OU Mathematics Degree

[southwestlife]

I am considering applying to study a Mathematics Degree with the OU.
I am having a bit of a wobble to whether I am doing the right thing. It’s been sometime since I have studied Maths (GCSE Level, but use Maths everyday but only at a Key Stage 2 Level as a Teaching Assistant).
I am currently working through the Open learn courses suggested by the OU, with the view to start on the default 6 year part time route.
Please share your experience on whether I am about to make a good or ridiculous leap of faith!

1. it was fun and interesting and stretched my brain beyond all reasonable limits. Very expensive.
2. expensive.
3. time consuming and expensive. It this was in the days of having to stay up late to watch lectures on bbc 2 at 2am (no video recorders then).
4. Never used any of it again - time consuming and horrendously expensive. A bit like buying a George Foreman grill. Used once and now in the recesses of a cupboard.
5. did I mention expensive??? Make sure you do the math on having time available to do the course and any summer courses and money to pay for it.

But, if you want to do it - do it!!! Everyone’s experience is different so don’t be swayed by anyone else’s opinion.

I really struggled. The first course MU123 was really easy then MST124 was insanely hard and the workload was really high for a 30-credit course intended for part-time study. I ended up withdrawing from it in the end because I couldn't keep up with it.

Also as PP said, it's expensive, especially for a distance degree with minimal support or contact hours, and prices just went up again. They seem to think they can just price higher and higher because so many people can get student loans now, but that's not really thinking long-term because even if you qualify for a loan, it's still money you have to repay at some point. And if you don't qualify for a loan (or if the OU cocks up your entitlement which they did with mine) then you've got to find the money to complete something before your credits time out. City University London also do distance degrees now with a decent modular structure. Also the "advice" I got from the OU when I had problems was appalling. I just wouldn't recommend the OU compared to other options now.

What's your career goal? Maths teacher specifically, or something else?

I did it in the days when it wasn’t too expensive.

i became a maths teacher.

i enjoyed it but the level 3 modules were hard work.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2I have studied through the OU previously which was funded by my Employer, so have experience of how it all works and the frustrations of tutorials (and some tutors!).
I am studying to support my son through his education and also with the view to tutoring in the future.

@Sesquioxidesthis is my main concern and wondering if I am setting myself up to fail. Also I’m wondering how we are supposed to manage MST124 and MST125 at the same time!

I am finding with a tuition fee loan for a second degree.

*funding