AIBU to think DD shouldn't plan on doing 2 degrees?

[PoppyHills]

DD has always wanted to be a social worker. It's been her life goal for years. She started looking into it and it often requires some kind of experience, etc. she says she doesn't think she's old enough to do it she is doing Psychology, Sociology, Maths and Biology A-Levels.

She has changed to wanting to do biology and is planning to go off in September to do it. She then says that later on she can do social work when she has life experience, but is that really a good idea? To plan to do 2 degrees? I have said why doesn't she get a job now and get some experience and go off and do social work later. Surely I'm right?

I think she's right, biology for an MSc and an MA in social work later. Nowadays, it seems to be a really annoying fact that employers seem to expect applicants for jobs in certain areas to have a post-graduate degree. This last is an observation, I have no statistics to back it up. But our daughter is anticipating having to do an MA after her first degree, in order to be able to have more chance of success in applying for jobs in the field she wants to work in.

First degree followed by MA social work is a fab idea, my only worry would be whether the funded Masters will still be an option in 4 or 5 years time.

I think it's fantastic that she's looked into it and has concluded that it would be better with life experience and so she's not old enough. I think she's absolutely right. Biology is a great solid broad-based degree to have whereas sw is specialised, comparatively.

Has she spoken with real life SW to see what their advice is?

I think she's making the right choice. The fact that she can identify her lack of life experience when so many 18 year olds are still in the 'knowing it all' phase is great and shows how good she will be at reflective practice! Once she has a job, there will be options for financing part time post grad qualifications, whether through savings or loans.

There are several schemes that fund social work training for people who already have degrees.

For example Step up to Social Work has a scheme in various regions of England.

Think Ahead is a similar scheme for mental health social work. Step up is for children's.

Frontline is like teach first for social work (and may not require a degree to gain hcpc registration).

The direction of travel for social work training at the moment is towards these kind of schemes (rather than the more traditional masters or undergraduate degree route). It makes sense for the trainees too as the training stipends are pretty good.

You can't "be bias," @Leanback

You're fighting a losing battle @Bluedabbadee

I did similar, the only thing I would say is not only is it very expensive but I'm on a comparative wage much lower than peers who had all started working at 18/21.

Social work is a protected title and you absolutely need a degree/masters and registration with hcpc.

Yep I've advised my daughter to do just this and she's studying geology from September. Do a solid academic degre in something you are interested in and you can do any vocational postgrad late on but don't do a vocational degree if you can avoid it as it's so narrow late on.

I actually disagree.
I did a solid academic degree first followed by a vocational one.
By the time I got to the second degree I didn't really want to be a student - I wanted to work and earn money. I also wanted to start a family. It meant that I didn't get off to a good start in my vocational career.
There aren't a lot of jobs with biology - have known a few unless you get on the grad schemes which isn't always possible. "You can do anything" seems to translate into bar work or care work.

I said dont do that to my DD.
She is glad now as she was really keen on studying at the beginning of her degree and now towards the end (having loved her degree) is keen on working and certainly not keen on another degree!

@milady all of those schemes do involve academic work though and you do come out with some postgraduate qualification - usually MA

I think life experience in any job that involves dealing with folk with complex issues, ie social worker, nursing,Dr its essential to have "life experience" to help you empathise.

Biology is flexible as there are a lot of grad schemes a numerate degree will qualify you for, but it's true there aren't that many jobs specifically allowing use of the degree.

There aren't a lot of jobs with biology - have known a few unless you get on the grad schemes which isn't always possible. "You can do anything" seems to translate into bar work or care work.

This objectively isn't true.

The new routes into social work provide a masters level qualification but without the same kind of traditional university study. They are proliferating and are having an effect on social work provision at university. Universities participating in 'fast track' graduate schemes but it does change their role in social work education in various ways. The bursaries of c.£20k on the schemes make them much more attractive to graduates than standards masters courses.

Leanback yes. They do involve some academic work and come out with a level 7 qualification but it's not necessarily the same as the academic work you'd do on an ordinary masters. Frontline's website in particular is very vague about exactly what the qualification is or entails.

Slightly different scenario, but a friends DD wants to go into police. She is a bright girl, good academically, she had a place to do police degree last Sept but gave it up days before A level results as local forces were recruiting.

She got through to interview stage with one force, to be told, you are too young, go and travel, study, get life experience etc.

I thought she would re apply to do either a police or general degree, but no, she doesnt want to do a degree now, just police and is doing retail work in the meantime.

Hopefully she may get a civilian police job, she is also applying for those, but I can also see her just drifting. She is not the type to travel, although I appreciate that may change. At least going to uni would have focussed her for 3yrs, and given her a relevant degree.

My DS wants a certain career which is hard to get into but also doesn't need a degree (cant mention it here as, combined with above, it could out me) - he applied and got as far as interview last year during A levels. Didn't get in, so has gone to uni. He will apply again after uni, but hopefully with more maturity/life experience and if he never gets in, he will have his degree - also a science - to fall back on. He may even change his mind during his time at uni.

I was keen for him to go uni, rather than straight into his preferrred career, as I felt he would get so much out of uni experience and also didnt want him to narrow his options at 18. Although I did appreciate he could go to uni later if he had been accepted into career and it didnt work out.

So, I would say, let her go & do a Biology degree to start with then move into social work. Just doing an undergraduate degree can give her many life experiences, maybe even the opportunity to work/volunteer abroad which will help her in the future.

I would keep your thoughts on this to yourself. Plenty of people have done this level of education. But if you tell her it's not likely to happen or discourage her then you might cause a big rift or damage your relationship. They're her dreams and it's her future, so try and be supportive and whatever happens is up to her, I would much rather have a supportive mum.

If she definitely wants to be a social worker then one option is to get a job in a related area such as residential children's home, do some work based training certificates, get to work with social workers and apply for the BA in 2-3 years so she can still access student finance.

I think it's a good idea! As a social worker myself, a bit of life experience will definitely help her!

I know a few social workers and students the social workers have 2 degrees and the students that i know are older or have gone on to retrain as SW your dd is wise to want to wait a few years and get a different degree or working first.

Sw degree used to be for over 21s didn't it ? I am sure somebody told me that.

I think she is being very sensible. Social work is a gruelling job that requires a lot of responsibility and maturity. I think some life experience is definitely beneficial to this role and she is wise to try something else first. Good luck to her.