What career for Dd?

Dentistry

If she doesn't want to work in an office, what is her understanding of the world of work? I'm old enough to have been filtered at school by typist vs other roles. The working world has moved on since then. Most jobs now - even medicine - involve large chunks of screen time.

If she really doesn't want that and still wants a good income she needs to consider a trade.

Post 16 she should look at the A levels/BTECs that Interest her and see where that leads.

Although it's important to start thinking about career options, if there isn't one that stands out or that she's really passionate about then the best way forward is to choose subjects that she is good at and enjoys. As she studies these subjects at a higher level career options may become clearer. Consider, also, what her interests are outside of school, is there a hobby or interest that might lead to a career? Are there any political or charitable causes that she's passionate about that might lead to a career? Careers don't always have to come from academic study.

Stimulating, high-paying, fulfilling career is most people's goal. Sitting at a desk staring at a screen is very few people's goal. That's not much to rule anything in or out.

"She wanted to do med but current state of the profession puts her off massively"
I feel that if she was genuinely passionate about medicine then the state of the profession wouldn't put her off. If it was a vocation she'd want to pursue it anyway. But aside, she could opt to work in private healthcare, or she could work somewhere overseas with a more thriving healthcare system.

You say maths isn't her strong subject so I'd just drop it. And you say she enjoys bio, chem, psychology, and that she loves history. Could she manage four subjects at a level? That seems like a great combination of four subjects that could keep a lot of career options open later.

I studied three a level subjects, then I did a degree in a subject that wasn't available at a level, then I had a successful 20-year career in an industry unrelated to any of the subjects, then age early 40s I changed careers and I'm doing extremely well self-employed doing something else. Career paths don't need to be set.

Sorry, just seen she’s not keen on maths. What are her favourite subjects.

What about physics, chemistry, maths? Not all universities require biology A level for medicine ( at least 20 don’t). So she’d still be leaving that as a potential option after another year to think about things. I totally agree with you that medicine is not an attractive choice anymore. Teens with A*-A s at A level should do something ( anything) else.

Just to say about the maths GCSE grade, if she is a 7 then she potentially comes out with a much lower grade at A level than if she gains an 8. I will refer you to this post by noble who teaches maths and I will also say if she doesn't particularly like maths or any subject for that matter only having 3 subjects means she will spend a lot of time on those subjects both in college and on homework.

Best to choose subjects she loves because ultimately this is also about the final A level grades and where that can take her after A levels.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4007205-How-maths-GCSE-result-predicts-A-level-maths-result-important-for-grade-6-7

Forensic science of some kind?
Physiotherapy? Audiology? Pharmaceutical research and development?

This is a good website - you can browse by sector

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles

That's funny! One of my long term partners was a consultant at a top hospital and yes I saw him work up to that.

Why are you even asking if that's your view and hers of medicine.

She's 17? Honestly choose a levels she enjoys and is good at and then figure it out. I decided I wanted to be a solicitor at 21 having done a non law degree. There's no need for this panic.

If she's looking at both medicine and law, it doesn't sound like she is actually passionate about either and instead likes status and how impressive it is at this age to be on the path for either. This is fine, but I work at a medical school and these are the kids that fail to thrive once they get there.

What about dentistry - it has the pay and high grades of medicine but without the hard work junior doctor years.

Chartered Surveyor...? Lucrative in a big firm, not tied to a desk, and depending on her area of interest is very varied. Great opportunities for travel too.

(My brother is a surgeon - has actively discouraged my four children from going anywhere near medicine/the NHS)

I would say biomed, it's pretty obvious to go into lab work but also sales in industry.

I mean it's good to aim high! But almost everyone wants these things! And not many careers are going to tick all of those boxes, plus she's ruled out the obvious suggestions.

Exactly. She sounds quite unrealistic as if she wants a huge salary without having to do much work for it.

Medicine is too low paid (lol) and too hard, office work doesn't appeal ruling out law, finance, accountancy, etc.

High paid and rewarding careers all come with sacrifice.

She wants a stimulating, high paid and fulfilling career.
she would hate an office job.

I mean it's good to aim high! But almost everyone wants these things! And not many careers are going to tick all of those boxes, plus she's ruled out the obvious suggestions.

Honestly the way I'd approach this is to park the idea of identifying the career right now, follow her interests and get the highest quality degree she can so she has options at the end of it. I'd also look at ways she can develop her leadership skills if she is ambitious. It could come down to finding the right role within a company rather than a specific career per se.

I'm a solicitor and I'm in the kitchen making coffee having just got up from my desk after 2 hours solid. I won't leave until gone 6pm tonight having sat at a desk all day.

Your dd would hate an office job you said. Unless she does criminal law and she could be out at court but they generally pay very little.

Or a barrister but pupillage is like gold dust and the pay is very low at the start and doctors pay is too low for your daughter.

You have to be really committed to Medicine, and demonstrate this on the application. She could do Biomed or Bioengineering and perhaps pick up Medicine or a related field later if she wants. Maths is likely to be more expected than Physics.

Low pay as a doctor ?! When you're junior perhaps. The pay progression is rapid and the consultants carpark is full of Jags and Mercs. If she expects a 6 figure salary out of med school but virtually career pays new graduates of anything that much. Maybe finance but she hates office work having never tried it.

She's already talked herself out of med so shelve it.

Why is her mum asking mumset for careers advice? She should do what she wants to do at a level and then figure it out.