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Access Course - College or Distance Learning

4 replies

constantlywingingit · 20/08/2018 17:44

Hi

Sorry I didn't really know where to turn for advice on this and I'm indecisive.

I have wanted to do an access course and then study speech and language therapy at uni for a year or so, and have decided to take the plunge and go for it.

My question is basically: distance learning or college?

WRT distance learning, I work nights and I have a business that I've grown and maintain. I worry I will be too tired and it will fall to the bottom of the pile. Plus I'd have to pay monthly for it so I would need to continue night shifts including overtime and couldn't afford to reduce my hours. Bonus being that I can have flexibility and study as and when I can.

The college I have found is about 40 min drive away. Teaching is on a Monday and Tuesday, I can have childcare for those days (two children under 4). I could get an advanced learner loan so could afford to reduce my hours or go on to bank staff. I haven't studied in over a decade and feel this may ease me back in?

Has anyone experience of either? If so would you be willing to share experiences?

I'm just so worried that I'd only get one shot at this and I don't want to piss it up the wall because I'm so tired all the time. There is no denying that distance learning and college both have their benefits, but I don't know how intensive the work is etc.

OP posts:

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MarchingFrogs · 20/08/2018 20:42

Personally, I would go for the college course, especially if you have the difficult bits (childcare, funding) sorted out. Less easy not to turn up for face to face teaching than to put off doing something that you would be more able to do (or not do) at any time. Also easier to find someone to talk to if you need advice. Plus the social support of other students etc.

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Permaexhaustion · 20/08/2018 20:54

College.
Why? You need to dedicate enough time to it, much more difficult if you're on your own at home, plus still working.
Plus you'll meet such a range of other students- support for each other, and much more fun.
Plus the staff are there, you should be able to ask for 1 to 1 support if you're a bit stuck on an important assignment.
Plus the staff can informally tell you how to strategize assignments, this probably sounds odd, but if an assignments not going brilliantly, on many college access courses, you can omit an essential part, submit so that you don't miss the deadline, but you'll essentially be given another shot at it, because you missed a bit
Plus, support and help and reference when applying for your next course.

I've actually done distance learning with OU, but I had recently been in education, and I started just for fun.I wouldn't do it as a re-entry for a serious career change.

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chocolateworshipper · 20/08/2018 21:18

To help you make a decision, find out how much support you would get for a DL course. With some DL courses, it's a case of being given some books and the rest is up to you. Not saying it will be the case with what you are looking at, but I would check.

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constantlywingingit · 20/08/2018 22:51

Thank you.

I am leaning more towards college, more so because the work I am doing is killing me and I don't know how I would cope with something else on top. With college I have the win win, I have help with childcare, financial assistance and real life support.

I'm going to push forward with college and hopefully go to uni next year. Really grateful for the sensible advice