To think DD isn't bright enough for university?

[AlisonJD1975]

There's lots of university threads at the moment so figured I'd ask.

DD is getting her results this week (Maths AS Level and Psychology and Sociology A Level). She failed her AS Level Maths so they said she could retake it as she was doing okay in the other subjects. She is expected to get a U in the AS Level Maths and Cs in the A Level Psychology and Sociology.

She has a conditional offer for an extended bachelors degree so it's 4 years long and she needs to get 2 Ds for that.

I'm just a bit worried that she won't really cope and I actually just feel quite sad. In life I really just want her to be happy and in a good job.

I'm guessing it's 4 years because it's an integrated foundation year? Year 1 will be a similar level to her A levels and two Cs is respectable, there's no reason to think she wouldn't cope based on her grades alone, if she's motivated and willing to put the work in.

If she doesn't have to commit to more than one year and she's keen to go, then I'd definitely let her.

Already posted, but why talk her down and say you think she's "not bright enough?"
She wouldn't have got a conditional offer in the first place if they didn't think her capable.
Try believing in her instead of doom and glooming. It'll rub off on her otherwise.

My daughter didn't get the UCAS points her first choice uni asked for but she was still offered a place. I think school predicted BCD grades but she got something like DDE. We were on holiday when she got her A level results and I'm glad she logged onto UCAS before getting her results in school because she would have assumed she hadn't got her first choice.

She just got 2:1 for her 2nd year. She's studying Literature and loves books which helps.

Sorry, I wasn't clear in my post but does the course lead to a vocational qualification in counselling which could lead to a job?

If she gets in, she's bright enough.

You are doubting her because of the maths. Cs in the other two is good. Lots of people don't have aptitude for A level maths, but it doesn't mean they couldn't handle other subjects.

Let her make her own decisions.

The person who said the below certainly aren't bright enough to advise her, nor has experience of a degree:

"but sociology or something and a monkey could do the under grad- turn up,listen, read the book, hand in paper and shell pass."

If she has the offer then support her with that. They must think she can do it. So why wouldn't you

University is so different to 'A' levels, it's definitely worth doing the foundation year and seeing where it leads. I have a friend who did a four year UG intending to see how it went for a year, and is doing very well in the resultant very competitive career. I did not do well at A Levels; failed one and got three C's in the others, I just didn't apply myself. I couldn't say why, but it wasn't that I wasn't bright enough as it were. I got a 2:1 at UG, a distinction at MA, and a research council funded PhD. There are always options.

Yes I suppose the Maths is probably clouding my judgement a bit.

I'd also be a bit about that degree. What does she want to do eventually? What's her ideal job?

If she wants to be a clinical psychologist then you need to look at how hard it is to get into - an accredited degree is only the starting point, it's very competitive.

I'm not sure about being a counsellor in CAMHS, but I'd guess it's also a long slog after getting the degree. I also wonder if going in at 22 would actually work.

This is what foundation courses are for! They are for students who haven't done well at university and are designed to get them up to speed so that they will be able to successfully complete their degrees.

If your DD is prepared to work hard and she gets the grades required for the foundation course then she should be capable of doing the degree.

Have you and your DD had a good look at the course data - things like completion rates, actual entry grades, etc etc for the degree? Some foundation courses have a high drop out rate but often students that successfully complete the foundation year go on to do well.

Mumsnet makes it seem like everyone's child is super brainy but in reality most DC are more 'average'. The most common grade at A level is a C grade.

I got a B and D in my A levels in fairly woolly subjects, with a U in the more academic subject.

I went on to get a 2.1 from a decent uni having got a place through clearing.

Please try to be supportive of what your daughter wants to do. I would have been devastated if my mum had not been behind me.

2 Ds? Seriously? Is it worth the expense and time not getting work experience/earning a living/working her way up?

Psychology at uni is quite statistics heavy, though most of the undergrads don't have maths to A level. They are generally required to have a B in maths at GCSE, so even if your daughter is weak in A level maths, she will probably have got a decent grade in her GCSE.

Most people with psychology degrees do not go into psychology. It is intensely competitive at postgraduate level, but graduates are very much in demand in marketing, advertising, market research, HR, business management, data analysis, (and, I've heard, in roles in gaming, including character development, and usability testing) etc. largely because employers are aware that someone with a psych degree has had rigorous research training, is numerate and literate, and had an excellent set of transferable skills (e.g. Teamwork, computer literate, research and analysis skills, writing and presenting skills, etc. etc.). It might well play to her key strengths.

I'm no expert, but IMHO the important thing is that she is interested in learning.

I think clinical psychology requires a doctorate in the UK. On that basis, no, she doesn't sound academic enough. There's also the question of how far a course requiring 2 Ds for entry is likely to get her.

But, as a PP says, if she is willing to broaden her focus beyond CAMHS (which is an unusually specific career goal at her age and stage - what's behind it?) a good performance in a psychology degree will give her a lot of options. It does, though, mean a fair bit of maths and statistics, so she'll need to look at why she's not managing the maths.

You could be surprised, I was an average A level student, coasting on C's and a U in Psychology. I chose to work full time and study with the OU on the side and I haven't scored less than a distinction, I just wasn't suited to the strict teacher led study. University for the most part is self study with limited teaching hours.

That could be a good option for her? You study module by module and it is highly regarded by many organisations. If she does well in a couple of modules she could always transfer to a bricks and mortar uni later and the fees are much lower. She could do it part time too and still be earning - massive motivation when you are able to gain experience and build your life instead of putting it on hold for 3-4 years.

OP I did a similar style course after failing my AS levels (was asked to leave school and not return for A2's - cheeky buggers), I found the university course a lot easier as it was something I loved and only 1 subject compared to A levels which are very difficult! This opened a lot of doors for me and I ended up returning to university as a post grad and am now a qualified teacher, something I could never have done had I not taken the opportunity at 18. A levels are not the be all and end all of life, no exams at 18 years old should hinder a person from broadening their horizons. She will gain so much from university, social and life skills in abundance. Let her make up her own mind, if she works hard enough she can pass the course :)

Why has her school allowed her to do maths a level when she's clearly not her subject? Another essay subject and she'd be fine. I'd focus on the other two and then do another a level the following year. Irrespective of what she chooses to do after that it's worth having decent a levels.

Honestly I don't know much about the degree so don't really know how to answer some of the questions. Not sure why she's set on CAMHS, that's just her final goal I think so wouldn't only just do that.

Her school let her do Maths because she got an A at GCSE but not sure why they said to resit it.

You might be surprised. The fact she's allowed to study Maths at all suggests she's not stupid. Plenty of bright people do well at GCSE Maths, attempt the AS-Level and fail because the leap is huge. GCSE Mathematics is all about working out sums, whereas at A-Level you start studying it as an academic subject which is completely different.

Other than that, she has two Cs at AS-Level which is perfectly respectable. A lot of people find A-Level harder than their degrees anyway, for various reasons. At A-Level you tend to be studying different subjects and being torn in different directions and compared to university there is a lot of rote learning. I know so many people I work with who struggled through A-Level then excelled at university, both academically and socially.

So, I guess the bottom line is don't worry unless it happens and actually, sometimes it's okay to fail, especially when so young.