Anyone currently studying for a science degree with the OU?

[lazarou]

Which level are you on? Any experience of the residential schools?

Anybody? No? Dust?

Sorry, can't help with the OU, but have you tried posting this in 'Student Parents'? You might get a few more answers there, hopefully.

ok, will do. Thanks.

no experience of the OU, but i am doing a regular full-time science degree so I can talk about that with you!

Where are you doing your degree gemmie?

Teesside uni, near to where I live.
I am doing Applied Biology but there is lots of chemistry and some forensics and food and health stuff too. I've just finished my first year and have two more to go!

What does your course entail?

I've only just started. I've just finished a short course to brush up my science skills and maths. I've just started a course called understanding human nutrition. I want to do a life sciences degree and basically all these courses have points that you add together to et the degree. There are four residential schools all far away from where I live that I have to do during hte course of my studies. They are only a week at a time but it's still daunting. I'm really interested in Human Biology and Health, that's why I'm doing it. Oh, and also to improve my prospects. What line of work are you interested in once you graduate?

I originally wanted to go into nutrition but since doing my course i have become really involved with the lab work and i could really see myself in the research side of things. Who knows, i'll probably change my mind a dozen times before its over!

are the residential schools an opportunity to do practical work or more a chance to meet other students and share ideas etc?

it sounds really interesting but obviously daunting if you have kids and have to be away from home - how old are your dcs?

They are 2 and 3, but my parents and dh are all for mwe going away when I need to.
I used to work in a lab, I suppose that's what got me interested in science again. Also I hada dreadful interview for another lab job not so long ago. I had to do a maths test, and I really struggled. I would love to work for a vompany that maybe produced scientific literarure, or maybe work for a skincare company in one of their labs. I'm a qualified beauty therapist so working in that industry again-at a higher level-would be good. Forensics sounds really interesting. Hsve you had to cut up a dead body yet?

we have a visit to a cadaver lab at the uni but its more for observation than actual , slicing!
We do have a genuine skeleton that sits in on some lecture tho!
i am more into the microbiology side of it tbh. I like the intricate work.

I think you are really courageous to study with 2 under 3s. I didn't start until my ds was at school. It sounds like you have a good support system, though.

I must admit, I don't know much about the OU. Why did you choose OU study rather than a traditional university course? Does it allow you to be super-flexible?

Hi

I am just finishing S103 and am going on the residential school in Brighton this summer. Tbh I am a bit fed up with it already and don't want to go to Brighton, but hey ho!

I haven't found it too difficult, but some people have really struggled with the maths. It was not my first OU course though and I have already done quite a few maths courses so I thought that the maths was fairly straightforward. If you haven't done any maths for a while, I would recommend MU120 or MST 121 if you are okay at maths. It really helps and you can use it for your "any course at level 1" part of the degree.

Not currently studying atm but have done level 2 and 3 before DCs came along as well as traditional universoty beforehand. OU was much harder for me.

universoty university (see, they'll let anyone in these days! )

Going to university isn't possible for me because my mum would have to look after the kids, and they would wear her out!
Figroll, s103 is now s104, which is what I plan to start in october. I've only heard good things about the residential schools, so I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Hard work though! ISn't it 6 days 9am til 9pm?!
I'm finding the owrk really enjoyable, but it's so hard to get motivated in the evening to study. ONce I get into it though I really enjoy it.
I found maths and science really dull at school, but now it's great. It also seems a lot less complicated, especially the maths.