Ou courses; anyone done more than 60 points a year?

[ETsmum]

Have just done my exam for U212 (Childhood.) Doing the 60 points in the year was ok, exam was quite vile but that's beside the point

Just wondering if anyone here has done say 90 points of OU in a year and how you found it juggling the 2 (or more!) courses. Just if I do 2 next year (and it has to be next year for financial reasons) I could finish my degree in 2 years It would be 60 points at level 3 (Personal Lives and Social Policy) and 30 at level 2, probably Biological Psychology.

Any experiences of this amount of study (or either of these courses) very welcome please.

Sorry, can't answer your question.
But could you tell me how many hrs a week study you did for 60 points?
I think OU guidelines are that's 16 hrs study per wk for 9 months. I don't really have that much time, but I didn't do very many hrs study when I was a "full-time" student, and got through very well
I'm looking at possibly doing an MA in education - 60 pts per yr for 3 yrs.

Hi Roisin. Yes think your right with the OU guidelines for 60 points. From Feb to Oct I think I must have done no more than about 10 hrs p/w tho. BUT my "secret" plan was that I bought the books for my course 2nd hand way before the OU provided them so I started a good couple of months before the official course starting date. This worked really well for me, so then I wasn't always feeling like I was running behind, and could take the odd eve off to spend with ds etc when I wanted. I have already got the books for my level 3 (bought) and that's why I'm toying with another course. Although I'm enforcing a 6 week break, just to catch up on things I "want" to do

Oh and good luck if you go for the MA

am doing this from feb, I think

have finished a 60 pt course this year (discoverinf science) and honestly, given it was basically science A level and old S level (IMO-level 1 course) it was not too bad. I put in around 8 hrs a week average, I'd say.

Can you defer part way throgh the course if needbe?

Last year I tried to do two courses as well as a job and it was al too much really. I think it depends on the course I found with my psychology I was working more than the 16 hours a week but I was trying to get as first, from talking to people who have done 2 courses they ahve had to settle for lower grade.

Thanks Filly and Twinset for your input

Filly I did Discovewring Science a few years back and found it ok too. What courses are you planing on from Feb provisionally? And I don't think I can defer....think my only option would be to cancel one of the courses before the start date, or I loose all my money. Money is one of my incentives to do 2 next year really.....I live in Guernsey in the Channel Islands and from '08 we are going to be classed as "overseas." so the fees will at least double.

And Twinset, point noted I'm essentially a SAHM at the moment and only have 3 yo ds, so Im lucky in that I do have the time if I apply myself. ds starts school next Sept, hence the thought that I might have to be looking for work in a year-18 months, and therefore not have enough time on my hands to attempt this combination in '08. For good or bad, Im not aimning on a first.....would like a good enough degree iykwim, but I'm not "first class" material For eg I managed a levl 2 in my assignments for my childhood course, I'll be rwally chuffed if the exam matches this, but fearing a level 3.

thanks ETsmum - great tips.
Any tips for getting hold of texts second-hand?

Roisin - I've had some luck on ebay and also found here (please excuse me if this doesn't work - link virgin!) Also recently found out that the OU do a "lending library", which is great if you are trying to choose a course and can't get to a centre where they keep all the books. They will only lend a sample of 1 cours at at time, and I think you can kep the materials for a month. For a 60 point course they sent me a couple of the books and some associated bits and bobs to look at - a big help. Returning the books are also free (OMG, I'm starting to sound like an OU advert!)

Out of interest what is your BA/BSC in and did you study a long time ago?

Roisin - I've had some luck on ebay and also found here (please excuse me if this doesn't work - link virgin!) Also recently found out that the OU do a "lending library", which is great if you are trying to choose a course and can't get to a centre where they keep all the books. They will only lend a sample of 1 cours at at time, and I think you can kep the materials for a month. For a 60 point course they sent me a couple of the books and some associated bits and bobs to look at - a big help. Returning the books are also free (OMG, I'm starting to sound like an OU advert!)

