to be disappointed that my son's Morrisby results say he should look at a career as an actuary.

[Caroline1852]

I want him to do something interesting. It is so hard not to roll round on the floor crying, no no no, nerdy nerdy nerdy. I wanted him to do something I might like. The other suggestions were equally scary: Microbiologist, Chemist, Bio-Scientist. Doctor was the only reasonable suggestion in my book and I wouldn't actually encourage him to do that as it is so stressful. I want him to have a nice life with hot chicks in pursuit. An actuary wtf.

when I did those tests at school it always said I should be a 'sheltered workshop assistant'

I have been a journalist, a fundraiser and an arts marketer

not a sheltered workshop in sight

Why do you want him to read law? Is law really that sexy a subject

What is IAG?
Next we have a half an hour with his form tutor to discuss the results. We then have a choices evening (parents and pupil present) with the subject teachers on his A level short list. At the moment his A level shortlist is 10 subjects.

IAG - information, advice and guidance

Looks like the school is using the form tutor to to do the IAG, which is not ideal. Should be somone who is trained int he area. I would recommend a visit to see a Connexions worker, if you are in Enlgand anyway.

Hulababy - not a sexy subject at all. Just very useful in enhancing your understanding of the world. I would not think studying maths at degree level would encompass studying philosophy, history, ethics, law, international relations, economics etc as law does. If I was an employer in say BP and had a graduate trainee position to fill and two candidates were equal other than one having a maths degree and the other having a law degree - I would choose the law graduate every time.

We had bugger all careers guidance. I fancy having a Morrisby test done myself.

Yet many solicitor and barrister recruitment look for a subject other than law.

IME law degrees do not look at all those things you have described - certainly not all law degrees anyway.

Most degree courses have additional optional areas that explore some of the things you say. Few are very much just applied subjects in one area.

It may also be that your DS would do better in the mathematical subject than the law one. Surely it is better for him to chose the area he will excel at more, rather than the one you want him to do. I do think at A level age it has to be primarily the student making these decisions, following adequate IAG.

lol at sheltered workshop, wtf?

The link below only takes you to a practice test. Anyone know if you can do the proper test and get an assessment online?

But I would be loath to employ any graduate, no matter how stratospheric his educational acheivements, who had no intelligent interests other than his subject. The subject you study does not preclude you from the rest of life.

I don't think you can. It is something you have to pay for.

Caroline, my mum got me to do the most 'useful' subjects that employers would look for rather than the ones I had a passion for. Result: I droped out and will have to do my degree when ds starts school - I will be 40.

Or what about my cousin? Desperately wanted to be a librarian, dad pushed her into medicine, she didn't get the grades and she ended up in a hospital job she hated - and still hasn't forgiven her dad.

Is that what you want? If he has a passion for maths let him go for it.

(And as I understand it there are plenty of law graduates these days but very few maths - he will be sought after.)

I did a law degree and wouldn't advise anyone to do one! Most of my peers when I was training to be a solicitor had done other subjects and enjoyed them much more.

what is a sheltered workshop.

I don't understand the thread title

Pollyanna - interesting. How do they know they enjoyed their own subject more when they didn't actually do a law degree. LPC is absolutely crap and actually not academic.

As an actuary he will be able to afford a very nice old people's home for you .

And bioscience or medical research can be very exciting. My SIL worked as a Ph.D. student and post-doc in Susan Greenfield's lab looking at possible cures for Parkinson's Disease and I thought what she was doing was very interesting (although she had to recast it into Very Simple Language for me to understand ).

I did a law degree, which did cover all those areas you mention, and I enjoyed it. But I kind of wish now that I'd done something more science-based (which is what my mother wanted me to do, typically). If I'd had more idea of the types of jobs available, maybe I would have done.

Ormirian - Suppose both candidates excited you with their extra-curricular interests?

startouchedtrinity -- IME (admittedly ten years ago) candidates with science/technical backgrounds are quite sought-after to go into librarianship, so it may not be too late for your cousin if she wants to change.

lemonaid - interesting. Perhaps your mum knew best after all? Encouraging.

DumbledoresGirl - there are lots of online career guidance tests, if you google "careers test online" or "physcometric test online"

I have no idea what a sheltered workshop is, thanks

and I'm pleased that I never found out

My firm would recruit a maths grad over a law grad...(finance)

We have plenty of generalists (put law in this category unless working as a lawyer) and there are not enough specialists. Maths graduates will always get work imho.

So, what does your son want to do then...just because his test said he should do x, y or z, and you want him to do somehting else entirely...but what does he want?
And YABU, btw

I did a similar test at school c.1986. It said I wasn't suited to anything at all. I'm still using this as an excuse for drifting....