advice needed

skye

I do not have any A levels thats why I would be doing an access course first (I did them for a year before leaving for employment). Or the other options is to go and do the A levels instead in the evening first.

What is a red brick university? I will go and have a look about hardship grants but I think I am going to have to abandon the idea - looks like its all going to cost too much.

skye

The idea would be to go to Liverpool John Moores - they had said either a years access course or A levels (hence the access course is going to be quicker & cheaper - but the A levels would be there for the long run) even as a mature student - I'm 22.

The degree is four years and I think a year in training after that.

Shadowplay_2

I believe the OP wanted to go and do Pharmacy, so if they succeed, yes, there is a very good chance of a well-paid job at the end of it.

Downsizing _for_sanity can you post the evidence that backs up the above statement?

also the statement you posted from Cardiff University actually states:

are not always subject to our standard entry requirements which means for some courses you dont need the points but to do something as specilised as Pharmacy you will need the relevant A-Levels unless your working life has given you the skills you require.

Shadowplay_2

Skye, I work in the Education Sector and would recommend doing the A-Levels in the evening first and then consider your options once you have the grades.

A 'Red Brick' University is a term for the old and established universities like Oxford and Manchester. These degrees have more weight when applying for a job (some people may disagree) than degrees from the Open University or the Trent’s, Metropolitans etc.

I would recommend going through the 'Clearing Process' because you can get onto courses with less points than the Uni requires, even if you get three A's in Chemistry, Biology and Physics competition for places is high. Although going through clearing may need you to be flexible with the course. How set on Pharmacy are you?

loobyloo1980

Shadowplay wrote:

A 'Red Brick' University is a term for the old and established universities like Oxford and Manchester. These degrees have more weight when applying for a job (some people may disagree) than degrees from the Open University or the Trent’s, Metropolitans etc.

QUOTE]

I would slightly disagree with you on the point about the weight of open university degrees. Apparently, Oxford and Cambridge rate OU degrees very highly as they understand the level of motivation that an individual has to put in to OU study is in many cases far higher than at face to face unis. OU ranked very highly in the league tables last academic year as well. Oxford and Cambridge may have the established reputation and history, but the OU takes a lot more hard work and determination than many other university courses as it is all self-taught, and much more strict with deadlines than a lot of universities.

Not that I am blowing the OU trumpet or anything (due to graduate from OU in 2007 with a completely cost free and debt free degree )

Shadowplay_2

loobyloo1980 - I was not saying that the Open Uni is not worth while or trying to down grade anyone with a degree from the OU. Please don’t take offence.

But, if a graduate scheme employer was presented with two CV's of the same calibre in all respects bar the degree and they could only offer one an interview they would take the candidate with for example, a 2:1 from Oxford over the 2:1 from the OU.

Please note I don’t agree with this in the moral sense just being realistic, if this is not the case then why is there so much competition to attend the Red Brick Uni's?

I dont want to push the point as this thread is about Skyes situation not which Uni's have the best degrees. Although i dont agree with your comments about an OU degree being harder work - a degree is as easy or as hard as the student makes it. You can sit back and do very little... bring on the 3rd - or you can work your socks off... long live the 1st!

johannamse

Shadowplay wrote:

But, if a graduate scheme employer was presented with two CV's of the same calibre in all respects bar the degree and they could only offer one an interview they would take the candidate with for example, a 2:1 from Oxford over the 2:1 from the OU.

Yes of course OU v Oxford, Oxford would win, but OU v Manchester met or Portsmouth etc, and OU wins every time. Having been involved with employing people in 2 multinationals you would be surprised at how OU is both respected, AND trusted. Employers dont know where they stand with all the old polys.

loobyloo1980

Yes obviously Oxford v OU, Oxford would win hands down as its the snob value as much as anything. BUT it does annoy me when people tend to play down the extra work involved in OU degrees. My friend is at local uni and she has assignments same as we do, but she gets to submit to her tutors, then resubmit if they think it is cr&p, then again if she needs further improvement. We get one chance and one chance only, invariably with little tutorial support as not all OU students can get to tutorials. We can't even resit unless we fail completely. bad marks can't be rectified through retaking a year or whatever, it is stuck there on your record towards your degree. Many students at the average uni will attend tutorials for 8hrs a week, whereas OU courses can take 16hrs per week of your time, plus many students also have families and full time jobs, so it is harder.

OU is becoming major competition for unis now, and will continue to. Its amazing how many 18 yr olds are choosing study with OU over normal unis.

Anyway, this thread isn't about which uni so I won't go on, but it was about uni and the cost and I think it still is a valid point to consider the OU very seriously when wanting to go to uni. I'm sure that the OP would find some useful courses in the science faculty as a starter or taster for her chosen career, and if she successfully completed courses, in some cases she could credit transfer to her chosen brick uni. It really is a very real option for anyone wanting to do night classes.

loobyloo1980

thanks johannesme,

that was my point

Shadowplay_2

Again I must stress I am not stating that O.U degrees are not valued or trusted. I work in the Education Sector for an Examination Board, so I know the value of a wide range of qualifications.

My point was quite simply that a Degree from a Red Brick University is worth more in the open workforce market than any of the others, polys, etc. and OU.

Of course this is not totally correct, for example a BSc in Sports Science from Manchester Metropolitan University is vertically impossible to better because to gain it you would have been working in one of the only Grade 5 ranked research centres in the country.

There are many examples of this but speaking in a general sense the market favours Red Brick Uni's. Just the same as a lot of employers will bin all 2:2's and below as the first chapter in the candidate selection process. Do you have any experience of this johannamse?

I feel the reasons for this post may have been lost... I was merely stating to Skye that if possible she should go through clearing and hopefully gain a place in a Red Brick Uni thus putting herself in the best possible position after graduation to gain a well paid job