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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ds doesn't know what he wants to do when she's older

29 replies

Thingsgettingstranger · 07/05/2017 17:11

I'm a friend of things and using this account to post this as I don't have one. My son is 15 and in year 10. He has no idea what he wants to do when he's older. College applications start in September and so does open days/experience etc. I was wondering if anyone could suggest anything?

He loves sport and reading. He is extremely academically gifted, preducted top grades across the board and already achieving them. He doesn't really like most science or languages or maths, but likes English, geography, pe and biology. He wants to start earning straight away but doesn't fancy an apprenticeship anywhere we've looked. He doesn't really want to go to college but wouldn't mind. No to uni. The only interests he's shown are the army (but he went off that) and hotel work.

If anyone has any suggestions I would be very grateful. Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thingsgettingstranger · 07/05/2017 17:11

Sorry, typo in title - he's

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needapickmeup · 07/05/2017 17:17

A Level English, Geography and Biology is a great combination that would open many doors but I understand if A Levels really aren't for him.
I know some primary and secondary schools offer sports apprenticeships, sort of like a PE teaching assistant/coach I believe?

Allthebestnamesareused · 07/05/2017 17:27

Maybe get some uni prospectuses to show him the vast range of Sports based degrees that are available if he were to do A levels.

There are Sports Coaching degrees, Sports Exercise and Science degrees and even Sports Design courses.

Many unis have affiliations with professional sports. My son did a Sports Exercise and Science degree and had a placement at a Premier League football club whilst at uni. Good unis such as Exeter and Bath have such degrees and I believe Brighton may have a wide range too.

If he is academically able it would seem a shame to not at least do A levels so it is easier for him to access Higher Education at a later date should he change his mind (says a person a who qualified into her profession as a mature student in her 30s!)

Original poster
Thingsgettingstranger · 07/05/2017 17:30

Thanks need. I think his reasons for not really wanting to do A levels are 1) although he's very bright, he doesn't really enjoy the school type setting and 2) he used to be bullied by a few people who are applying to the only college he is even considering.

That's good to know - he's really good with younger kids and is passionate about sport.

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Original poster
Thingsgettingstranger · 07/05/2017 17:32

HI All. It's good to know about the variety ofor sports based courses. He didn't get the chance to take pe gcse but the requirements for the college course only require a grade 5 in biology and maths, so he could easily get onto the course.

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airedailleurs · 07/05/2017 17:34

If your DS is academically gifted it would be a waste not to do A'Levels as it would open up so many doors for him. For example, the DS of a friend studied physiotherapy at Uni and is now working at a Premier league football club, might that be of interest?

needapickmeup · 07/05/2017 17:36

Is it a sixth form college he'd be attending for the A Levels or a school sixth form? I think sixth form colleges give a lot more independence and it's a lot less like school and usually hundreds of new students.

Sports science degree would combine the love of PE and biology and could definitely go on to be a teacher.

dustmotesinthesun · 07/05/2017 17:40

It would be such a huge shame to let some college bullies alter his future. I understand some bullies are vile but is there another course locally? What doesn't he like about uni. I was bizarrely anti-uni until a teacher took me under her wing and took me round one. We went to a Greek play together and I was absolutely hooked on the idea of going. There are so many opportunities out there, I think he really needs to make an informed decision about turning uni down. Not that he can't still have all sorts of opportunities by doing his own thing.

GlitteryFluff · 07/05/2017 17:42

I still don't know what I want to do and I'm 27.
I thought I did, started doing it in college and realised I didn't so left after a few months.
I'm so envious of people who knew what they wanted to do and did it.
I'm not sure I'll ever know what I want to do!

Original poster
Thingsgettingstranger · 07/05/2017 17:43

aire I think he'd really love that. I'll tell him about the oppurtunities he could have by doing a levels.

need it would be a sixth form. I know it is one of the best and there are hundreds of kids there, but my son is quite an anxious person and he was bullied pretty badly. Saying that, he's not as concerned about that reason, just the school type setting, so that's good to know! I'll speak to him in a bit about what doors he could open by doing a levels. Thank you!

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Original poster
Thingsgettingstranger · 07/05/2017 17:46

dust there's the sixth form, then 2 other colleges, but he's absolutely refused the colleges. He doesn't like uni because he doesn't like the fact that we have to pay for it (I've already told him it doesn't matter), and that he won't be earningoing a lot until afterwards, and that he isn't guaranteed a job afterwards. Also there's no unis local so he'd have to travel quite a way and he doesn't like the idea of it.

