Better than expected A level results - now so confused, help!

[mindgone]

I never expected this problem, and would never have expected it to be such a difficult one!
DS has ABB offer for pharmacy in a RG uni
Yesterday got AAA.
Loves chemistry, and is now wondering about chemical engineering, because a couple of his friends are doing it, and he always thought it sounded great, but assumed it was beyond his reach.
Yesterday, he rang the chem eng dept of the same uni that offered him pharmacy, and someone (I think the HoD) said that with those grades they would definitely take him. He said he would think about it, but was warned to make a quick decision.
He is now in a real dilemma! He is swinging between taking pharmacy, taking chem eng in a hurry, and taking a year out to re think everything.

Any advice greatly appreciated. Especially as he drives me mad a lot of the time, and I think I was looking forward to a more peaceful year without treading on eggshells every day! But of course, he is my son, I love him very much, and will support him in any way I can.

TIA

[sashh]

If both courses are at the same uni call them back and see if he can transfer after a year or even a term if he thinks he made the wrong choice.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

I remember there being quite a bit of switching between courses after a term or so at Uni.

Is/was he passionate about pharmacy or was it always a compromise choice based on his expected grades?

[Gruntfuttocks]

With uni fees at their current level, can he afford to make a mistake first time round? To be honest, it doesn't sound like he was that committed to pharmacy in the first place, if he is willing to think about changing courses at the drop of a hat. Is he really keen on the university that has made him an offer, or is that also negotiable? With those grades he could apply anywhere and have a reasonable chance of an unconditional offer for next year, so I think if he is uncertain the sensible thing to do would be pull out and start again. A year seems a long time now, but it soon passes, and he could spend his time gaining some work experience and putting together a really top application.

[ILoveAFullFridge]

I would say that he should follow his passion. Having the opportunity to do that is quite a luxury and he should grab it with both hands.

Well done!, mindgonejr!

[mindgone]

He thought he was passionate about pharmacy, but discovered it by accident, and never looked into anything else, and thought himself very fortunate to be considered for it. If he got ABB or AAB, he would be happily off to study pharmacy. But because he didn't research into other avenues (despite my strongest advice, but what would I know, I'm only mum!!), he now feels he should really think long and hard and research it, because so many more doors are now open to him. He is worried about going 'off the boil' with studying and forgetting lots if he took a year out.

[Gruntfuttocks]

DD just finished a year out - she did an Open University course to keep her brain ticking over - really enjoyed it. She did something related to her future degree course to support her studies but not exactly what she will be doing, so as not to duplicate.
The advice from admissions tutors to gap year bods is always to read your A level notes in September before you start so that you are up to speed with everyone else!

[chemenger]

The thing to remember about chemical engineering is that there is a lot more maths in it than chemistry. Unless he really enjoys maths and finding mathematical solutions to things he won't like chem eng, maths underlies almost all that we do. We use some chemistry, but to be honest its pretty basic, chemists do the hard chemistry.
So my advice is if he loves maths - do chem eng, if he doesn't - do pharmacy.

[Kez100]

I think there is so many more doors now open to him that to a year out with either further study, work or volunteering would be the best option.

He can re-look at all the Universities available to him and look at courses too and what they involve. Then, apply having thought seriously about his options, and hopefully get an unconditional offer which often makes accommodation choices easier too!

[eatyourveg]

Personally I'd stick with the pharmacy and consider switching later on if he still feels the same way.

[creamteas]

As an admissions tutor I would say take a gap year and think about it.

Universities will be falling over themselves to take him next year.

Congratulations to your DC

[themottledcat]

Re-apply next year with those grades!!!

[harbinger]

It may be rather hard to keep the old brain alert for a heavy duty science degree during a gap year.

There is no guarantee that next years candidates will underperform.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Go for the Chem Eng and defer for a year or start now and switch?

[creamteas]

There is no guarantee that next years candidates will underperform

Applications with results are always looked at in preference to those still taking exams. Why would you prioritize a possibility against a certainty!

Starting a degree course you are not sure about is a waste of everyone's time (and a whole lot of money!).

[harbinger]

Yes, I'm wrong.

