Prepping for My 3rd Year at the Open University

Good evening, Nooklings. It's -checks calendar- 40 days until I start studying again. Where did the summer go? It feels like it was only a month ago I was crying in my Latin exam (yes, I really did cry during my Latin exam).

This year I'll be studying module A350 Greek and Roman myth: stories and histories. I've decided to go part-time this year, so it'll only be the one module. With how much burnout I had to deal with last year, switching to part-time was an easy decision, even if it does add a year onto my course duration. This also means I can take on some volunteer work this year, and I've already found a 12-week placement and a long-term volunteering opportunity.

I've already started prepping; I've set up my academic dashboard on Notion. This is something I do each year. I keep all my notes in Notion, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes taking digital notes. The website for my module opens on September 9th, so that is when I'll be able to download the PDF versions of my books and get an idea of what I'll be doing each week. I'll also be able to book my tutorials around then, so I can pop all of those in my calendar. The last thing I'll do that day before I dive into reading my books is add all my assessment dates to my calendar.

With everything in my calendar, I'll be able to figure out when I can actually study. I use the SCONUL scheme to study at a nearby university's library, and with this being my third year, combined with my partner living with me and working from home, I think going to the library to study will be more important than ever. I usually put my SCONUL application in a week or two before the start of my module, so it's sorted for when I need it. My calendar is shared with my partner, so he will know when I have assignments due, when my tutorials are, and when my planned study sessions are. This just makes life so much easier to organise for the two of us, and having a shared calendar with your family members so they are aware of the times you'll be focusing on your studies is another thing I highly recommend.

This is all very familiar to me now, and I don't need to think about getting a laptop or any stationery because I already have everything I need. I already had most of my set books, too, but that was just a happy coincidence.

My last little note for now will be about the History Nook. I'll write a separate post to let you know what to expect throughout my module. The main thing is, though, there will still be updates, articles, new downloadable resources, and reviews, but they will no longer be scheduled for every Tuesday, as I'll be fitting things around my studies and some weeks may be busier than others.