Advice please- DD is thinking of switching courses

[questioner123]

Hi everyone

DD has a place to study Law at Bristol this September, and she is starting to have doubts over whether the course is what she truly wants, whether the demands and the reading will be too much and whether she is truly interested in it enough to do well and enjoy the degree. She is a worrier and over-thinker if that isn't already obvious!

She is thinking that she would be more happy and enjoy a politics and international relations degree, or a philosophy and politics degree much more than a Law degree, but is aware of how good of an opportunity she has to study Law at one of the best unis, and is aware how respectable a law degree is!

She is thinking she may like to be a solicitor after university at one of the top law firms, or perhaps work for the BBC or some broadcaster like that, or another job in the city- would it really make that much of a difference doing a degree in politics/philosophy compared to Law?

Thanks in advance.

[RedHelenB]

No it will.make no difference other than her having to do an extra year if she does want to be a solicitor. I would suggest starting off doing law and then seeing if she could swap if she didnt enjoy it

[GeorgeTheBleeder]

There is no necessity to take a Law degree to become a solicitor. She could take a Law conversion course after a different degree - that is a perfectly normal route. (Why doesn’t she know this?)

It’s not always easy at 18(?) to have a clear idea of what career to aim for. So the most sensible thing for her to do is speak to people in a position to guide her to taking the degree that will leave her with the most options for when she does make up her mind.

It’s lovely to be ambitious but I’m surprised she hasn’t investigated the various routes into a Legal career given that she applied to study it at university.

[Loopytiles]

She doesn’t need law undergrad to be a lawyer.

[Ch3rryTree]

If she's not that interested in studying law, will she enjoy being a solicitor?
If her heart is not in it now, I would say do the politics and then think about law conversion. Loads of bright kids do it that way.

[Sleepylou]

I wouldn't be able to comment on that individual course, but my husband did change uni after doing a whole year in surveying.
He realised it wasn't quite right for him and that he may struggle for employment due to the popularity of the career, he changed uni and courses to do engineering which he enjoyed a lot more and as an industry was in need of new engineers. Don't get me wrong he did a lot of research before he changed and made sure it was the right thing to do. He was however very nervous before hand as a mature student he questioned whether he could do it (he did and got a first!).
Your daughter needs to make sure whatever she ends up doing that she enjoys it. The best thing she can do to help her get the job she wants is to do plenty of work experience throughout her course, such as every summer break, be it paid or unpaid, it will be valuable.
Sorry I haven't been much help, I really just wanted to say it's ok to start something and then admit it's not quite right, it cost us time and money, but in the long run was 100% the right thing to do.

[CostanzaG]

She really needs to choose a course she thinks she will enjoy. She doesn't need a law degree to become a solicitor and the other subjects you mentioned are still very desirable and valued by employers.

Could she go and speak to a careers adviser?

[SallyOMalley]

My DH did History and International Relations then went on to do the law conversion course. Why not do a UG degree in a subject she has a passion for, then convert?

[BubblesBuddy]

Not everyone gets sponsorship for the GDL though. It’s £10,000 if you don’t and no student loan.

I would also say that if she cannot face the reading required for Law, I’m not sure she’s solicitor material at a big firm where the work ethic required will be massive. Also joint honours won’t reduce workload at Bristol either! DD did joint honours. Reading for those subjects will be massive.

DD did the GDL and that’s full on due to doing a huge number of law subjects in one year. That’s not to be taken lightly either. If the A level requirements are higher for Law, I would stay with Law. As my DD was at Bristol, fewer legal societies are available to non Law undergrads. You have to be a self starter to convert and that will have to start at uni due to less help than that available to the Law students. I would be careful given what you say about her.

[VanCleefArpels]

You say she "has a place" - does she already have her A levels or is it a conditional offer pending this year's results?

If she is doing her A levels this year and determined to change she could ditch her Bristol Law offer and rely on Clearing to find a place doing something else. But of course there's huge inherent risk in that - where would it be, what accommodation would be available etc etc

Does she actually know what is involved in Politics and Int Development? I would be very surprised if there is significantly less reading to be done than Law. Honestly if she is concerned about reading then maybe University isn't right for her? It's kind of the point.

I get that she might not know at this stage if she wants to go into the Law but if she does it's a whole lot easier and quicker if she does have a law degree. Can you afford to fund an additional year study? If ultimately she doesn't choose law, the degree is a well respected academic discipline that will lead to all sorts of finance and accountancy type careers if that's where her thoughts are heading.

What made her apply for Law in the first place? What's behind the change of heart? You need to examine this forensically and keep on mind the grass is not always greener......