I've been lazzy and taken this from my xanga
I don't no what to do after cracking under the pressure and miserably falling to deal with my dyspraxia I didn't do my final exams this year. I am now expolring options for next year I'm still finding stuff out from the colege my main option is to not do any lectures next year and just register for exams though there is it seems a slim possibility of me going back for lectures. My course to be honest has not suited me at all (all based on third year finals) and I did much better in the one course I did from the another department. The alternative I've though of exploring is doing an open University degree which structure I hope would suite me better. this does have its disadvanteges I'm unsure they will count all my study, it would be expensive and my parents would be unhappy. But I'm unsure if its worth pursuing something thats just not working. Though I'm trying to see it as a means to an end and I do need a degree to have any kind of a future. I just don't no what to do?
Has anyone here studied with the OU?
If so how did you find it?
Advice please
I'm very down that I've failed so badly I've always valued academic achivment so highly to try and fail brakes my heart but its hardly worth my health. but what to do good advice and sympathetic ears welcome
help and advice
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towildhoney
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Hi,
Two questions for you... what degree are you doing? Also what subject did you find better in the other department?
On the advice side - please feel free to totally ignore this if you wish!!!! I will not be offended....
Don't beat yourself up for not completing your exams.... your health is more important... you do what you think is right for you... Its a horrible time but try and see the light at the end of the tunnel... you have done extremly well to get to your final year!!!! You have put in a lot of hard work....
If this makes you feel better this term I opted out of one of my exams (because of anxiety and depression and just finding out about the dyspraxia) and in my first degree had problems unrelated in my final year... which caused big problems... so you are not alone!!!!!!!
If you have completed most of your modules, which it sounds to me like you may have... have a one to one chat with your tutor, if you can explain your situation. Tell them you have extenuating circumstances - if you can go to your doctor and ask him/her to back up what you are saying to your tutor. In all courses they normally give you the chance to sit the exams a second time. They may with the circumstances take it as an exam taken as the first sitting.... not promising, but they might.... I know when you have extenuating circustances if you are borderline with grades they go for the higher grades... Mine whent from a third to a 2:2... most at a second sitting...
If you feel everything has got to much ask them if you could do the course part time, this would give you a little breathing space... I don't know your circumstances - so trying to help with options...
This might take longer to do... but you would complete your course, take the stress off a little, let you concentrate on what you are doing and may not cost you or your parents any more....
My main concern with completing an OU course is that you may not have the support to back you up as it is all distant learning - most people I have spoken to say it is better, being at uni in person.... you may find yourself in a worse position at OU...
I am not sure that if you have studied so far that changing to another subject will hep?????
I hope this helps.... one more thing if you have good friends at uni - talk to them as well as it helps... you may be surprised that may have similiar problems and diffulties with units...
Two questions for you... what degree are you doing? Also what subject did you find better in the other department?
On the advice side - please feel free to totally ignore this if you wish!!!! I will not be offended....
Don't beat yourself up for not completing your exams.... your health is more important... you do what you think is right for you... Its a horrible time but try and see the light at the end of the tunnel... you have done extremly well to get to your final year!!!! You have put in a lot of hard work....
If this makes you feel better this term I opted out of one of my exams (because of anxiety and depression and just finding out about the dyspraxia) and in my first degree had problems unrelated in my final year... which caused big problems... so you are not alone!!!!!!!
If you have completed most of your modules, which it sounds to me like you may have... have a one to one chat with your tutor, if you can explain your situation. Tell them you have extenuating circumstances - if you can go to your doctor and ask him/her to back up what you are saying to your tutor. In all courses they normally give you the chance to sit the exams a second time. They may with the circumstances take it as an exam taken as the first sitting.... not promising, but they might.... I know when you have extenuating circustances if you are borderline with grades they go for the higher grades... Mine whent from a third to a 2:2... most at a second sitting...
If you feel everything has got to much ask them if you could do the course part time, this would give you a little breathing space... I don't know your circumstances - so trying to help with options...
This might take longer to do... but you would complete your course, take the stress off a little, let you concentrate on what you are doing and may not cost you or your parents any more....
My main concern with completing an OU course is that you may not have the support to back you up as it is all distant learning - most people I have spoken to say it is better, being at uni in person.... you may find yourself in a worse position at OU...
I am not sure that if you have studied so far that changing to another subject will hep?????
I hope this helps.... one more thing if you have good friends at uni - talk to them as well as it helps... you may be surprised that may have similiar problems and diffulties with units...
Hey towildhoney 
Sounds like your having a bit of a difficult time right now; I hope I can give you some advice that will be helpful!
Although your feeling like you have failed right now, youv obviously been doing something right to have gotten this far. If you were that terrible a student, the department would not have let you in to do honours, so dont be too harsh on yourself. My concern in regard to an open uni course is that youv already put in a lot of hard work, time and money for the course that you are still to complete- having got to your final year, if it was me, I would try by whatever means (whether it be part time, resitting the exams/ the year, switching to another major) to finish the course, even if you dont like it that much or your feeling really dispundant- just so that you come out of uni with something. Even if you choose to go on and do further study, I would finish the course, because even if its a degree that you dont really want, its still a qualifiation. I would make an appointment with your adviser and disscuss your options with him. I would also get a letter from someone of a trusted position to your department/ tutor describing your circumstances- either a doctor or a counsellor (the uni often provides counselling services) for your feelings of anxienty, stress and depression and perhaps a Disabiltiy Officer (again the uni should have some form of support for students with learning difficulties such as dyspraxia- take advantge of thier support and go speak to them!) in regards to difficulties you have relating to your dyspraxia.
I hope this gehlps and keep us all posted!
Fuzz
Sounds like your having a bit of a difficult time right now; I hope I can give you some advice that will be helpful!
Although your feeling like you have failed right now, youv obviously been doing something right to have gotten this far. If you were that terrible a student, the department would not have let you in to do honours, so dont be too harsh on yourself. My concern in regard to an open uni course is that youv already put in a lot of hard work, time and money for the course that you are still to complete- having got to your final year, if it was me, I would try by whatever means (whether it be part time, resitting the exams/ the year, switching to another major) to finish the course, even if you dont like it that much or your feeling really dispundant- just so that you come out of uni with something. Even if you choose to go on and do further study, I would finish the course, because even if its a degree that you dont really want, its still a qualifiation. I would make an appointment with your adviser and disscuss your options with him. I would also get a letter from someone of a trusted position to your department/ tutor describing your circumstances- either a doctor or a counsellor (the uni often provides counselling services) for your feelings of anxienty, stress and depression and perhaps a Disabiltiy Officer (again the uni should have some form of support for students with learning difficulties such as dyspraxia- take advantge of thier support and go speak to them!) in regards to difficulties you have relating to your dyspraxia.
I hope this gehlps and keep us all posted!
Fuzz
Goodbye, and have a pleasant tommorrow!!
I swear to drunk im not God.....
I swear to drunk im not God.....