Dd has absolutely no idea what she wants to do

[Parisbanana]

She can't be the only 6th former that has absolutely no idea what she wants to do at uni. She definitely wants to go.
She is an all rounder, got brilliant GCSEs across the board and is now doing the IB so continues with a range of subjects.
She really has no idea what to do. I have no idea what she should do! She's a hard worker and clever and could apply to Oxbridge if she could only think what to do!
Not really sure what I'm asking, but can anyone help

Get some work experience, that might help her see a path (or cut out other paths that no longer appeal after WE).
If in doubt, don't go yet. There's no hurry. Do a gap year, explore the world a bit.
University will still be there in a year or two.

Some food for thought for you: I am 53 years old and I have never known what I wanted to do.

I have however had a successful career, it happens to be in IT. But I just drifted into it, I didn't have a plan.

Plenty of people, including my DH and my best friend, don't know when they are teenagers what they want to do.

So me, my DH and BF, just studied what we liked best. And all of us found our careers in our mid twenties.

Heaps of people dont at 17/18 - and that okay.

As above, just get a job. Doesnt have to be anything grand - admin stuff would be good if she is bright. Just to get something on her CV and 'start'.

Have a look for 'entry level' jobs that demand nothing more than sensble A levels:

jobs.civilservice.gov.uk/company/nghr/jobs.cgi

www.jobs.nhs.uk/

www.eteach.com/secondary-school-administration-jobs

My niece got a basic admin/clerical job with the NHS - because she hadnt a clue what else to do - saved some cash and is currently in Australia on a working holiday, working in a hotel on the Gold Coast. She plans on training as a Pharmacy Assistant with the NHS on her return. Friends son is working as a postman. Loves it. Wont be what he does for the rest of his life, but its good solid work for now. Another friend's son got a temp job in a boatyard as a labourer - he's now working for a yacht charter company, earning buckets.

Life isnt a race. So long as your DD is doing something sensible and not just sitting on the sofa, that's positive. Encourage something like an admin apprenticeship or a low level 'learning' job that could lead to a whole heap of other things.

Can you narrow it down at all? Is she a good all-rounder who cannot choose between physics, modern languages or Eng Lit? Or is she actually at a point where despite her academic ability she is ready for a break in formal education?

I was ready to leave school at 18 despite being very academically able. Went back at 22, completed three degrees in quick succession and am now an academic. I worked for the intervening years in a related field which I loved, but at 18 I didn't need or want the uni experience. I wanted the independence of supporting myself financially and doing a job I cared passionately about.

But you say your DD does want to go to uni. In which case she needs to think about why. Because her friends are going. Because it is fun. I think those are good reasons, but they may make study pretty dull. Going because it is what people do at 18 is a lousy reason.

And going because she will enjoy further study and is just overwhelmed by choice is a great reason.

Not knowing what she feels passionate about yet is really normal at 16/17 and should not be a cause for alarm. The summer open days next year should help. It is OK to consider a range of options and when I help out at summer Open Days we quite often chat to students about the strengths of doing my subject versus a range of other subjects. I don't see my job as to sell my subject over the other options, but to explain what studying it is like at degree level so they can make an informed choice.

In the meantime it is great that she is doing the IB and keeping her options open.

Finally when visiting universities and looking at degree programmes ask about modularisation and how easy it is to take courses in other departments or consider joint honours. Oxford and Cambridge might both be good for her, since they allow students to study widely across disciplines, but so do many other universities. I don't want to name my place but we're relaxed about this, and so are most unis which have switched to the modular system, provided 2/3 of the courses are taken in the graduating discipline. So she wouldn't have to abandon her passion for philosophy if she decides to study maths.

It's hard to advise on so little information. And frankly if she doesn't know what she wants to study at university, she really shouldn't go at the moment.

I get too many undergrads in my office with that slightly whiny "I don't know what essay question to answer/module to do/book to read" already.

You say she knows she wants to go to university? How does she know that? What broad discipline does she want to study?

Or better still, what does she like doing now? What interests and motivates her beyond the necessary "should" or "have to" do activities or areas of study? What things does she do outside of school? What is her part-time job?

