To think DD should pick to study what she is interested in and not what she'll get a job in?

[Dovinea]

Help!

DD is 18 and is applying for uni very soon. She is very good at science and her main interest is everything associated with zoology. She says she has looked into job prospects and other stuff and says it's quite hard to find a job that would be interesting to her, so she'd mainly prefer the studying part, so she is planning on doing biomedical science, where the uni she is liking does a fast-track into the NHS year, so she can take up a job within there.

AIBU to think she should do the degree she will enjoy the most?

[abbsisspartacus]

Nope go for employability she is thinking long term which is brilliant

[WhatwouldAryado]

Absolutely employability Unless she is looking forward to a life living of independent means outside work.

[engineersthumb]

Sounds like she is making a really good choice to me. Even if she doesn't follow that specific career path a good technical degree and work experience will provide great opportunities.

[SmokyRobinson]

She sounds very sensible and smart, and i think its a wise decision. So many people I know have useless degrees and work in a completely different area (against their wishes), because they were not thinking ahead when choosing a degree course. I hope my dcs will be thinking ahead like your dd and be realistic when studying is so extremely expensive.

[Fortybingowings]

Personally I’d advise her to stay as far away from the NHS as possible. Pathway to burnout. Nowt wrong with biomedical sciences though.

[Sonders]

I can see both sides - I did genetics at uni because I found it interesting. Didn't really think through the fact that I hated the thought of any genetics-related job. I now have a job I love, not even slightly related to my degree.

Not sure what my point is, but my degree was only £10k - defo wouldn't have paid £90k for it!

[honeyroar]

She's right. I wish I'd been that forward thinking at her age.

[RaininSummer]

Sounds very sensible.

[Lairymilk]

I think she's right. I chose a non vocational degree because I enjoyed it and it never led to a graduate job. If I had my time again I'd choose employability.

[Redactio]

Sounds like she's got her head screwed on. The NHS can be useful as a springboard, but other than that I agree with Forty above.

[alittlehelp]

I did an interesting degree without thinking through employability afterwards. It's led to a lot of boring jobs! Your daughter is doing the right thing.

[SangriaInTheSun]

Dd1 had a similar dilemma. Very musical but long term career prospects were scarce unless she went into teaching, which she knew she didn't want to do.

She's doing a MChem as she enjoys science and has far better career choices. She's been able to keep playing with various bands/orchestras so has the best of both worlds.

[Duckstar]

Sadly, I think she’s right - unless you are super wealthy and can afford for her to do further study/training after an initial degree. A good biomedical sciences degree does not mean she has to work in NHS. She would still have good degree and could do a generic graduate scheme, but just gives her a good chance of employability.

[JennyOnAPlate]

She’s right. I wish I’d thought ahead at that age.

[Mayhemmumma]

Oh gosh I'm with DD unless you are loaded and she can afford to be saddled with a ton of debt, without good career prospects.

I'm a but mean though and think uni is a privilege and isn't all about the 'experience'.

[Fitzsimmons]

As someone with a fairly useless degree I commend your DD for being so sensible.

[GoldilocksAndTheThreePears]

I did A'levels in interests, archaeology and a couple of historys. Regretted it a lot. There is very very little archaeological employment! I went back and did childcare, which I was already interested in but didn't seem a great idea but turned out fantastic, until I got ill I was in pretty much constant employment, lived abroad, did all sorts!

I know from when I did consider uni I looked at lots that offered other courses with the degree, maybe not as a named part but you could do terms in other areas. Not sure if that has changed though.

[CuckooClockChimes]

She's right and making a good decision. I would personally study the subject I enjoy the most because I couldn't trudge through a subject I don't find as interesting. However, if your DD is wanting to make this decision and she's happy with it, then great! Let her make the decision

[Tilapia]

I have noticed (in the course of my work) that many parents seem to encourage girls to do something they’ll enjoy and boys to consider what will lead to a well paid career. IMO this is one reason for the gender pay gap! Good for your DD.

[NoCanoe]

I regret doing a vocational degree and not the one I was interested in. Yes, I got a job. But I feel I missed out on doing something I had passion to study.
I'd change my decision if i had my time again.
Perhaps not very practical, but I think I should have followed my interest. I could have still got to my eventual job or had a new career altogether.

[LaurieMarlow]

Interesting that this is getting very different responses from the 'should my son do Philosophy' thread.

Anyway, in this case she sounds like she has her head screwed on. If a clear route to employment is important to her, let her crack on. Unless she'd hate every second of her biomed degree, which from your op, doesn't sound like the case.

[Roomba]

I really, really wish I'd studied what would make me more employable instead of what I enjoyed. My parents were a bit clueless and school advisers kept telling me to do what I enjoyed, so I studied a subject I loved but which left me no more employable than if I'd left education at 18 really (and in lots of debt). I had to go back to uni and retrain in the end.

[abbsisspartacus]

I encouraged my daughter to think employment right from GCSE level she does drama which is her passion and the rest broad employment opportunities specialises again at a level and further for university

[Ethylred]

Zoology is fine too. Although you haven't told us which uni... Yes that does matter.

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

I think it's completely her decision.

I think everyone should study what they enjoy the most BUT it all depends on what the individual wants. If she is thinking to do other than the zoology because she isn't interested in the related career, then she is following her interests more, in a way - so while she may enjoy studying zoology she would enjoy working in biomedical science.

If one has a more enjoyable outcome for her and she finds that more important...

That said, it seems she is looking to ensure she has a career directly related to her degree choice, if she genuinely wants that fine. If she could be open, may be worth chatting about other graduate opportunities that aren't dependent on subject.

Oh, and I don't think there is such a thing as a 'useless degree' . Transferable skills and experience count!