[smwilf]

First, the basics. I'm 21 years-old. I'll be 22 this August. I did not have the drive to try and succeed academically in school, so my grades are kinda crap.

My experiences during the past 3 years have made me into a completely different person. I now feel like I can re-enter education and actually want to be there, rather than feel like I'm just doing it because I feel like I should like I did with my A Levels.

Anyway. Blah. My question is, as a mature student, would I be better off doing an Access course, pursuing A Levels (which would be a hard and expensive thing to accomplish where I live) or doing an Open uni course (at Level 2)? The Open Uni course would be through their Access to Success route thing, as I can't afford to do it the other way.

Any thoughts? I'd like to have a stab at getting into Oxbridge, because I figure it doesn't hurt to try.

[Wild Horses]

Okay, it all depends on exactly what you want to do and how much you are really willing to sacrifice to go for it. Access courses are usually short as they normaly last a year and are very demanding. Therefore it takes a great deal of self motivation to push yourself, so it all comes down to you at the end of the day. How bad do you want it? is the sort of questions you should be asking yourself.

A levels on the other hand will 2 years and you will have time to catch up if you fall behind slightly unlike an access course which it could be difficult to catch up if you faill behind etc. It's up to you to know how determine you are and your commitments etc.

but i will let other members here explain better and give more reliable info.

[Hippodamos]

I would definitely recommend OU study if your study skills are good and you are an independent learner. If you can motivate yourself and put in the time, then the chances are you will do well in assignments and exams.

If you are serious about applying to Cambridge/Oxford, the OU is a good route - I have an offer based on my OU study. I did 90 credits at Level 1 and 60 at Level 2, over two years, but you probably wouldn't need that many. They want distinctions (>85%) though, which is hard work considering exams are involved.

But I think that is one of the strengths of the OU in terms of applying to other universities afterwards - you have real exam experience and have been developing the skills necessary. My understanding of many Access Courses is that they are mostly continuous assessment, which is nice if you want a string of starred Distinctions but a bit shortsighted if you manage to talk your way into Cambridge and then realise you've not taken an exam since you were 18 and you have to try and figure it out at the same time as, you know, doing the degree.

I wouldn't recommend jumping straight to a Level 2 course. Go with a Level 1 course, perhaps something you are already familiar with. This gives you the chance to get used to the OU system and working on your own.

One problem with figuring out that you want to make changes in your life is that, at the beginning, you're full of ideas and plans but not yet actually doing anything. So in your mind you think "Oh I will just do a few Level 3 OU courses, work full time, do some volunteer work, run a marathon and apply to Cambridge by October." when really you might benefit from slowing down and being a bit more realistic with the expectations you place on yourself.

In summary :

If you are capable of independent study, managing your time and generally being responsible for your own education : go with the OU.

If you need more face to face support, to brush up on your general study skills, to be told what to do : go with A levels/Access.

[Soule]

What do you want to study at degree level? As that would be the deciding factor, if it is a science based degree, then you may find the access does not prepare you for it, or you would need to do a lot of research. Also by researching the universities degrees you want now, you could then approach those unis to find out what they advise would be the best route for you, and what they would accept.

Regards to the options, I did an Access Course to HE, I loved the year, but it does get intense, the work is not overly hard. Research the Access courses available, but firstly have some kind of direction in mind that you want to go and then that will help you to decide the best course of action.

[*whatkatiedidnext*]

(Original post by Hippodamos)

But I think that is one of the strengths of the OU in terms of applying to other universities afterwards - you have real exam experience and have been developing the skills necessary. My understanding of many Access Courses is that they are mostly continuous assessment, which is nice if you want a string of starred Distinctions but a bit shortsighted if you manage to talk your way into Cambridge and then realise you've not taken an exam since you were 18 and you have to try and figure it out at the same time as, you know, doing the degree.

I would suggest that although hippodamos makes some good points about the OU, he is perhaps incorrect in the way he views access courses. I've just completed an access to law course with offers from all 5 universities I applied to including 3 Russell group institutions to study law in September. Our course was assessed by examination for over half of the marks. We sat 3 two hours papers in one week in June. In actual fact I had more exams than my brother who is a second year history student at the University of Sussex.

Access may not be the right route for you but it might help to look into how courses near to you are structured to make an informed decision.

