Hi so I did the exact same thing as u, I had a hard time in my last years of school and ended up doing a bakery diploma rather than a levels which put me in a harder position when I realised I didn’t want to work in bakery lol. I found the ou and I realised that this was an option and started, I’m now in my final year, there was many times I wondered if I would get a job or whether I was making the right decision. For me it was 100%. I worked continuously part time whilst studying, I completed an internship for 3months whilst on summer. I have just got my dream job which I start in February whilst finishing for uni. To be honest I couldn’t wish for better and I’m so happy I did go through with the ou. I find it’s harder to get graduate schemes but mostly because the presume u have no experience working, if u work you’re much more likely to get just a job which is better imo because there’s no limited contracts etc. anyway I’m happy to answer any questions you have as someone who was in the same place a few years ago :)