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Getting back into education

Hjp2514

I haven’t been in education since I was 15, im now 28 and have applied for an online open university course. I’m anxious I’ve taken on a big commitment and will have meltdown after meltdown from the pressure that comes along with education. Has anyone here gotten back into these things after years of not being in school/college/uni? And if so are there any tips you have for someone like myself? I’m also going to apply for their disability support so anxious as I don’t know what my needs will be as I wasn’t diagnose whilst in school and didn’t know what additional support there was. 

  • I've done a few courses with the OU and did really well with them. They are fantastic.

    What's great about them is that most courses are built one unit with one assignment at a time, no juggling lots of different deadlines or task switching.

    The key for me was time management. Personally, I think autism was really working FOR me on those courses. I loved the topics and it became my 'special interest' with my hyper focus and attention to detail well in overdrive. I devoted every minute of my commute and lunch times to reading and all my evenings and weekends to writing.

    The OU way of working is pretty perfect for people with autism.

    I made a good friend at one of the tutorials too. We lived near eachother and she gave me a lift home. Thereafter, we met in the pub once every assignment cycle to talk about the course and swap ideas. When the course was over, we carried on with our pub monthly trips.

    These days they give you opportunities to talk to other students online, which some might find more comfortable.

    The tutors are great. They give detailed feedback and the quality of the materials excellent. 

    Best advice is: relax and enjoy.

  • I'd say think of it as a second chance. Think of all the things you missed out on in your earlier education and try to build them in to this. But as I say that I realise thats probably mostly social things which might be kind of hard with the open uni.