[sputum]

exam-only A level options in case you can consider those (just found and skimmed them)

[evening sunrise]

(Original post by *whatkatiedidnext*)
I would suggest that although hippodamos makes some good points about the OU, he is perhaps incorrect in the way he views access courses. .

Everyone is correct, there are students who have taken a lot of exams on their Access courses and others who have reported that their course involves no exams at all relying only on continuous assessment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The OU certainly works for entry purposes. We received our offers based upon OU credits.

Distinctions at L1 are a bit easier now as they were changed to 85% from 90%, the year after we finished our second L1s. Distinction at L2 and L3 has always been 85%. Two (120 credits) L1s was mandatory back then.

Going straight in at L2 is an interesting prospect and certainly viable if you have the relevent recent background.

Unless the current version (M10?) of the 60 credit L1 maths M101 has changed significantly then it does not provide a good grounding for mathematics / physics undergraduate study. I had completed A level three years before and M101 did not come close.

The 60 credit L1 science course S101 (I think the current version is S104) was at and went beyond A level in terms of scientific content and concepts, but was less mathematical than the equivalent A level sciences.

Things warmed up at L2 and L3, but there seemed to be a strategy of minimising the mathematics as much as possible in the science courses, this was certainly true for the L2: Matter in the Universe. and L3: Understanding Space and Time. These were more mathematical for sure, but the maths very very diluted compared to what one would expect for those subjects at the equivalent of year 2 and year 3 at a conventional uni.

[Hippodamos]

(Original post by *whatkatiedidnext*)
I would suggest that although hippodamos makes some good points about the OU, he is perhaps incorrect in the way he views access courses.

I did write that many Access courses are mostly continuous assessment.

[boomersooner]

If you are serious about an Oxbrige application I would have to say A-Levels.

I am a mature student currently doing A-Levels and for me that was the only route as three of the courses I am applying for do not accept Access students.

I'm not getting any younger so the convenience of being able to complete the Access in a year would have been a great advantage for me added to which I already had good A-Levels (albeit 20 years old).

It would be best if you know what and where you want to study specifically and contact the relevant admissions tutor to make sure you choose the right route.

Good luck.

[evening sunrise]

(Original post by boomersooner)
If you are serious about an Oxbrige application I would have to say A-Levels.

I'm not getting any younger so the convenience of being able to complete the Access in a year would have been a great advantage for me added to which I already had good A-Levels (albeit 20 years old).

Good luck.

I agree time is of the essence as one gets older, which is why we applied using our 30 year old A levels and OU credits taken between 26 and 20 years ago.


Good luck with your A levels.

[Picture~Perfect]

I guess it depends on what you feel most comfortable doing, where you want to go to university and what you want to study there.
I can tell you what I did, I'm 23 years old and I've just finished my A-levels. I decided to go back to school and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be and at your age its still possible to get into a school/college.

[NHAY86]

(Original post by Hippodamos)
I would definitely recommend OU study if your study skills are good and you are an independent learner. If you can motivate yourself and put in the time, then the chances are you will do well in assignments and exams.

If you are serious about applying to Cambridge/Oxford, the OU is a good route - I have an offer based on my OU study. I did 90 credits at Level 1 and 60 at Level 2, over two years, but you probably wouldn't need that many. They want distinctions (>85%) though, which is hard work considering exams are involved.

But I think that is one of the strengths of the OU in terms of applying to other universities afterwards - you have real exam experience and have been developing the skills necessary. My understanding of many Access Courses is that they are mostly continuous assessment, which is nice if you want a string of starred Distinctions but a bit shortsighted if you manage to talk your way into Cambridge and then realise you've not taken an exam since you were 18 and you have to try and figure it out at the same time as, you know, doing the degree.

I wouldn't recommend jumping straight to a Level 2 course. Go with a Level 1 course, perhaps something you are already familiar with. This gives you the chance to get used to the OU system and working on your own.

One problem with figuring out that you want to make changes in your life is that, at the beginning, you're full of ideas and plans but not yet actually doing anything. So in your mind you think "Oh I will just do a few Level 3 OU courses, work full time, do some volunteer work, run a marathon and apply to Cambridge by October." when really you might benefit from slowing down and being a bit more realistic with the expectations you place on yourself.

