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 did psychology a level with my best friend. I did a law degree she did a psychology degree. Guess which one wishes she made the other decision yep me!

We both have gotten good flexible jobs out of it that are part time

what so you and your friend do quartz?

I agree with a lot of the other posters about your daughter being sensible and doing a more accessible degree first. It might be a good idea, if you haven't already done so, to talk to your daughter and find out what her reasoning behind doing psychology and what her career plans are because it may well be that she's done thorough research and isn't a 'fool' at all.

What I would recommend depending on whether university is the means to get a job or the means to get an education and then a job:

The more academic and possibly more doors opening route
1)Take out a proper gap year to gain experience in social work, other voluntary work (par ex. Girl Guiding, St John Ambulance), school experience including specialist schools, other related healthcare experience like speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.
2) Apply for psychology as a first degree- placement year optional as are summer placements. If the university she goes to has a free language learning scheme, it would be a good idea to take the opportunity.
3) Optional: Do a masters in neuroscience or anything else your daughter may enjoy learning about during her undergraduate studies. It may be possible to get funding for this but if not, she will have to fund for herself. This option allows for the possibility of going on to do a PhD or further academic research if so inclined.
4)Apply for the pgdip/masters in Social work. This is funded (I think).
End result, an undergraduate and masters degree at the minimum and your daughter can still be a social worker. If your daughter ever wants to change career, it may be possible because of the psychology degree.
5)As an alternative to step 4 or something between steps 2 and 4: do a PGCE, go onto a graduate scheme (generally 2 years minimum), take on a post abroad to teach English as a foreign language.

The more vocational route

1. Gap year
2. Social Work degree The main disadvantage with this route is that if your daughter later wants to study something simply for the joy of learning or because she realises social work isn't what she wants to do anymore, she will have to self fund it because the social work degree was her initial degree that the government will allow a tuition fee loan for.

If your daughter is worried about going to university a year later if she does the gap year

1. Kate Middleton did two gaps years, Prince William did one gap year. The gap year is royally approved :)
2. She won't be the odd one out, lot's of people go to uni at different ages.
3. Experience is better than none and a structured gap year will help her to mature on her own, gain new skills and by getting experience and talking to adults, discover if there's anything else she wants to do
4. A gap year is also the time to pick up a new language or build on an existing one including learning sign language.

I did a psychology degree and used to get into social work. It was a very useful foundation for social work as a lot of the theories overlap. I would suggest that your DD also does some voluntary work that would help to gain her a place on the SW course once she has completed her degree.

My DD is also doing a psychology degree. I take offence you think it's foolish. I'm very proud of her.

She's an adult. You're not funding it, it is absolutely none of your business.

Plus you sound rather mean.

To derail, Teaching isn't as low paid as some think. I'm on close to 50k 5 years in which isn't that bad surely!

OP good luck to your dd whatever route she takes... fool was a little harsh!

Where there is a good chance of getting a good job comes into it too I think.
I'm slightly puzzled by people suggesting a general degree as the route to a good job.

I have both a science degree (chemistry , r.g uni) and nursing. Often in the market for employment as have moved frequently.
Time and time again no one is interested in the science, but I find nursing to be more in demand.
I'm sure there are higher paying careers but have never been able to access them.

I wasn't slating psychology degrees, so not sure why people think I'm saying your dc are fools for doing it. I just think foolish to do it when she can do social work.

I did a masters in social work. Wish I would have done it as a BA. Even with some experience and a degree the masters course wanted a year of related work experience. The masters was beyond difficult but that aside the funding is different. Government bursaries do not cover all students only those who excelled at interview got one at the uni I went to.

So I agree with you... that a year of experience and then a BA. Unless she specifically wants a masters.

Also just to add my BA was in English and History. Despite me thinking it was generic and would open doors for me it ended up inevitable that I would need to undertake some sort of post graduate qualification.

And what if you'd changed your mind Sylv, decided you didn't want to become a social worker yet had your degree in it?

Many people need post-grad these days, it's just the way the world has gone.

A friend of mine is a social worker and her degree was in English.

