Furthering Your Education

Kell_ee001 · 30-04-2008, 21:57

I was just wondering if anyone has gone back to education after taking a break, whether it be OU or evening classes etc? I dropped out of Uni at the end of my first year to look after my Dad and never went back.

I often think I could be doing something more with my life and think that getting more education might be a step in the right direction.

Before I even start to think about what I'd actually do though, I like to hear people tell me their experiences. Was it very hard work? Did it cost a lot of money? Did you manage to juggle studying with working full time and maintaining a home?

Did you think it was worth it? Was it diffcult to enrol / getting help etc?

I have quite a few questions apparently

Tak · 30-04-2008, 22:08

I would love to go back into education, but I simply can't afford it. I fluffed my way through 3 years of college and then just didn't have the motivation to go to uni. It is one of my regrets.

I did do an evening class in basic counselling skills which I really enjoyed. I think if I was able to, I'd prefer to do a few evening classes first to get back into the swing and mentality of "learning" and things like "homework" and "essays". That way I could possibly gauge juggling ability of working/learning/housework/etc as well.

Roberta · 30-04-2008, 22:17

I went back after having the kids. I was working in a nightclub as admin and saved up for my Exercise to Music qualification. That one cost about £600. I then left that job and was a stay at home mum for a bit when I did my Pilates and Fitness Testing which were lesser courses as I had the basic foundation in the first one. Got a job in a gym and got a training grant to get my Gym Instructor qualification and a year after that got the same organisation to fund my Advanced Gym Instructor quali. Since then I've paid for my Pole4Fitness, Boxercise, Kicboxercise and Boxercise Personal Trainer awards myself. I've just booked and paid for Fitness Ballet and Urban Funk but since starting taching some classes for the council they've told me they'll pay for any other qualifications so have decided to go for a Back Care one too.

It's hard juggling work and learning with 3 kids but it seems to be going ok. As for the house, I just let it fall apart!

Kell_ee001 · 30-04-2008, 22:28

Well I think you girls have confirmed it would be damn hard work!

Iirc, if I already have points they can be used against a degree through OU? Problem is I'm not certain what I have and even after emailling my old Uni a couple of times I haven't even had a reply

vix · 30-04-2008, 22:41

I got A levels then my parents told me they couldn't afford for me to go to Uni so i got a job in retail. I enjoyed the money so much I never bothered to get back into education, except when I moved down here and realised experience got you nowhere. I'm now in my third year of studying and I'm actually really enjoying it. It's difficult juggling full time work, day release, homework, racing car, housework and voluntary stuff but as it's very easy to me I can manage that time fairly well.

Money wise, it was a struggle - first year I funded it all myself although work let me have the time off, and college let me pay in installments. Second year my new employer sponsored me but I realised their line of work wasn't for me and had to pay most of my fees back anyway. This year my new employer pays most of the fees and I have to make the time up at work but this is working well for me at the moment.

Lana · 01-05-2008, 11:29

I want to go back to get my masters at some point, but I am not sure when that will be.
My sister is doing that right now, and while it is a challenge (she works full time, is married and has two kids under 5) she is making it work somehow.

The place she works at is actually paying her tuition, which is amazing. She's doing one of those online degree programs and she's crazy busy but she's managing.

Haly · 01-05-2008, 13:49

My Dad went to University when he was 45. He was lucky that my Mum didn't mind us living in abject poverty because she knew how intelligent he was and how good it'd be for him. He originally had to do a course at the local college to get him up to scratch academically as he'd left school at 15 with no qualifications.
After finishing his History degree, he then went on to do a M.Phil (Masters of Philosophy......not a Masters IN Philosophy, big difference

) in History and ended up a tutor at the University for the past 10 years or so.
It paid off for him hugely, not financially in any way admittedly, but he was incredibly happy in his job.

I know you're only thinking of the first step at the moment, just explaining his story as he was such a late starter

The OU also seems great. My Mum did a degree with them and loved it. She was going to go on to do a PhD in Nottingham years ago but unfortunately didn't because her Mother suddenly died and we couldn't sell the house.

Both options are a lot of work but if you enjoy it and can afford it, then surely it's worth it?

