Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

161 replies

ColgatePlax · 11/08/2017 16:09

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!!

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 11/08/2017 17:04

I'm another who sees nothing particularly foolish in her plans.

Cakeandmarshmallows · 11/08/2017 17:07

It will be a good start to do this degree with a view to going onto social work, if she still wants to do this and as others have said it could lead into other options for her. She could do some voluntary work within a social work field while doing the degree and that would greatly help, Youth clubs, family centres, homeless centres, that kind of thing. It would give her good experience and give her chance to think more about if the social work role is one she wants, but with psychology degree it will give her valuable insight when/if she does social work.

RidingWindhorses · 11/08/2017 17:07

As with others I think psychology is a far better choice, much more widely applicable. My sister did her degree in psychology and loved it.

If she's got an offer I'd snap it up.

WooWooSister · 11/08/2017 17:08

I would think she was wobbling about being a social worker tbh. She must have known that volunteering would have helped her application but she didn't prioritise getting that experience. Perhaps she doesn't want to admit that she's changed her mind so is presenting social work as a delayed option knowing that with a psychology degree, she can go into lots of different fields.

Catsize · 11/08/2017 17:13

I think psychology is a far better option personally. It will place her higher up the rungs of other ladders than a degree in social work, should she change her mind about her career path.

Jaxhog · 11/08/2017 17:13

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.

This.

LakieLady · 11/08/2017 17:15

Not sure I can agree that SWs are low paid, LaArdila. The Reed website gives the average SW salary as £41,650. Not shedloads, I agree, but certainly not low.

InvisibleKittenAttack · 11/08/2017 17:16

If she's not 100% certain this is the job she wants to do (and many people at 19 have an idea about what they'd like to do with their lives, only to end up deciding at 21/22 that's not the route they would be best suited to, or at Uni be introduced to other possible career paths from their degree which end up interesting them more), then a general academic degree is a better option. She can get some experience while at Uni/in the holidays in care work, which will give her a better idea of what she wants to do.

A vocational degree if you don't decide to pursue that vocation can actually be a hinderance long term, every interview she'd have would explain why she's not become a social worker. If she has a non-vocational degree it'll be a lot easier to do something different with her life.

She's not a fool. She's actually making a good choice of degree that could lead to the career she thinks she wants now, but in 3 years time, won't have limited her options if she's changed her mind.

ravenmum · 11/08/2017 17:16

My daughter is also 19 and just about to start a uni course. It's a funny age, as on one hand you can still give them some useful general advice on how the job market works etc. but on the other hand they are probably now starting out in a field you don't know about, so they are starting for the first time to be more knowledgeable on a subject than you. You just have to trust in them to look into it themselves and work out what they want. And that's a good thing, as who wants their parents butting in just when they are going out into the world as an independent adult?

YABU as what she does is her business. Treating her like a fool will just make her ignore your opinion.

Katinkka · 11/08/2017 17:16

Bsc Psy is bloody hard and involves a lot of maths. I believe the BA is a bit easier but I don't really know.

I think it's a decent plan to be honest. Good luck to her.

Migraleve · 11/08/2017 17:18

I'm amazed that someone with a DC going to uni would refer to them as a fool. Regardless of what degree she has chosen I think you should be damn proud.

UmmKultum · 11/08/2017 17:20

I think it's a great plan and very relevant. It's not like she's doing a degree in nomadic literature. I'd encourage her to volunteer while at uni to get the experience - it'll help her decide if she should do the masters.

SongforSal · 11/08/2017 17:20

From a Forensic Psych perspective. All psychology jobs are incredibly competitive with further training required. However, a straight up Psych degree is incredibly versatile in terms of job prospects. Contrary to people who think otherwise, it is a solid degree. It shows the ability to be analytic, demonstrated through reports and math ect. Easily transferable skills.

My DD, is planning on a Psych Degree next year. My only warning to her has been 'It is a tough degree'. Other than that, we can worry all we want, but got to cut them apron strings OP. Going to Uni will be an invaluable life skill. The debt of tuition is only paid after graduation, once a certain yearly monetary level has been achieved.

jeaux90 · 11/08/2017 17:21

I would advise her to do a psychology degree. Way more flexible career wise.

