Your thoughts on university

claire21

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4925134

Bit off topic, but thread in competitions board to win a OU course.

Person_one

BunnieJ wrote: »

Hi TQ,

I have looked into the OU several times (whilst living at home with parents and now with my OH). I've gone to the open evenings, read through the prospectuses etc. but it's still out of my price range atm

My family aren't that supportive of me wanting to go back into education, as none of them did an FE. They always say things like, "You tried uni, it wasn't for you. You need to get a job and grow up" (not those exact words, but you get what I mean).

I know I'm only 25, so plenty of time to go back and study, but I just don't know how I would fund myself *sigh*

Also, I have no credits from previous study as I failed everything and got kicked out!

What do you want to do? What kind of job interests you.

At 25, you don't need a supportive family. It would be nice, but if your partner is supportive and you are determined, you can change things on your own.

poet123

TopQuark wrote: »

Hello OP,

Just wanted to echo what others have said, regarding what the kids wish to do career-wise when older. I think this is the crux of whether a degree is necessary or not. That said, these days it seems as if having a degree is the new 'norm' and thus there is the worry that without one, you'll be at a disadvantage when entering the workforce. Therefore I think both you and they need to give it some serious thought.

I left university 10 years ago (first degree) and then went on to do a PhD in chemistry at one of the UK's best Russell group institutions. I now work for a leading international lab overseas. Most of the new recruits here have an MSc and/or PhD and we take the cream of the crop from across the continent. So if you want to work in research, then university is an absolute necessity.

Someone said something earlier in the thread that made me smile; about common sense, organisation and qualifications. I work with some of the brightest, most qualified people on the planet and their organisational skills are often sorely lacking. They spend all day deriving and proving complex equations but some of them couldn't organise a p**s-up in a brewery!

Good luck to you and your kids OP! (Oh and if any of them enjoy STEM subjects, encourage them as we need more young people in maths and sciences)

I think you have my youngest son's ideal job. He is a maths/science geek and spends his time when not studying watching You Tube vids of science experiments and dreams of the Hadron Collider!! He is doing AS levels at the moment but he hopes to be where you are one day. For his birthday I am trying to arrange for him and my OH to visit Geneva. I believe the facility is open to the public now?

BunnieJ

What do you want to do? What kind of job interests you.

At 25, you don't need a supportive family. It would be nice, but if your partner is supportive and you are determined, you can change things on your own.

Lots of things interest me, I just don't know exactly what I would like to study/do as a career.

I've been out of education for about 5/6 yeras now, so the idea of writing essays and exams scares me! I enjoy creative subjects, but don't have any qualifications/A-Levels in this field so am unable to get onto most arty courses.

My OH is supportive of me, but he doesn't have the money to fund us while I'm studying either!

Person_one

BunnieJ wrote: »

Lots of things interest me, I just don't know exactly what I would like to study/do as a career.

I've been out of education for about 5/6 yeras now, so the idea of writing essays and exams scares me! I enjoy creative subjects, but don't have any qualifications/A-Levels in this field so am unable to get onto most arty courses.

My OH is supportive of me, but he doesn't have the money to fund us while I'm studying either!

What about doing a few short courses at a local college or lifelong learning centre (they're normally run by the council and cheap, or free if you're on certain benefits)? You might get a feel for something you enjoy, and it would get you back in the habit of studying again to see if you are more suited to it as an adult.

It may be that studying just isn't the right path for you, and that's why your A levels and degree went so badly. If that's the case then you can start to explore other options.

BunnieJ

What about doing a few short courses at a local college or lifelong learning centre (they're normally run by the council and cheap, or free if you're on certain benefits)? You might get a feel for something you enjoy, and it would get you back in the habit of studying again to see if you are more suited to it as an adult.

It may be that studying just isn't the right path for you, and that's why your A levels and degree went so badly. If that's the case then you can start to explore other options.

Thanks for the help

I think my studies have gone badly in the past because I've made the wrong course choices, therefore not enjoying what I'm studying.

I'm not on any benifits so I think I would have to pay the full cost of any course I take up

TopQuark

poet123 wrote: »

I think you have my youngest son's ideal job. He is a maths/science geek and spends his time when not studying watching You Tube vids of science experiments and dreams of the Hadron Collider!! He is doing AS levels at the moment but he hopes to be where you are one day. For his birthday I am trying to arrange for him and my OH to visit Geneva. I believe the facility is open to the public now?

Yes it most certainly is open to the public. You can book a guided tour here;http://outreach.web.cern.ch/outreach/visites/index.html
(if you're lucky, you may even get me as a guide:D!!)

Try to inquire about an underground visit to one of the detectors if you can; ATLAS or CMS are the best (ATLAS is easiest as it's close to the visitor's reception). The LHC is 'off' at the moment during the long shutdown, but by the end of 2014 will be preparing to start up again and hence visiting the detectors underground won't be possible then.

You might want to combine your trip with a spot of walking in the Alps while you are here - Chamonix Mont Blanc is less than an hour away and gorgeous.

PM me if you need more info

RAS

BunnieJ wrote: »

Hi TQ,

I have looked into the OU several times (whilst living at home with parents and now with my OH). I've gone to the open evenings, read through the prospectuses etc. but it's still out of my price range atm

You can apply for the fees via the SFE as long as you do 60 credits a year.

emsywoo123

BunnieJ wrote: »

I'm not on any benifits so I think I would have to pay the full cost of any course I take up

This is true, but depending on where you are etc you may well qualify for a tuition fee loan, as I do.

I am 33 and have been with the OU for a year now. I could never have completed a degree fresh out of school - I had no idea what I wanted to do.

But now I do. It is hard, really hard, to juggle kids, work, life (and MSE :rotfl:) while studying. But it is possible. And worth it.

Do not give up :T

TopQuark

Hi Poet,

Did you receive my PM? Not sure if it was sent or not!