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

Thank you. Yes I agree.

Has he applied for Disabled Students Allowance? It's worth exploring this and the support the university can offer. It is late to be applying for it now for a September course start but useful to get an idea of what is recommended/ available.

With being a serious sports person my thinking would be uni is an advantage if it frees up time for training. If it won't do that then maybe now isn't the right time.

That's a lot of debt to do something his heart isn't in

If he wants to excel in his chosen sport he may need to compromise on his reluctance to leave the area.

Could he aim to get some work experience in his local community re: environmental science? Is he coaching his sport?

Going to Uni doesn’t sound like a priority for him. He needs to go with his gut instinct.

My son went to uni and wasted three years doing the bare minimum. Quit just before finals with £30k+ of debt. He really should have got a job and not followed his friends. He was very bright at school but without the structure of school he procrastinated and walked out way too late. I had no idea.

University was never mentioned by teachers or parents when we were at school, let the lad work things out for himself, why the pressure?

Nobody who got a D in a subject should be studying it at university. Period.

It’s really not worth it. He’ll struggle academically and waste time and money.

Give up on University for now. Can he go full time in his job or dedicate more time to his sport?

My brother went to uni to do a course he wasn't that interested in. His A-levels were better than your DS's. He ended up failing and repeating his first year, then failing his second year and dropping out, with as much debt as if he'd graduated from a three year course but with no degree to show for it. And that was in the days when tuition fees were "only" £3000 per year.

14 years later, he probably earns about £30k a year (I'm not sure exactly) and he still owes more than he originally borrowed due to compound interest.

I think the chances of your DS actually graduating with a degree in a subject he only got a D in at A-level are incredibly low.

He should forget the idea of uni for now and look for a job he enjoys and which suits his skills, which doesn't require a degree.

He can always go to uni later as a mature student if he figures out what he really wants to do.

Unless he is going to a university which specialises in his sport what is the point?

I wouldn't encourage him to do a subject he only got a D in- he will get bored and/or out of his depth quickly.
Being a professional athlete really isn't viable unless he is competing at a national level already, maybe suggest he tries a sports related job, such as shop assistant in a shop or working in a gym. He needs to have a good think about what sort of job he wants.

He does compete at national level.

I got an A in his mock. Not sure what happened in the real thing.

A uni where you can do a degree in a subject you only got a D in is unlikely to be very good either academically or on the sports front.
If he's serious about his sport he should choose the uni based on the facilities they offer for that sport. Unless it's Oxford, Cambridge, UCL or Imperial, he's very likely to get a reduced offer if he plays at national level.
He can see his girlfriend at weekends - at 19, she's unlikely to be a forever partner.
Which sport does he do?

Just bookmarking. Having no success at finding anything for ds2. 😢