Out of interest what is your BA/BSC in and did you study a long time ago?

So I was so excited my link work I posted it twice - oops!

My BA is in German, and yes it was quite some time back! I now work in secondary school and wanted to do some 'academic study' relating to my work. Everything I came across as a possibility was at a very basic level (NVQ 2 etc.), then I found this. I haven't committed to it yet: I need to find out if school will make a contribution towards the fees. But I am a bit apprehensive that it might be a bit too full-on academia for my blood. So I'm prevaricating at the moment.

ah don't do yourself down with "not first class honours material"

I got a first in my first degree. you could have knocked me over with a feather. believe me, its a rare person who thinks "oh yes, I'm the sort to get a first"

work very hard and you might get one, if thats what you want. or have a life instead

Ok. I'm going to be doing 90 pts next year, which will be 2 level 1 maths and 1 level 2 maths courses. oh and am also doing a 10 credit chemistry course. And am SAHM with a 3 yo and a 1 yo and no childcare at all. Am nuts, yes, but its that or physics and i cant do physics this yr cos i cant dso the residential school. Also-its fun! And dp has to take the kids while I do it

did bio psych as part of my first degree-i loved it!
what are you planning to do, btw?

I say go for it!

Hi ETsmum

I'm doing 120 points this year, although the start dates are staggered (just started one - DD201, start the next - D318 - at the end of Jan) which makes it slightly more manageable. It really does depend on how much time you have available for study I think, and the OU time guidelines vary hugely from person to person.

Personal Lives and Social Policy is on my wish list for next year - looks like a great course

Good luck!

see as far as i can work out, 120 credits is actually equivalent to 1 yr of undergrad study

its not straightforward cos, IMO, level 1 courses are equivalent to A level, sometimes GCSE-yet apparently the level 3 courses are equivalent to a3rd yr degree course, so you're going to be covering more ground...but I'd have though 90 credits would be doable if you've got a fair bit of time on your hands.

Roisin - BA in German must have been a tough one. Mind you, I'm very much a sciency/social studies type of person it seems. I'd love to be good at a language (other than English that is!) Good luck with your decision re the MA. I haven't ever been a "traditional" full time student, but I must admit that I find doing courses with the OU almost enjoyable. I think that studying when you WANT to do it is probably a lot more productive that just doing it because everyone else is

Filly - you are brave and slightly nuts taking all of tht on with 2 lo's But I must admit one of the reasons I like studying is that dh has to look after ds. Luckily though he's incredibly supportive or it would be SO much harder.

Good luck wityh the maths courses. I thought I was going to do a very "mathsy" degree, but after MU120 I thought I can't stand any more maths, hence the science and other courses I've done. Thanks for letting me know you found the biological psychology good in your 1st degree - what was your 1st degree in then?

Re what I'm going to do....hmmmm Well, hopefully get a Bsc (open) with Honours, then POSSIBLY a PGCE. Really not sure, which sounds terrible doesn't it? I do know that potential employers will look favourably on the independent study though, so I'm hoping from this angle the study will help me whichever duirection I decide to take.

Re working hard vs hving a life I tend to work quite hard but try to have a life too. Had PND after I had ds, and now I'm feeling better working hard on getting my "life balance" right if you know what I mean?

And yes, I think your right re the 120 points being 1 yr f/t undergrad study. I also think though that 30 points don't seem to be half of a 60 point course iykwim? More like half plus anouther good dollop thrown in just to keep you on your toes

Molesworth: Thanks for the good luck Yes, staggering looks good and if I'd planned better I might have done this.......in fact if I was to be a real glutton for punishment, I guess I could find a level 3 starting next Nov and finish my degree by mid '08! As it is I KNOW I need a few weeks off now, just to catch up on things, so the study'll have to wait. D318 was one I've been mulling over - hope you enjoy it (although see it's only a Feb start...)

So, think I'm taking the plunge and going for the Biological Psychology at level 2 as well

Please can I just draw your attention to my wanted ad? Open Uni Biological Psychology books please