Advice

TheEffect · 18 November 2009 at 7:57PM

I finished my A Levels in June and started working full time with special needs children and am loving my job. I want to be a teacher, however obviously have to get the degree/pgce first.

I've got an unconditional offer from my local university starting September 2010 for ICT.

I'm highly considering doing my degree with the Open University instead, allowing me to keep my job and maybe just working 4 days a week, having an extra day to do OU work.

I know it will take longer (i estimated I could get it done in 4 to 4 1/2 years), but I'd be earning money and wouldn't have any debt (I get full grant).

I'm having mixed advice from people. Some think it's a good idea, others think the whole university experience is a must.

Would you keep a job you love, earn money, get a degree (a little longer, but free) and sacrifice the university experience and opportunity of living out and getting a bit of independence

Give up a job you love, live at your local university, get the whole experience, get into debt but get a degree quicker. There might be a possibility I could work 1 day a week at my current job if I had a free day, but it's not very practical with university.

Any advice/input would be appreciated!

MrsManda · 18 November 2009 at 9:44PM

I'd say follow your heart. University can be a great experience but it's not the only worthwhile experience there is. If you can do what you want to do while working at a job which you enjoy then that's probably the best way for you to go.
If you were to attend a university full time what would you be hoping to get out of it?

TheEffect · 18 November 2009 at 10:06PM

MrsManda wrote: »

I'd say follow your heart. University can be a great experience but it's not the only worthwhile experience there is. If you can do what you want to do while working at a job which you enjoy then that's probably the best way for you to go.
If you were to attend a university full time what would you be hoping to get out of it?

A degree, independence and to make new friends.

Doing the OU degree and working means I'd have to live with my parents for the next 4 years, as I'm not earning enough to rent a flat/studio.

Oldernotwiser · 18 November 2009 at 10:34PM

If you want the whole student experience I'd do the whole thing and move to a different part of the country. If you're going to live at home (or just down the road) you might as well study with the OU and stay debt free.

I know which I'd prefer, but we're all different.

Voyager2002 · 19 November 2009 at 9:18AM

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you want the whole student experience I'd do the whole thing and move to a different part of the country. If you're going to live at home (or just down the road) you might as well study with the OU and stay debt free.

I know which I'd prefer, but we're all different.

I agree.

And remember that your "local" university may not be as good as many others in the country.

Absinthe_Fairy · 19 November 2009 at 10:50AM

I'll second ONW and Voyager.

It's totally up to you, everyone's different, and you have more reason than most to consider living at home. But don't underestimate the power of the university experience. I tried so hard to convince my brother not to live at home, but he did it anyway. He graduated in the summer and confessed to me that he really regrets not leaving home and enjoying university life properly (even though it would have landed him in more debt).

Good luck whatever you decide!

KT1985 · 19 November 2009 at 1:21PM

I went to trad uni and hated the experience- don't know what it was other than really disliking how it all worked and that I didn't have time to go out and work (other factors involved as well as this) and so was subsequently broke and was stacking up student debt.

I left and then started working in a school and doing OU study and I have loved it. It enriched my experience, and studying this way is flexible to my life circumstances (I am taking a year out at the minute due to having our first baby :T). The materials are great, tutors can be hit and miss, but it is basically what you make of it.

At the end of the day- you have to do what you want. I just know that atm I wouldn't dream of trading the OU in because of the financial and other benefits to me, but in the future I may well study in a different mode.

PS: I think you need to be very motivated to study using the OU, something worth thinking about.

Advice

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free