Maths or English Degree?

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Maths!

You could go into virtually any job remotely related to numbers with a Maths Degree. Whereas with an English degree.... not so useful I think. Unless you're planning a career as a journalist, writer or OcUK Forum Grammar Nazi, I wouldn't bother.
 
I'm doing maths. Not sure if I would cope doing it with the OU, my lectures are frequent and essential tbh. What learning material do you get with the OU.

I would never do English. Go all a's at GCSE and all that, but I just don't have time for meaningless drivel. I do admire good screen writers though, as I like films :p
 
frakker said:
I have so far done Y162 which was a bit of a walk in the park and have my sights on doing MU123 which seems the most logical step.

You're right as well with regards to needing a natural ability with Maths. Either you have it or you don't. I think I waiver more towards the former than the latter - though not totally. So I'm pondering to myself if I'll find the stuff later on in the course ridiculously difficult and have to bail out?
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The OU and tutors are really good at helping you out. If you do start to feel that you're not grasping a subject, talk to your tutor. They will know how best to help you.

A lot of your problems are likely to stem from not quite understanding what the books say. It doesn't matter how good the are [and from experience they are generally very good] you will run into situations where the book doesn't seem very clear or there is a glaring bit of assumed knowlege that you are missing. This is what the tutorial sessions are for. It is your chance to get time with your tutor to iron out problems. You of course also have the means to email or call your tutor for help.
 
frakker said:
I have so far done Y162 which was a bit of a walk in the park and have my sights on doing MU123 which seems the most logical step.

You're right as well with regards to needing a natural ability with Maths. Either you have it or you don't. I think I waiver more towards the former than the latter - though not totally. So I'm pondering to myself if I'll find the stuff later on in the course ridiculously difficult and have to bail out?
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Personally I'd do MST121 over MU123 (just my opinion).

If you have a good Alevel result in maths and your interested in maths then you should be fine. But you really do need to have an ability and passion for the subject - especially studying part time - it starts out fine, but quickly eats up a lot of your time.
 
dangerstat said:
Personally I'd do MST121 over MU123 (just my opinion).

If you have a good Alevel result in maths and your interested in maths then you should be fine. But you really do need to have an ability and passion for the subject - especially studying part time - it starts out fine, but quickly eats up a lot of your time.
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WARNING! This post contains excessive amounts of exlamation marks. Viewer discretion is advised! :eek:

I am 2 months into MST121 :)

I hadn't done any maths since A-Level which was oooooh 6 years ago now. After doing the Revision Pack I got back in August [and realising I remembered more than I thought!] I started in October with no problems! I recently got my first TMA mark back - 97% woot!

The MathCad software you get is awesome! I am trying to work out if I can con my way into the exam with MathCad on my laptop and claim its the latest graphical calculator! :p
 
I'd pick maths only because that's how my brain is wired. Also, I always remember my English teacher at secondary school, when asking us all what we are planning to study at uni, one of my classmates answered "English" and he said "oh, so you're looking at a career in McDonalds then"...;)
 
Hmm, those modules look easy. How would i go about getting rid of a current uni module in favour of one of these? Would that even be allowed?
 
SiriusB said:
I am 2 months into MST121 :)

I hadn't done any maths since A-Level which was oooooh 6 years ago now. After doing the Revision Pack I got back in August [and realising I remembered more than I thought!] I started in October with no problems! I recently got my first TMA mark back - 97% woot!

The MathCad software you get is awesome! I am trying to work out if I can con my way into the exam with MathCad on my laptop and claim its the latest graphical calculator! :p
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Good luck fella :) MathCad is really really awful but you'll learn that as you use other mathematical software, the best (in my view) is MATLAB, with honourable mentions to Maple and Mathematica. Saying that I remember thinking MathCad was great :D
 
frakker said:
See, problem here is that I only got a C in GCSE Maths about ten years ago, and that was after a resit.

Though I was in the middle-to-top class set at school, but had an absolutely dire teacher. In my class of 30 only 8 got a C or above first time round, and out of those 3 had private tutors!

Which is why I think MU123 might be the way to go? Slowly stack the knowledge blocks up one-by-one. I wonder if I will find it too daunting in 18 months or so? I guess I could also use the credits towards an 'open degree' if it does go belly up.
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Well I can't advise you too well on that, I did MST209 and a few others really as "revision" before doing a post grad course - so I didn't do any of the level 1 courses at all. I'd certainly start slowly if you haven't touched calculus before:)
 
I'd go for maths over english, but I'd only recommend doing a maths degree if you're really interested in it and find it easy. Have you considered something more applied or are you only interested in a pure subject?
 
Degree level maths can be properly hard. I did a few maths modules in the first year of a physics degree and they were a massive step up from A level further maths or the maths needed in physics. My room mate did English, 3 hours of lectures a week says it all.
 
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Around 2 months before my MST121 course started, I was sent a revision pack. It was basically a big book covering things from powers to trigonometry. There are also lots of exercise questions and an assignment.

The assignment is sent to your tutor so he or she can see your current level of understanding, and also help with any areas you are weak in.

When I started I thought I was going to struggle, but was pleasantly surprised at how well I remembered the various topics. If you are even remotely capable with numbers I am sure you will do just fine. MST121 for me, so far, has been at a nice pace so there is plenty of time to study and get help if you need it.
 
Literature - brilliant. Formally studying literature - not so brilliant. It's kinda like Philosophy in that regard.

To an employer, an English degree is just a "generic" degree* and basically only carries as much weight as the grade you got and the place you did it at.


*although one of the good ones, like History, not like Media Studies.
 
Flick a coin. You will then either be happy with the decision of the coin, or you won't like it. If you don't like it then do the other one. The coin, doesn't decide what you want to do, just confirms what you actually want to do.
 
One more for Maths here. I got As in English for years, and badly wanted to do a degree in English - one careers advisor asked me whether I wanted to be a teacher or a journalist. I had no good answer.

Did physics instead. Do Maths, mate, you can always return to a Masters in English later on. The alternative doesn't reciprocate the same way.
 
Neither, choose physics instead, this is because you use maths as a tool. Maths for the sake of maths is pointless. At least with physics you are given a purpose, a real world value, and ultimately, employment! I know some maths graduates who want jobs in "maths" but frankly, there isn't a huge requirement for it unless you can apply it.
 
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