Miserable experience studying with this university - Regrets
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“Miserable experience studying with this university -...”
★☆☆☆☆
written by anon12371 on 20/03/2015
I suppose that I am not the only person who feels that studying with this university has proved to be a mistake.
It has proved to be a truly miserable experience.
(1) Marking is incoherent and inconsistent
(2) Lack of support from tutors especially if you have a disability. They will throw laptops, and software and dictaphones at you, but they look at disabilities as one size fits all. In terms of exams, essays (TMA's), tutorials, they do not fully accommodate the problems that students might present with.
(3) Their focus on 'collaborative' group work which they insist employers are looking for. Yes employers may be looking for this.. but in a work environment. You cannot criticise the problems which present with group assignments and if you do, the course faculty or tutors become a little autocratic.
(4) It is hit or miss with tutors responding to emails regarding the course you may be on.
(5) Studying with the OU drains your self-confidence rather than elevating it.
You are better off going to a conventional university where you are not effectively teaching yourself and where you get enough contact with your tutors to help the study process.
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- anon12371's review
Peony's Response to anon12371's Review
Written on: 21/04/2015
I agree with you. I have had very similar experiences and found the lack of alternative support very soul destroying. It erodes your self esteem with your disability, so is damaging to your disability.
It was so bad, I stopped studying for a few years, but last year decided to have another go. Got through a course on my own and then decided to take a bigger course, the same problem on both courses, not one single word for me in lieu of tutorials. (I can't get owing to health and disability). Forums were fine, no bad students (some who tried their remarks were removed quickly by the course team who were very active on the forums, not experienced that before).
Depending on my results for my current course and the outcome of a complaint I am going to make, I may or may not continue, as it is very disheartening.
Eleanor141's reply to Peony's Comment
Written on: 21/04/2015
Peony I really would be interested in speaking with you about your experiences and wonder how that can be done via this forum
Eleanor141's reply to Eleanor141's Comment
Written on: 21/04/2015
BTW I am an OU student also and I have been very unhappy all in all. I wanted to complain but do not think it will get anywhere..
Peony's reply to Eleanor141's Comment
Written on: 24/04/2015
If you are thinking of complaining, and have any sort of evidence, such as emails, or telephone conversations you have recorded some of the things said, date and time of the call etc., that have taken place over the duration of your course, I would suggest you give it a go to complain formally if you have grievances about the lack of alternative help from your tutor.
I think complaints (I am not sure, I have to research this) go to the Student Casework office.
If you have any printed evidence, you can submit a special circumstances form to the course examiners as well as the exam examiners. This has to be I think within 14 days of the last TMA and so many days after the exam. (I think 14 again, not sure).
But don't let this get in the way of your completing your course, it is easy to feel upset and that can become obstructive, I feel like this myself just now and am trying to talk myself out of it to get on with the final weeks of my course.
But it can sometimes makes you feel better to give it go at complaining, as it tells the staff something is amiss, (and maybe that tutor is doing the same thing to others or has done in the past) and it tells the staff you are not getting the help they have taken time to arrange.
Fairplayforall's Response to anon12371's Review
Written on: 18/11/2015
What is it you wanted?
Anon12371's reply to Fairplayforall's Comment
Written on: 18/11/2015
Wow did you really just write that? Or can you not read?
Peony's Response to anon12371's Review
Written on: 21/04/2015
I agree with you. I have had very similar experiences and found the lack of alternative support very soul destroying. It erodes your self esteem with your disability, so is damaging to your disability.
It was so bad, I stopped studying for a few years, but last year decided to have another go. Got through a course on my own and then decided to take a bigger course, the same problem on both courses, not one single word for me in lieu of tutorials. (I can't get owing to health and disability). Forums were fine, no bad students (some who tried their remarks were removed quickly by the course team who were very active on the forums, not experienced that before).
Depending on my results for my current course and the outcome of a complaint I am going to make, I may or may not continue, as it is very disheartening.