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!!

I agree, take a year off, get some experience then do social work otherwise waste of three years and loads of money.

Ds knew he wanted to be a social worker but was told at 18 by the Uni to get some life experience. He did a general degree in history and politics while doing voluntary work with children under 12 with disablilties and then with older adults with mental health issues.
He completed his degree and immediately did his Dip Ed and masters in social work. He was older and wiser ( well a wee bit anyway) by that time. He now is happily employed as a social worker.
I think your DD's plan is good but she really needs some experience within the care/ volunteering sector.

I agree with you. I think you she should examine the option of working in her chosen field as you have suggested for a year, and also examine other routes to it such as apprenticeships and training schemes
There is no point in doing a psychology degree unless she really is interested in it. Three years of doing something which she doesn't truly want to do, may mean she might drop out of the course and have a lot of debt.

This is a link:
www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/apprenticeships

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

Teachers, nurses, nursery workers and social workers are low paid jobs. If you're getting excited by 22k a year you've made a wrong turn somewhere.

(nurse starting salary 22k. SW starting salary 22k. Teacher starting salary 19k. However all are known for long, long hours and unpaid overtime. Nursery worker £7 an hour.)

Stop chasing "worthwhile" and start chasing "lucrative." The more "worthwhile" a job is perceived to be, the lower the pay. If she wants money AND "worthwhile" be a doctor or lawyer.

@LaArdilla - you do realise not everyone can be a doctor or lawyer, right?

Not everyone is cut out to be a doctor or a lawyer. They are not particularly well paid to begin with.

Maybe they should all aspire to be in the same profession as LaArdilla.
And actually, I'd be delighted to be on a £40K salary.

SW starting salary 22k

Where?

I started on £29k and 3 years later I am on £37k. (Not london, and also not the highest paid LA in my area)

In 3 years I will be on 40k.

My goddaughter has a psychology degree and went into HR

There are lots of jobs that don't pay huge amounts. There are lots of different jobs.
It saddens me that girls tend not to consider careers in some sectors but a lot of this is due to society.

LaArdilla, if everyone followed your logic and we had no nurses, teachers or nursery workers, we'd be up shit creek.

LaArdilla I earnt 52k in primary teaching by the time I was 31. My head earns 80k+. If you want to chase the money in teaching you can.

We bring our children up. At some point we have to trust them to make their own decisions. If we've brought them up alright, then the decisions they make for themselves will be OK regardless of what we think. Making her own decision means that she takes responsibility for how well she does. Believe in her..

Psychology is fascinating; it will open up worlds for her, she could completely change her direction and find that, say, animal behaviour, is her big thing and go and live with gorillas like Diane Fosse or something! She is young enough to do anything.

Just believe in her, and encourage her. Exploration of options is always a good thing.

The sw masters is the undergrad condensed to 2 years. I would advice taking a year out getting some experience with kids and reapplying.
Hth as 10 years qualified and I also do panel
Interviewing for undergrad sw

Asye - like nqt but sw is around 23k in my local authority. After you pass the first year in practice it goes up to 29

I've wondered about sw but as a nearly 40 year old!

I'd so the psychology degree first as it will open up more doors and give a good grounding to sw later.

"LaArdilla, if everyone followed your logic and we had no nurses, teachers or nursery workers, we'd be up shit creek."

Then they'd start paying higher salaries for those roles.

There's been loads in the news lately on how once a career attracts, then becomes dominated by, women, the pay plummets as does its status. While women still keep choosing these 'worthwhile' roles they will continue to be devalued. The way the economy's going new recruits into the world of work can't afford to squabble over the low salary roles when there's so much more on offer. I hate the idea that modern living now 'requires' two salaries. It shouldn't. Young people should be encouraged to earn enough to support themselves alone, if need be, so they never have to rely on another.

22k, 25k, we can squabble over amounts, but you ain't gonna buy a house on it.

"...she could completely change her direction and find that, say, animal behaviour, is her big thing and go and live with gorillas like Diane Fosse or something!"

.... Not exactly going to put food on the table and pay the mortgage though, is it?

Sometimes we do have to leave the "you can be anything!" mantra behind and start facing reality (which is austerity, low salaries, housing shortages and so on.)

Maybe in a decade or so there'll be another "boom" period and we can tell our kids to be astronauts again. Right now the best advice would be at least to aim for something with a decent wage.

Another who agrees it sounds far from foolish.

It's a great idea! I have a psych degree and it's a wonderful subject, easily adaptable to social work at a later date.
Your daughter sounds bright and like she's got onto a very competitive course. You should be celebrating!

LaArdilla, what do you do and what would you consider a decent wage?
There are plenty of homes that you can buy with a salary of £22K.

I have two friends who are social workers. One did psychology, the other sociology. Both followed up with a Masters' in social work and both have done very well.

With absolutely no experience how can she possibly know she wants to be and can handle better bf a social worker?
Much more sensible to do a broader degree like psychology then specialise if she still wants to. Yes it's 4 years instead of 3 but it's better than doing a three year day cusp work degree then ending up in a totally unrelated field that doesn't even require a degree or pay a graduate salary!

@LaArdilla - what do you suggest for children who may not be academic enough to become a lawyer or doctor do? I'm definitely not academic enough for either.

Laughing my arse off that LaArdila doesn't think teaching is a real job