Help, disaster, ds changed his mind about college

[Thelonelygiraffe]

Ds has just done GCSEs. He looked at college courses in spring, found one he liked, we went to an open day, he liked it, all good. I expressed some reservations (that it wasn't high level enough for him and he'd get bored), he poo-pooed them.

Last night he says he's changed his mind about college and doesn't want to go. But he doesn't have an alternative suggestion. Wants to do an apprenticeship, but hasn't found one he likes yet.

He doesn't want to go to sixth form. He's definite about that. Even though he's bright enough.

What can he do? Are colleges still accepting applications?? It's so late! Where can I/he go for help and advice?

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

I am sure colleges will be very happy to have him join. DS1 went to the local college and although he had his place all sorted ahead of time, on the day he didn't gain the required qualifications - they were still more than keen to have him (and adjusted his course accordingly).

Try calling a few places next week - admin staff will still be working through the summer.

What subject was the original course? And what subjects might he now enjoy? Or what sort of apprenticeship? bc IME they are not easy to find and when found, not always wonderful tbh.

Thank you. He was originally doing an environmental land management course. He now wants to do finance with a view to becoming a financial advisor.

Surely places can’t be finalised until they have their results?
A lot of 16 year olds will only be making their final decisions after they get their results.

Where do you live? If in Wales he should be able to speak to a careers adviser over the summer if you contact Careers Wales. Not sure if process in England, I think there will be local equivalents. They will be able explore the reasons for his decision making and help him understand what options there are.

If he wants an apprenticeship I'd maybe encourage him to start the college course while he looks, as it can take time to find one and he can always leave if he gets one.

If he has an idea of alternative college courses, in my experience many colleges will let you transfer the application to a different course right up until September as long as that particular course still has spaces, so you could contact them to ask.

Is there such a thing as an accountancy or finance apprenticeship? I’d expect him to need A Levels at least, in some relevant subjects.

That's quite a change. I was in a sort of similar situation in that I wanted to be a doctor but didn't get into med school, so I had to choose something else at very short notice. I wasted three years at university and spent another 8 years paying student loans for a degree I've never used. Big decisions shouldn't be snap decisions.

I think your son (and a LOT of teenagers) would benefit from taking a year out to try different work experiences and volunteering before choosing his course.

Lots of colleges are definitely still accepting candidates, best thing to do would be to check out your local college website and give the admissions dept. a call/email on Monday. Many accept enrolment on GCSE results date (might vary depending where you live but they do in near me in London). There's some great BTEC & T-Line courses in finance that he might like (more vocational than A levels so sound like they would be better suited). But don't panic I'm told LOTS of children change their mind re: Sixth form, even right up to the start date!. I spoke to an admissions person recently who said it's the most fluid time for them with lots changing their mind on results day so they have to be super flexible on enrolment date (which is usually on GCSE results day on 24th August. I hope that helps!

My friends son did a l2 accountancy to start and is applying for l3 apprenticeship now -

Yep this. Great route and can go right through to chartered starting this route.

I think his heart lies with environmental issues but he's worried about not earning enough in those kind of jobs and is trying to be practical. I'm not sure I can see him in financial advice, tbh.

just want him to be happy! Money isn't everything.

He's doing work experience this summer in both areas, so hopefully that will help to clarify his thinking.

@ItsNotRocketSalad - I agree. Thank you.

Might be worth him looking at trainee paraplanner jobs to start off with - that will give him an idea of whether he wants to move into financial advice or not. ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues are quite a hot topic in finance at the moment, so if he is interested in that there will be opportunities for him to specialise.

Loads of kids will be swapping courses and colleges after GCSE results day (and up till mid September) so don't worry about being too late.

Why has he suddenly thought about finance? What sort of GCSEs is he expecting?

Is he against sixth form, or is he against A-levels?

Does the college offer T-levels? There's a T-level in finance, equivalent to 3 A-levels.

That's reassuring, thank you!

Hello from one giraffe to another!

He's worried about future earning potential, hence looking at financial services. Someone in the family is a successful IFA...

He's against going to sixth form college. Also says there are no A levels he wants to study...

Haven't heard of T levels, will go and Google them. Thank you.

Bugger. No suitable T levels anywhere near us this year.

I would think that a more general BTEC/T level course in accountancy and business would be better now, or a more academic course. I'd think being a financial adviser would be a thing to progress to with a bit of experience and maturity behind you.

Does the environmental land management not have a financial/business element to it? I'd think that environmental companies need people who can work out the finances or get investment etc?

We've been sent a letter advertising a careers fair on GCSE results day afternoon. Are there any such events in your area?

Has he had a look on the gov.uk apprenticeship site

Find an apprenticeship - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Slight drip feed: I don't want him doing an apprenticeship this year as he has applied for a sporting opportunity that he can't do if he's doing an apprenticeship. He must be in education.

Then he’s going to have to look at BTECs and A Levels. What GCSE grades is he expecting, what was His original course?

He's expecting pretty good grades. Fingers crossed!!

I work in FE. Unless the college is very over subscribed, the chances are he can change, However, at this stage, if a course is full (and the college doesn't have capacity to put on an extra class) then he might not be able to do all courses.

Noble has wisely asked whether he is against 6th form or Alevels? If the former, then he could look at keeping his options open a little longer by looking at A levels / L3 qualifications in Geography, Environmental Science, Economics, Accountancy etc. there's a variety of courses in there that he could do to pursue both interests, depending on his grades / future ambitions.

I'd advise you to start looking at the different options now, and then look at what impact each option would have for uni (should he choose that route) or L3 apprenticeships. Colleges rarely have the time At enrolment to give detailed careers advice.

So use the next couple of weeks to research your options and decide once he has his GCSE results. Some good websites to start are prospects, uniguide, informed choices and some of the dedicated apprenticeships ones.

Yes echo that environment science A level along with perhaps geography and biology would be ideal - or my son is doing btec applied science and loving it - so different from doing gcses - he is at a 6th form college - not a school 6th form which also be
helps - environment careers can and do earn good money but can't help thinking degree entry is better