To think it really isn’t necessary to have your whole life mapped out at 15?

[VanillaMummy]

DD (15) has just finished her Year 10 exams. There’s since been a lot of talk at school about A-level choices and what’s required for different degree courses.

She’s got herself all in a panic this weekend that she doesn’t have her whole life mapped out. She’s erring towards humanities subjects but doesn’t really have any more direction than that currently.

I’m trying to reassure her that lots of people are the same at her age and still go on to be perfectly successful as adults. It’s also easier than ever these days to change direction later on and careers are often not for life anymore. Yet she won’t hear it from me. Any good advice/anecdotes/encouraging stories?

Our ds had no idea what he wanted to do. He went on to do a levels, we told him to choose what he liked/enjoyed.
Even through a levels he wasnt sure what he wanted to study at uni. We told him he couldn't go until he really knew what he wanted to do.
He plumped on biomedical sciences. Got his degree in 2011 and has worked for the NHS ever since, in various hospitals around the country.

My daughter wanted to do something with Geography at 15 - planned Aleves and degree she wanted.

When she missed a grade for one of her a-level choices she chose something else - she loved it. Ended up with taking a degree in that subject, finished this year.

Just got her first graduate job only
loosely based on her degree - but is something she is passionate about.

Nothing needs to be mapped out just follow what makes you happy and it’s ok to change your mind.

Absolutely no need to know what you plan to do at 15. Hell, I know plenty of (happy, successful) people twice that she or more that still aren't sure! If she has a vague idea of the type of thing she like to do that will be helpful in choosing subjects that point in that direction. If not, choosing something she enjoys/ is good at is fine. If she makes a decision that requires a different/ extra subject later, then she can do it then. She very much has time on her side here 😁

Tell her it's normal to have many different jobs and careers.

I went to nursing school. Didn't like it. Fell into retail. Now I run Tube stations in London.

My brother went into retail. Quit. Was taken on as a pharmacists assistant, then joined the office team in a large GP surgery. Is now office manager.

I knew someone who tested IT systems for the civil service, and now works with me.

Life isn't linear. I tell my daughter, who wants to go into an arts occupation, this. So she takes her degree, but will she be doing the same thing all her life? I hope not.

My advice would always be to go for what you enjoy.

If no obvious areas of passion or talent, then two sciences and two humanities subjects for AS level will keep options open.

Absolutely not. I did a degree in a field I've never worked in and have just recently undertaken an apprenticeship in a totally unrelated field at 39.

If you know what you want to do great. If you dont then do something you enjoy and see where life takes you.

I'd guess that few 15 year olds really know, and the ones that think they do are quite likely to change opinions as they get post-school life experiences.

However - what else are the school supposed to say? It doesn't matter, just get some decent results and you'll probably work it out in about 10-15 years?

Life is backwards unfortunately and we're expected to set out on a chosen life path so young. I'm not sure what the alternative might be though.

I had it all mapped out. Wanted to work in commercial law with a European focus. I deliberately chose an unusual combination of a levels, joined a debating society, completed additional qualifications alongside my A-levels, volunteered, studied law & languages. Honestly I did everything and anything to prepare and while it worked and I got offers I realised after interviewing that it actually wasn’t what I wanted. I’ve ended up as an accountant and love it. I think maybe if she isn’t sure suggest to her she aims for a balanced set of subjects at a level that allow her to pursue a number of different degrees. It’s common to change your mind though. Loads of those on my course ended up in Finance/IT rather than law.

If she's erring towards humanities no, she can do what she likes. But if she does want to do a scientific subject, she needs to think about which A levels she wants to do.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do until I was in my third year of my degree. Now, 20 years later, I’m about to do something completely different. I agree with doing something she enjoys and seeing where she ends up!

No, you are not being unreasonable.
Too many youngsters, perhaps goaded on by the "Go To Uni" propaganda they are fed with, put the blinkers on and miss that interesting and rewarding job "over there".
And, having a second string for their bow is always a valuable asset should they fail to achieve their aims.

