Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do you have a ds age 14-17? What are they thinking about doing after leaving school?

73 replies

Tumtr · 26/01/2024 18:48

Just curious and looking for ideas as ds hasn’t any idea currently. He seems to be quite good at most subjects, not particularly drawn to anything.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 26/01/2024 18:51

A-levels and then Uni. Delays any big decision making for a while, gives them a bit of time to focus in on what they want.

sunshineandshowers21 · 26/01/2024 18:59

my 16 year old is going to be working at my brother’s fencing and driveway company. he’s not academic in the least, and doesn’t want to go to college or uni. he already works with my brother a couple of days a week when he’s not doing schoolwork (he’s homeschooled) and he loves it. he can’t wait to work full time and start earning money!

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 26/01/2024 18:59

DS wants to be a pilot in the RAF. He understands it’s tough competition but he’s doing everything he can to make his dream come true and his back up plan is mechanical engineering also in the RAF.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Ponderingwindow · 26/01/2024 19:02

Going to university.

Every child on both sides of our extended families goes to university. The last person who didn’t was 93 years ago. I’m sure someone will defy tradition at some point, but I’m happy it won’t be my child.

DD wants to get a PhD in a biology related field. She is still working on narrowing down exactly which one, but she has several more years before she has to winnow it down further.

LoveSandbanks · 26/01/2024 19:09

Ds wants to be a vet. He’s off so study animal management next year

Multipleexclamationmarks · 26/01/2024 19:14

Dd in year 11 doesnt know but she'll be doing A levels in the subjects she loves, art, drama, English.
Ds year 9 wants to run away with his band and tour the world. I encourage him to the hilt.

They're young, they don't need to have it all planned out yet, I just want them to do what they love.

LaChienneDesFromages · 26/01/2024 19:14

DS is a little younger (13.) He is interested in being a sound and lighting engineer and has been since he was eleven. We’ve visited a sound effects studio and also a friend of a friend who does this for big concerts and he’s even keener now! He has ADHD and mental health struggles, and speaking to our friend who overcomes similar challenges really helped him to know he could to it.

DD15 hopes to study physics or maths at university. Possibly engineering.

DD16 is interested in joining the clergy, and hopes to do a philosophy and classics degree (Greats, like her dad) first. We have no family history of joining the clergy (only vaguely Christian, apart from DD), but if that’s what she wants to do, we’d be incredibly proud!

HalloumiGeller · 26/01/2024 19:16

My son is almost 14 and has absolutely no idea, but then i don't expect him to at this age tbh! I have told him that he will go to college and do whatever course he wants, but he isn't expected to go to uni unless he wants to.

Tuelanak · 26/01/2024 19:18

I had no clue until I was quite a bit older, neither did most of my friends. Many of those who thought they knew what they wanted to do ending up doing something completely different. I had very vague ideas at 18.
If he still doesn't know by then, I think there are universities that offer general modules in the first year and allow you to pick what you want to specialise in in the second year. A bit like in the US

Hellocatshome · 26/01/2024 19:18

DS1 is 16 has left school he did his GCSEs last year he is working as an automotive manufacturing apprentice and it has been the making of him.

DS2 is 14 and hasn't got a clue.

Original poster
Tumtr · 26/01/2024 19:26

Thanks. It’s lovely hearing all their hopes and dreams . I hope everything goes well for them

OP posts:
Rarewaxwing · 26/01/2024 19:27

DS2 has applied to study animal care. He's been home educated for his secondary-school years (autistic and found secondary school stressful).

Bectoria2006 · 26/01/2024 19:30

My 14 year old DS wants to be a barber and travel the world cutting footballers hair 😆

My 16 year old DD has just applied to do catering at college and wants to specialise in baking and patisserie.

Strangely they have both always done really well academically and I would have thought they’d go to university.

i don’t care as long as they are happy and work hard. When I was their age I wanted to be an actress 🤣

Mushroomwithaview · 26/01/2024 19:35

DS is 15.

He doesn't have a passion or life path yet, and that's absolutely fine.
The 'holding' plan in case inspiration is late to strike is to do a degree in accounting or finance. He's good at math and that will be useful regardless of what he ends up doing.

My older daughter has a similar plan - no definite idea so get a degree in something absolutely solid and use that to proceed when life's path becomes more clear.

ConsuelaHammock · 26/01/2024 19:42

My son would like to be a farmer.

StationManager · 26/01/2024 19:42

DS has wanted to be a train driver since her was about 3.
He has a conditional offer to study engineering at college after GCSEs.
He will also apply for a young rail apprenticeship with a local train operator when that opens for applications in the spring.
I'm so glad he has a passion and focus and knows what he wants. I was totally lost as to what I wanted to do at his age. It led me to be "easily distracted" and I made some rather poor choices in my late teens!

MissyB1 · 26/01/2024 19:43

Ds would like to go into 6th form and do A levels, then hopefully do a degree apprenticeship. He’s been looking at Airports (he’s had a long term obsession with airports!) Most of them offer degrees.

dailyduel · 26/01/2024 19:46

DS is 15 and will be applying to join the army in the next few weeks.

RagzRebooted · 26/01/2024 19:49

DS16 is at agricultural college doing forestry and arboriculture then will get a job in that.
DS17 is doing A levels then training to be a bus driver, then later on either work up to management or do a degree or degree apprenticeship in transport management.
DD14 will do A levels then currently planning to do degree in either anthropology or forensic anthropology and then a masters.

RandomQuestionOfTheDay · 26/01/2024 19:55

DS age 14 wants to be an MP. An unusual choice!

Choosing his options at the moment and picking the subjects he’s passionate about.

Meadowfinch · 26/01/2024 19:55

DS is in GCSE year. He wants to take a'levels Maths, Physics and DT. With the aim of a degree in some sort of engineering.

He likes problems. He'll be the person who works it out what to do when a wind turbine or hydro-electric plant doesn't fit. 😊

daffodilandtulip · 26/01/2024 19:56

DD is doing A Levels and has 5 offers for the Masters in Natural Sciences for Sept.
DS is doing GCSEs and wants to do either A Levels or BTec then Degree Apprenticeship something computer/businessy.

Jeffjefftyjeff · 26/01/2024 20:25

DS is in 6th form and will probably go to university but isn’t fixed on this. Of his friends- one going in to marines, one going in to army, one works on a farm, one training to be a tree surgeon, one wants to do something with cars, one wants to be a physio. A lot of the rest don’t have a clue what they want to do!

Guitarbasher · 26/01/2024 20:36

My 17 year old is going to uni to study engineering. He is very focused on earning big bucks and is very driven (he also has his own business, plus works a another job at weekends) so not sure where this will all lead.

TimeForBedSaidZebadee · 26/01/2024 21:31

Dd is currently doing A levels and plans to join the police force and ultimately become a dog handler.

Swipe left for the next trending thread