If your DC didn't go to Uni, what do they do?

[Okki]

My DD isn't sure about Uni. Just finished yr 12. Is currently predicted ABB in humanities subjects. She doesn't know what she wants to do and doesn't want to get into huge student debt for no reason. Is currently planning a year out and thinking about joining the armed forces as a musician. If you/your DC didn't go to uni, what have you/ they done?

I didn't go to uni, DH did, so we both have different views. However, things have changed hugely since we were her age, plus neither of us grew up in the UK, so our experiences are different anyway.

My dd did A-levels then started an apprenticeship the week she finished her exams and is now a professional horse rider. She was adamant she didn’t want to go to university and so far is very happy and has no regrets.

Both my dd's knew they didn't want to go to Uni, so didn't waste 2 years on A levels.
One did a Business Administration apprenticeship at a nursery where she is still employed.
Second dd is doing a degree apprenticeship in engineering.
Both are happy with the paths they have taken.

I am really pleased they aren't saddled with debt and didn't just go to uni for "the experience".

DS is a musician.

Ds2 joined the military, was medically discharged, did a couple of years in college doing carpentry but was unable to get an apprenticeship in our area as he couldn't drive.
He then got a job in a factory and is working his way across all of the jobs, becoming more skilled and being paid more as he learns and passed his driving test.
He also gained his black belt in a martial art and is a junior instructor training a minimum of 3 times a week. He has completed several coaching modules, first aid training, child protection training etc with a view to opening his own club at some point.
He is only 22 so has plenty of time to decide which direction he is headed.

My DN, although now in uni, took a gap year, spent 2 Thirds of it working as a supply teaching assistant through an agency, then went travelling for a bit. She never wanted to work in education but said it was a good eye opener for her

My eldest DS (21) attempted uni but dropped out and started in banking. He's doing well and wants to move into the fraud team eventually.

My second DS has just finished college and is swaying toward a plumbing apprenticeship.

The hardest thing I've found is trying to give advice to them when they have no idea what they want to do.

Thank you all for your responses. Her first choice is musician in the military, but we'd like her to have a plan B in case she doesn't get in. We've looked at apprenticeships but nothing we've found so far has appealed. We'll have a look at National Trust apprenticeships- haven't come across those yet. She loves history (one of the A'levels).

She does have careers advice at college, but it does seem to be mainstream. DD is a rule follower, but at the same time, is very much an individual and happy to strike out on a path on her own without needing the validation of others.

She'll probably end up being a translator or an astronaut! The choice is huge.

For the military or self employed?

Certainly sounds like he is very much working towards a goal. Good luck to him.

It is really hard. I didn't ever really know what I wanted to do either and kind of fell into my career through circumstance. So I'm not much help 😁

One is a pensions advisor and the other manages a branch of a big bank.

My elder DS is a class 1 lorry driver. My younger ds works on a warehouse. Younger ds has good A levels including Maths but prefers to work then leave his job at the door at the end of his shift and have no responsibility. He has no DC to support so can choose to do this.

My nephew is an electrician.

Self employed musician,but a career in music in the military is a good shout.

One did a higher apprentice and the other is a civil servant. Although they sometimes feel they missed out on aspects of uni life, they don’t regret their career paths.

DS went to uni. DD is doing an accounting apprenticeship. Both doing well

Neither of mine went to Uni. Both did well at A level.
Both planned to, but decided against it.
DD did a business apprenticeship in the City then a year working in a prison. Now a mid manager in Met Police with plenty of promotion opportunities. 24.
Son decided not to go and completed an apprenticeship in joinery and carpentry.... he's now working with a very decent salary.
I didn't go to uni and was in middle management in the civil service by 25. I retired at 53.
My exH didn't go either - he's a very high earner now, having gone to college with an apprenticship then working now freelance. Well over £200k and, in his words 'I chose when I work' at 53.
Neice and nephew both went to uni and at 30 both are earning c50k (outer London) both related to their degrees ...... one size doesn't fit all

Really interesting! How did she get onto a ‘degree’ apprenticeship without A levels? Am I right in assuming this was at 16 straight after GCSEs?

In some course, you do 1-3 years Btec or something similar before entering the degree part of the course. Theres ‘lower’ and ‘higher’ apprenticeships, some requiring a- levels, whilst others don’t.

One of mine didn't go to Uni. He has his own IT business.

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Jyst looked at BT website quickly and they do a range of apprenticeships,

Friend’s daughter is going to be a Norland Nanny.

If I had my time again I’d ditch the useless degree and do a Kew Diploma in Horticulture instead. I was steered away from horticulture by school careers advisors; if I’d ignored them and stuck to my guns I could have been head gardener in a historic garden now, which was my dream.

Really good friends of ours went into air traffic control, they went from school no degree and out earn our entire friendship group and work shifts.

Amazing career path, there are so many jobs you can be trained on the job for.

Someone I went to school with joined the army at 16, as a musician, they are still there 30 years later. They've been involved in the diamond jubilee, the platinum jubilee, the Queens funeral and the coronation.

She started an apprenticeship at 16, aced it and the company carried on with her apprenticeship.

She's a really bright kid but was completely disengaged with school, her attendance in yr11 was poor, getting her to actually sit her GCSE's was traumatic for all of us. Although she had the results and ability to go into further education, it was never going to be an option.
Thankfully her company have recognised her talent and have been great with her (she is a complex, tricky individual 🫣) and have nurtured her academic as well as practical education.