Anyone else starting an OU degree this autumn?

[MrsHuxtable]

If all works out with my financial support application, I will be starting a Psychology degree with the OU in October.

I'm really looking forward to it but am also a little worried how I'll cope having a baby DD and studying.

Is anyone else starting soon? Would be nice if we could have a little support thread on here.

Which module are you doing?

I'm starting with SDK125 Introducing the health sciences and then in February, I'll start DSE141 Discovering psychology.

Are you studying with the OU as well?

yes, i'm half way through a childhood and youth degree. i have recently finished dse141 - its a really enjoyable course - i may be biased as i got a distinction!

am starting dse232 in september, sk124 in november, which are 15 credits and then restarting ed209 in february which i had to drop out of for all sorts of reasons not related to the course.

if you have a good tutor the OU is fab, particularly as you can fit the work around your schedule. many of us work or have other responsibilities and you get used to juggling, and if you are anything like me no doubt we will meet on the procrastination threads which become very popular when TMAs are due.

Yes I am!! Starting AA100 module in October - the beginning of my English Literature degree hopefullY!! Very excited

Hi I am in my third year studying psychology -currently on DD209, developmental psychology. Have one more year to go. Started when DD3 was a few months old.

Be pragmatic, accept that sometimes you won't do your best as the are do many demands on you, keep looking at the big picture and ticking off those TMAs and you will get there.

I did AA100 last year, and am going to do A200 and L192 in the autumn

Thanks, very good advice aboutlastnight

How did you find AA100 cazboldy?

I'm starting AA100 in the autumn too.

I did SDK125 in 2010/11 and really enjoyed it. I've got 3 wee boys ranging from 8mo to 4.5y and it isn't easy but can be done. The biggest problem I have is motivation (especially around the middle of a course) and finding time to study. I'm doing level 3 now (SD329) and finding it hard but we've had a very difficult year with the baby being ill and think if that hadn't happened it would've been ok.

My best advice would be to get stuck in as soon as you get the course materials. If you get a good head start then it helps later on when motivation problems set in and also allows you to have time off for things like Christmas without panicking afterwards. Facebook groups for each course can also be very helpful.

Good luck!

Parts of it very interesting - other parts not so much..... just go into it with an open mind and you might be surprised with some of the things you enjoy.

I started it with a view to doing an Eng Lit/Lang degree, but have swapped to doing a history one!

I've got 2 more years of a history degree to do with the OU

look forward to it chipmunksex

I am starting a History degree in October, starting with AA100. I left school about 5 years ago and financial circumstances meant I couldn't go to uni so I'm hoping I can make up for it now. Although, managing a full time job, a 2 year old plus the housework etc as well as studying will be a challenge.

I hope I can do it. I will be the first in my family to go to uni (even if it is the OU).

I feel like I should be heading to WH Smiths for the obligatory new school term pencil case, pens, folders etc. I used to love doing that when I was a child!

When I say "even if is the OU" I don't mean that it's not as good as a conventional uni by the way, just that as it's not conventional certain people don't see it as "proper" uni (especially in my family anyway).

Just thought I'd clear that up!!!

Ooh MrsHuxtable, me too!! I'm starting with Introducing the Social Sciences Part 1 in October and then Discovering Psychology in February.

I've got three children aged 13, 11 and 9 and work part-time - have everything crossed that I can manage it all. I signed up originally when my first was a baby but I got cold feet and pulled out. REALLY wish I'd stuck at it, even if just doing one module a year - I'd have a degree by now!

I'm just waiting for my loan form to fill in, then it's all systems go.

TheHeirOfSlytherin, I hadn't even twigged that this was an ideal stationery purchasing opportunity - deep joy!

I am just about to go into my third year with the Open university. I have a 6 yr old and work as well. It is very hard work but it is also so rewarding and so worth it.

Another one for A100 here
I finished Y180 earlier this year.
Scared but excited

Oooh enjoy! I finished a psychology degree with them last year and loved it! What will you do with it,do you know?

For me, I'm hoping it will help me get back into market research which was my job pre children...

And of course many congratulations! How long did it take you? Are you using it in your job now?

4 years in total, but I made sure with the level 3 courses I only did one a year. It is very hard to do them the same year and get a good grade as they are completely different approaches.

I loved it. I intended to try and retrain as a psychologist but we moved away from a training university. I also then fell pregnant! I expect I will return to teaching and teach 6th formers but I'm open to other ideas at the moment too.

Ohhh, this thread has really moved on. I'm glad to see it!!!
Sorry for my absence. I'm on holiday at the moment so am not posting much. I think my application has progressed as wehn I now click on my chosen module on the StudentHome page, it says "Your payment is being processed". I'm not getting ahead of myself but I think that means I got a fee grant. So excited.

Chipmunksex No, the modules are only 30 points each, so during the overlap, I'd be studying 60 at the same time. I'm only doing the overlap because my funding will be for one year for now so while I want to take it slow because of my other commitments, I still want to get a decent amount of points done while it's free iykwim.

toomuchpizza I'm glad to hear you enjoyed SDK125. You must be so organised with 3 children!!!

goldenticket I'm sooooo excited to hear you're doing the same course and soon even the same module. I really hope we can stay in touch on here!

I'm not sure what I'm going to do once I finish this degree.
I was studying before at uni, English and German but dropped out right at the end before my dissertation for quite complicated reasons but it wasn't what I wanted so I'm fine with that decision now (eventhough loads of people still think it makes me a failure )!
So this is all the more important to me as it's what I have chosen and I really want to have a degree to my name. I'm in a great place right now, so very positive about this. I know, realistically, it will take me quite a while. We also want to have a second DC within the next 2 years.

It's such an inspiration though to see how many of you on here are managing to study while raising a family and sometimes holding down a job as well.

A, so excited about this now......

Hello MrsHuxtable! That's good news about your funding - I've only just applied for my loan, so am anxiously waiting now for them to process it in time.

I'm a very occasional visitor to MN these days but would love to stay in touch via this thread

I do feel irrationally excited about starting this degree - not going to uni has always felt like unfinished business to me, so am really looking forward to getting stuck in and proving I can do it (I hope...).