Studying

[skn]

I know there's a few of you here who study and a few who have previously mentioned that you'd like to get into study. Maybe we could use this thread for support?

It's pretty early for me to getting into this- I don't start until next year. I thought I was going to have a relatively easy load next year (one subject per semester), but because I did some of the study over 10 years ago, it may not count so I might be full-time after all. I'm waiting for the course coordinator to get back to me on that.

Anyway, I'm excited :trippy

[cherish]

sounds like a good idea!!

[Kathryn]

So pleased that you have bitten the bullet! Go S! Hope you don't have to re-do a load of units though. Although, at least they would be pretty gentle since you've done it all before. There has been a bit of cross-over between the study I started doing last year and this year. It's been kinda nice to not have a full-on week every now and then!

Yeah, I am currently on IP when I should be studying (DH taken girls for their swimming lessons) so I should get back to it... Just wanted to say Good Luck! x

[skn]

Thanks K!

Ah, so much for getting back into it slowly! I just found out that I'll need to do 4 subjects for 1st semester and 2 for second. Although, since one of the four is an elective in first I reckon I can do that in second semester.

In any case it looks like it'll be full-time. That's ok.

[bubbalove]

All the best! I'm working full time, studying at a 75% load, and have the 2 small people full time....but I wouldn't have it any other way :) It's going to enable me to work in the area of health care I want to pursue, so I'm just gonna suck it up and hopefully be finished at the end of next year :)

What are you studying, skn?

[skn]

bubbalove- I'm really amazed to hear people who do all of that! I'm thinking the same way- head down and just do it. If I really want to do it, then I'll manage.

So, only one year to go? Exciting!! What will you end up with?

I'll be doing Social Work. And just found a book of readings for a subject that I'll be doing 1st sem! I dropped this particular subject back in 2004. So, if I'm really bored I can read it and have some idea of the subject :)

[bubbalove]

I'll come out with a Master of Applied Management (Health)...then it's the hassle of finding a job that I can use it in!

Social work - nice :) Best of luck with it

[mummabare]

best of luck with your studies. I sometimes feel alot of pressure with the amount of work load I have, but I think its important to take time *away* from your study as well so you are balanced and fresh when you get back into it. I think everyone studying and having kids full time should do that without feeling guilty!
I manage full time study (Masters in Education by research), DJ is fulltime with homeschooling events & playdates thrown in, and regular life *stuff* as it comes up.

I regularly feeling like screaming tho :/

[Snoozie]

I'm supposedly studying... although I'll more likely be failing if I don't get my toosh into gear and catch up soon!

[littlemissnaughty]

Good luck skn, I'm doing my masters in that atm. Also guilty of being on IP when I should be studying.

[cherish]

where are you doing your masters littlemissnaughty? I'm thinking of doing mine as well.. but maybe do midwifery first.. we'll see..

[littlemissnaughty]

correspondence through monash

[Joey]

I need to study again, I have a degree in Biotechnology which is pretty much useless now. I want ot do something that will get me a job- a flexible single mumma friendly sort of a job. Thinking of doing something moneyish next year, book keeping or financial services or something like that

[Beckstar]

I am almost finished my Herbal Medicine degree. I work one day a week (usually) and my girl lives with her Dad half the time, so I get to do all my classes and clinics at uni in my kid-free time. It has been hard, but so worth it :)

[skn]

Congratulations Beckstar!!! How exciting to be so close to finishing! How long was your degree?

[Kathryn]

OK, is anyone else freaking out about now?! :blink

I have a 30% assignment due in on Friday and an exam on 6th for the unit I've barely scraped in the lectures for... That combined with the usual hustle bustle and work being busy, and I'm ready to run for the hills! :scared

[bubbalove]

Oooh yeah! I handed in 2 assignments on Friday, have another due on the 1st Nov, and another on 7th Nov.... plus a few marked quizzes thrown in, and an exam!!! Argh!! I'm feeling your pain ;)

[mumofmany]

Hi everyone
I have completed two years of my law degree, but have had this year off as my son had to have major surgery earlier in the year. I have been enjoying the break, but am now dying to get back!
So go into third year next year, doing 4 subjects each semester, and volunteering one day a week at a community legal service.
Good luck girls with all your assignments and exams coming up - I remember your pain only too well xxx

[skn]

Good luck with your remaining assessment Kathryn and Kerri-Ann!!

[cherish]

good luck with your assignments!! you'll get there.. deep breaths!

[Karena]

Good luck for the end of the year everyone :)

[littlemissnaughty]

Yes on a major freak out. I have an 80% essay due next week. I will get there. I have 3 child free days left to finish it off.

[Karena]

Good luck Anne, I know you'll get there Hon :) YAY on the 3 child free days

[Beckstar]

skn, the degree is 3 years full time, I will complete it in 3.5 yrs (due to a slight difficulty getting me head around Chemistry first semester!)


I have just gotten over the mid-semester hump. One more assignment due in 4 weeks and then only 2 exams this semester (because I am doing clinical practice now )! YAY!

