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Original poster

To ask for career advice for my DD

56 replies

Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 08:12

my DD (16) had wanted to study textiles at uni for maybe 4 years or so. She’s into cosplay and she does OK with her costumes, but as someone who was part of that culture in my youth I know she’s ok to good but not excellent. (My childhood BFF was a cosplayer too and she was amazing).

I’m against her getting into debt for this type of career (her auntie studied something similar and barely scrapes by) and I’ve said that she should look into doing it as an apprenticeship, but apparently they don’t exist.

We went for an open day at the local college, and now she’s fallen in love with hairdressing, but the biggest problem is that she wouldn’t be able to go to uni if she takes that route (or would have to study 2 extra years to get a levels).

i genuinely don’t mind if she does that TBH but she’s obviously turn. Her dad think it’s a “subpar career” and he isn’t super happy about textiles either, but we can’t stop her.

So what would you recommend I tell her or she does? Ty!

OP posts:
Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 17:03

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · Yesterday 17:00

Ultimately it’s her decision (and debt)
If she’s been dead keen on textiles I think plan of pt job in hairdressers is good then she can decide in summer after her GCSEs, there’s no rush there will be places on either A levels or hairdressing.

That’s more or less what we think should happen (no idea what her dad thinks as he’s a lot more forgiving about it).

OP posts:
GoodGirlFaith · Yesterday 17:04

My mother and a school friend became wealthy as hairdressers so I feel your husband’s comment about it being a ‘sub par’ career are wrong. My friend, in fact, is a household name. Hairdressing is a skilled profession and extremely flexible.

Has she considered historical costume or fashion?

Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 17:07

GoodGirlFaith · Yesterday 17:04

My mother and a school friend became wealthy as hairdressers so I feel your husband’s comment about it being a ‘sub par’ career are wrong. My friend, in fact, is a household name. Hairdressing is a skilled profession and extremely flexible.

Has she considered historical costume or fashion?

She has ZERO interest in the historical side of it (which I would find worthwhile). She hates history (as a subject).

OP posts:
Holidayhappiness · Yesterday 17:12

My son did a Level 3 BTEC in art and design which has multiple disciplines - art and illustration, digital media and fashion and students choose the area they are most talented at/interested in.
He did really well and is now at University of the Arts London doing a degree in Illustration and Digital Media and there are lots of courses like that. He also looked at costume making. Arts Uni Bournemouth does an amazing one where students end up working on big shows like Bridgerton straight after graduation. There are also degrees in theatre and screen make up and hairdressing.
The Unis seem to like BTEC students as they have the practical skills.

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · Yesterday 17:19

She could also go to a few uni open days next summer for textiles, there’s no rule they need to be yr12 to go. See if it is as she envisions.

Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 17:19

Holidayhappiness · Yesterday 17:12

My son did a Level 3 BTEC in art and design which has multiple disciplines - art and illustration, digital media and fashion and students choose the area they are most talented at/interested in.
He did really well and is now at University of the Arts London doing a degree in Illustration and Digital Media and there are lots of courses like that. He also looked at costume making. Arts Uni Bournemouth does an amazing one where students end up working on big shows like Bridgerton straight after graduation. There are also degrees in theatre and screen make up and hairdressing.
The Unis seem to like BTEC students as they have the practical skills.

She doesn’t like art per se. (She even commented that the textiles teacher we met was “artsy fartsy”).

I feel like she has complete tunnel vision just because she likes cosplaying, but realistically she doesn’t like what it entails (or the supporting subjects) to have an arts/creative degree.

I wish she’d be open to study the IB as at least she’d had a decent overall education.

OP posts:
Oxaloacetate · Yesterday 17:40

Hairdressers and clothing makers can both make fuck all or a fortune. Just depends on how talented and hard working she is.

Oceangrey · Yesterday 17:44

A friend did tailoring. She went on to make wedding dresses and then work on Savile Row so I'm sure she was great. Couldn't make a decent living.

Retrained.

I'd go with hairdressing!

Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 17:46

Oxaloacetate · Yesterday 17:40

Hairdressers and clothing makers can both make fuck all or a fortune. Just depends on how talented and hard working she is.

No idea about how talented she would be with hair. Dressmaking I’d say it’s so-so (so not exceptional) and she’s overall a bit lazier than not.

OP posts:
86newnameagain · Yesterday 17:53

Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 17:46

No idea about how talented she would be with hair. Dressmaking I’d say it’s so-so (so not exceptional) and she’s overall a bit lazier than not.

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All your descriptions of her skills seem incredibly negative.

Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 17:57

86newnameagain · Yesterday 17:53

All your descriptions of her skills seem incredibly negative.

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She’s actually extremely good at debating and creating policies. As well as essay writing. She’s

OP posts:
Minasama · Yesterday 17:58

Hairdressing can be extremely lucrative, I wouldn’t turn it down out of hand. We had a hairdresser who did London Fashion Week and various shows as well as working in a premium salon in our town.

Any way to pursue both for a while and then decide?

You say she’s not that talented - but she’s 16. She may well be after learning her craft for 6 more years!

Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 18:20

Minasama · Yesterday 17:58

Hairdressing can be extremely lucrative, I wouldn’t turn it down out of hand. We had a hairdresser who did London Fashion Week and various shows as well as working in a premium salon in our town.

Any way to pursue both for a while and then decide?

You say she’s not that talented - but she’s 16. She may well be after learning her craft for 6 more years!

Edited

Unfortunately she can’t (at least not properly). That would be the ideal scenario.

OP posts:
Catza · Yesterday 18:44

Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 17:19

She doesn’t like art per se. (She even commented that the textiles teacher we met was “artsy fartsy”).

I feel like she has complete tunnel vision just because she likes cosplaying, but realistically she doesn’t like what it entails (or the supporting subjects) to have an arts/creative degree.

I wish she’d be open to study the IB as at least she’d had a decent overall education.

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Ha she considered a non-degree seamstress courses? Don't know where abouts you are but there are a lot of them in FE in London. Morley college comes to mind, specifically.

Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 19:10

Catza · Yesterday 18:44

Ha she considered a non-degree seamstress courses? Don't know where abouts you are but there are a lot of them in FE in London. Morley college comes to mind, specifically.

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That’s was super helpful, ty! I just shared it with her so she can have a look

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Favouritefruits · Yesterday 19:14

If she chooses hairdressing and hates it she can always go to uni as a mature student later on in life . I think the hairdressing route sounds a great option! It’s a great career choice as it can always be kept up on the side if she decided travel or have children. It’s a skill that’s will always be needed and won’t be over taken by AI

HollaHolla · Yesterday 19:44

What part of the country are you in/are you looking at? I can advise a bit on central Scotland.

Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 19:59

HollaHolla · Yesterday 19:44

What part of the country are you in/are you looking at? I can advise a bit on central Scotland.

Deepest, darkest Cornwall!

OP posts:
Genevieva · Yesterday 20:09

Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 10:42

They do offer it, but her mix is all over the place and she really struggles to find a 3rd A level that even remotely interests her.

so far she’d do Spanish (she doesn’t have a choice as she’s bilingual), textile design, and sociology (but it’s simply because she can’t find a 3rd option). She even considered music production but I said there was no way she’d do that A level too, as she’s shown ZERO interest in that before (and we have a full setup at home for it).

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What about graphic design and communication as third option?

NotMeNoNo · Yesterday 20:09

There are more technical, less artsy careers in fashion and clothing industry, pattern technologist, that kind of thing. I don't know how you get into them but might suit someone who's more of a craftsperson than a designer. I think if I'd known that was a thing I might have given it a go myself.

JLou08 · Yesterday 20:37

What are her predicted grades? What are her skills? It's easy for your DH to say she is looking at subpar careers but he needs to be realistic. Some people who are intelligent seem to lack an insight into how much of an advantage that is. It's not just hard work that gets people good qualifications and careers.

Self-employed hairdressers can make good money, as can salon owners. As a PP has said, the beauty industry is safe from AI which is also a huge advantage. Support her to do the hairdressing course and see where that goes. Maybe she will decide to stick with that, maybe she will still want to do textiles or maybe she will take a completely different path. Doing what she enjoys so she stays in education is what is most important at 16.

Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 20:41

JLou08 · Yesterday 20:37

What are her predicted grades? What are her skills? It's easy for your DH to say she is looking at subpar careers but he needs to be realistic. Some people who are intelligent seem to lack an insight into how much of an advantage that is. It's not just hard work that gets people good qualifications and careers.

Self-employed hairdressers can make good money, as can salon owners. As a PP has said, the beauty industry is safe from AI which is also a huge advantage. Support her to do the hairdressing course and see where that goes. Maybe she will decide to stick with that, maybe she will still want to do textiles or maybe she will take a completely different path. Doing what she enjoys so she stays in education is what is most important at 16.

She had a 7 in Spanish, predicted 4/5 for science/math, and mostly 6’s for the rest with a predicted 7/8 in textiles.

OP posts:
JLou08 · Yesterday 20:48

Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 20:41

She had a 7 in Spanish, predicted 4/5 for science/math, and mostly 6’s for the rest with a predicted 7/8 in textiles.

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It sounds like she is looking at the right careers for her abilities.

Original poster
Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 20:52

JLou08 · Yesterday 20:48

It sounds like she is looking at the right careers for her abilities.

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She was (is) very bright, won a few awards at school BUT because she was depressed about not having friends in year 7/8 she overcompensated when she found herself with a group of friends of the year above.

Even with Spanish she could have had the top grade, but she refused to revise with me (or my mom when she visited for an extended period of time).

OP posts:
JLou08 · Yesterday 21:02

Stayinganontoday · Yesterday 20:52

She was (is) very bright, won a few awards at school BUT because she was depressed about not having friends in year 7/8 she overcompensated when she found herself with a group of friends of the year above.

Even with Spanish she could have had the top grade, but she refused to revise with me (or my mom when she visited for an extended period of time).

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She is excelling in textiles, that's great. The world needs creative people. It would be pretty dull if we were all just great at the STEM subjects. Neither is more important or higher value than the other.

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