Study Support

The survey has been comissioned as part of the Pound in Your Pocket campaign and poses questions about how students fund their living costs while studying, and about the support they receive.
 
NUS are particularly keen to hear from part-time students at The Open University as far too often national policy is developed with only full time undergraduates in mind. NUS wants to hear what you think works well, what needs to change and about how you are supported.

Those taking part in the survey will be entered into a draw to win a cash prize of £500 or one of t10 runners up prizes of £50. The survey should take around 20 minutes to complete and can be completed confidentially.

• Take the survey
   

“Studying seems pointless when you think you’re dying of a terrible illness,” says OU student Ailsa Roddie. She’s working towards a psychology degree, in part to pursue a career in the field, and to help cope with the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and hypochondriasis she was diagnosed with as a child.

“I was diagnosed with OCD and hypochondriasis – an OCD spectrum disorder – at the age of five or six-years-old. At its peak, I used to stay up all night washing my hands, I refused to eat because I was afraid of being poisoned and I avoided ever swallowing because I was afraid of germs.”

“I experience more distressing symptoms episodically, maybe every couple of years, and these symptoms have evolved over time. True to my hypochondriasis, though, a few days or weeks after hearing about an illness in the media I may start to notice symptoms and become convinced that I have it. The unfortunate thing is that extreme anxiety actually produces real symptoms to the extent that the doctor is compelled to take me seriously. 

Distorted thinking
“I may also be troubled by ‘intrusive thoughts’. For example, if I go into a shop I may become terrified that I will shoplift and be unable to get the idea out of my mind, although this is not something I have ever done or would want to do. After I have paid, I still worry that there is something in the bag that I forgot to pay for and I half expect that security will appear and accuse me.

“If this kind of distorted thinking goes unchecked, and I am constantly worried about being terminally ill or guilty of a crime I might somehow have unwittingly committed, extreme anxiety becomes depression.”

'The idea of studying psychology was a direct result of my recent experiences with OCD. When I was experiencing a lot of difficulty, researching OCD and depression helped me to understand what was really going on and find ways to cope with it'

Ailsa, who’s in her early 20s and lives in Edinburgh, is studying towards a psychology degree with the OU, currently doing DSE212 Exploring psychology. She values the flexibility the OU offers, allowing her to cope with her illness, volunteer and follow her passion for theatre as well as working towards a future career clinical psychology, at her own pace.

“This course is a way for me to test my interest and aptitude. It is also the first step towards a degree that would make me eligible for the Graduate Basis Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society, which I would need to go on to study clinical psychology.”

Ailsa already has a BA in Economics and Theatre Arts from Cornell University, and is studying psychology part-time at the OU while also volunteering. The subject is helping her learn more about mental illness and how the brain works, but it can sometimes be an additional cause of anxiety.

“The idea of studying psychology was a direct result of my recent experiences with OCD. When I was experiencing a lot of difficulty, researching OCD and depression helped me to understand what was really going on and find ways to cope with it. It also turned out to be fascinating and in turn opened the door to other areas of abnormal psychology, which lead me to start reading about psychology in general.

Fear and focus
"Having said that, there is a surprising amount of overlap with my previous studies in economics and theatre, and I have always had an interest in the psychological aspects of these, for example, in behavioural economics and in the performance of identity.

“In a period of high anxiety, concentrating is difficult. Studying seems pointless when you think you are dying of a terrible illness, and it is difficult to focus on anything other than this fear. I now realise that it is more effective to take a step back and do whatever is necessary to feel well before trying to tackle studying sometimes. Spending time on it without getting anywhere is not only pointless but generates further anxiety.
 
“Another problem is that I find it difficult to read about illnesses of the brain, which are useful for understanding how the brain works and figure significantly in the course. I suppose this is not unlike the famous ‘medical student syndrome’ and I hope that with exposure it will pass. Exposure is a very useful tool in dealing with OCD.”

'It's inspiring to be around people who take their individual challenges in their stride and just don’t let anything stop them'

The OU offers support to students with disabilities and Ailsa has been up front about her diagnosis.

“I decided to declare OCD as a disability because I had to take a break from previous studies as a result of it and thought that maybe if I had been open about what problems I was having sooner, there might have been another way forward.
 
“The OU got in touch with me to clarify what they could do to accommodate me. I suggested that if a period of high anxiety were to cause me to fall behind I might receive help to catch up. The lady I spoke to, who was unbelievably kind and understanding, suggested that my tutor could take the initiative to get in touch with me if there appeared to be a problem and I agreed.”

