Some OU questions

[Magneto]

I have posted in Further Education and was pointed in this direction so I'm going to ask you lovely people too!

I'm looking at starting a degree with the OU (on top of working full time, looking after a toddler and with a soon to be student dh to support - I must be mad!).

I have been considering doing an openings course to get me started but can't decide if I would need to. (full thread here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/1433218-Couple-of-OU-questions?msgid=30738995#30738995)

I am also having some difficulty deciding which degree to do. I'm leaning towards History (Broad or Classical) or Humanities with history or French. I have ordered a prospectus but don't know when it will turn up. If anyone has any experience of these courses it would be appreciated .

Thanks

I've been with the OU for nearly three years now how has that happened and it's well worth it, but make sure you have enough time.

Materials are really good quality and you get a lot if support. It's fab.

I did two openings courses, because I was interested in the subject, and hadn't studied for 25 years, so wasn't very confident. They really helped in that respect.

However, if you are in England (fees issues) and don't need the confidence boost an openings course will give you, I'd dive right in. Some people are doing the level 2 course I'm on now (DSE212) as their first. I couldn't have personally, but they seem to be coping.

You could have a look at some of the Openlearn materials which you can access free of charge online, to give you a taster, and have a really good trawl through the OU website. It's probably better than waiting for a prospectus, because you can put whole degrees together etc.

this link will take you to the openlearn history pages

Enjoy, whatever you do. It is the best thing I've done in my whole life (apart from the DCs)

Those open learn things are a really good idea.

If you have previously studied your chosen subject beyond A level, then you should be ok.

But working full time, having a toddler and studying would be beyond me.

A 60 point course which takes me from 6-18 hours a week. There aren't many weeks off (for instance at Christmas).

Hats off to ya if you can handle it.