Michael Mosely
did PPE
Became a banker
retrained as a GP
moved into TV
became famous
it was not mapped

I always wanted to be a teacher (Maths)

I did my Alevels in Maths and other subjects I enjoyed. Did a maths degree and teacher training. I taught for 3 years and realised that it wasn't what I thought and felt ill at the idea of it being my forever career. So I resigned and completely moved to a different industry but using my maths skills what I enjoy.

The key thing is to find what sorts of things they enjoy and focus on those sorts of subjects as that makes it easier to move between jobs

People tend to focus on the BIG careers and how to get there...whether it's medicine, teaching, law, or an apprenticeship etc.
But the majority of people do not work in those big careers. People meander their way through and find their path.

The key is to focus on strengths and maintain flexibility/employability.

So if set on medicine then obviously science is the way to go.
But...otherwise keep your options open. Pick subjects and routes that are transferable.

School are focusing now because Y11 have now all but finished.
College open days will be September-November with applications in Dec/Jan...and the December mocks will be important for those applications.

But for DD although she gave her preferred a levels she has been accepted to college for any combination. She can change her mind on enrollment or even within the first few weeks.

I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up and I'm 62!

Suggest that she chooses A-levels in subjects that she is quite likes, and is good at. There is no point in studying something you don't like simply because you think you ought to do it.

I'm 55 and still haven't decided what to do when I leave school. I've worked full time since I was 16, had 2 great jobs in very different fields, retired, taken up a hobby where I can sell what I make and run workshops to teach others my hobby but if you ask what I want to do, I haven't got a scooby.

I think it is important to know that dropping certain subjects does close doors.

This is good advice.

Very few 15 year olds know what they want to do for the rest of their lives and probably few grown ups follow the career path they planned at 15/20/25/30 years old.

But worth considering that dropping chemistry rules out a number of medical careers, dropping physics may rule out engineering, dropping languages closes those doors. If DD isn't sure what she does/doesn't want to do then leave as many options open as possible.

This is a useful link:

https://www.ucas.com/sites/default/files/tipsonnchoosingaalevelsmarchh20150.pdf

Closes them in the short term only. My DF has just done his A level French exams and he is 73. Nothing to stopnyou going back and getting the qualifications you need later on in life.

No it's madness to be honest and way too much pressure at year 10.

I wanted to be a social worker - left school with nothing much, did a BTEC - worked, travelled, did 2 A levels PT - went to Uni at 22 - did a degree I loved - at 25 I did a post grad for my current 'job' - 26 years later I am working within Children's Services in education!

DD1 always wanted to study politics and at 21 is studying it but not sure on her next steps

DD2 wanted to be a nurse - focused on the right A levels, balls one up - did half a BTEC then changed track and is studying Criminology and Sociology - now aiming for youth work/youth justice!

DD3 is year 10 - no interest in Uni - wants to do BTEC in media and an apprenticeship in media and marketing

But at 15 - to expect anyone to have a firm career plan is crazy

Oh and my post grad - careers guidance!

I didn't know what I wanted to do and still don't to an extent though I quite like the work I do now - but I wish somebody had explained if you are not really drawn to anything in particular you may as well aim for working in this type of well paid or flexible industry over this type of not so well paid or inflexible industry. Particularly if you have no real strengths or weaknesses and are as drawn to STEM as languages or humanities.

Yes! and also - there is over a year before any year 10 has to make a firm choice and enrol in post 16

I’m 44 and I’m still hazy on the details, and I have a career!

tell her to listen to wear sunscreen!

This is only true if you want to follow a very specific pathway.
You can always learn languages later in life, engineering can be approached through apprenticeships and BTECs - and I am sure there's a workaround for dropping chemistry as well.
It's difficult with only three A Levels to keep all your options open. My DC is making these choices now as well and it's tough!