Unsure of next step/ career - help!

[SilverGlitterBaubles]

DD Y13 is having a crisis about what to do at university or even if she wants to go to university at all. She has never had an aim to do a particular job or career and says they idea of what to do next is just too much. She feels like she is being led down the university path because it's the thing to do. We have looked at apprenticeships but these seem to be really lacking. She was looking at Politics and International Relations seemed set on this but now not sure what to do at all. Given that we have to make decisions soon, I don't know what to do. Any advice greatly appreciated. TIA

Has she gone to open days?
Gone to see the Careers advisor?
She may want to apply but it doesn't mean she has to go.
She could take a gap year.

Have a look at the institute for apprenticeship website, and the apprenticeship standards section

PS
Many many people worry about this. It is a big decision, so it's ok to not know. Whatever her next step is, it doesn't have to be the thing she does forever 😊

Has she been to see a careers adviser? You could also try the National Careers Service - they give free careers advice over the phone and could be helpful.

I would also say it's important to reassure her that deciding what to do at university isn't the same as deciding the entire rest of her life. I think it can feel like such a big decision, and it is, but it's also important to pursue your interests.

If she doesn't quite know what career she wants it's actually OK - there is time for her to explore and dabble. She could do the Politics degree and it will give her a bit of breathing space - it's never going to be a bad thing to have a degree under her belt, and the university will also offer careers guidance.

It sounds like she is panicking because she's a bit overwhelmed. You need to scale this back for her and try to remove the pressure by reminding her that she doesn't have to decide everything now, only one step at a time.

I have only just really settled in my career in my 30's and am doing absolutely fine, and I'm glad that I had the time to try a few different things. Maybe she is a bit like that too.

There's so much pressure to have a direction and a set path and it's just not like that for everyone, some people need to explore.

Thanks all for your responses. I agree that it's the pressure to decide what to do with your life at 17 is overwhelming so I will reinforce that choosing the next step doesn't mean choosing a career path set in stone forever. We have visited some places in the summer and doing some virtual open events this weekend. Hopefully that will shed more light on things.