At wits end with son who doesn't know what to do about university

[CanterburyBells]

He's due to go to our local uni in September to do Environmental Science after taking a gap year. He only got D at A Level in the subject but got enough UCAS points to get in. He's a keen athlete and would love to be a professional athlete. But the reality is that may not happen. He's got a serious girlfriend and definitely doesn't want to go to any uni other than our 2 local ones.

He doesn't know if he wants to go to uni, or what career he wants. Time is running out. I'm at a loss as to how to help

Do people take more than one gap year? Will the uni need him to reapply?

He can ask but they may say reapply.

Here’s some example sports apprenticeship ideas

www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/leisure-sport-and-tourism/sports-apprenticeships

Some live vacancies

findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses?keyword=sport

Might be better doing a Sports Science degree

This one looks good. You’d have to see where they are.

findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/446?distance=10&location=

Uni's generally allow a one year deferral max. He can ask for a further year but they'd be unlikely to agree without a good justification

University is hard and, at his age, three years is a long time. If his heart is not really in it, he’s unlikely to stick it out for 3 years and/or pass all his assessments. Then he will have incurred debt and complicated his ability to apply for funding for other courses in the future.
It does sound as though his interests lie in sport. There are sports science courses he could take. He could look at the large gym chains to see if they have training opportunities. It really would be better to spend another year thinking about what is right, rather than heading off to do something he will find challenging but has little enthusiasm for - and running up debts while he does it.

It doesn’t sound like uni is for him given the combination of low grades and lack of motivation. Was it his choice to actually apply?

Why doesn’t he look at becoming a gym instructor and maybe even a personal trainer as studying for those qualifications will support / help him with his sport so hopefully interest him and then he’ll be working in an area that aligns with his interests?

Has he been working for the last year or just had 'time out'? How long has he been doing his landscaping job? I would expect a year working to have focused him more on study or work.

if he likes the outdoors and is physically fit. has he considered work like this?
Maintenance and operations engineering technician - Control & Instrumentation Technician / Skills England

my very sporty son is an insturmentation technician, excellent pay and lots of outdoor work.

I'd say if he doesn't know whether to go to uni at this stage, he's made the decision not to go

He's been working part time since college ended. Gets on well with his boss etc. I really feel for him, as he's overwhelmed by trying to decide what to do.

Please don't feel pressured to have him go to university to do a course - any course - because that seems to be the done thing. If he's not sure, then he needs to keep on with his job and look to build a career around sports e.g. gym instructor, personal trainer, lifeguard etc. He doesn't need to do an apprenticeship to gain qualifications that will help him progress.
It might be worth him hearing from you that he can choose to not go to university and to let the course place drop. University, even when living at home, is too expensive to do if your heart's not in it. Not to mention using up tuition fee years. Far better to work now, figure out what he does want to do with his life, and if that involves university a few years down the line, so be it.
You've had your time and it's time for your son to have his. Back right off and make sure he knows you are supporting him in whatever decision he comes to.

He really doesn't need to be overwhelmed. Have you explained to him that there's no rush? It's not some sort of weird competition as to who can finish uni the soonest or who can go to uni. Life's about doing what's right for him. If he doesn't know yet, then keep doing what he's doing until he does know.

See a career guidance expert?

Does he like the job he is currently doing?
Is it secure and he can work there as long as he wants?
Yes to both.....then stick with the job.
If he changes his mind in a year, 5 years or 45 years he can still go to university then.

Yes I do agree with you. What the tuition fees quota?

Why environmental science? Does he think so because its very loosely related to the work that he had been doing? I would argue that something like Agritech or an apprenticeship would be more advanteous than ES possibly. Although it sounds like he enjoys sports more.

Only subject he had any real interest in at school apart from sport. He's not the academic type but they (school, college) drill in in to them that unless they get a degree, life will be worse!

Might he be happier doing sports science? Or working part time and training in his chosen sport. How good is he? By that age, if he has professional potential, won't he have experience at county or national level and know some coaches who would give him advice?

As PP have said, there's no point in a teenager getting into huge debt for uni if they are not academically able and really passionate about the subject.

That is the problem here.
Schools shouldn't being saying such crap.

He doesn't need to feel overwhelmed. It really sounds like he isn't ready for university.

Re the dyslexia - there is support available, but if he isn't able to study independently then university is not for him right now. It isn't like school where teachers remind them about homework and deadlines. The onus is on the student to check their emails daily. Work that is handed in late has marks deducted.

DD's university deducted marks by 5% per day for late submissions if the student hadn't negotiated an extension.

Which is TOTALLY untrue

With kindness, perhaps you could guide him more or find someone else who can.

He really does not need to be stressing about this

I wish schools would drop the narrative that everyone should go to university. They do it to look good, but it isn't in the best interests of every student.

If his passion is sport, why is he not pursuing a sport related degree course?

He's thinking about it. He trains regularly, competes for the county and at national comps. He'd rather be the athlete than the coach!