!

[hj1981]

YAY!!!! Goodluck with it all! and i think the uni prep course is a great idea!

[*EJ*]

My Three Sons thanks so much for your suggestions and info on how you manage. I'm a little overwhelmed as i've just been browsing the monash nursing website, vtac website AND the open uni website. I think i have a brief understanding of what is required of me to even be considered into a bach of nursing. I was looking at the open uni option of completing a few units then trying for a transfer. I have to wait for 2012 to do this. I'm thinking i could maybe do a bridging course in the mean time as it's about 13yrs since i last studied.

I am very close to the penn campus and i was planning on coming along on Saturday.

Thanks again for taking the time out of your extremely busy week to share your experience

[My Three Sons]

My Three Sons thanks so much for your suggestions and info on how you manage. I'm a little overwhelmed as i've just been browsing the monash nursing website, vtac website AND the open uni website. I think i have a brief understanding of what is required of me to even be considered into a bach of nursing. I was looking at the open uni option of completing a few units then trying for a transfer. I have to wait for 2012 to do this. I'm thinking i could maybe do a bridging course in the mean time as it's about 13yrs since i last studied.

I am very close to the penn campus and i was planning on coming along on Saturday.

Thanks again for taking the time out of your extremely busy week to share your experience

Oooo Come see the birth demo and i will be there come have a chat! I'm the 6 foot tall brunette

[peanutter]

Oooo Come see the birth demo and i will be there come have a chat! I'm the 6 foot tall brunette

Demo? They do demos?