OU vs traditional uni?

[WishYouWereMine]

Have done 2 years (and a year abroad) at a redbrick 3 hours away from home.

I'm expecting my first baby in November. Obviously I can't go back to my uni, so I'm faced with the option of either transferring to the local uni (good reputation but not that local at at least half an hour away) or finishing with the OU.

To be honest, I'd rather go with the OU, I think it would be much easier, no timewasting in getting to uni every day etc, trying to arrange childcare, having to deal with my emotions in leaving my tiny baby!

What I'm worried about is... is the OU as 'respected' as a traditional uni?

My family would rather I finished with a 'proper' uni. I fully intend to do further study when I have my degree, so as long as the OU degree enables me to get on to that course, I'm not bothered.

Help!

I don't know whether it's just put about by the OU and its students but 'they' say employers think highly of the OU because it shows the person's motivated and organised to have done most of the work on their own, and are doing it on top of living their normal life.

I did my degree with the OU and was two years into a masters when I found out I was pregnant with DD2.

I had DD1 at the tail end of doing my degree and really underestimated the time that goes into looking after a baby and how much the OU takes up, so I'm only just going back to it in November now DD2's a little older.

Babies are just so intense and suck you in completely, everything you thought was important beforehand just pales into the background compared to their gorgeousness

Sorry for the long post I think what I'm trying to say is that I didn't want to begrudge giving DD2 or the OU the time they needed, if that makes sense?

IIRC you're doing a language. How will you cope with the compulsory residentials?

Honestly I would transfer, take a year out and finish at a traditional Uni. I find the OU much tougher than my first redbrick degree. I have no idea how to cope with my current course and tiny DS - assignment due in 10 days and not yet started.

TBH I don't think it matters where as much as what you studied and what else you bring to an employer in terms of work and life experience.

I agree with AgentZigZag though, even with DC3 I underestimated how much time and energy she would need. She was born in June and I had planned to return to uni in the October after, I decided to defer for a year and on reflection that was the right choice. Couldn't have done baby or uni justice when she was so small.

hi, my daughter got pregnant in her 2nd year at uni. After much thought/deliberation on how to continue her degree, she took a gap year, came home, then went back. She is just finishing her degree now, baby has attended uni nursery..a good choice and i'm very proud of her!