Is Open University worth it?

Marcon

Basher7089 said:

I went to university at 18 but dropped out after a few months due to various reasons. I’ve always felt ashamed of the fact that I dropped out and never got a degree 

I’ve been feeling very strongly recently that I need to move my life forward in some way and stop drifting aimlessly through. So this is why I thought Open University may be a good option. 

The thing is I have no specific career goal in mind and would just be doing it for my own personal satisfaction and to (hopefully) one day be able to say I have a degree. I also thought it may be a good way to perhaps meet new people (I know most of it is distance learning, but surely you come into contact with other students at some point), improve my confidence and that it may open doors for me that I hadn’t considered before. BUT it’s a lot of debt to get myself into and I don’t know that if it would be worth it 

Just to counterbalance the helpful and enthusiastic responses above (sorry!)...

A large percentage of people drop out of degree courses for all sorts of reasons. Constantly dwelling on the past and regretting it won't help you move forward.

Degrees really aren't all they are cracked up to be, especially nowadays when so many people have them (I have two, obtained last century, in case you think it's a case of the green-eyed monster). Unless you have a strongly vocational path which needs a degree, simply getting one probably won't achieve what you think it will. Equally, unless you have a real passion for a particular subject, you may find it hard to stay the course.

If you've not studied since dropping out of university, taking some short courses and testing your own self-discipline/motivation/enthusiasm would be no bad starting point. This is a free course which has universal applicability (both personal and professional):https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/introduction-cyber-security-stay-safe-online/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab

Most OU 'contact' is online, so if you are hoping to meet real people, you may be doomed to disappointment. 

Taking some 'taster' courses in various subjects might do far more to broaden your horizons and focus your career options.

Have you considered an adult apprenticeship? Many pay more than the minimum apprentice wage and support study beyond the basics needed to qualify in whatever career you decide to follow.

Mrs_Ryan

I would actually disagree with those who say that there’s no human contact with OU. There’s as much as you want there to be. I’ve got some good friends from my time with the OU- there’s loads of clubs and societies to get involved in- I was involved in Plexus (although it’s called something else now) which I met some fantastic people through.

 I’ve been to two OU conferences on camp (basically a weekend long party) and countless amounts of workshops etc also on campus; there’s multitudes of groups on social media/WhatsApp etc (The WhatsApp group for my current module has been brilliant and saved my sanity on more than one occasion) There’s also meet ups (virtual at the moment but that’s changing as restrictions lift) organised by region specific groups; there’s tons of opportunities to volunteer usually through the Student’s Association- from running for President to providing a listening ear through the forums, and  finally there’s tutorials- while they’re online at the moment there’s a chance that face to face will return soon. 

I’ve met some wonderful people at tutorials- my final year English group were a fantastic group of ladies. We all had coffee and cake together on the last tutorial! 

If you want to hide yourself away and not speak to anyone- you can do that sure, but there’s loads and loads of opportunities to be social. 

On the academic side, I’m about to start my final module in October. This is degree number 2, it was funded under the STEM exception degree rules. Degree number 1 was a BA (Hons) in English for which I obtained a 2:1. I then studied an MA in English at a brick uni then returned to OU to study a BSc (Hons) Combined STEM (like an Open degree but just for STEM modules) on which I am following a Sports Science and Sports Psychology pathway. The OU has changed my life. Without it I couldn’t have got my degrees. I tried a brick uni but they couldn’t support me and I had a horrible time. I would absolutely 110% say go for it. It is hard, and yes it can sometimes feel very isolating but it’s incredibly rewarding. 

[Deleted User]

Mrs_Ryan said:

On the academic side, I’m about to start my final module in October. This is degree number 2, it was funded under the STEM exception degree rules. Degree number 1 was a BA (Hons) in English for which I obtained a 2:1. I then studied an MA in English at a brick uni then returned to OU to study a BSc (Hons) Combined STEM (like an Open degree but just for STEM modules) on which I am following a Sports Science and Sports Psychology pathway. The OU has changed my life. Without it I couldn’t have got my degrees. I tried a brick uni but they couldn’t support me and I had a horrible time. I would absolutely 110% say go for it. It is hard, and yes it can sometimes feel very isolating but it’s incredibly rewarding. 

Do you have any more information on the second degree funding for certain subjects?