Online degree vs traditional degree?

[CAG2003]

I am considering doing a uni degree.
i am still weighing up wether it would be worth it in the long run financially but I wondered what people may do in my position?

• I’m 24
• i would like to study psychology. I have a strong interest in it and feel it would benefit me in terms of things i could see myself doing in the future, some of these things would require a degree- others wouldn’t but knowledge in psychology would still be a plus.
• I have ADHD and really struggle to listen in lectures etc, i actually went to uni for a few months but this combined with the fact my heart was elsewhere lead to me dropping out.
• I got pretty decent A Level grades (would give me the ability to apply to most Russel group courses).

My main dilemma is that I don’t think the structure of uni is suited to me. I got good grades at school because I taught myself everything- I ended up getting pretty burned out but there was little enough content to do this. At uni I would attend all compulsory lectures etc and there wasn’t enough time around that to teach myself the huge amount of content especially as I tend to do things slightly… last minute😂 As a result I have been considering online uni degrees. I think the fact I could learn sat my own pace etc could really help me. However there is a small part of me (I don’t mean to come across arrogant here) that says you worked so hard to get good alevel results you’d be an idiot to not go to a uni that reflects that. What are people’s views on an online uni degree? Has any one got one? Any insight into how they are perceived in the real world? or any advice for what you may do in my position? thanks in advance

I did my degree with the Open University, and loved that way of learning. I'm very motivated, and good at managing my time. I also liked being able to do things 'faster' than the recommended speed. It worked well round my young family, too.

DH did his Masters with OU, he basically did it on the train as he commuted to London from the SE, it was a very good use of time.

Now in Aus DS1 did a Bachelors in cyber security with a University that had a great reputation for offering online courses well before COVID. They do also offer F2F so I don’t think anyone’s ever asked him which mode he did. He is dyslexic and has confidence issues around that (even now 10 years into his career he is reluctant to let people know why his spelling is shit and of course tech has been his friend). I would also put money on his having ADHD like his younger brother but he has never had a diagnosis. I guess you need to work out what you want, do you want the “Uni experience” or do you want the degree to set you up for a career. Only you can decide that.

I got my Masters degree with the OU. The advantages are that it is much cheaper than a uni degree and the materials are excellent. Possible disadvantages are missing out on the social aspects of uni and employers not rating an OU degree as highly as one from a first tier university.