AIBU to want to do OU degree?

[WhyAmISoCold]

Ok, I'm not. But I've posted elsewhere about this before and got very little replies so I'm blatantly here for the traffic (maybe that's the AIBU 😀).

I dropped out of uni after 1 semester. Always regretted it. I believe I'm capable of studying a degree, but I just can't decide for definite.

I'll be mid 40s when I finish.
I probably won't do anything with that degree (psychology) it's more for interest bit in order to progress in my company, you have to have a (any) degree.
I have a chronic illness and 2 young children and work part time. I manage my illness well. If I crash I just rest.
DH can do the evening running around most of the time, our marriage isn't the best though and I do wonder if a time will come when we separate.

But I keep coming back to this. I've got the prospectus, I've looked it up and looked at funding etc, deadline to sign up is January. I feel it's now or never.

But I can be lazy and it's 6 years of studying! But I also feel I'm wasting my potential and feel a little bit unfulfilled intelligence wise. I'm certainly no genius but I'd say I'm above average but I don't use it. I also have aspergers so am aware I get ideas that I get fixated on and research then go off the idea. But I keep coming back to this.

It's horrendously hard work to keep yourself motivated to study I have found.

By which, I mean, left to my own devices, I just don't. But that might just be me.

You're not unreasonable at all, and if you can afford the fees then go ahead and do it. Even if your find out it's not for you, at least your tried, and if you love it you'll have a degree!

A friend of mine started an OU degree last year after much debate (years of it!). She loves it and I've never seen her so fulfilled. She has a full time job, huge caring responsibilities for her mother, and two chronic conditions. It's perfectly do-able.

You can either be mid 40s with a degree or mid 40s without. The time will pass either way.

I say go for it. A degree doesn't have to be for job prospects.

I loved studying with the OU but you need a lot of self discipline to stay on track.
They do free taster courses or entry courses that are shorter. Maybe try one first to see if you like it and can make yourself put the hours in? I have had a good experience so far, but it can be challenging. Good luck!

I'm currently studying with the OU. I thoroughly enjoy it but you do need discipline when it comes to doing the work. As pp said, try openlearn first. Loads of different free short courses on there, similar learning style to the OU. Let me know if you need any info 🙂

You don't necessarily have to do all 6 years straight after each other. Very well regarded degrees, but agree with pps, lots of self-discipline required!

Try something free on OpenLearn. If you can stick with that, you should be able to manage the degree.

See if your semester at uni or any other CPD work gives you extra credit towards the OU. I failed my first year of a BSc but got 110 credits worth of points towards my OU degree and that meant four years plus a short course instead of six years of part time study. It is very doable- I managed to have a life threatening illness and a divorce and a marriage in my time of studying! 😂😂😂

I'm in my second year of doing Psychology with the OU and will be 44 when I finish. I'm really enjoying it, although you do need to be dedicated as it would be easy to fall behind.

I will say that the first year was Sociology and I hated it, 5 weeks into year 2 and it's so much better.

I have thought about doing an OU degree but I was put off by the debt as I could only afford to do it with a loan. I know they say you only have to pay back if you get a salary above a certain level, but I was concerned that debt could affect my family finances or they might change the rules on repayments. I felt it might be worth the risk if it had a great chance of improving my career but if I studied for interest finishing in my late 40s it may not lead to anything.

You do individual modules. So if you really feel you can't continue, you can stop at the end of each module. You've then not completed the whole degree but can get credit for the bits you've done.
You can even stop in the middle of a module if you need to, but you wouldn't get any credit for that module.

So go for it! You might find you only do one module and hate it, but if so you'll know it wasn't for you. You'll just keep wondering "what if?" otherwise.

@slashlover I hate sociology lol. I liked it as GCSE, quit it after a year of A level and was studying it when I started my previous degree (I won't get any credit, I wasn't there long enough and didn't do any exams). There are 2 choices for the first module with psychology and one is about childhood development which sounds really interesting so I could do that rather than the sociology one.

I left uni as I was scared of the debt. OU would mean 17k of debt but you don't repay until yoy earn over 25k, which I won't as I probably won't ever be able to work full time, and the repayments are tiny, £15 a month if on 27k I think. And comes out before tax.

I like that you can do a module and pick it up later so if I hate it it's not the end of the world.

Sociology wasn't a thing when I was at school. DD102 is the one I did.

I have to admit some of the EMAs were terrible for me trying to get the correct word count. First TMA done for this year but result not back yet. You don't have to sign up for the whole six years at once. I can print off my study record showing my first year passed.

They suggest 17 hours per week but I don't usually spend that much time. It can be 12-14 depending on what I'm doing that week.

@whyamisocold I also started with a child development course as I figured I’d be interested in the subject matter and enjoy the material. So that’s a good plan.

If you are doing it for interest and almost certainly not for a career then why not choose the pick your own modules option. That way you can study what interests you most.

I did look at that option but would prefer to have a 'proper' degree. Psychology is also accredited by the British Psychology Society and if I did want to take it further or do something with it, I'd have that option. I was interested in Criminology and Psychology but the modules aren't as interesting and it isn't recognised by the BPS.

I absolutely loved studying with the ou and recommend it to everyone. I've studied at conventional universities too (studying is something of a hobby for me) and it is by far my favourite.
Go for it. They are very very supportive and the tuition is second to none.

I'm currently studying with the OU
I work part time, volunteer, have a family and also have a horrible chronic illness

I'm coping better than I expected to and really enjoying it

Do it op, just give it a go

@zenas, that's great that someone in a similar situation is coping with it and enjoying it.

I just wish I wasn't so indecisive!

Definitely not unreasonable! I started my degree last month. It's bloody hard getting in the hours but I'm really enjoying it and I'm enjoying having something that is for me, and that's been my driving factor in actually finally signing up to it. They are very supportive of life circumstances from what I see and whilst I don't know if its true for all of the first modules in a degree it seems that a lot have slightly reduced hours at first and build up to the full 16, which I've found very helpful as the study pattern I thought I would have if very different to what I do and that leeway had given me a chance to change things around without falling behind so early on.

I work 3 long days, I have DD just 2 and am due number 2 just before I start my next module in April. DH is very supportive as well though and he tackles DD in the morning so that I can get up early and study.

You could try the Access course (run by the OU) 'People, Work and Society'. Psychology is one of the subjects covered. They last about 8 months and this would give you the chance to see how you could manage study with your other commitments.

Also, let the OU know of your additional requirements.