- Really, REALLY want to do the course.
- Be really interested in what it can offer you
I would echo these sentiments.
When choosing a higher education course, and I'm not just talking OU here, by far the most important piece of advice I can give is CHOOSE SOMETHING YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, not what you think you are good at, or what you think other people might value.
When I went to uni, I simply chose subjects I thought I was good at in school - Economics & Mathematics. However, while I was reasonably good at Maths, and indeed enjoyed it at a younger age, what I found at uni was that it was very hard to get motivated to study degree level maths as statistical analysis, advanced geometry, and various other stuff just didn't interest me. I'd imagine it is even tougher with distance learning where there is even less 'external' factors pushing you forwards. In hindsight I should have just taken more of a risk and gone for a straight Economics degree. Anyway, the net result was that I ended up with a crap degree classification due to being let down by my Maths exams.
Some 7 years after graduating, I took up postgraduate study with the OU. This time I focussed more on units of interest to me. In theory, postgraduate study should be tougher. Yet my scores (particularly in assessed work) were much higher for my postgrad study compared to undergraduate, because I've been doing things that interest me.
So, my advice is don't go around worrying about what industry will want you to have in 10 years time. A lot can change and a so-called future proof degree won't look so pretty if you can't be bothered with it and drop out or get a poor classification at the end of it.
OK fair enough, there are probably some 'Mickey Mouse' degrees in underwater basketweaving etc that are best steered clear of, but I'd say an 'average' subject that interests you is a far better choice than a 'hot' subject that you may or may not really enjoy, chosen purely because you think it would be in greater demand.
