Please come and talk to me about your Open University experience.

[MakeYourOwnFuckingTea]

I've 90% decided to go for it. I read a post on fb and the woman sounds like she's in a similar position to me (left school early, no qualifications, always worked but in dead end jobs for nmw etc). I'm 41 and married with 4 kids. I feel its time to do something for me that will benefit us all in the long run. No idea what I'd like to do but am leaning towards health and social care or something in that area.
Does anyone have any experience of Open University? I'm leaving it too late aren't I?

@ClashCityRocker I love it! I've done 5 years and just about to start my last year. It's tough at times to try and fit it in but there's a lot of support and I've just found the entire course really interesting. The last post should've read children's lit! I really recommend choosing that module - you won't look at Harry Potter in the same way again!

So pleased I started this now. I still haven't called yet but that's because the kids are about and giving me no peace. The youngest is back in school tomorrow and the others on Wednesday so doing it then. I think I can really do this. I feel so inspired by everyone who has shared their experiences.

I'm shuddering at the idea of facebook being more useful than tutorials. It really, really, shouldn't be. If new to the OU please try both and make your own mind up.

I've just postponed my start date until Feb. There was some hoo-haaing about my application because I've lived abroad and I needed to prove I'm British. Then student finance had some ridiculous requests (eg detail all jobs had since age 18... Erm I'm 44! ).

Anyway my head got scrambled (MH issues which is why I dropped out of my undergrad years ago).

Gosh I'm waffling. Upshot is, if I postpone then I've got time, the ou themselves can decide I am actually British and I can get finance done.

My OU experience is a bit out of date in some ways, and timeless in others, so I'm going to stick to the things that I think will still be true.

1. It was life-changing. I left school as early as I possibly could to get away from home, and left myself woefully undereducated for far too long. Tertiary education was like finding my tribe at last.
2. Maybe not relevant if you're doing a specific pathway, because I did a very pick-and-choose degree for my own interest, but I found it was a dreadful mistake to try to do a module because I thought it would be easy. I was bored and hated it. The successful ones were those that genuinely attracted my interest.
3. Facebook wasn't around when I started, but for my sixth module (which was about 16 years after my first because I stopped after four and didn't pick up again till my son was 10) I ended up coming off the Facebook thread. I loved all the people and the companionship was great. But I was constantly being derailed from my own ideas by thinking that everyone else's ideas sounded much cleverer, and much better. When I stuck to my own ideas and worked alone, I got stellar results.
4. Tutorials, if you can attend them, are wonderful. Like @FaFoutis, I urge you to give them a go if you have them locally.
5. The hours I needed to do per week were about half what they said I'd need to do for the course work, but when it came to essays, I was a slow writer. Marks were good, but I was slow. If you are a quick essay writer, you will likely find that the OU estimates of how much time you need to allocate per week is over-generous. I imagine it depends on the subj., though.
6. The timetabling/strategic organisation of the coursework is first rate. They are the granddaddies of distance learning. I would say "you can't go wrong" - you can, of course, you can fall behind, but you will never lack for knowledge of exactly how much you've fallen behind by!

@RiojaHaze and @ClashCityRocker, I couldn't agree more about the Children's Literature module. That and the Victorian Novel were my favourites, closely followed by Art and Its Histories, which may no longer be taught but which was eye-opening for learning about historiography (much to the discontent of those students who expected a more purely Art History module). I've been kicking around the idea of a VicLit MA for the last five years, and if I finally shift my ideas and do it, I may well try to focus on the children's literature of the period.

OP, do it! Do it!

I love the OU, I'm on my second degree with them, first was Social Sciences, this time I am doing Psychology.

I'm 30, left school with nothing, was absent from most of year 9 onwards. You have to be disciplined but you do get a study calendar to stick too, and holidays over Christmas ect as you would normally

Agree with others that choosing something which is interesting to you will make it easier to stay motivated.
Having said that I’ve chosen Humanities (definitely English, possibly History, possibly Philosophy) so who knows how useful that’s going to be career wise

@FaFoutis I agree that Facebook isn't more helpful than the tutorials but it's good to have people in the same situation as you and to give the support when you've finished a particularly tough TMA or are still up writing into the night!

I'm also wanting to look into the OU. My biggest regret is not doing a degree.
I'm 41 always been in low paid jobs my son starts school this week and looking to fill the time while he is at school.

I'd really like to do it but I'm really scared I'm not clever or academic enough!

Great thread op.

I will be applying to complete my adult nursing through the ou in January, currently work as a community HCSW

I’m about to start my fifth year of study, on level three modules (maths) - I had to defer last year as I gave birth just before exams. Studying with a baby is hard already, but it is lovely when I do manage it as I feel like my old self again!

