I am really struggling with what my DD wants to study at University please come and talk some sense into me

[minsmum]

My DD is currently doing her AS levels and started off thinking about a joint English/Philosphy degree. She then changed her mind and it became Philosophy/Creative writing. Now she is concentrating on Creative writing.

My DH and I left school after O levels so have no understanding of degree courses and I can't stop myself feeling this not a degree subject. I really want to support her and feel enthusiastic about her choices but I am struggling with this.

It is of course her choice and she will do what she feels is best I just think I need help understanding what creative writing is for, if you see what I mean.

Get her to as many open days as possible, then let her make up her own mind. Employability depends on a lot more than which univ you attend (all surveys suggest working-class kids do not experience upward social mobility as a result of attending RG univs; and it depends what you want to do afterwards anyhow, which few kids know at 18). I teach in RG uni and I'm tired of seeing applicants whose schools and parents told them to apply to 'the best' university possible regardless of what they wanted. When you get a great kid from a comp/FE college, they've generally really thought about what they want to do, and where they want to do it, whereas from the private sector and grammars they just look at where is most 'competitive' on the basis that where there is most competition for places must just be really good. Maybe not! There are now courses and universities out there that are seen as incredibly successful but weren't 40 years ago (Warwick; Sociology). That's because students were adventurous enough to sign up to something that looked a bit different, to question what was 'traditional' and 'good' (single sex Oxbridge colleges, generally, that refused entry to women). What is 'the best'? The institution and course that gives a student sufficient enthusiasm to pursue their studies for at least 3 years without dropping out. And I speak as someone who is an Oxbridge tutor in a very 'traditional' subject but I did not follow the 'traditional' path of attending Oxbridge, did not get a First, did not go to RG uni for postgrad studies, did not do a 'traditional' subject, but got a hell of a lot of enthusiasm and support and time and worked hard because I was so inspired by all of that.

I know someone who recently graduated from former polytechnic with a degree in media/ journalism, 3 years down the line none of her course mates are doing anything remotely to do with their degree but most are working in call centres or unemployed. As much as I'd like my dc to follow their interests I'm also worried that certain paths will make life hard for them in the future. I'd have a reality check chat with your dd and discuss with her what she plans to do after her degree. If she won't listen to you or your dh is their a teacher or an other family member she respects and looks up to who could talk to her?

Haven't read this thread properly, so sorry if anyone has already said this.

DS is very interested in business and was talking about a Business/Management degree. Together with his head, we felt that these are not 'well respected', and he decided to do Physics after listening to us. He is at a RG uni - working very hard but on course for a high 2:1.

He had a one to one with one of the 'big four' accountants recently, who told him that they wanted a 2:1 - 'didn't care if it was in Physics or Netball'. Bit of a demotivator all round really!

Good luck OP with the decisions your DD makes.