I know it's early but my son (14) is bright (forecast grade 8/9 in GCSE) but unmotivated and disorganised. He can produce excellent work to the highest standard in virtually all subjects, which has already made choosing options difficult, but hasn't the faintest idea what type of career he wants to do. Trouble is, though, that he is currently incapable of pacing himself, planning his homework, etc. When he knows for weeks that a particular project needs to be completed and submitted by a certain date, he leaves it to the last evening and then burns the midnight oil to get it done. We're on top of things generally and have to keep prodding him to do his homework - if we didn't, he'd do it, but it would be an all-nighter virtually all the time. He can lurch from brilliant scores to average scores depending on the type of teacher he has, i.e. whether they set and mark a lot of homework or whether they're more "hands off" and leave the kids to do stuff themselves.
We can keep on top of his organisation and time management whilst he's at home and whilst things are relatively straight forward, i.e. GCSEs, but we're worried about A levels and then his years at Uni, where he'll be expected to motivate himself and we won't be there to prod him.
So, sorry to waffle, but are there any types of degree course which are more modular and "controlled" as opposed to hands-off courses where the students are expected to motivate and organise themselves. I was initially thinking about maths/science/tech based degrees which may be more hands-on working in labs, studios, in teams with other students etc., as opposed to lectures and self-study in their rooms. I know it's early days and he's likely to change over the next few years. Trouble is, we know of a few "bright" kids who got in to good uni's but didn't really come out with much, and the common thread is that they didn't really "engage" with their course and left things too late.
As for careers, he waivers between maths/computing, dentistry and engineering.
Anyone got any pointers?
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Degree/Career for bright but not motivated?
25 replies
Badbadbunny · 04/07/2016 10:11
OP posts:
Coconutty ·
04/07/2016 12:52
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