AIBU to be looking at OU?

[OrangeIsMyNewBlack]

Hi, posting here for quick responses, as I'm stretched to near breaking point.

I am in a dead-end job that I cannot stand. It is an utter pittance, I am under-appreciated, screamed at and generally abused on a regular basis by management and other members of staff (and a grievance did nothing!), I am over-qualified for the position that, frankly, a monkey could do, and the only reason I have lasted this long is because I've been reciting "think of the money think of the money" over in my head.

I have been wanting to do Higher Education for years, and I do mean years, but due to a lot of personal circumstances and having my DS too young, I've never managed it. I have found a course from the OU which I absolutely love and it's something at which I would excel.

I want to do the course full-time, as part-time work in my area is extremely hard to come by, and my job is not flexible with hours in any way. But I don't want to get accepted for the course, only to find I have no time to study because I'm constantly working to try and pay the bills, rent, council tax, etc.

DP works as well, however is shift-based and a zero-hour contract, so his income is not enough to sustain us both. Does OU offer some kind of support for funding for living expenses, so that I'm able to study without becoming homeless in the process? I know they do student loans, however I don't know if that's just to cover the course.

Any info would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!

Bold: This is why I would never touch the OU, because you won't be allowed to forget that you did it online, not at a "proper" university (even though "proper" universities also have 100% online courses).

That made me laugh . Having done an OU degree and a degree at a 'proper' uni and believe me my OU degree was by far the hardest work. An OU degree is very much looked on as favourable by potential employers as they recognise the dedication and self motivation it takes to achieve it. Just because it is 'online', distance learning doesn't make it any easier, trust me.

Just remember that whatever degree you do with the OU, when using the qualifications or the letters after your name, you have to add 'OU' after it.

No you don't! Wherever have you got that from?! I have done two degree with the OU and use the letters BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences with Biology and BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies. There is no requirement for me to add anything saying where I studied my degrees as a degree from the OU is EXACTLY THE SAME as a degree from anywhere else!

Many employers actually favour degrees from the OU because it shows commitment from the prospective employee, many of whom have studied whilst also holding down jobs and raising families, unlike most students at a brick university.

I think what you might be getting confused with are the Open degrees that the OU do. They are degrees which don't follow a particular subject path, but do still have the three different levels of study. So people who want to study for interest rather than career might go down the Open Degree pathway. In those instances they would have the following designation: BA (Hons) Open or BSc (Hons) Open. This is to indicate the non-specific subject pathway, not where it has been studied.

Oh, and for the record, the OU isn't a 100% online degree either. There are tutorials very regularly, you know, with actual tutors and real people in a room together. There are also day schools and for science and language courses there are also summer schools at gasp REAL universities to do the practical side of the course.

Thank you all above - I felt like I was having piss poured on my chips but I thought I was being a bit sensitive! all round

My OU tutorials were held at a 'real' university .

I had lots of PGCE interviews last year for courses starting in September and two of the interviews I went to specifically mentioned my OU degrees as being part of the reason I was offered a place on the course - they said it showed I had commitment, good organisational and time management skills, all essential things that teachers require. So certainly no looking down on the Open University from them!

In my experience employers look very favourably on OU qualifications, because it is well known that they require a great deal of motivation, self-discipline and organisation to achieve.

I'm doing an OU degree and tbh it's not that hard to juggle if you stick to one module per year

I'm doing an OU degree. Recruiters I work with value OU degrees by workers with experience above 21 year old graduates.

Okay, so I've got some options. Really researched, and came up with five different options that I'm incredibly keen to do in my local university. Two of them are at another campus, however it turns out there's shuttlebus services to and from both campus' for students to use.

If I am unsuccessful in all of those, I'll go with OU. I'd rather study full-time instead of part-time, simply because I (personally) like to devote my time to a specific portion, rather than try to continually balance everything. Fingers crossed...!

As explained by PP, there aren't any sources of funding for living expenses with OU study. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. My advice is:

1. Start with one module. There's usually some sort of introductory module which is a gentler introduction than the later ones. You build up through the levels. So the first ones are doable in combination with working full time so long as you only take on one at once. Later ones are tougher but again, if you only do one at once, it is possible with dedication and planning.

1. Look for another job.

I have colleagues and relatives with OU degrees which have enabled them to get into professional careers so don't worry about that.

I did the whole of my first degree through OU and it was brilliant but you must be determined. I worked full time and did 2 courses simultaneously continually to get the whole lot done in 3 years. If you do them 1 at a time it takes 5-6 years to complete and I didn't want to wait. It worked for me because I enjoyed my subject so it wasn't a chore to snuggle up in bed with my textbooks, they really interested me. Wrote 2 essays per month (very manageable), never attended one single 'real life' session and came out with a 2:1

Oh, and it didn't cost me a penny because I earned under a certain amount. Changed my life, do it!

Oh and re: snobbery, that's fading. I chose to do OU at 18 instead of going to a regular uni, as did lots of people i know because of rising uni fees. I wanted to work, travel and study without getting neck deep in debt. It's a new trend. I came out of uni with no debt whatsoever, got accepted onto a one year masters course at a brick uni, got a 1st for that. Then I was offered a scholarship for PhD. I've had some great jobs and without sounding like an arse, I would judge myself to be a successful person and that wouldn't have happen if my first degree wasn't considered 'real'. In fact, when I did my MA, I seemed more clued up on my subject than (some of) those who had been to brick unis. Can't fault the OU, really can't.

God, UCAS is a dick. I remember having to do this before I left school. A load of rubbish! Been working on it last night and this morning, but how the hell do I craft a Personal Statement?!

You certainly don't have to put open after the qualifications! I have a ou degree and yes two others both from old red brick sought after unis.

Ou far superior in terms of course, and organisation and I have never been discriminated against because of it, in fact it only seems to be viewed positively!

There are shorter ou courses that might give you a taste to see if you can cope with the study.
I didn't find it an issue, but I only work part time. You dont have communting time remember that you would with a normal course. So it's more effective in terms of hours spent.

Your personal statement will be great. You have lived. An eighteen year old really struggles to find anything to write.

Google will throw up loads of examples of mature student personal statements and advice. That's what I did when I applied for my MSc. I got loads of ideas. I got load more ideas of what NOT to do too. Some of them were shockingly bad.

Try studential for help with personal statements and The student room are also very helpful.

An OU degree is hard work and a long slog but definitely worth it.

I don't think employers look down on it, quite he opposite actually. It's a lot harder to achieve an OU degree whilst working that it is to achieve a degree st a university.