Discussion
Hello all,
After my thread on debt which has really opened my eyes, I thought I would put this out there too..
At the minute, I am quite lost in the grand scheme of what to do with my life, I want to run a business, but I must say at the minute I have no clue where to even begin with that. And am trying to lead my life and gain experience and then see what I know in a few years time..
But I was looking at getting some form of formal qualification while I am still young enough to be able to work work work, plus it would be nice to be able to maybe use this to find a decent job if I can't get going on my own in due course..
I basically have 11 decent GSCE's currently, and I was looking to hopefully get a few a-levels then perhaps pursue a degree from the OU in a subject that I may find interesting and that would offer a decent career if needed..
Aside from the fact I can't see the A-levels section on their site?! Does anybody have a bad or good word to say about the OU, I know it cannot and won't compare to your top 10 Universities or even perhaps top 50 (not sure), but is the degree worth the paper its written on, especially at current times when the job market is awash with graduates?
Also I would think that this is not a way into the most competitive job markets, I.e law, Finance, ect am I right?
I have a few years job experience now, and its helped me get from job to job, but I don't want to be forever wondering if I should have done it..
Any help or opinions fully appreciated
After my thread on debt which has really opened my eyes, I thought I would put this out there too..
At the minute, I am quite lost in the grand scheme of what to do with my life, I want to run a business, but I must say at the minute I have no clue where to even begin with that. And am trying to lead my life and gain experience and then see what I know in a few years time..
But I was looking at getting some form of formal qualification while I am still young enough to be able to work work work, plus it would be nice to be able to maybe use this to find a decent job if I can't get going on my own in due course..
I basically have 11 decent GSCE's currently, and I was looking to hopefully get a few a-levels then perhaps pursue a degree from the OU in a subject that I may find interesting and that would offer a decent career if needed..
Aside from the fact I can't see the A-levels section on their site?! Does anybody have a bad or good word to say about the OU, I know it cannot and won't compare to your top 10 Universities or even perhaps top 50 (not sure), but is the degree worth the paper its written on, especially at current times when the job market is awash with graduates?
Also I would think that this is not a way into the most competitive job markets, I.e law, Finance, ect am I right?
I have a few years job experience now, and its helped me get from job to job, but I don't want to be forever wondering if I should have done it..
Any help or opinions fully appreciated
Edited by okgo on Monday 6th October 21:10
I don't have a bad word to say about the OU, I didn't go there but I work in casting for movies, and we only take graduates and I can honestly say the two best one's we've had this year came from an OU film and tv course - of course we don't see this as a standing uni course, but the interview they gave and the knowledge showed was more than enough to put them forward.
I am currently on "sabbatical" from my OU studies - halfway through a BA (Hons) French and English, and have nothing but praise for them. I decided to do it because uni wasn't for me (preferred working), but wanted to prove I could get a degree.
The support tutors are excellent, as are the materials and the whole thing just... works.
In my experience you have to be very, very disciplined though (i.e. getting home from work and sitting down to write an essay when the footy is on).
The support tutors are excellent, as are the materials and the whole thing just... works.
In my experience you have to be very, very disciplined though (i.e. getting home from work and sitting down to write an essay when the footy is on).
The Ben said:
From my experience having been to uni, not many degrees are worth the paper they are written on unless they are specific ie medicine, law etc....
I do believe though that OU have a good reputation
It is fair to say that an OU course is no place near a degree, but it (in my line of work) can sometimes be worth taking into account if the personality of the candidate shows through. Their teaching cannot be rubbished either.I do believe though that OU have a good reputation
Munter said:
The Ben said:
I do believe though that OU have a good reputation
What he said. I think because of the unique way they work they dont want to be seen as an easy touch. Plus a lot of the students are mature people who want to do well opposed to wanting to get pissed.OU is by no means an "easy" option - having studied with them, if I get a CV with an OU degree I treat it with respect. Having to balance real life with studying is harder, perhaps, than studying a full time university course and balancing with the la la land that is university life.
Lola22 said:
It is fair to say that an OU course is no place near a degree
That's entirely unfair to say. An OU degree is a degree, plain and simple.aclivity said:
OU is by no means an "easy" option - having studied with them, if I get a CV with an OU degree I treat it with respect. Having to balance real life with studying is harder, perhaps, than studying a full time university course and balancing with the la la land that is university life.