MoosicalDaisy · 11/08/2017 17:21

If that's what she wants to do, let her do it, don't give her negativity that could put her off Uni altogether. The degree is transferable, and would provide a positive thing on her CV benefiting her future possible social work, it would support that and give her lots more insight to cases!

There are no downsides to this, Uni debt is nothing to worry about.

RoboticSealpup · 11/08/2017 17:21

Chances are she won't enjoy being a social worker because it's a one-way street to burnout so it's probably a very good idea indeed to keep her options open.

Beadieeye · 11/08/2017 17:23

Well done to your daughter. She's made a wise choice of career plan.
Everybody with a higher/further education has a 'debt'.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 11/08/2017 17:25

As a parent, my concern would be, how she knows she wants to be a Social Worker when she has absolutely no expereince?Confused

Viviennemary · 11/08/2017 17:26

I don't see what's wrong with that approach. But she really should have read up on what was required to do a social work degree with regard to volunteering and so on. And I agree she may be too young to decide now on a career in social work. It doesn't really qualify you to do very much else.

InvisibleKittenAttack · 11/08/2017 17:26

Another thought OP - have you been keen on your DD have "a career path" before she goes off and gets into debt with uni?

You seem keen on vocational degree and being clear that a degree is purely a tool for getting a job. Perhaps think that there's a chance that your DD might not be 100% certain what she wants to do with her life, (most people starting Uni aren't), but didn't think she could tell you she just fancied doing an interesting degree that might lead to a job, but might just think about that in her final year.

If she really was passionate about being a Social Worker, she'd have got some experience. It is possible she has said something that sounds ok, but isn't completely determined.

In which case, back off, let her do an academic degree, don't get stressed about how she's going to use the degree until she's in her final year, and don't push her towards being a public sector employee if she's not really, really certain that's something she wants to do. (Working longer hours with more stress than her peers while earning a fraction of their wage by 27 will be depressing if her heart isn't in it.)

Catlady45 · 11/08/2017 17:28

YANBU, but you need to chat with her about her options, but ultimately shes got to do whats right for her and find her own way.

I've had lots of friends who have done a psychology degree and ended up regretting it. If your daughter ends up deciding she wants to be a psychologist, she will need to go and get experience after her degree, go back to uni and do more studying.

If she wants to still do social work i would be asking her to check what placements are available/what experience she will get and then speak to those running the social work degree and ask them if this would be enough to get accepted into the conversion course.

Speaking from experience i wanted to do Social work and had to be 21 at the time. I was desperate to get to uni and decided to do midwifery and thought down the line (one day ) i may do the conversion, thinking i had a few options.

Anyway, midwifery wasn't for me realising this 2 years in. I wasn't able to get funding as i had already got funding for midwifery. My alternative was to work in the field in similar roles which i still do 14 years later. My option now is to do units through open uni whilst working which is what ive been doing.

I would recommend she goes for a job/volunteer for a year in a care role, find out the role of social workers and she will be able to get a feel for what it is and if that is actually what she wants to do. If its paid work its always a saving opportunity for uni which would also come in handy x Also not sure where she would be planning to study as this may also affect her funding options for studying x

MikeUniformMike · 11/08/2017 17:34

LaArdilla, the jobs you mentioned are not low paid jobs. They are good, secure, worthwhile jobs.

user1492287253 · 11/08/2017 17:34

Gosh. Leave her be. Id be more worried about the social work degree

TurquoiseOwl · 11/08/2017 17:35

Why do people always say it's bad pay and that they will be earning less than friends, etc. the ones I know are all paid very well and my sister is graduating very soon and is a nurse and will be on 26k, all her friends haven't even secured a job or if they have its a trainee role on around 18k.

SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad · 11/08/2017 17:39

Well, it's exactly what my DDIL did - and she seems to have a well-paid (albeit stressful) job, so no, your DD is not 'being a fool'. HTH

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread