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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DS is making a huge mistake by accepting this university place?

26 replies

ElephantRooms · 19/08/2017 19:37

Hello,

My son has 2 A-Levels and an AS-Level. He didn't apply for university as he figured he'd have no chance without having 3 A-Levels.

He went through clearing and has been accepted on a course that's "Working with Children and Families BA (Hons)" with the hope of gaining more confidence and getting to know that kind of profession, with the hope of becoming a family support worker. He then wants to do masters in social Work after he has become more confident and has more experience.

He does currently volunteer at our local hospital and has done a couple of weeks abroad in Africa to help out in their schools.

He also applied for Social Work and has an assessment/interview day at the end of the month. He isn't the most confident, but is fine at volunteering, etc. but is very worried about the assessment/interview. However, it's 1 day and he just has to get threw it... I know it's his preferred choice and he's been invited, so it would be a real shame for him to not go.

He's planning on accepting the other course SadSadSad

AIBU to think he is making a big mistake?

OP posts:
wowbutter · 19/08/2017 19:40

I did that degree, have an ace job working with children and families, decent pay and pension. And doing a masters on the side now too.
If he wants to do it, leave him alone to make his own choices.

What is your main issue! It isn't as good as other degrees??

x2boys · 19/08/2017 19:44

Volunteering is great for that kind of work also what about bank work on a children's ward he could work around his university holidays.

LindyHemming · 19/08/2017 19:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ElizabethShaw · 19/08/2017 19:44

It sounds like he has a solid plan. Social work is a hard job and I think getting some life experience and confidence first can only be a good thing.

Sofabitch · 19/08/2017 19:45

Not at all. A social work masters is a much better route in.

LadyPenelope68 · 19/08/2017 19:46

Personally I think the course he's been accepted on gives him a much wider scope for opportunities in the future. It opens doors to all types of careers working with children, not just social work.

ZaraW · 19/08/2017 19:48

He sounds very mature and seems to know what he wants. It's his choice to make be supportive whatever he decides to do.

PumpkinPie2016 · 19/08/2017 19:48

I'd say he has a good plan - the young people and families degree could open up many career paths and he has the option of the social work masters if he wants to specialise in that area eventually.

He could continue with his volunteering to gain more experience (and it's great that he's done some already) in different areas which will add weight to any application for employment/further studies.

Honestly I think his plan is good and he sounds like he's got his head screwed on!

NoqontroI · 19/08/2017 19:51

It sounds like he has a good plan to me. It's important that he gets experience in social care before applying to do the social work course.

Misseuropadiscodancer · 19/08/2017 19:52

There's usually an option to transfer to the second yr of the social work degree of you do well on the children and families degree. It's a good course and prepares you well for this type of work, especially if he wants to be a family support worker rather than a social worker. A family support worker does more hands on work, social workers are usually more about statutory assessments and court work.

Original poster
ElephantRooms · 19/08/2017 19:53

Very surprised at the replies!! So glad I asked as I'd have probably felt a little sad for him.

OP posts:
YorkieDorkie · 19/08/2017 19:53

He sounds like he's got a great journey ahead! Let him get on with it. 🙂

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 19/08/2017 19:55

Aw op i can see where you are coming from, if it was my boy I would be encouraging him to give the interview a go, he has a fall back if it doesn't go well / isn't what he wants. the experience will be a good one and he can accept the other anyway and decide after he has gone through the day. The world is his oyster at the moment and he has two directions to choose from, all you can do is encourage him to take all leads and make an informed decision after getting through them, but ultimately it is his choice. I get as his parent you want him to take all chances to make the best choice. good luck to him and well done in achieving both opportunities, he has a fulfilling life ahead whichever route he takes.

Dina1234 · 19/08/2017 20:07

Will he actually benefit from it? Will he be able to get a job that he otherwise wouldn't be able to get with that qualification?

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 19/08/2017 20:22

Couldn't he accept the place and also go to the interview?

Papafran · 19/08/2017 20:25

I don't know... Degrees are expensive and you only get one shot because you can only get loans funding for 4 years. It doesn't sound like the best degree if I am being totally honest. It's obviously up to him, but there are a lot of these types of degrees that will take people with low grades, but I wonder how many find graduate employment afterwards.

Any chance he could take another a-level and aim for a better course? What are his grades like?

Original poster
ElephantRooms · 19/08/2017 20:27

What would be a better degree? Genuinely curious... He seems only interested in this field.

No, he can't accept a place and then go to the interview because he'd be enrolled at the other uni with that course.

OP posts:
JessieMcJessie · 19/08/2017 20:44

Are you saying he has applied through clearing to do a Social Work degree and that is what he has the interview for? Or is it an application for some sort of job in social work? I ask because you say he hadn't applied to University so am wondering what he was planning to do before he decided to apply after all (presumably better results than he expected?)

Original poster
ElephantRooms · 19/08/2017 20:51

Social Work is through clearing too.

He didn't get better results than expected but clearing is obviously lower entrance (he only has an AS for 1 subject). He was going to keep working at his part time job for a bit until he had decided.

OP posts:
Belindaboom · 19/08/2017 20:54

Can he not hold off?

Original poster
ElephantRooms · 19/08/2017 21:02

For what?

OP posts:
Papafran · 19/08/2017 21:08

Well, if he is only interested in that then fair enough. It just seems a shame if he gets into that level of debt and then finds that he can't get into the social work field.

A similar example is lower ranked universities taking students with low grades to do journalism/media. They're realistically not going to get work in that field because employers hire people from high ranked universities who did e.g. history, English, languages and then a journalism masters. I feel sorry for those students because they have arguably been misled as to their prospects.

mathanxiety · 19/08/2017 21:16

What opportunities are there in clearing for him to do psychology?

inlectorecumbit · 19/08/2017 21:18

DS went to University and did an Honours degree in history and politics. He then went on to do a Dip Ed Masters in Social work. He is now in his dream job working as a social worker with Children and families,
OP like your DS -my DS wanted to be a social worker from a young age, and worked as a volunteer initially with children with disabilities, then older adults.
However he was advised to go down the more general route first -to keep his options open in case he changed his mind (he was 17). Social work is very much a vocational degree.

MudCity · 19/08/2017 21:20

Personally, I would get more work experience and qualifications and then apply for a BA Social Work degree in a few years' time. Taking the time out and building confidence by working in a relevant field will really help his application and he will also know whether it is definitely what he wants to do. If he has a year or two out, he may decide he would prefer to do something else in the health and social care field too, not social work. There are so many related fields...nursing, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy..difficult to make those decisions when you are straight out of school.

The degree he is currently considering is rather limited in scope and I think he would be better off waiting to get on a social work degree at some point in the future. There is no rush. Better to get on the right degree course in a year or two than spend time or money on something that doesn't really get you where you want to be. The social work degree means you get a professional registration. A degree in working with children and families does not.

Good luck.

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