OU Students Past, Present and Future

karmacookie

empy wrote: »

Hi Karmacookie, I am doing Understanding health, starting the 1st September, have just completed K101, fantastic course. When do you plan on doing Understanding health? may see you in the OU forum!

Emma

Well done for completing! How did you find the exam?

Unfortunately I can't start until November as my ILA award is not through yet and registration is now closed for September

juno

Gemmzie wrote: »

How long does it take to hear about finance? I'm sick of the hassle I've got from them and now it's been over a month since they decided they do have all the details

They're supposed to tell you within 20 working days, but it's a bit busy atm as a lot of people are applying for September/October starts. So it might be slightly longer. Give them a call, though, and ask.

scubaangel wrote: »

ohh Gemmzie, can I pick your brains - what is the process for applying for assistance?
They say you cant apply until you tell them which courses you intend to do but from what I remember you can't apply for courses without paying for them?
So how on earth do you go about it?

You have to pick which course you want, and then when you've gone through the process of applying it gives you the option to either pay or to print the finance forms. There's also a small link to have the forms posted to you. If you need finance it puts a place on hold for you, but it won't fully you allocate you a place until you've had your funding sorted. So you should try to do this asap in case there's a problem.

jaycat62

Hi all :wave:

I'm starting my first OU course in November, tried to get things sorted for September, but was not able to. I'm starting with Introducing Environment. I will then procede with another 10 point course, maybe Astronomy, not 100% sure.

I want to take the degree over 5/6 years. I have a few health issues which could make it difficult, but I'm going to give it a shot.

nerak_y

Hello,

this is my 1st post and also my 1st OU course!

i'm about to start S104 Exploring Science on 3rd Oct with the website opening 3rd Sept, just waiting on the course materials being delivered then i'll be hoping to make an early start!

i've not seen any S104's posting so i thought after i dont know how many years of lurking i should register and get posting.:j

Having many 'what have i done' moments but still want to give it my best shot and prove there is a brain in there somewhere!!

i look forward to being part of what looks like a great mutually supportive thread

thanks nerak_y x

KellyWelly

mum26 wrote: »

Hi, Has anyone here studied U211 "Exploring the English language"? May I ask what you thought of it if so?

I last did "Understanding the humanities" and enjoyed it and have had a bit of a break so looking for something new now

I did it last year as the first intake for the new course - at the time by the second or third month I found some of it incredibly boring and at times I hated it, a lot of it was basic common sense dressed up in academic terms and I thought it was just daft. Then I realised lots of academic study is like this!! Then I really got into it big time and I LOVED it, and I learned so much. I still think about the things I learned on it and I would enjoy to read back through my text books (if I had the time, lol!)

There is a lot to learn but I think they changed the exam slightly so you didn't have to learn a glossary of 350 terms or whatever it was but they gave you a short list nearer to the time. You have to learn a lot of theorists' work to reference in your essays in the exam and the TMAs are obviously 'heavy' essays and I had to learn how to write academic essays because it had been a long time since I'd done English A Level and it was a bit different anyway.

Another thing I really found helped me was that I studied everything BUT I focussed on two text books in my revision which meant when I was choosing questions I was particularly strong in two topics out of the five or six (I forget now) that I could narrow my question choice down to. I would have only focussed on one but I thought I'd do two for 'insurance'!

Good luck, it's a fantastic course.

Kevin_D

Currently Studying M150 & SMK184 and S194 starts in Sep, MT264 in Oct.
Previously studied Y163, SK185, MU120 and S154.
Future study, Diploma in Computing and BSc Computing.

I find SMK184 very boring and am wondering wether to withdraw from it, I've not long received my stuff for S194 and can't wait to get started on that.

Floxxie

karmacookie wrote: »

Hi I have an underactive thyroid too. I had to give up studying in 2004 as I was misdiagnosed with depression and CFS. I'm now thinking about going back but I know what you mean about hiding your condition, people tend not to understand and think that you should be ok cause your on thyroxine!

Hi karmacookie,
I've had so many blips in my past study as I spent years being treated as depressed. I have found it really difficult thinking the Thyroxine would change my life and it hasn't really - that's depressing in itself.

I did have a look to see if I could receive any financial help from the OU but didn't get very far as it appears that it relates to your first degree only(and I've already done one). Unless someone can correct me? I also am not sure what kind of help I could do with.

Anyway good luck with your studies!

juno

jaycat62 wrote: »

Hi all :wave:

I'm starting my first OU course in November, tried to get things sorted for September, but was not able to. I'm starting with Introducing Environment. I will then procede with another 10 point course, maybe Astronomy, not 100% sure.

I want to take the degree over 5/6 years. I have a few health issues which could make it difficult, but I'm going to give it a shot.

Tell them about your health issues and they will be so helpful! You may even be eligible to apply for DSA if there is any specialist equipment that may help you - such as a voice recorder for tutorials or specialist computer software. They can also tell your tutors, so they can be more lenient if you miss deadlines (although try not to miss too many, as if you miss one you'll have less time to do the next bit of work and will be more likely to miss that, and then you'll come to the final ECA deadline which can't be extended easily!) and can make adjustments to help you if necessary.

I get my textbooks in special comb binding because I find it difficult to cope with thick books. This also means they split them into smaller sections - my DB123 book was in 4 parts - so it's easier to go and work at the library or anywhere and take a section with me

karmacookie

Floxxie wrote: »

Hi karmacookie,
I've had so many blips in my past study as I spent years being treated as depressed. I have found it really difficult thinking the Thyroxine would change my life and it hasn't really - that's depressing in itself.

I did have a look to see if I could receive any financial help from the OU but didn't get very far as it appears that it relates to your first degree only(and I've already done one). Unless someone can correct me? I also am not sure what kind of help I could do with.

Anyway good luck with your studies!

Hi again

I know about blips LOL! That's why I had to give up my studies as at that point the Doc thought it wasn't my thyroid but CFS and depression. It was a horrible time and I just couldn't think straight, no way was I up to studying.

I'm well medicated now so hopefully no blips. I take liothyronine as well as thyroxine and this has made a world of difference although I do have to pace myself and try not to get too stressed!

I've found this forum really helpful and full of informattion. The members are also very friendly and understanding. I'm quite sure if I hadn't found it I would not be as well as I am today

http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=93

huddsta

Hello all

Only just noticed this thread.
I'm aiming for a BSc Technology (Hons).

I've not long finished MU120 (which I did to test the water) and have my exams for T211 and T224 in October.

I had a 120 point credit transfer from a HNC (which is being eroded by a 30 point compulsory lvl 1 course and MU120).