[Cromwell44]

What attracted him to pharmacy in the first place? When we looked at it with my daughter and thought it was a bit limiting intellectually. If he's not sure, then it's best to give it a year, do some more research and make a considered decision.

[mindgone]

Creamteas, I think you're right, thanks. Of course, he'll have his own ideas too. At the moment he seems to be swinging towards a gap year. He's planning on ringing the Pharmacy admissions tutor tomorrow to explain his situation and ask their advice, is that a good idea do you think?

Cromwell44, I think the chemistry aspect of pharmacy appealed the most, along with the caring aspect too. Also a big part of it, I believe, is the fact that it leads to and qualifies one for a career, not just a degree.

Any other points and ideas gratefully received.

[NoComet]

He needs to think very very carefully about jobs after he graduates.

I don't know about pharmacy, but I'm guessing it leads to shop, hospital and possibly research jobs all over the country.

Chem eng. doesn't. If you want a job that properly uses your degree you are tied to a very few places in the country. It cost my DF his marriage (he had a job in aerospace in the south, his chem eng wife ended up working north of Blackpool).

[mindgone]

He really doesn't know much about about chemical engineering yet, just what his friends have told him, and what he's researched in the last few days. Interesting points StarBallBunny, thanks. DH is concerned about pharmacy, as he knows a couple of people who have changed careers, out of it. Apparently we will be over saturated with pharmacists in a few years. Whilst lurking on a pharmacy TSR thread, I have noticed quite a few students getting in with lower grades than their offer, eg someone got into Bath with BBB instead of AAB! Loads of places were available in clearing too, which both make me worry about the devaluing of pharmacy generally.
Does anyone have any ideas about other potential courses/careers? He has chemistry A, biology A and maths A.

[Boosiehs]

I echo what a poster said up there. He may struggle without physics a level, and needs to realise quite how much maths is involved in engineering of any kind.

Take a year out, do some proper research and work experience,, have fun and reapply next year.

[NoComet]

I did biotechnology and ended up as a Biochemistry postgrad at a RG uni having got the then equivalent of A* biology B chem C physics and D maths (which was why I didn't end up doing physics).

I really enjoyed it, but have never used it as DD1 came along.

[NoComet]

Long ago before all A's were common outside Oxbridge and medschools.

[LongGoneBeforeDaylight]

Medicine?

[mindgone]

He really doesn't fancy medicine, which was further confirmed by attending a medicine talk at a uni open day with his brother, who does fancy medicine, yesterday.
StarBallBunny, what can you do with biochemistry? Please excuse my ignorance!
A gap year sounds great, but of course it's only a few extra months, max, to have a new application in to UCAS.

[chemenger]

Physics A level is often not needed for chem eng degrees, it depends on the individual university. Biology is useful for programmes with a biochemical engineering element - most if not all will include some biochemical stuff. The physics needed is mainly classical mechanics, much of what is taught in school physics is not relevant - electronics, optics etc so students do fine without A level or higher, with a bit of extra self-study when needed.
Chem Eng graduates work all over the UK and abroad, there are lots of chem eng jobs south of Blackpool! North sea oil production with its high starting salaries (>£30 000 for MEng graduates) might distort this at the moment but food and drink, water, and fine chemicals are distributed across the country.
As far as alternatives to pharmacy and chem eng go I think its important to remember that graduates with non-vocational degrees are just as employable as those who study things with obvious specific jobs at the end. The most important thing at this stage is to study something you are interested in and enjoy. If he loves chemistry why not take a chemistry degree? Much better to take time to find the right course than to commit to 4 years studying chem eng and finding you don't enjoy it.

[alreadytaken]

if he is concerned about employment prospects how about a 4 year course in chemistry like this one? www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/search2013/atoz/01450/chemistry-with-industrial-experience-4-years-mchem/ or go to Bath where they have a good record of getting people into employment and excellent sports facilities www.bath.ac.uk/study/ug/prospectus/subject/chemistry/

There are courses around that combine Chemistry and Chemical engineering

He might find a place at other universities this year with his grades but a gap year and a few months thinking about what he really wants might help.