Anyone currently studying for a science degree with the OU?

[lazarou]

Posted this in further ed as well, but anyone doing a science degree? What level are you on and have you done any residential schools?

Not sure if this counts, but I'm on level three of a maths degree with the OU and no I haven't been on a residential school yet. The only one i need to go on was linked to my course last year and I'm planning on doing it in my last year of study.

I was quite tempted to do a maths degree. How have you found the course?

I've really enjoyed it. But this is my first year of level three and I'm finding it more tricky. Partly because the work is harder but I'm also doing 2 30 point courses instead of 1 60 point course so there's more juggling of time involved.
I would definitely recommend it. The resources are excellent and my tutors have been superb. This year especially, they are really supportive. My dh has just started an MBA so I really struggle to get to any day schools, but my tutors always send on the extra handouts and exercise sheets so I don't miss anything.

I've just finsihed a short course and I'm just starting another one. I'm really enjoying studying again. I appreciate it more now I have kids.

There are four residential schools with the life sciences degree! A bit daunting but I think I would enjoy myself, especially as everyone else will be in the same boat.

Hi Capri. I've just finished science starts here, and now I'm doing understanding human nutrition. I'm doing s104 in october as well. Will you be doing a geosciences degree then?

I'm doing a short course at the moment (well still waiting for the stuff to arrive) and hopefully exploring science in september, haven't heard about the funding yet.

Where did you get the samples from caprica? if you don't mind me asking.

havalina, which one are you doing?

I agree, six years does seem a long time, but what an achievement.
My first thought was to get a certificate, then a diploma, and then go for the full degree. It doesn't look quite so daunting when you think of it that way.

I feel the same. I did go to uni for about six months but I really didn't enjoy it, plus I was really homesick!
Sometimes I wish I had gone to a differnt uni and done a different course, but if I had I wouldn't be where I am now. Getting married and having children has made me more appreciative of education and life in general.
I really want to do a degree now, and the subject matter is the complete opposite to what I wanted to do many years ago.

Thanks caprica, I'm doing molecules, medicines and drugs as a short course and exploring science in september, my sister is also doing es, so there should be a few of us to confer . I don't know if I'll go for the whole hog at open uni, hoping to go to brick uni next september but not sure which subject to do.

I have done science before (really all I've done), had a couple of stop/start goes at uni when I was younger but life intervened. I always go for science for some reason, probably because I was good at it at school, and I don't really do well with wishy/washyness lol.

what degrees are you all hoping for? Or more what areas of science are you wanting to study?

And much respect to the people doing maths degrees, A-level maths was hard enough, my brain aches at even the thought of it at degree level.

Have you applied for financial help? I rang them the other day and they said they would send a form out but it hasn't arrived yet.

For the short courses you can apply online for financial help. With the longer courses you need to phone them up and tell them you want to register and apply for help. They should send you forms out, apparently, mine aren't here yet.

The earlier the better apparently, probably because it takes a while for the forms to be processed.

Hi Lazarou, just wanted to say hi because I am doing the understanding human nutrition course too. Started in Feb and finishing in july. How are you finding it? I enjoy it but found the chemistry units hard going [brain ache smiley]

I completed S103 Discovering Science, which will become S104 Exploring Science as of September -it's a great course, I'm sure you'll enjoy it

hi Lazarou, I am currently working towards a degree in natural sciences. I would have liked to have done life sciences but there are a few too many residential courses for me. I have done S103 level 1 (Discovering science) then DSE212 (psychology) level 2 and am about to give an exam for SK277 human biology (level 2) in july. I will be doing S250 science in context and another course at level 2 next year (hopefully). I have not done any residential courses as I have 2 preschool kids but will hopefully do 2 next year. I agree 6 years seem a long time to finish a dergee but each course gives such a sense of acomplishment as you know how hard you have worked to get it and you can work towards a certificate and/or diploma in the mean time.
Good luck in what ever you choose to do.