That is not true (with respect) It takes a lot more to get an OU First, than any other university, hence they are not seen as a proper university...if this were the case then they would be listed in university league tables - which they can't be. I'm not taking away what they teach, I said earlier that in my line of work, when we took in our 4 graduates for the year (and we don't often count the OU as graduates) we took two from the OU for what they could offer. I think the OU do a great and valuable job. Fully recomended.Lola22 said:
It is fair to say that an OU course is no place near a degree
That's entirely unfair to say. An OU degree is a degree, plain and simple.OU is a very efficient Uni, but it won’t suit everyone, you have to be very committed to study on your own and off your own enthusiasm, and it’s also not cheap, but it is flexible and they do have a wide range of degrees to choose from.
Whether a degree is worth what it used to be is is a debatable argument, me and my brother didn’t not go to Uni and chose to go to work and are now in well paid jobs, are friends of equal ages who did go to Uni are still on low paid jobs. BUT, I am now at a point in my career I can’t get any higher without out it. Plus the question is only relevant to which career you want, you could get an relatively non specific degree and could widen your job choices, or you could go for a specific one like forensic science and then battle with 30 other students for one job.
My motto in life is never stop learning, but make sure you choice the right courses for you, and if its something as big as a degree try and make sure its something you are relatively passionate about, as it will make your studies easier.
Just a footnote I am off to Uni next Sept now full time, but that’s purely for the beer and student card
Whether a degree is worth what it used to be is is a debatable argument, me and my brother didn’t not go to Uni and chose to go to work and are now in well paid jobs, are friends of equal ages who did go to Uni are still on low paid jobs. BUT, I am now at a point in my career I can’t get any higher without out it. Plus the question is only relevant to which career you want, you could get an relatively non specific degree and could widen your job choices, or you could go for a specific one like forensic science and then battle with 30 other students for one job.
My motto in life is never stop learning, but make sure you choice the right courses for you, and if its something as big as a degree try and make sure its something you are relatively passionate about, as it will make your studies easier.
Just a footnote I am off to Uni next Sept now full time, but that’s purely for the beer and student card
OU degrees are generally highly regarded in the job market, as has been mentioned by other posters, as they demonstrate a great level of motivation and self-discipline. I am involved with recruitment in my current (public sector) organisation and OU degrees are never seen as a poor relation I can assure you.
I must confess a degree of bias however as I completed my BSc (1994-2001) and MA (2003-2006) with the OU.
I must confess a degree of bias however as I completed my BSc (1994-2001) and MA (2003-2006) with the OU.
kit80 said:
OU is a very efficient Uni, but it won’t suit everyone, you have to be very committed to study on your own and off your own enthusiasm, and it’s also not cheap, but it is flexible and they do have a wide range of degrees to choose from.
Whether a degree is worth what it used to be is is a debatable argument, me and my brother didn’t not go to Uni and chose to go to work and are now in well paid jobs, are friends of equal ages who did go to Uni are still on low paid jobs. BUT, I am now at a point in my career I can’t get any higher without out it. Plus the question is only relevant to which career you want, you could get an relatively non specific degree and could widen your job choices, or you could go for a specific one like forensic science and then battle with 30 other students for one job.
My motto in life is never stop learning, but make sure you choice the right courses for you, and if its something as big as a degree try and make sure its something you are relatively passionate about, as it will make your studies easier.
Just a footnote I am off to Uni next Sept now full time, but that’s purely for the beer and student card
I'm sure you will have a great time now tell us what your car is...It can't be as bad as mine!Whether a degree is worth what it used to be is is a debatable argument, me and my brother didn’t not go to Uni and chose to go to work and are now in well paid jobs, are friends of equal ages who did go to Uni are still on low paid jobs. BUT, I am now at a point in my career I can’t get any higher without out it. Plus the question is only relevant to which career you want, you could get an relatively non specific degree and could widen your job choices, or you could go for a specific one like forensic science and then battle with 30 other students for one job.
My motto in life is never stop learning, but make sure you choice the right courses for you, and if its something as big as a degree try and make sure its something you are relatively passionate about, as it will make your studies easier.
Just a footnote I am off to Uni next Sept now full time, but that’s purely for the beer and student card
kit80 said:
it’s also not cheap
It is cheap compared with gaining a degree anywhere else.OP, the beauty of the courses is how they are split into separate modules, so you can sit the first one for the degree you're interested in and see how you find it. If you don't like it you can leave it at that, and can even pick it up and continue up to 6 years later (iirc).
