h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well. After being told one too many time that I´d never amount to anything and that I´d never get a promotion within my company because I didn´t have a Uni degree, I got somewhat peeved. Royally, in fact.
So after a few years of looking for either distance learning that didn´t cost an arm and a leg, or something local that was tailored around working people, I started looking in earnest.

Just before application deadlines at London U, September last year, I found their website, sorted everything that was needed, had it translated and notarised (you try explaining that because Iceland isn´t a former colony, we don´t have a British council, to someone who doesn´t understand what a notary does!)
I managed to sort an application, decide on a course of study and send my info off in about 10 days. I don´t particularly recommend this kind of haste, but it did work...

After having my application approved, rushing to pay all the fees, and smuggling in about 30Lbs worth of books after spending Christmas in the UK, I started studying in January this year. On May 8th, I took my exam for this term, sitting in the University of Iceland which is a partner in this programme. Of course, I have no idea whether I´ll pass or not, as I´ve not had any papers to hand in to give me a hint as to whether I´m on the right track - that´s ok though, I´ll just try again if I fail.

I´m not sure I´d qualify as an adult, but I am older than many students, turning 26 next month. The external programme offers Diplomas, BAs, MAs and PHDs which are no different from those attained by students attending their other programmes.

I think that is probably one thing that London has above Open University - it is a physical school as well so your certificate is from a school, not a virtuality.

Because I´m not getting any tuition, I´m not paying for it. So the fees are quite manageble for someone working full time, which is excellent. There are fees to be paid to the local institution that administers exams, but those shouldn´t be too bad either.

I feel really good these days, exams being over probably helps, but mostly I feel good because I´m doing something with my life, I´m taking it into my own hands to change it. After getting off to a rocky start, study-wise, I´ve managed to read about 8-10 hours a week, which is ample for one course at a time.

The thing I find it most difficult to think about is how long it will probably take me to finish - I´m looking at graduation in 2008 or so. I was going to take my certificate, have it framed and then do something rude with it to show my ex-boss that he was wrong about me. It´s not for nothing that I am Keeper of Volcanoes. But then I decided that I´d probably rather keep it myself, after all this hard work.

cheers ismarah the