I did a degree with them a few years ago. It really is fab. Very structured and easy to follow what you’re meant to be studying and when to submit assessments etc.
I got a graduate job a couple of months afterwards. Most recruiting managers I’ve spoken to very much respect an ou degree; I think employers like that people can be motivated to do it.
Oh and just to say I’m generally lazy, unmotivated and disorganised (and not really that clever either!) and I managed to get a 2:1 so go for it 😁

Start my 3rd yr in October. I'm doing a BA honours in health and social care. Love it. Applying for the course is easy, just a phone call. And this years student loan application was the easiest yet! I work full time and just about fit everything in. It's given me more confidence. I had not done anything like this for 22 yrs. I like the fact the study materials are on line, your study periods are mapped out weekly for you, the forums are handy and my tutor have been great. Go for it OP . I'm 41 and not looking back!

I hate to be a real downer, but I’m in the middle of an OU degree and wish I’d never started. I started five years ago. I did an Arts & Humanities access course and then started a BA Humanities (History and Art History). I’m 46 now, two years to go so will be 48 when I’ve finished. I am doing the course on a pay as you go arrangement. I didn’t want a big student debt hanging over me when I finished. The sole purpose of doing this degree is to get myself a better paid job to accumulate as much money as possible for my son who is autistic for when I’ve shuffled off this mortal coil.

The plan was to finish this course and then do a PGCE to become a teacher (I’d like to be a SENCO). Unfortunately, the year long PGCE is £7000. No way can I afford it. Not as a lump sum and as I said I don’t want to get into debt. I thought about going into nursing instead. With a degree under my belt I could do a two year conversion. But that would be £18,000.

I’m not that clever, and I reckon I’ll be lucky to get a 2:2, which isn’t good enough to get you on a PGCE course in my area anyway. You need minimum 2:1. I’m carrying on because I feel I’ve come this far, to give up now would be a complete waste of money, so I might as well carry on regardless for another two years and try and make the best of it.

Don’t get me wrong, the course has been superb, the materials are fabulous and I’m loving learning. But with the extra costs to train for other jobs, it’s doubtful it will lead anywhere. That’s just my opinion though. I know I’m a miserable cow!

Frenchie thank you for replying. The cost is one of the reasons I'm hesitating. There's no way around it for me but to get into debt. However I'm encouraged by the comments I've read on here and fb. I'd love to pay as I go but money is so tight. I won't have to start repayments until I earn a certain amount and even then its.a small percentage. In my opinion that will be as important as paying a mortgage. I'll be paying back an important investment in myself.

I did my degree through the OU and can't recommend it enough. It worked for me as I had 2 very young children, and worked part time, I was very fortunate in that my employer (the NHS) paid for all my courses, but wouldn't give me any study time. Not that I am complaining, a free degree is pretty cool!
It is very self-directed though I found, as apart from the occasional Saturday where we went to a local uni and had different lectures all day, you obviously get the work and deadline and get on with it. It's not like you are going to lectures 5 times a week. This worked for me as I could fit study time in between my shifts and when the kids went to bed etc. I wouldn't have been able to go to a brick uni.
I did a health and social care degree and loved it.

Good luck if you decide to do it x

Oh Don’t get me wrong Make, I know I’m in a very fortunate position to be able to pay as I go. I just wanted to make the point that anyone should think carefully about the future and any costs that you may not have considered. That’s what happened to me, I didn’t take into account the extra costs there would be to qualify for teaching or nursing as there are no bursaries any more and I didn’t realise that. I’m sure most people do consider it, but I’m just a bit daft! Having said that, as I said previously, the courses themselves are great and I’m really enjoying the learning experience.

I'm glad you posted about it Frenchie as it truly is something to consider. Would you not do it to give you the last push you need? Because you've managed to get this far without any costs owing so possibly you would only need a small amount which you then start paying when you earn etc. I know you prefer to pay as you go but maybe paying after you've been won't be so different? I know I'm rambling on but I hope it kind of makes sense. Part of me is looking forward to just knuckling down and doing something productive.

I've just registered! Oh my god what have I done?

Woo Hoo - You won’t regret it!
What have you signed up for and when do you start?

Well done, MakeYourOwn - you've taken the first step! You know, the one that's actually a giant leap for MakeYourOwnKind!

What course have you registered for, when do you start, and is there any further advice and encouragement we can give you?

Aww that's amazing foulmouth.
I'm doing the Health and Social Care degree. No idea if it will lead to anything but I have to give it a go.

I've just got my materials for my first unit. I already have a degree but some subjects, maths and science mainly attract funding.

Marble start in October. I rang them up and they said to register even if I hadn't sorted funding as it takes weeks to be approved. Bit anxious that it won't happen.