To tell DD that going for Micky Mouse subjects will not land her in uni!?

[MrsSnowman]

DD is 14 and is preparing to take her options. She wants to be a nurse yet is struggling academically. Her current levels for English is 5a, maths is 5a but her science is 5c. Now when she's been talking about her options she's been saying that she'll just "not bother" with science and instead do a health and social care diploma at school and then a health and social care national diploma at sixth form instead of any A-Levels. I think she's trying to take the easy way out and I think she'll get a shock when she applies for uni.

AIBU and out of touch?

I agree with adrenalinejunkie! Please get her to do some work experience first!

I desperately wanted to be a nurse when I was her age, and my two weeks school experience was in a fascinating burns and plastics ward. I loved it!

I then went on to train as an auxiliary nurse and actually WORKED in a hospital. The it really hit home that this wasn't for me. I ended up having a complete turn around during my a levels, and nearly ended up having a breakdown, as I was too scared to admit I didn't want to do it anymore.

This is nearly 20 years ago, and such health and social care courses didn't exist... so I was doing a levels that were relevant else where, thank god! Now I work in Finance!

or that working in another caring role is inferior to a graduate profession - surely we have a great need for good carers and if that's what someone wants to do, and would be good at and feel fulfilled by, I wouldn't want to put them off.

Abso-bloody-lutely! Its really quite tragic that such valuable occupations are undervalued in our society.

Bovrilon you make a good point about the reality. I hope the OP's DD has had the shift system explained to her, the salary levels she can hope to obtain, what sort of ongoing training she'd be expected to undertake, etc - these are defintiely things that should factor into such a niche diploma choice if she doesn't do A-Levels. great if she wants to do it, but i'd hope her school/parents have pointed out some of the careers websites that offer a real insight into the practical side of the choices she's about to make...