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Original poster

Anybody's 18 year old not going to uni ?

47 replies

Schonerlebnis · 13/03/2021 09:34

Ds 1 has categorically said he doesn't want to go to uni. He's bright and got decent gcses but dyslexic. and hates the idea of spending another 3-4 years in a classroom. After a shaky start he's looking at a mixture of b's and c's in traditionally difficult subjects (CS, physics and geography) and he feels he would struggle academically. He's applied for quite a few IT related apprenticeships. They seem thin on the ground particularly where we live (not the south east or london) but he reckons more will appear over the next few months and he's realised he will probably have to travel into manchester to get a decent one.
Just wondered if anyone else's teen was considering a similar career choice or could give us advice. Not sure how competitive they are ? He's seen a data analysis apprenticeship in the civil service which he fancies but feels it would be massively oversubscribed which I tend to agree with.

OP posts:

NotDonna · 13/03/2021 09:50

Yes, My DD is going to be starting an apprenticeship in September. She did lots of research and convinced us that this was a ‘better’ option than university for her. But it was a highly competitive application process.
I’m sure you are aware that Apprenticeships have a range of levels. They’re not all the same. Given he’s got or going to have Bs & C’s at A level he should be applying for at least a level 4/5 (if not not a level 6 degree one). Level 2 are GCSE equivalent, level 3 are A level equivalent, level 4 first year uni, level 5 equivalent to 2nd year uni (diploma) with level 6 being degree equivalent and level 7 post grad equivalent (not usually masters but post grad professional qualification). The duration of the apprenticeship and requirements are often indicative of the level too. So level 6 ones are usually 3 years and want A levels.
I’m amazed there’s not an ‘apprentice’ thread in education as it’d be great to get others experiences.

Original poster

Schonerlebnis · 13/03/2021 10:01

Thanks for that ! I agree that there are no threads about apprenticeships or they are very old ones. Maybe the target audience of mumsnet is mainly middle class and not going to uni is not an option, who knows .

OP posts:

NotDonna · 13/03/2021 10:02

Just to add that he should apply to everything that takes his fancy. The practice will do him good if nothing else. DD had to do online psychometric tests, maths tests, situational assessments, phone & online interviews and 5 hour online ‘assessment days’ then a final panel interview for most of her applications. Most had 6-8 stages. Much more intense than applying to uni.
Hers were advertised November time I think with most of the application process taking place over December/January. Given there’s so many stages they take a couple of months to complete and once they’ve had enough applicants they sometimes close before the deadline. For some of hers there were 5000 applicants for 20 or so places. Hers isn’t IT related though. So there may be huge differences. I’d still encourage him to apply for the ‘big’ firms as well as the smaller. It’s impossible to know what they’re looking for and he may be it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

18 years old Higher education

AnyFucker · 13/03/2021 10:04

Neither of mine did and both are in decent employment with zero debt.

One went straight into employment and the other did a finance apprenticeship

University is not for everyone.

CurlsandCurves · 13/03/2021 10:05

My almost 16 is definitely not going to uni. The career he wants doesn’t require him to and he’s no interest in going.

As it stands he’s going to college and then hopefully on to an apprenticeship.

Frazzled2207 · 13/03/2021 10:08

I don’t know much about apprenticeships but I would be entirely supportive if my kids really didn’t want to go to uni. In the time that their peers are at uni they will Be able to gain valuable work experience and potentially never get into serious debt.
What I would be worried about is them living at home indefinitely though!

NotDonna · 13/03/2021 10:09

I’m guessing you’ve seen the ‘not going to uni’ website and also the apprenticeships advertised on UCAS and also on the government website? You can register to be emailed when new ones are advertised. We are in the South East so a tadge easier but I’d have thought Manchester would be good. There seemed to be loads of IT and data analyst ones when DD was looking in October/November. Hopefully more will come up as some do a rolling programme. Is he yr13?

Original poster

Schonerlebnis · 13/03/2021 10:29

Yes he is y13. He seems pretty well informed about different websites and his sixth form college have been helpful although it took them a while to digest that he wasn't applying to uni ! We are 12 miles from manchester and a 20 min train journey so apart from cost shouldn't be too difficult to commute in. He fancied one with BT but it asked for a current driving licence which sadly he hasn't got. If he could drive that would certainly expand his options as there are loads in nearby areas but difficult to access via public transport.

OP posts:

Fastforwardtospring · 13/03/2021 10:36

Placemarking for DS, currently year 12 at local Grammar doing A-levels, he is more interested in a degree apprenticeship than going to Uni, his HOY thinks he would be better suited so exploring career options, great to have a thread started!

M0rT · 13/03/2021 10:38

I just wanted to say he should apply for the civil service role as practice if nothing else.
I applied for a grad role that I didn't realise would have the competition it had and got it, they took on 6 of us from 7000!
I definitely wouldn't have applied if I had known the competition was that fierce.
I had been turned down for less prestigious roles previously so I wasn't some high flyer who naturally expected to get what I went for.
It taught me a valuable lesson in putting myself forward for things I want without dwelling too much on the odds of getting them.
You won't get 100% of what you don't ask for!
Best of luck to him!

AnyFucker · 13/03/2021 10:43

What I would be worried about is them living at home indefinitely though!