Haly · 01-05-2008, 18:35

Yeah I'd skip the abject poverty bit, it's a bit rubbish

Good luck with it

Knipples · 01-05-2008, 18:35

*start silly moment*

I am repeating secondary school, actually ive been repeating school since year 2 of Primary school, (now in year 7) at least this time im getting paid for it this time

*end silly moment, sorry people return to being sensible*

30-04-2008, 21:57	#1
Kell_ee001 Wants Big Meat Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newcastle Posts: 6,478	Furthering Your Education I was just wondering if anyone has gone back to education after taking a break, whether it be OU or evening classes etc? I dropped out of Uni at the end of my first year to look after my Dad and never went back. I often think I could be doing something more with my life and think that getting more education might be a step in the right direction. Before I even start to think about what I'd actually do though, I like to hear people tell me their experiences. Was it very hard work? Did it cost a lot of money? Did you manage to juggle studying with working full time and maintaining a home? Did you think it was worth it? Was it diffcult to enrol / getting help etc? I have quite a few questions apparently __________________

30-04-2008, 22:08	#2
Tak L'Oréal Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 9,977	I would love to go back into education, but I simply can't afford it. I fluffed my way through 3 years of college and then just didn't have the motivation to go to uni. It is one of my regrets. I did do an evening class in basic counselling skills which I really enjoyed. I think if I was able to, I'd prefer to do a few evening classes first to get back into the swing and mentality of "learning" and things like "homework" and "essays". That way I could possibly gauge juggling ability of working/learning/housework/etc as well. __________________ The look on your face when a toddler rips out your heart and shows it to you? Priceless.... For everything else, there's FWOOSH!

30-04-2008, 22:28	#4
Kell_ee001 Wants Big Meat Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newcastle Posts: 6,478	Well I think you girls have confirmed it would be damn hard work! Iirc, if I already have points they can be used against a degree through OU? Problem is I'm not certain what I have and even after emailling my old Uni a couple of times I haven't even had a reply __________________

30-04-2008, 22:41	#5
vix Penelope Pitstop Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,426	I got A levels then my parents told me they couldn't afford for me to go to Uni so i got a job in retail. I enjoyed the money so much I never bothered to get back into education, except when I moved down here and realised experience got you nowhere. I'm now in my third year of studying and I'm actually really enjoying it. It's difficult juggling full time work, day release, homework, racing car, housework and voluntary stuff but as it's very easy to me I can manage that time fairly well. Money wise, it was a struggle - first year I funded it all myself although work let me have the time off, and college let me pay in installments. Second year my new employer sponsored me but I realised their line of work wasn't for me and had to pay most of my fees back anyway. This year my new employer pays most of the fees and I have to make the time up at work but this is working well for me at the moment. __________________

01-05-2008, 13:49	#7
Haly Do you want to hide in my box? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,941	My Dad went to University when he was 45. He was lucky that my Mum didn't mind us living in abject poverty because she knew how intelligent he was and how good it'd be for him. He originally had to do a course at the local college to get him up to scratch academically as he'd left school at 15 with no qualifications. After finishing his History degree, he then went on to do a M.Phil (Masters of Philosophy......not a Masters IN Philosophy, big difference ) in History and ended up a tutor at the University for the past 10 years or so. It paid off for him hugely, not financially in any way admittedly, but he was incredibly happy in his job. I know you're only thinking of the first step at the moment, just explaining his story as he was such a late starter The OU also seems great. My Mum did a degree with them and loved it. She was going to go on to do a PhD in Nottingham years ago but unfortunately didn't because her Mother suddenly died and we couldn't sell the house. Both options are a lot of work but if you enjoy it and can afford it, then surely it's worth it? __________________ Halycopter Last edited by Haly; 01-05-2008 at 13:56.

30-04-2008, 22:17	#3
Roberta Pole Model Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,986	I went back after having the kids. I was working in a nightclub as admin and saved up for my Exercise to Music qualification. That one cost about £600. I then left that job and was a stay at home mum for a bit when I did my Pilates and Fitness Testing which were lesser courses as I had the basic foundation in the first one. Got a job in a gym and got a training grant to get my Gym Instructor qualification and a year after that got the same organisation to fund my Advanced Gym Instructor quali. Since then I've paid for my Pole4Fitness, Boxercise, Kicboxercise and Boxercise Personal Trainer awards myself. I've just booked and paid for Fitness Ballet and Urban Funk but since starting taching some classes for the council they've told me they'll pay for any other qualifications so have decided to go for a Back Care one too. It's hard juggling work and learning with 3 kids but it seems to be going ok. As for the house, I just let it fall apart!

01-05-2008, 11:29	#6
Lana Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 242	I want to go back to get my masters at some point, but I am not sure when that will be. My sister is doing that right now, and while it is a challenge (she works full time, is married and has two kids under 5) she is making it work somehow. The place she works at is actually paying her tuition, which is amazing. She's doing one of those online degree programs and she's crazy busy but she's managing.

01-05-2008, 18:35	#8
Haly Do you want to hide in my box? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,941	Yeah I'd skip the abject poverty bit, it's a bit rubbish Good luck with it __________________ Halycopter

01-05-2008, 18:35	#9
Knipples nipples lol (o)(o) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Brissle!!! Posts: 4,947	start silly moment I am repeating secondary school, actually ive been repeating school since year 2 of Primary school, (now in year 7) at least this time im getting paid for it this time end silly moment, sorry people return to being sensible