In summary :

If you are capable of independent study, managing your time and generally being responsible for your own education : go with the OU.

If you need more face to face support, to brush up on your general study skills, to be told what to do : go with A levels/Access.

Hi

I am also studying with the OU and considering applying to Oxford, but I have contacted 3 or 4 people in various Admissions Offices and they all say different things when it comes down to OU credits and whether they count as entry criteria.

I have just completed S104 Exploring Science, 60 points, and expecting my exam results soon but expect to get around 80%, I have also completed S155 Scientific Investigations, 10 points. This year I will be doing two more 10 point modules incluiding Maths for Science, and Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis, and a 30 point Geology module at Level 2. That will take me to 120 points.

Do you think that would be enough to satisfy the entry requirements for Oxford? As I can't seem to get an answer from the horses mouth as it were!!

[Hippodamos]

(Original post by NHAY86)
Hi

I am also studying with the OU and considering applying to Oxford, but I have contacted 3 or 4 people in various Admissions Offices and they all say different things when it comes down to OU credits and whether they count as entry criteria.

I have just completed S104 Exploring Science, 60 points, and expecting my exam results soon but expect to get around 80%, I have also completed S155 Scientific Investigations, 10 points. This year I will be doing two more 10 point modules incluiding Maths for Science, and Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis, and a 30 point Geology module at Level 2. That will take me to 120 points.

Do you think that would be enough to satisfy the entry requirements for Oxford? As I can't seem to get an answer from the horses mouth as it were!!

I found that going to open days and speaking to the actual admissions tutors personally got me the answers I was looking for.

[evening sunrise]

(Original post by NHAY86)
Hi

I am also studying with the OU and considering applying to Oxford, but I have contacted 3 or 4 people in various Admissions Offices and they all say different things when it comes down to OU credits and whether they count as entry criteria.

I have just completed S104 Exploring Science, 60 points, and expecting my exam results soon but expect to get around 80%, I have also completed S155 Scientific Investigations, 10 points. This year I will be doing two more 10 point modules incluiding Maths for Science, and Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis, and a 30 point Geology module at Level 2. That will take me to 120 points.

Do you think that would be enough to satisfy the entry requirements for Oxford? As I can't seem to get an answer from the horses mouth as it were!!

The only way to get an answer is from the relucant horses mouth but.....

I have S101 Science (60 credits) @ distinction (needed 90% then. It switched to 85% for L1 two years later) I also have M101 Mathematics (60 credits) at a score of over 90 overall, 97 % on assignments but 88.7% in the exam (hence no distinction). I have the 2nd level Matter in the Universe (30 credits) @ distinction (L2 hence 85% needed) and also the third level Understanding Space and Time (30 credits) at pass 2, likewise the third level Databases and Data models (30 credits).

The L1 M101 and S101 did not hit the same level as the old style A levels I had taken three years before starting the OU (minimum age then was 21), this was especially true of M101.

So 120 credits @ L1, 30 @ L2 and 60 @ L3.

Those OU grades plus PS etc got me 5 unconditionals from Nottingham (after interview), Newcastle, Durham, York and Sheffield (after interview). I firmed Durham.

My wife got unconditionals from York, Newcastle and Northumbria. She had S101, M101@ Distinction and Mathematics in Computing (30 credits) L2 Pass 2. She was rejected by Nottingham and withdrew her application from Sheffield Hallam. She firmed Newcastle.

Given Oxbridge turn down many A level candidates with predicted A*AA and even with A*AA achieved, I do not think it will simply be a question of academic content / achievement. It will be all the other stuff in the application and in particular performance at interview, where they will expect you to display knowledge and understanding beyond the norm for the subject you intend to study. So the question your application needs to address is:

1) Why should you get an interview over someone predicted A*AA, you can certainly achieve this.
2) At interview you need to demonstrate why you should get a place over a student predicted A*AA again this is achievable.

Back on the 11th of October when we submitted our UCAS applications I did not understand sufficiently well the funding for married students with children, if I had I would have given Oxbridge a punt at the expense of Newcastle. At that stage we held a view that we needed to head North due to cheaper housing. Would I have received an offer from Oxbridge ? Absolutely no idea, it would definately have been a punt.

Good luck and I hope you get in.