[Kathryn]

Well, I was supposed to get some time off work this week to get my uni assignment done, but that didn't happen. So I've just sat here for the past 4.5 hours, and submitted it with 6 minutes to spare. If that's not cutting it fine... Of course now it's midnight and I'm still 'switched on'... Only one exam and a CMA to go this semester though!!! And now it's the weekend!

Still seriously thinking of only doing one unit over the summer or maybe even taking the summer off. I'm currently enrolled for another two units for semester 3, and one of those is stats... I do spreadsheets all day every day, not sure I can handle more numbers and Christmas and kids on school hols... Hmm...

Hope everyone else is plodding along nicely. :D

[cherish]

have some time off.. I'm ever the lazy one! doing stats and numbers over Christmas doesn't sound fun to me!

[skn]

Yeah, I reckon two subjects over Christmas would be intense- is it like a six or eight week semester?

Actually I was considering seeing if I could do a subject over summer, I'm keen to get into it. But I think I'll wait.

[jodiemiller]

Maybe start with one subject, then increase to two. There were times when I felt two subjects was my limit this past semester, but I've got through OK. Still writing my last assessment piece now.

[littlemissnaughty]

Oh just one subject over christmas is my advice. Too busy with everything else that happens at that time of year.

Only wednesday and Friday next week without children, yesterday didn't quite work out as I planned as DH kept popping home with DD in between things and distracting me, I lost a lot of time. Next year I will plan my study days on days I'm normally at work and the kids are at daycare/school all day instead of days DH is home with the kids.

[Kathryn]

I've been doing 2 this semester plus f/t work plus the other stuff I do... I've kept on top of it but haven't really had chance to 'enjoy' it and feel like I've truly got to grips with it all. But that's ok as it's only a basic understanding I need at this stage.

But of course summer semester is over the school hols (getting literally only the public holidays off - there are 10 teaching weeks SKN) so whereas I won't have as much volunteer stuff to do, I will have Christmas stuff to organise and at least one kid home a lot of the time. Oh, and, you know, a pretty stressful f/t job, lol.

The thing is that if I do both units, I can officially start the grad. dip. in Sem1 2010 as I'll have completed all 4 prerequisites. But if I just did the psych unit and left the stats unit until Sem1, I could still do another unit for the grad dip in Sem1 without officially transferring to it. Sigh.

But if I am frankly honest with myself, I'm not sure if I could cope with transferring to the grad dip at the moment anyway... I'd have to do a minimum of 2 units per semester as there is a strict maximum amount of time to complete. And they obviously aren't the basic ones like I'm doing at the mo. It's a degree equiv in 2 years p/t... I thought it would be fine as I could reduce work hours by 2010, but I'm not sure that's going to happen...

Argh! Maybe I should just stop overanalysing and just do the psych unit over summer. I can't imagine being in the right headspace for stats over xmas, and I really need to be working on a few other things too (like my health - sitting at a computer for 10-13 hours a day is a really bad idea) so I think it's either one unit or time off at this stage!

[littlemissnaughty]

Oh boy I hear you on the chance to enjoy it thing. So much is crammed into 11-13 week semesters we hardly have a chance to integrate it into our brains. Sometimes I wish the semester was longer but less intense. Especially when a university year only really means that 6 months of it is studying.

[cherish]

'my take- you don't want to look back on this time in your life and think you hadn't enjoyed it at all... I look back on study and miss it.. while there were intense moments, it was great doing it in a capacity that mainly meant I could focus on my family and me..

I think I've decided to put in for accelerated entry to social work for next year.. well, I have put the qtac thingy in.. but I have midwifery first- however I think it's best that I concentrate on the area that I'm in.. and use my doula/childbirth ed stuff to fuel that love of birth etc.. as well as taking opps to work with families around that tranistion in their lives..

[skn]

That sounds great Kylie!! Is that Masters? Where would you be doing that?

[cherish]

no- not masters.. though I could apply for that.. it's through Griffith- if you've done 2/3rds of a degree in the field you can apply for it, also I think at ACU.. I think I'll get credit for about half of it, so would leave a year to go. Hoping that I get credit for prac- seeing as they are exactly the same subjects (just a different title page!) That would be awesome!

[skn]

Cool!

You did talk about post grad a while ago, didn't you? Or maybe this is what you were talking about.

[cherish]

yeah.. I can do either I guess.. what's the difference? I think I"d prefer to use my post grad for something else.. I'm pretty interested in psychology as well... why do I have to be so interested in so many things??

I'm also going to have to do a cert IV in training and assessment if I stay in the job I'm in- which is fine.. actually- it will be good cause I think they pay for it, and I do really like adult education- which the cert IV gives quals for teaching in tafe etc.. should do that before uni starts..

[cass]

I have decided to begin studying next year (baby is due in December of this year). I am just not sure what to study.

For fun I would love to study a language. A friend of mine is the lecturer at the local university, so I would have no problem bringing baby into the study hall. I could combine it with English Literature (huge reader) and do a B. Arts. For an extra 12 months I could do Environmental Science as well and come out with a B. Arts and a B. Science.