Aside from studying, Ailsa volunteers to help get an insight into psychology careers and finds it “inspiring to be around people who take their individual challenges in their stride and just don’t let anything stop them”. She also blogs.

An honest approach
“I have created blog templates in the past but I never got around to actually updating them so my blog about mental illness is really my first. It definitely helps to focus my mind. If something is bothering me, I find it is easier to carry on with what I need to do once I have figured out exactly what it is, typed it up and sent it off into the ether.
 
"It has other functions too. For one, deciding to be honest about my experiences is my way of trying to let go of the shame that I carry with them. Secondly, it helps me to keep track of how I am thinking, which can change quite dramatically depending on whether I am anxious about something or not, and learn from it.”

Find out more:

• Study with the OU – Psychology
• Read Ailsa’s blog, It’s Psychosomatic
• Support for students with disabilities

Happy New Year everyone! I certainly hope you all had a good one and that you’re all refreshed and ready for the year ahead, because I can feel already that it’s going to be a belter!

'My epiphany came when I realised that the problem isn’t my lack of motivation to study, it’s the setting in which I’m trying to do it'

In the past I’ve always tried to make Saturday my ‘study day’. Gordon is usually at work on Saturdays so it gives me the whole day to get stuck into my books, but it rarely works. I end up doing the washing or finishing off the odd jobs we haven’t managed to get done through the week so I’m lucky if I get a couple of hours done. So that clearly doesn’t work.

My epiphany came when I realised that the problem isn’t my lack of motivation to study, it’s the setting in which I’m trying to do it. If home wasn’t so filled with distractions I’d probably be able to do more but since I can’t take the distractions out of my home, I’ll have to take my home out of the study equation.

So I decided to try something completely different for me. I dropped Gordon off at work at 9.30am on Wednesday 28th December, hopped on the Metro into the city centre armed with my books and made my first ever visit to the City Library. I found myself a nice empty desk on the sixth floor and plonked down intending to spend the entire day there. I was hoping that if I was sat in a nice quiet library without a computer I’d be able to concentrate better and maybe manage to get through a full chapter before the end of the day.

Something incredible happened. I got through THREE chapters. In fact, I had to leave the library early because I got so much work done I finished the book and had nothing else with me to study! I absolutely couldn’t believe it! On the Friday I tried a different version and rather than traipsing through to the City Library I went to the library which is a mere two minute walk from Gordon’s work and this worked just as well.

'For the first time in a long while I actually feel really positive about my forthcoming studies'

The benefits of going to this smaller library are excellent; for starters it saves me a £2.10 return Metro fare to town. It also means that I can call into Gordon’s work to have my lunch with him which saves me the £5 or so I’d have to spend in town to get something and it takes me away from the lure of the city centre shops (they’re not that much of a lure but there’s a well know CD and DVD shop just around the corner and that’s my Achilles’ heel). The only downside is that it closes at 5pm on Saturday and Gordon doesn’t finish until 6pm but there’s also a supermarket right next to it so I’m thinking in that hour I could go and do my weekly shop so it kills a couple of birds with one stone.

I know what you’re all thinking; what’s so interesting about going to the library to study? I know, I know, but I’d just never thought of doing it before and it REALLY WORKED! It’s just the perfect plan, Gordon’s at work every Saturday so this means I get a full day of real studying done each week without having to steal from the rare time off we do get together.

For the first time in a long while I actually feel really positive about my forthcoming studies. Such a simple solution, practiced by no doubt thousands of other students already, but this is not only going to help me keep up to date it’s also going to save me money by keeping me entertained/engrossed for what can otherwise turn into a wasted day. So I have to do my washing through the week instead, no big deal. So I have to work those odd jobs around making the tea on a weeknight, no big deal. So I have to do my food shopping in a quick hour once a week only, no big deal, in fact, brilliant because it’ll help me keep track of my spending a bit better.

Epiphanies eh. What a revelation.
 