There's also opportunities to pick up other qualifications along the way. Say you study management, the first two courses involved in that BSc might get you a Diploma in management, which you can put on your CV. So a year or so down the line you will have something to show if you choose not to take a full degree.
Simpo Two said:
Assuming that an OU degree is technically equal to other degrees, then anyone who can do it part time while working/bringing up a family etc has my respect.
However my view is that the correct order is (1) qualifications (2) job, not the other way round.
it isn't eqaul to a degree from a major/middle league uni, but when you interview the applicant's from the OU they usualy seem more well rounded, and the course they do isn't to be rubbished either. However my view is that the correct order is (1) qualifications (2) job, not the other way round.
kit80 said:
OU is a very efficient Uni, but it won’t suit everyone, you have to be very committed to study on your own and off your own enthusiasm, and it’s also not cheap, but it is flexible and they do have a wide range of degrees to choose from.
Which is precisely the real world skills you need to succeed. All of my useful skills/knowledge has been gained from work/travel. I spent 4 years at university and learnt feck all of value, apart from how to get laid and how to get into debt. I study with the OU and it can be hard to get down to doing the work required, obviously there is a lot of reading to be done as there are no lectures. There is a lot of having to work through theories and whatnot for yourself which can be a bit hard if you are not quite sure what they are getting at. I would certainly say that their course material is of the same academic standard of a course at the same level at any other uni, having gained a degree from a traditional uni as well.
I think their A level type courses are advertised as openings (?) or something like that.
I would go for it. If you don't enjoy it then you can just do one course and not bother with any others, and you won't have lost loads of money.
I think their A level type courses are advertised as openings (?) or something like that.
I would go for it. If you don't enjoy it then you can just do one course and not bother with any others, and you won't have lost loads of money.
I started a degree with the OU in 1992 (yep that long ago!), I started with maths, and although I loved the foundation course, I decided to go off in a different direction the next year and started the Social Sciences foundation course.
Unfortunately I am not an essay writer, and never have been, I know what I want to say, but struggle to get it down in legible English. I think I left the course part way through.
I had a couple of years off (can't remember why) and then went back to it, but like an idiot, thought that if I did 2 30 credit courses I could manage it with a baby, bad idea, the combined courses came to a heck of a lot more work than a 60 credit course, and I struggled. I had gone back to maths at that point (purely because I actually enjoy maths). I think I ended up scrapping through with a pass in one and a fail in the other.
Had another couple of years off and went back to it, got part way through the course and due to the lack of support from my then husband, I couldn't cope with the work load and two children (and him) so again I struggled and failed the exam. Was in for a resist, but he managed to balls that up and I had to cancel.
Did go back to it again (after I left the husband) and this time it was a 60 point course which included a week at summer school, and the lousy git decided to die 2 weeks before I was due to head off for the summer school, obviously I couldn't go and leave the kids, so had to defer on the summer school (I did get credit for it, as it was exceptional circumstances for my absence) unfortunately things just got too much, I couldn't work, study and deal with two grieving children. So I had to leave the course.
I think in all I have managed to get about a quarter of the credits needed for a degree, but have finally decided that fate doesn't want me to have a degree!
My failure was down to my situation, but I can't fault the OU and the tutors.
Unfortunately I am not an essay writer, and never have been, I know what I want to say, but struggle to get it down in legible English. I think I left the course part way through.
I had a couple of years off (can't remember why) and then went back to it, but like an idiot, thought that if I did 2 30 credit courses I could manage it with a baby, bad idea, the combined courses came to a heck of a lot more work than a 60 credit course, and I struggled. I had gone back to maths at that point (purely because I actually enjoy maths). I think I ended up scrapping through with a pass in one and a fail in the other.
Had another couple of years off and went back to it, got part way through the course and due to the lack of support from my then husband, I couldn't cope with the work load and two children (and him) so again I struggled and failed the exam. Was in for a resist, but he managed to balls that up and I had to cancel.
Did go back to it again (after I left the husband) and this time it was a 60 point course which included a week at summer school, and the lousy git decided to die 2 weeks before I was due to head off for the summer school, obviously I couldn't go and leave the kids, so had to defer on the summer school (I did get credit for it, as it was exceptional circumstances for my absence) unfortunately things just got too much, I couldn't work, study and deal with two grieving children. So I had to leave the course.
I think in all I have managed to get about a quarter of the credits needed for a degree, but have finally decided that fate doesn't want me to have a degree!
My failure was down to my situation, but I can't fault the OU and the tutors.
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