To think an OU degree is not worthless?

[petitmaman]

Went out last night and got talking to a friend f a friend. I am doing an OU degree at the MOment as I cant work. He said that 'OU degrees are for people that sit at home saying they want to use their brains, they arent actually worth anything' was he talking crap or is this true? i thought they were thought quite well of in that it shows that you have the motivation to do something off your own back, or have i been foolong my self? i am doing a degree in childhood and youth studies and want to go into social work /teaching. am quite worried now but please be honest. TIA

He was talking rubbish. OU degrees are well respected by most employers for the reasons already stated. It shows extreme self motivation for a start. I am studying with the OU and have study at brick uni (didn't complete that degree though) and the OU stuff and tuition is much better. I know several people with excellent careers that have OU degrees. My DD's teacher got her Maths degree with the OU. She is highly respected and has just been promoted to head of department. Keep at it, ignore the guy, he is probably jealous or just a miserable loon that slates everything.

Yay, maths degree from OU is job worthy. Thanks for that jelly

Apparently in Exeter uni female toilets someone had graffitied 'Sociology degree, please take one' above the toilet roll holder! Before all the MNetters with sociology degrees descend on me, my point is that there are many qualifications which are erroneously undervalued by others. I agree that an OU degree is highly regarded by employers because it shows determination and not being afraid of hard work.

I have an OU BSc(Hons), a PGCE from a 'conventional' uni, and an OU MEd. I had no difficulty getting my teacher training place with my OU degree, and the MEd helped me to gain a promotion to a senior leadership post in a new school.

Don't be put off, petitmaman!

I was told by my OU lecturer that OU degrees are regarded very well and that the OU is consistently in the top 5 league table of UK universities Apparantly becuase in the past it wasn't taken terribly seriously, the OU have a policy of marking everything up by 5 marks i.e, to get an OU A grade you need to get 5 marks more than if you were studying according to a standard university marking schedule. (not totally sure how this works, but basically the OU have stricter and harder grading schedules, precisely becuase they used to have a reputation as being an easy option). So actually it is harder to get an OU degree, not just in terms of grading, but the sheer tenacity needed to complete the thing. I'm doing one at the moment, as a single parent with DS1 and DD3 and it is bloody hard! Your friend is an idiot, and massively insulting your intelligence!

Phew OP my first reaction then at your friends comments I have just finished my OU diploma and hope to top it up to an honors degree in a couple of your with 4 more courses. I am glad I am not wasting my time with a 'worthless' degree.
I studdied for 2 years at a conventional well respected brick uni and I can honestly I never worked as hard there as I have over the past 4 years doing OU courses.