Except...I already have two degrees, and it just seems stupid to have 3 or 4. It is about time I undertook my Masters (which I have always wanted to do)....but I am not sure if I want a Masters of Education (and I don't want a Masters in Computer Science).

I think doing a first year Language and a first year English Literature subject would be enough to cope with (with my first child). Can anyone tell me what they think?

[cherish]

from personal experience.. I wouldn't want the stress of uni in the first 6 months of having a baby.. I started back at uni with one subject when the twins were about 10 months old.. just one subject, which grew into two at times..

after Matt was born I went back when he was about 6 months.. it was lovely.. everyone loved having him in class- he was usually wrapped (so a huge amount of childless women were able to witness the beauty of baby wearing and breastfeeding) and he slept often.. I did not go to lectures as it was too hard with him.. crawling and all.. I was glad when I finished having to go.. cause by the end he would run around and create a bit of a fuss..

have you thought about just doing some interesting courses.. less pressure, just as interesting..

that's just my thoughts..

[cass]

have you thought about just doing some interesting courses.. less pressure, just as interesting..

Thanks for the advice. Yes, the indonesian language course would be the zero-pressure, just interesting one for me. (So would English literature).

Bubby will be about 4months when the course starts up, so I will know by then whether I am ready to enter the classroom, or whether I will want to just un-enrol.

I think your advice of one subject at a time might be good too. But English literature is sooo tempting...I have always wanted to do a formal course to understand the books I love reading.

[mrs fox]

I am about to start a teacher aide course thru tafe.
DH & I decided its the best way for me to work, be home for the boys before/after and school holidays with it not putting strain on the family and money.
Otherwise me going back to fulltime work would require before and afterschool care and then vacation care and/or using our hoildays to stay at home....I know that alot of u do that anyway but I don't think its for our family.
I am looking forward to gain a certificate and contribute more to my family.
I am a little worried about how I will handle it after no studing for a while....anyway thanks for letting me share

[Snoozie]

Good luck Mrs Fox!

[SungaiKecil]

I am half a semester into a BSc (Nursing) degree. I've submitted two assignments already, have two more to submit, one test and an interview assessment to sit. Then on to four exams. :)

I'm loving it so far. Normal medicalised BS, but I actually really dig it!

[mrs fox]

O and glad u are liking it...sungaikecil...I am looking forward to my first lot of work...

[Joey]

I'm studying too - a Graduate Diploma in counselling, and to be honest I am struggling- a lot. I feel a bit (lot) snowed under. I will get there though. It's not so much the content as the organizing - like for example in the next 4 weeks (once I have finished to two essays i am currently working on) I have to get myself a camcorder, record 2 separate subject of 'stuff' with people I don't know well - and I have to find volunteers- and then put it onto a dvd before I can write the essay. I have no camcorder, no idea where to find someone I don't know well and then ask them to do the role play with me and no idea how to get stuff from camcorder onto a dvd. Nightmare!

[Rinelle]

When I did counselling at Uni we could borrow the camcorders from the library. Is there any option like that available?

[mrs fox]

Joey I can help u there we have a camcorder and the bits to conect it to the dvd player to burn it.....just let me know when u need it...

I got my TAFE stuff today. I have thousand of bit of paper to fill out so I can get a placement for vocational work and I got the 1st unit....so exciteted(go spelling)

[Joey]

Oh Mrs Fox that would be FABULOUS! Will you have an argument (pretend) with me on it too? And maybe even talk about an issue (not a major one) for 10 mins with me pretending to be your counselor? or is that taking the p***? :)

[mrs fox]

Taking the P*** for sure but hey I love a good arguement....pretend or not.
Maybe u should judt come around and tape my normal day ...lots of arguements here...
I argue with myself to get my fat A** on the treadmill...argue with myself to not eat the last 5 cookies etc etc:rofl

[SungaiKecil]

Totally love love loving uni. Doing really well at it. I think I've found my niche. :) I am having a ball!!

[jodiemiller]

Me too! If only it didn't have to end. I confess, I don't really have a goal in sight. I'm just loving filling my head with stuff that interests me purely for the sake of it.

[Astra]

I know how you feel Jodie, my first degree was like that (physics) and this one is a little like that too only this time I will be able to walk into a job at the end. Wow, I sound nerdy. Science is my way of rebelling as both my parents were artists growing up, I guess I still haven't gotten over that rebellious stage ;). I am loving study until exam time rolls around every 8 weeks, more exams in 1.5 weeks eek!

[Joey]

I'm really enjoying my course too, really really interesting just a very heavy workload- I got my first essay result the other day -distinction- so I am pretty happy with that, gives me a bit more confidence. I have 3 more due at the end of this week and then that's term 1 done. I'm going part time next term so I can enjoy it even more, full time study, single parenting and working are not easy to balance - so I'll cut down.

[mrs fox]

Thats great Jo.
I start my vocational placement this thursday at the boys school....I can not wait to start putting all of it together!

[SungaiKecil]

another distinction here HEH. Loving it.