Chemistry degree with open university -- Teacher

bristol_pilot

agrinnall wrote: »

I'm 52 and I'm half way through a full time MSc 30 years after my BSc (in Chemistry as it happens, although I never used it as anything other than a qualification to tick the box when applying for a job). You're never too old, although I am more than twice the average age of my classmates and older than most of the lecturers. And a friend who is the same age as me is doing a PGCE at the moment.

That's fine, but success in studying for a degree and getting a relevant job based on that degree are rather different things. Doing a first degree in one's 50s and hoping to get a job as a Graduate Trainee at nearly 60 is a joke. Never too old to get a degree - true. But there is unlikely to be a job at the end of it.

djcfast1

Not sure I agree with you there Bristol Pilot. Lots of employers will see lots of young people with a degree and no life experience come to them for a job. If I was an employer and an older person with good life experience and the drive to learn again at the age of 50 or 60 came to me I might well be tempted to take them on. I am 41 with a good well paid job but am thankful to be given the opportunity to learn again especially as I left school with just a few O levels, I am just finishing my OU degree now. As for getting a relevant job for your degree lots of people are not employed in the field they did their degree in.

Regards
David

Uncertain

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You don't need to do an Access course to study with the OU although you may want to start with taster modules if you left education at 16. An OU degree is perfectly acceptable for teaching and you can also do a flexible PGCE with them for secondary science teaching when you have got your degree. You will also need a GCSE grade C or over (or equivalent) in English and Maths before you can train to teach, although not before you start with the OU.

Good luck.

The OU has (or at least used to have) a very good online self assessment system for people considering its science courses.

To do it properly you need a couple of hours peace and quiet as it takes some account of how long you spend on each question.

It gives you some idea (well probably a good idea) of your level of background knowledge and you way of thinking. From the results it suggests what would be an appropriate starting level.

Uncertain

bristol_pilot wrote: »

That's fine, but success in studying for a degree and getting a relevant job based on that degree are rather different things. Doing a first degree in one's 50s and hoping to get a job as a Graduate Trainee at nearly 60 is a joke. Never too old to get a degree - true. But there is unlikely to be a job at the end of it.

It think it depends very much on the field of work and if you are looking at a company that can think outside the box.

Somebody who has just got a degree in their fifties is a completely different "animal" to somebody who has gone straight from school to university. Many graduate trainee roles involve learning some basic life skills that are sadly absent in 22 year olds. 35 years on you bring other thinks to the table!