Accept HDip now or reapply in 2011 (long!)

hdipdilemma

Hello
I am looking for advice/opinions please. I have been offered the Hdip in Maynooth my subject is English. I am married with 2 kids and a mortgage & currently working full time in a permanent position as a receptionist on a relatively low salary (25k). I am agonising as to whether I should take the dip or not. I have teaching experience and I know it is a job I would enjoy more than what I am doing now. It is something I have been thinking about for a long time. I have 49 points and the cut off was 45 this year but I will lose the 2 points I gained from my experience if I reapply next year so I could be in trouble if the points go up again. It said on the application that they do not accept deferrals so I presume that is not an option. I have been thinking about refusing in the hope that I'll be in a better position financially to take it on next year though part of me worries that if I dont do it now I never will.
I am a mature student and I have a masters already so I dont think I would qualify for any kind of financial support grant or maintenance. Does anyone know if this is the case?
My main concern would be that after I qualify I may not get a job and end up subbing or on a few hours a week. I presume that English would not be one of the better subjects to have as there are probably a lot of English graduates. we have just about enough savings to support me being out of work for one year but any longer than that would be a disaster for us as my husbands business has been seriously affected by the downturn as well. Since I relocated to the midlands I dont have any career at the moment as such even though I am well educated and I can't see that changing so I know that long term I would be better off as a teacher I would enjoy it but I am terrified of being unemployed or on a few hours here and there for the next couple of years.
Has anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice for at all for me as I really don't know what to do.

Duffbeer

I am in the same boat as you except I dont have the 2 kids.. I have the bills and I have the stress but currently working in a construction job that will not be there in september anyways. I am going to have a chat with the bank and ask them to amend my loan repayments for the year and I will work part time to feed myself for the year. I have been putting this off for 9 years so it is my own fault so I am going to bite the bullet and go for it. I was into all the schools in Galway city today and some of them were trying to put me off doing it... I said I'd rather do it than be on the dole! Its like this, break down the year and make a budget. Bring the sandwich to school etc..(you prob make them for the kids anyways:) You wont find the year going by and who is to say you won't get a job next year? We could be all saying that and nobody would be doing it! Be positive and do up a budget. You will be happy next year when its all behind you. Good luck. Oh and dont defer it... They may be decreasing the class sizes in the future in the PGDE as the place will be overcrowded with more teachers (not that it isnt at the moment)

wanttoteach

Hiya,

Yes it's a big sacrifice...and the job situation at the end is obviously dire. You might not get a job at the end of it. BUT...the longer you put it off the harder it will get to make the leap. I want to do the HDip in 2011 and I know it's crazy...I have a mortgage and bills too. But I've also wanted to do this for years and every year for the last few years around this time of year I wish I had applied and then I go and get cold feet again in November! If you've spent time in schools and you liked it then go for it if it's what you really want to do. Anything is possible when you put your mind to it...if you are well qualified and good at what you do, you will get a teaching job eventually. How much of an area is open to you in terms of travelling to your job...would you consider moving for a job? My husband and I have agreed to the possibility of moving house so this will open up career prospects for us.

It doesn't sound like your career is going anywhere in the midlands. Just ask yourself if there is anything else career-wise that you would do otherwise. If you couldn't become a teacher what would you do? Would it make you happy? If teaching is calling out to you, you can make it work. My one word of warning would be to not go into it just because of hard times at the moment...or the conditions of the job...as primary motives...because unless you enjoy it this won't be enough.

Well they're just my thoughts from someone who is in a similar predicament to you. Can I have your place if you decide not to take it

Rubiee

Hi
I am a teacher who is looking for work at the moment and the situation is not so good however I would not discourage you from going back to do the Dip. It will probably be quite a difficult year trying to juggle everything but if it is what you really want to do then it is worth it. There is also the point that Dip places are hard to come by, I know I didn't get it first time round, so perhaps it is worth taking.
Regards the timing, there is probably never going to be a good time to go back and do it.... there is always something going on - sometimes one just needs to bite the bullet!
Best of luck with whatever you decide!
R

sunflower3

Go for it! At least if you have the qualification you will have options. There will never be a good time. I am going back to Maynooth to do H Dip and I have 3 children. It will be really tough but its only months, not even a full year.

The financing is a big worry. There is a great website www.studentfinance.ie that details all the grants available. Even if you don't qualify for a grant you can covenant some of the fees against tax paid by you husband.

Hope that helps.

hdipdilemma

Hello

Thank you all for your advice you have given me plently of food for thought. I am veering towards accepting it now. I am not so worried about doing the actual course though I know it will be a lot of work. I have juggled family, work and part time study for 2 years already so I am prepared for that. Its more a concerned for career prospects after I have the dip. I spent 5 years full time & 2 years parttime in college already so I would hate to do something further and then end up back where I started with no prospect of a teaching job & possibly any kind of job! I wish I had a crystal ball!
I have 2 small children and I would not want or be able to move house again as we built our dream home 2 years ago & my husbands business is here. I love living in the country depite the fact that I had to put my career on hold as a result. I worked in dublin for a number of years and had a successful career in marketing which I really enjoyed. It was very long hours wasnt family friendly so I relocated to the midlands once I started a family. I spoke with a number of teachers over the last few days to see what the current situation is like in their schools and they were fairly positive. I have been advised that it could probably take 5 years to get a permanent position but that the subbing situation should be ok especially if you are going to need the hdip to sub from 2012. They also mentioned the possibility of a spike in retirements if the Croke Park agreement goes ahead. There is just no way of knowing what the situation will be like you could be really lucky and get a job quickly or you could be really unlucky and struglle to get hours anywhere. Its really hard to call. I am going to contact my citizens advice centre to see if I would be eligible for any financial assistance to help get me through the year financially.