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Science careers and university courses

28 replies

littlebluespring · 20/08/2011 16:02

I've been reading the AIBU threads of student ability and university courses and getting worried. I'm perhaps worrying a bit early as DS is only 13, but 5 years passes quickly and some important decisions have to be made in those 5 years.

DS will be doing at least 3 science GCSEs and possibly up to 5. He is currently inclined towards going into a science career and that will probably be at the hard science end of physics, engineering or chemistry, but possibly he might look at dentistry.

My concern is that some of these AIBU posts are saying that degrees like Physics or Chemistry no longer lead to a job, and that students need to go in knowing they want to do a very specific sort of engineering etc and do an appropriate course to get a job. I have no knowledge of science other than softer ones such as Ecology or the parts of Chemistry used in Biology.

I am concerned that we are encouraging DS down an academic route, and that he could end up taking on huge debts to go to a good university to do something like Chemistry and end up with no job.

Can anybody who knows anything about hard Sciences offer any advice?

OP posts:
iskra · 16/09/2011 20:00

My partner went to Imperial, so everyone he knows did a science degree! He did Chem Eng but is now a doctor (went back to uni), friends are management consultants, investment bankers, NGO workers, teachers, accountants, traders, city lawyers.

OddBoots · 16/09/2011 20:15

We went to the Big Bang young science and engineering fair (link) earlier this year and found the stalls and exhibitions really helpful in learning what is out there. If your ds can make the next one (17th March 2012, at the NEC) then he might get inspiration there.

MindtheGappp · 17/09/2011 19:47

What are the five sciences at GCSE?

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