Please help me make sense of this situation!

theoretica

What was it about the OU which didn't suit you? Why do you think you would get on better with going to university? Have you looked for evening courses?

Lots of students work part time and during the vacations - could you keep your job for this?

Annisele

Which field do you want to work in? For example, if it's something like accountancy there are non-graduate routes.

ceridwen

pinkshoes wrote: »

Nowadays, a degree doesn't really mean much, so unless you're planning on doing a "useful" degree (science, engineering) at a good university, then I probably wouldn't give up work for it, as it won't really get you any further.

Why not look into part time degrees whilst working, or evening classes? Open university?

I'd go with this thought.

I think the thing is that a lot of people havent really thought on from the days when a degree had "rarity value" (as few people had degrees). Also - back in the past - degrees only tended to be in more "serious" type subjects (not some of the subjects that can be "studied to that level" these days).

Times have changed since then - and the world and their spouse also tends to have a degree. The USP (Unique Selling Point) has been gone for some years.

So - for someone with a long while to go before retirement - I would still say "It might be worth your while to get a degree - but make it an Open University one - rather than going to university".

Part of the reason why my generation went to Uni. was for the whole "university experience" - and I doubt that really applies so much these days and anyway things will be different for you in that respect (ie being a married person).

Open University courses are about to go up in price at some point - from round about £1,500 per year (for a full-time one) to about £5,000 pa (for a full-time one).

Think the price was about half for a part-time one??

So - even they arent going to be a cheap option soon. I think its been decided that, since going to University is now so expensive, they can charge way too much for these O.U. courses and still get takers (ie because it will still be cheap in comparison with going to University as such). I think? they will still have financial help available for those on low income...

I think also you have to take into account your husbands wishes to own a home now - particularly in view of the fact that renting is a very insecure option these days from what I can see (again - back in my renting days - tenants had HUGE security of tenure/low costs compared to what there is now in the rented sector).

caledonian_princess

I studied part time and worked full time. I assume that since you are thinking of going straight on to a degree you already have the entry qualifications? I studied an HNC then went on to an HND and finally two years to do the degree. It was hard work but worth it, I've never had the problems that face so many graduates these days with the paper qualification but no experience because I continued to gain experience whilst studying.

j.e.j.

Excellent post by ceridwen. OP can you tell us roughly which field of study you'd be looking at doing? Is it a science subject, or health-related or an arts degree? Sometimes you can study as a day-release student (one of my relatives did a chemistry degree this way).

katerinasol

Thank you for your responses everyone, it has certainly given me something to think about.

I'm looking to do a degree in a creative field, which I realise will make me join the ranks of thousands of art college graduates every year, but it's kind of a specific subject which will open a lot of doors for me that I would otherwise be unable to get through.

I fully realise a degree is not a 'passport' to a job, but it will at least give me a chance to try to find a job that I don't hate. Without it, I don't see myself doing anything interesting for the next 20 years or so, and I can't really face that prospect.

We're renting from the council at the moment, and looking at the right to buy scheme.

I already have the qualifications needed. I've attempted OU courses before but they just weren't for me, it felt too much like doing homework all the time and got a bit lonely, plus they don't offer the course I want to do. Realistically, I don't see myself completing an OU degree.

The course states it's full time, but a girl at work I spoke to said her course was only about three days full time (she did business studies) and she still managed to work part-time, so I may be able to do that.
I'm still on the fence but leaning towards the going to uni side, if they'll accept me, that is. Sometimes you have to take risks.