Do I need a degree?!

[DoIReallyNeedToDoThis]

Signed up when DD was little to do a degree, mainly because in my field they tend to be expected. That said I’ve climbed the ladder without issues with just professional quals. But figured learning is good and an Open Degree with the PU lets me pick subjects that enrich and enhance my chosen career. I completed the second year in 2014.

2026 (completion date) always felt ages away, but with 3 years to go and 2 more years of study needed I decided to sign back up in Sept. It’s been a nightmare. I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD and have struggled so much with everything now being online. At the same time work has been mental and I’ve been working 70-90 hour weeks since Sept.

I begged for textbooks for weeks, as the info just doesn’t go in when it’s on a screen. They arrived on Weds this week and it’s so much better being able to scribble on paper. I have an assignment due in at midnight tomorrow and am trying to cram 100 hours of study into today.

I’ve just been offered a new job with a massive salary (despite no degree) and I think at this point I’m
just making life difficult for no real reason.

I can defer and start the course again next year. Or quit completely. Or submit something so much worse than I am capable of and feel like shit if I get a crap mark. Who knows how much harder the next assignment will be.

So, I guess this is a AIBU to stop? What would you do?

Is there a Word version in resources > downloads?

On the module website I mean.

The word version is exactly what I said. Has embedded videos and links in it. It’s a copy of what’s on the website rather than a word document.

they have sent me it all printed. There’s no difference with the word or PDF downloads.

I completed my OU degree in 2013, the days when a huge exciting box of resources would arrive at the start of a module and you had to watch DVDs and listen to CDs. I can well imagine how much it's changed in the ten years since as I work in EdTech now.

I don't see how you need this degree with how far you have got. Can you not just step off with a DipHE? There is no shame in it. If you want to study in the future you can either get sent on a management course as PP suggested, or likely step straight on to a relevant masters with your professional experience combined with a DipHe. You'll have to explain the ten year gap regardless.

I know exactly how you feel, the last year of, well the last few months of my degree actually, fell at the start of Covid. I was suddenly at home with my two disabled children trying to complete assignments while attempting to homeschool and care for them full time without the break of the school day anymore and I was utterly overwhelmed.

I genuinely considered throwing in the towel, my son worsened so much during that time it was frightening and my daughter does not do well at school/academically anyway so trying to get her to do anything work wise was horrendous. I actually remember one evening at my laptop bitterly sobbing like I never have before and my husband peeling my hands from the keyboard and just putting me in bed. We have no family support whatsoever so life can be very hard.

Somehow, I actually managed to complete what I needed to and finished my degree but it was a bloody hard struggle. I am so so glad I did it and I am so proud of myself for getting to the end. I am happy I continued with it but I know I would have also felt a huge relief to just stop too. It’s a hard decision. I think I would have always regretted not powering through those last months though.

I was not in the position of having a decent job change like you are where you having the degree may not make much of a difference so I didn’t have that decision to make.
Do you feel the degree and stress that accompanies it is worth carrying on with? You have already completed two years of it so it does seem a shame to throw all that away.

I totally understand the overwhelming stress of the situation op, it is hard.

I think take the extension, submit it and then reconsider.

I did an OU degree and most modules were hard copy resources. One was completely online and set up like yours sounds - I loathed it. Also ended up printing out everything on to paper and avoided as much of the other media as possible. My brain doesn't work that way either. Just give me bullet points!

You need the version from disability services

That’s what I have.