Psychology is an incredibly competitive course so if she has a place then I think she should take it. Going straight into a course like social work is very niche and won't open doors the way a psychology degree would if she changes her mind on career choice. If she decides afterwards that she still wants to do SW then there is a fast track year programme that is often funded. I think she is sensible and much better to keep her options open with her choice now. Even if she eventually ends up in SW, having a more general degree means she has the option to change careers more easily if desired. SW is a pretty hardcore career choice and I think having more options will be invaluable further down the line...

Not a fool, very sensible...

Hi Riding wind horses- fairly new to mn so sorry not to link to your name properly.

I suppose that's the risk you take. But the year out shadowing social workers and working in a related field may help. For example I volunteered for a year in a school and realised I didn't want to do a teaching degree. Worked with older adults, social workers and OTs for a year and found something I was really interested in.

Just wish I took the time to do that before doing my undergrad in English and History.

I agree with other posters that I wouldn't call her a fool though. Sounds like she's trying to weigh everything up.

Just to note I think the fast track options are limited To either children's or mental health social work.
If neither of those are the areas you want to get into then they won't help.

Also you can be placed anywhere in the country. They will try to take your preference into account but they can't always do if you have a mortgage or childcare et you are limited.

She's made a sensible choice. She is doing a degree with transferable skills and some helpful knowledge should she decide to train as a social worker in the future. If she decides against social work she has other options.

If she done as you want - go and get a years experience, she still may not get onto a social work degree! She may hate the experience and miss out on what she wants to do.

She's made the smart choice. Also one that means she'll be older, more experienced in life and more mature should she end up applying to do social work after her psychology degree.

I'm a SW and I think her plan is a good one.

It will keep her options open, give her knowledge in a field that overlaps SW and give her a few years of life experience before becoming a SW.

I'd advise doing the psychology degree, taking a year or 2 out to work in relevant roles and save money in anticipation of the masters, then apply for the SW course.

And for what it's worth, I don't find SW to be a negative experience as a previous poster suggested. I earn a decent wage, an very much involved in the "helping" aspect and am not swamped in paperwork. There are many SW roles out there - it's not all about the CHild protection burn out that the media portrays.

I would far far rather my DD did a psychology degree rather than a social work one, it will leave her with far more options for the future including moving into social work. I would say it's an excellent move

Is she going to a reputable university? If so, a psychology degree is a good general academic degree that can lead on to lots of different graduate careers. Social work requires stamina and it is not for everyone. Funding restraints and overworking means that stress levels are very high. The social workers I came across on a professional basis were often at breaking point. I don't think any of them would recommend to a 19 year old that she go into that career, same as I would not recommend anyone going into publicly funded areas of law (a very noble ambition but not worth the toll it takes IME).

Give her some options. Let her talk to careers advisers at school or at the uni. With all due respect, if you haven't been to uni yourself, you're unlikely to offer a lot of helpful insight (which is clear from your post).

Op, YANBU for caring about your DDs choices.

But I agree with pps that psychology is a solid degree which will leave lots of options open to your DD.

Student debt is scary, but don't forget that she only has to pay it back if/when she earns a certain amount.

During her psychology degree your DD might well change her mind about wanting to do social work. If not, she can always come back to it.
Win-win!

The bank of mum and dad closes here after undergraduate studies, so I guess it depends on whether she is expecting you to help and whether you are willing?

But OP - if she hasn't felt the need to do any social work experience now, are you certain this is what she wants to do with her life? If she's not got any experience yet, there's a good chance that this might not be the route she takes her life.

If she's not driven enough to want to get the work experience to ensure she gets a place, then there's a good chance this isn't for her.

I know several youngsters who began with a psychology degree. One did a law conversion and became a solicitor. One did a masters and became a clinical
Psychologist and the third did something unrelated as it opens the door to jobs marked "graduate". Unless you're doing something very specific like medicine or architecture most advice is to study something you enjoy at undergrad level. It keeps her options open.

The debt is the same whether she chose social work or psychology.
Both require student loans finance.

The step up and front line to become a qualified social worker is fully funded.

So she has two options and she's realise this. Allow her to choose.