Mine have both flown the nest at 24 and 20

Original poster

Schonerlebnis · 13/03/2021 11:02

@M0rT thanks for that. He's not the most confident. Never really shone at anything. Went to a high flying primary and secondary, not selective but full of some very academically bright kids who always seemed to get the kudos. He required a scribe in his gcses and did remarkably well considering.

OP posts:

Cam2020 · 13/03/2021 11:06

Better to get an apprenticeship or at least a job in the field of a young person's choice and work up than a useless degree from a third-rate establishment, in my opinion. I think some of the universities in this country are absolutely scandalous.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 13/03/2021 11:06

Nothing really of any help, just to say I think apprentiships are great and there should be more of them. IMO uni is needed if the field is study is something like law, medicine, etc etc.

Good luck to him!

AnyFucker · 13/03/2021 11:10

With COVID in mind, my 20yo is so pleased he did not go to Uni

The last year has been an absolute shitshow for some of his friends and the resultant job prospects look extremely dire

M0rT · 13/03/2021 11:41

@Schonerlebnis I can completely identify with that. I don't have dyslexia but I was middle of the pack in an academically strong school so didn't see myself as particularly bright. I will admit I was lazy and knew I wasn't unable to achieve high marks, just not motivated enough to try
But the world of work and higher education is completely different to school.
I'm still not a high flyer but I have a good job with a team I like and respect in a company with good benefits. With luck and perseverance your son will hopefully be able to say the same in 20 years.

Frazzled2207 · 13/03/2021 11:47

@AnyFucker

What I would be worried about is them living at home indefinitely though!

Mine have both flown the nest at 24 and 20

pleased to hear. Round here there are plenty of late 20s and even early 30s 'kids' still happily esconced with Mum and Dad.

Putting aside the academic advantages of going to Uni (for those well suited), I do think it's a very powerful social experience in particular forcing you to grow up a bit and also being exposed to different people with different views etc.

Frazzled2207 · 13/03/2021 11:49

@Schonerlebnis

is learning to drive viable? Obviously it doesn't happen overnight but is a worthwhile investment. You might well live near me - I am on the outskirts of Manchester. Yes trains to city centre are ok but lots of jobs eg in Salford Quays are difficult to access without your own car. Which I don't agree with generally but that's a whole other thread.

Original poster

Schonerlebnis · 13/03/2021 11:54

Funnily enough @Frazzled2207 he has no great inclination to learn to drive. He's happy with his free bus pass which will come to an end soon and will no doubt make him change his mind. I never thought of salford keys actually, trains stop at salford crescent on the way into manchester but I'm not sure where that is in relation to the quays.

OP posts:

Frazzled2207 · 13/03/2021 11:57

It’s a long walk from one to the other but not ridiculous. If he got a job there putting a bike on the train might be an option

amusedbush · 13/03/2021 14:23

My PhD is focused on learning and teaching in degree-level apprenticeships and there are so many options out there now. A traditional university degree is not the be all and end all, and I say that as someone who took a non-traditional route to where I am now. I’m almost 31 and a full-time student for the first time in my life!

If the degree apprenticeship scheme had been around when I did my BA (which I completed while working), I would 100% have gone down that route.

Tvci5 · 13/03/2021 14:58

I have one son at uni and one who half heartedly looked and decided it wasn't for him. He got a job in customer services straight after (not great) A'levels and a year later landed an excellent apprenticeship, it was hugely competitive and I'm convinced the confidence the year working gave him helped massively, he's now a year in and very happy. Good luck to your boy!

Ludoole · 13/03/2021 15:45

My son couldn't wait to get out of education despite getting good gcse results. Aged 17 he applied for a job where I work and started 2 days after his interview. I wish he had stayed in education but all he sees is the money he earns and is happy. He is paid the same wage as everyone else including me.
It's not a great job but I'm hoping the tediousness makes him rethink his options.

LynetteScavo · 13/03/2021 15:54

Yes, DS has always known he doesn't want to go to university (dyslexic) he chose a Btec and lots from his course go on to uni but it's not for him. He did have a massive tantrum (very out of character) when his friends from school started to get offers to to various universities, but I managed to talk him through it and he taking a year off (which realistically may be less than a year) before applying for an apprenticeship. He'll need to drive to a decent one and hasn't passed his test yet, which is really frustrating as he's so ready. He doesn't even know exactly what apprenticeship he wants to do (well he does, but they're few and far between) so he's going to continue with is two part time jobs, which he loves, for the next few months. I'll be watching an apprenticeship thread with interest.

NotDonna · 13/03/2021 16:29

@LynetteScavo what area is he thinking of?

@Schonerlebnis are BT really expecting 17/18 year olds to not only have passed driving tests (when they’re constantly being cancelled) but also to have their own car? Most apprentices would be reliant on public transport & not able to afford to drive. It’s rather indirectly exclusionary.

@amusedbush interesting PhD - in your experience where is the best place to find them as they’re really hard to come by. There also doesn’t seem to be a regular pattern of advertising. Everyone knows when the dates are for uni admission but there doesn’t seem to be anything similar for apprenticeships. It’s very easy to stumble onto the perfect one only to realise the deadline has passed. DD2 is interested in a Business Management type but she’s really struggling to find anything level 6/7. The 6/7 seem to be finance or IT related.

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