To think DD is a fool to do this degree???

[ColgatePlax]

DD is 19 - she is planning to do Psychology this year at uni. Unfortunately, she didn't get on the Social Work due to no experience at all. They are a very flexible uni WRT the experience for school leavers, but as she has absolutely none, they said they just couldn't as she couldn't answer any of the questions about how she would work as a Social Worker.

She plans to use the Psychology degree for a few years and then do a masters program for Social Work???

I've said to her that as the uni literally told her if she had done a placement with sixth form (she couldn't do it at the time) she would have most likely been okay, that she should take this year to work in a related setting (care assistant, etc.) or volunteer, etc. she currently works in a supermarket, so she could do this. Surely that's a better idea that her plan!? Uni is very expensive!!

surely she'd be better off doing an entry level job in that field, some kind of volunteering or something to gain experience, then do the social work undergrad?

If she does do another degree, and gains experience, she could do an on the job social work training corse like Step up or Frontline though rather than a masters

Your 19 year old daughter had a career plan and you call her a fool? That's awful.

I do agree that she will probably be better off getting the work experience first but I don't think you sound like you are valuing her view in this.

Has she actually got on the uni course? Psychology is hugely competitive. It has quite a lot of maths in it, too. I'm sure there's a conversion course afterwards.

YABU
I don't think she is a fool! I think she is doing a degree that will give her opportunity to consider a wider range of professions. I think social work requires a little more life experience and maturity that she might gain in the next 3 years whilst doing this degree. It is the route I would recommend to my DD.

That's my point exactly! I don't see why she needs to go and do this when she should gain some experience and then go for the undergrad instead.

Oh she did mention step up to social work I think it was and that was her plan, I assumed it was a masters as she mentioned that.

It's a great idea as it gives her broader options in the long run. Leave her be, it's her life.

She has an offer for Psychology, yes. She did AS Maths, so not too concerned for her with that.

I only think she's a bit of a fool because the debt is unnecessary when she could do social work if she took a bit of time getting some experience!

I think it's best to do a generic academic degree first (e.g. Psychology, history, geography) first then a specialist vocational masters. It's an accepted career path and if she gets an employer or graduate position in the public sector, they may even fund it.

It's a good idea.

I think it seems a good idea and will open her options. Are you just worried about money? Calling her a fool is deeply unpleasant. That's your own child you're insulting there.

Psychology is one of the most over subscribed university courses out there - it's very common to find scores of graduates who have good and very good university degrees in this field who end up in all sorts of jobs as the graduate to job ratio is very high - securing a post graduate job in this field is very competitive and anything like clinical psychology is stupidly hard to get into.

If she's looking to get into social work, would something like health and social care, which focuses more on client based outlook (in contrast to more clinical approach) be better suited? She could then convert her degree, if the opportunity allows (you'd have to research this as my knowledge lies with psychology only).

It depends how fixed she is on becoming a social worker. She may well change her mind and want to do something different. In this scenario psychology would be better I think, as it's broader and includes numerical elements (e.g. statistics modules) as well as the written elements, which will open up more career options for her. I did a psychology degree, and started in accountancy (didn't like it) and then went into market research. I now have a reasonably well paid job with sensible hours as a market research manager at a media company. Not particularly exciting or mind blowing but it works for me!

If she's serious about getting into social work then you're right - she'd be better taking a year off and getting the necessary experience so she can do a degree in social work. Where is the money for psych degree and then masters going to come from? It seems like a waste of time to me doing the psych if she's not going to use it.

Calling her a fool however is not constructive and at least she's looking at pathways into her chosen field.

No actually. Your DD is not a fool. Psychology is an approved undergraduate degree for Social Work and she can be accepted onto a fairly short course to gain social care qualifications whilst working on the job. She doesn't have to do a Masters.

And if she changed her mind, she has a transferable degree, suitable for other jobs.

I really hope you didn't call her a fool to her face. You may want to read up on Social Work careers. It sounds like your DD has....

Both my nieces did a psychology degree , it really is quite a good one to do as it has widespread application. One went into drug counselling/therapy which I reckon is in a similar sphere as SW.

I think a SW needs a bit of life experience under their belt though tbh.

My sister did this exact route. It isn't foolish.

She could to psychology, volunteer work in spare time and look at a transfer at the end of year 1, if she still wants to go into social work. Its entirely possible that seeing it in real life will change her career goal, in which case she can stay in psychology which can be used in a wide range of careers.

My mate who did Psychology at a very good uni and got a 2:1, but ended up working in recruitment.

She's probably desperate not to be 'left behind' and therefore taking any degree. I think she may regret taking the degree. Its easy to say its her choice but I assume you'll be funding some of this.
I think waiting a year is a far more sensible option but I don't know how you will persuade her to see this.

I think she's better off with a psychology degree: she's very young to decide for certain on social work and the psychology degree will be less limiting.

Juneau that's what the other niece did.

No, she's not a fool. Psychology is a useful degree for all kinds of things.
You are a fool for judging her like this, I hope you have been less blunt when talking to her.

No I'm not funding any of it as she gets a loan and bursary (very low income) but I still want to make sure she does the right thing

Your daughter is far more sensible than you x.