SAHM studing university course externally - tips and advice?

[Fuzzywuzzy]

I have just been accepted in a Masters program which I am thinking of doing part time over 2 years, 2 subjects per semester. It's only 8 subjects all up.

I would love some tips and advice from people who have been there done that on how to fit studying in around family life and what does and doesn't work for you. I won't have any family help to look after DD, possibly I can get her into family day care 1 day per fortnight and maybe get a friend to look after her for a part day once a week.

I am expecting #2 in Feb next year which would be start of the semester. I'm not sure that I would be able to handle 2 subjects so might just do 1 that semester. Only problem is that the courses are only offered in 1 semester, so if I only do one semester 1 course next year I will have to do the other 3 in semester 1 the year after, if that makes sense. Or extend the degree over another year.

I would appreciate hearing any experiences anyone has to offer TIA

[Trillian]

Most of the time it works out pretty good for me - I only have one child at home so I can get a lot done, but during holidays when all the kids are home it is hard. So if I have anything that I need to do that requires 100% concentration I leave it till they are in bed at night. So that is one tip. The other really big one is to do all your housework first before you start to study. I get caught out a few times thinking 'oh yeah, I'll just work in this assignment for a bit and then I'll hang the washing out' and before I know it 2 hours have gone past and the washing isn't hung out. So I have made myself get all the housework done first and then I know I can settle into study for the afternoon and not have to worry about the house. I can also study better when the house is tidy too. It's like a tidy house makes my mind feel clearer or something.

[feeb]

I am studying this year and it is tough majority online occasional voluntary day at uni for 3 hrs!!!! I also have to do uni placements, kids go to CC 1 day a week to allow me to do placements and DS1 was in occasional care 1 day a week for 5 hrs and DS2 just started a month ago so next semester that will be my study time as in evening is too hard as DS2 is very hard to get to sleep and will not go down in cot. Have survived this semester but been full on.

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Thanks girls! Whoops, just realised I didn't even spell studying right in the thread title, must remember to spell check my assignments

Trillian I am 100% on the same wavelength as you with having a clean house before studying, I am thinking of getting a slow cooker too so that dinner can be taken care of as well on the days that I study.

Feeb I specifically chose my course so that I don't have any placements or any face to face contact time at all. It's all by distance. It's a career change for me so I'm aiming to get into a graduate program once I've finished. Are you studying part time or full time?

The more I think about it, I reckon I might be better off doing 3 subjects this semester so I only have to do 1 in semester 2 year. DD is pretty easy going at the moment and I have plenty of time during the day, it's going to be unpredictable with a newborn/ few month old baby

[feeb]

I am doing parttime so only 1 subject per semester apart from next year when 1 semester will have 2 subjects.

My course will get me out of shift work and give me mon to fri 9 - 5 but still in health.

[Artechim]

I am doing one paper per semester by distance. I get zero chance to do anything during the day between kindy drop off/pick up for DS and DD's activities in between. I can't do anything while they are around so the only chance I get to do anything is in the weekends if DH will watch them for me. ATM I only have a chance to skim through the notes enough to do assignments as they are due, then do a couple of days of study before the exam. I am not getting the marks I was wanting and I think I will take Semester 1 off next year because it will be impossible to do anything at all if I have another clingy non-sleeper baby like the other two were.

Good luck to you though, sounds like you will be able to fit it in better than I have.

[Trillian]

Fuzzy, I'm doing fulltime this year. I do have a prac for 4 weeks in august, but I only need care for DS for 4 days out of the 20 as DH's work roster fits in nicely, but because I will be essentially 'working' fulltime, it's probably going to get ugly LOL. But I plan on doing the washing at night etc to stay on top of things. But my youngest will be a few weeks off turning 4 then and it's immensely easier doing it with older children than younger ones.