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Ilikecheeriosyum · 07/05/2017 17:49

Honestly I'd maybe take a year out and do some volunteering or paid work in what he's interested in,

Then he might have more of an idea of what he likes and will appreciate studying for it,

I loved school but by the second year if college I was burnt out with the whole studying thing,

You don't have to go straight away and the same with uni :)

GloriaV · 07/05/2017 17:49

Faculty of Nautical Studies
www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk/course-search?search_api_views_fulltext=&field_template_reference_field_lookup_coursesubject=19
I don't know about this but a neighbour's son was thinking of going - sorry don't even know if he went. But it caught my imagination and seemed quite an interesting option.

Enidblyton1 · 07/05/2017 18:03

How about journalism (if he like English, reading etc) getting some work experience at a local newspaper?
Physiotherapist would combine interests of sport and biology.

specialsubject · 07/05/2017 18:23

Career - to weave randomly about with no plan.

I know very few who have done the same thing all their lives so dont worry about that. Lots of good ideas on here, or a year out working - all jobs add experience and lessons. ( a year getting pissed in Thailand or wherever does not). Best of luck to him.

SabineUndine · 07/05/2017 18:31

Health promotion? www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/health-promotion-specialist or maybe trainer in a gym or organiser in local athletics?

shitgibbon · 08/05/2017 03:55

Based on what he likes, I'd say an environmental biology course would be ideal.

sashh · 08/05/2017 04:18

A year out?

A Levels are not the be all and end all of everything and achieving them can hinder you if you find a brilliant apprenticeship a year later but already have the 'full level 3' qualification.

he's really good with younger kids and is passionate about sport.

There are loads of things, volunteering and paid where this is useful. NDCS run holidays for deaf children but they rely on volunteers.

Loads of volunteer groups, scouts, football teams summer play schemes would like another volunteer.

Depending on where you are hotel work can be available from quite a young age, I have a relative who started work washing up in a pub on Sundays and another who worked as a waiter from 16.

Original poster
Thingsgettingstranger · 09/06/2017 19:12

Hi, just using things account again to update this thread. He's decided he wouldn't mind uni as long as it wasn't ages away. He's narrowed down his career options:

  • Social Worker
  • Nurse (child's or adults)
  • Mental Health Nurse
  • Zoo worker

He would LOVE to do social work most. We've looked into it and I'm not sure what he needs. Is it a BA degree (3 years) or does he need a MA (an additional 2 years)?

He doesn't want to do a MA as he won't receive funding for it, and wants to be working ASAP. Can anyone help/offer advice?

Also, the bullying issue has been overcome and he's planning on going to 6th form to do Maths, Biology, English Language and English Literature.

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BSJohnson · 09/06/2017 19:20

I didn't comment on the original thread, but what a lovely update! 🙂

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 09/06/2017 19:27

No idea but can tell you that you can now get funding of up to 10k for a masters degree via a student loa

Littlemisschocolate · 09/06/2017 19:48

He sounds like a lovely boy from his interest in working with younger children and from his career ideas. I would definitely advise him at this point to think about what kind of lifestyle he wants when he's older, especially if you live in a more expensive part of the country. I know lots of health and social care professionals who are skilled and work very hard but do not have the standard of living that they would like and cannot give their children everything they would like to. Obviously money isn't everything, but essentially if he has the potential to earn a good living then it might be a factor to consider.

Littlemisschocolate · 09/06/2017 19:50
  • and I'm talking about professionals educated to degree level.
Original poster
Thingsgettingstranger · 09/06/2017 20:03

Hi Little, you're right - he is lovely Smile
When he's older he just says he wants a girlfriend, a decent house, a steady job with room for hobbies/social activities, a decent car and to move out of where we live now (a cheap but very deprived area). He wants to earn 25k ish but wouldn't mind less than that as long as he is helping people. As I said, he wouldn't mind uni but only wants a 3 year BA degree and we're not sure if that's enough to be a qualified social worker.

Thank you everyone for replies

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RupertsMum2 · 09/06/2017 20:19

Ds2 left school with no idea what he wanted to do. He has autism and some sensory and communication difficulties. He took two years out and worked, for minimum wage, in a garden centre. As he rarely goes out he has saved up a fair bit of money and now has a place at university (still living at home) for September. He would have struggled to have gone straight from school but working has been the making of him and he's ready now.