Well it’s a year since the last one (my attempt at a rhyme)
And my god has a lot happened during that passing of time
For starters I’ve finally finished it, my long-running BSc
Yep, it’s done and dusted now and I’ve been given my precious degree

But even though it’s done, and I could’ve called it a day
I’ve continued with my studies so that one day I may
Be even more proud to say that I have an MA
And that my yearning for learning always with me, did stay

The OU has tarred me with a desire so strong
I can’t see me reaching the end of this road I’m now upon
I’ll keep on walking it til the day I can no more
With an alphabet of suffixes trailing behind me on the floor

Oh what a lovely thought, that I’m now part of the elite
Who belong to the OU Alumni, and I tell you it’s no mean feat!
Us OU lot, we’re strong you know, we don’t rest on our laurels
We want to do better for ourselves, we clearly have good morals

But anyway, I digress, my progress is good,
I’ve done a lot this last year, even more if I could!
I can relax well at Christmas, safe in the knowledge
That all along I knew I didn’t miss out by dropping out of college

I can scoff down mince pies and top them with cream
Then sleep well at night and contentedly dream
About waltzing the graduation stage in my PhD attire
And wondering if I can make my parents pride peak any higher

I’ll get there you know, I think I’m finally starting to believe
That anything’s possible; whatever you want you can probably achieve
It just takes the effort to get up off your bum
Cos if you sit on it too long you risk it going permanently numb

But look, I’ve done it again, digressed, jees my attention is shocking
It’s a wonder I ever manage, my abilities as a student deserve mocking
But then no body’s perfect, I know we all have our quirks
But at least I finally made it to postgrad and that’s one of the perks

Of sticking to my guns and keeping my focus on the ‘prize’
Although it’s hard when you’re this lazy, I’m not gonna lie
I mean I failed for cripes sake, had to resit!
But I was determined to finish so it’s done now, that’s it

I get to raise a glass, at Christmas day lunch
And silently toast my own success whilst I gleefully munch
On that feeling of satisfaction you can only really achieve
By keeping your eye on your end goal, and having the strength to believe.

I mean look at me; what I started from compared to where I am now
I’m no model student – I’m clearly very average and that’s how
So much of what I say seems to resonate with you all
Hey check it out – we’re in the majority – we can all stand proud and tall!

Christmas is the chance though, if only once in the year
To feel proud of yourself and show that you care
About the long road ahead because life’s a wonderful thing
And we’re making the most of what an education can bring

So I raise a glass to you all, my wonderful OU buddies
And I wish you all the very best in your ongoing studies
I may see some of you next year, on our graduation day
So if you spot me, give me a nudge and be sure to say hey

But for now I’ll leave it there, I think I’ve waffled for too long
Maybe next year I’ll take music and instead do you a song!
Merry Christmas you lovely bunch, I bid you all festive cheer
But take good care of yourselves, I want to see you all again next year...





 

Does anyone else have the same problem as I do? Does anyone else just want to study EVERYTHING!! When I was in school I always wanted to be a vet but I was rubbish at science so I quashed that idea fairly early on. Midway through high school I decided that philosophy was my kind of subject and said that if I ever went to uni I’d study that. So I did. My second and third OU modules were philosophy ones and I teamed them with social science modules as it seemed a logical thing to do and a fairly logical transition.

But the trouble is, much as I like philosophy and social science, there are too many other subjects I’m ALSO interested in. I’d really like to study astronomy and anthropology and psychology and English language and... well, the list goes on as I’m sure you can imagine.

The OU has been great for letting me indulge in whatever takes my fancy and the Open Learn snippets are just so superb for giving you a taste of other subjects but it’s still just not enough for me. I’m barely a couple of months into my masters degree and I’ve already been looking on the university website thinking to myself that I maybe should’ve taken such-and-such other MA course instead; the trouble is I’ve seen a good half dozen other ones which I think I would’ve liked too.

I’m just so horrendously fickle. My attention span is pathetic and I want a piece of everything going which is why, I suspect, I get myself so involved in other things too, to try and keep my interest in more than one thing at once. Although it has to be said, I do really enjoy writing and have made a vaguely serious effort to start thinking about starting to plan the first efforts at writing a book (note how many levels there are to my planning process... That’s about how ‘vaguely serious’ it is).

I’ve tried to turn my OU studying into more of a ‘hobby’ now that I’ve finished my BSc but with fees going up I’m not sure how plausible that will be in the future. Maybe when my MA is finished I can find a way to continue on and maybe convert my BSc Open into a named degree (although that in itself will be a challenge picking what to convert it to!).

I’m sure I’m not the only person interested in more than one subject though. How did you all decide on your final area? Was it something to do with your job or future career or was it for purely pleasurable reasons? Please put my mind at rest and reassure me that I’m not the only fickle multi-interested student out there!