Look, university is a privilege. It's a privilege which should be available to ANYONE, but only if they know that they want to go to university above anything else. It's not a finishing school, nor a place to party for 3 years. I'd encourage your daughter to read this thread.

Does she have a passion? If she is going to stay on in education it should be for something she loves.

If not, take some time out. I worked a few seasons with PGL after Uni and there were a good few there straight from Sixth Form. Great experience.

When I read threads like this, and do personal tutorials with my first years, it does make me think that when I rule the world, a gap year doing civic service of some sort will be compulsory!

What kind of job does she want?
Sitting in an office/meetings, etc?
Interacting with public?
Practical?
Outdoor?

What are her interests?

I was going to suggest a Scottish Uni, because of the four year degree structure first year students study a wider range of subjects than on a three year degree course and it is common to change your main degree subject after first year ( my brother and a good friend did).

Yes yes to the scottish suggestion.

I went to Glasgoe and in first year did film and tv studies, history of art and English literature at Ordinary level. I knew that I wanted to to honours film and tv, but in those days was only offered as joint honours.

Second year I carried on English literature and film and tv to Higher Ordinary level. And dropped the history of art and did psychology as an Ordinary.

THrid and fourth years were spent reading film and tv/English lit joint honours.

You come out with an MA.

glasgow

IPhone.

If she picks a degree that will interest her and is well regarded by employers she can't do far wrong.
When she is at uni she will develop good around skills. It will go e her time to think about what she wants to do. Plus she will exposed to more opportunities for the future.

I'm with Upthechimney, really no one should go to uni straight from school.

Finish year 13, work, travel, play or all three. Only apply to uni when and if she really knows it is the right route.

Thank you everyone for absolutely brilliant responses. Such a lot of great advice and questions to discuss and really think about.
I guess for her (and us) and many other in this position, it's the first real choice in education. Yes she chose options and chose IB over A levels. But choosing 3 or 4 years at uni, or not, or getting a job, or taking a gap year....so many things to consider which can seem overwhelming at such an age. And we know it doesn't mean your future is completely mapped out....dh and I are both now doing things completely unrelated to what we studied between the ages of 18 and 21.

I will show dd this thread and I think it will really help her, as it has me.
Thank you

The Oxbridge equivalent of the scottish system might be Natural Sciences at Cambridge if she is scientific, as it leaves a wide range open to you.

There's a US style broad-based 'Arts and Sciences' BASc at UCL: www.ucl.ac.uk/basc/prospective. Lots of options, allowing you to work out what you want to do.

Equally, I'd encourage her to take a year out if she's really not sure.

Don't forget that she could also go to the US and study. Their approach may suit her better.

This sounds very similar to ds1, but he has started to be a bit more pro-active in investigating the options. He's booked to go on three different taster days at a local uni in three different subjects, to try and get an idea of what might interest him most. He's of the maths/science persuasion, which doesn't narrow it down much!

I fervently wish I'd had a gap year. I don't think they really existed in my day, or if they did, they were for those who'd mucked up and had to retake their A Levels.

I drifted off to a very good university but didn't really enjoy my course and was quite babyish and not ready for student life.

Ds, like the OP's dd, is clever but has no "passion" for a particular academic subject. I can't believe that every student is fizzing with excitement about their chosen degree subject before they've even started. Some may be, but I don't believe that this applies to every Oxbridge entrant. A good proportion probably put on a good show at interview or said the right things in their personal statement.

I agree you don't want to take on something you're a bit blah about, but having to put all your eggs in one basket at the age of 17 is, to my mind, ridiculous.

With university so expensive I'd favour having a year or 2 out whilst she decides what to do, better than wasting 3 or 4 years and getting alot of debt and then deciding she wants to do x degree instead of y degree. I think you should only go to college if you're fairly sure it's what you want to do.
For some subjects doing an HND is an alternative which can be converted into a degree.
My stepson half heartedly started a degree, dropped out in his first term, worked for a few years and is now doing a degree in something unrelated that he found a passion for whilst working.
My stepdaughter knew exactly what she wanted to study and is happy at college. My son off to college next year knows what he wants to do, his sister 2 years younger isn't sure yet and I won't be keen for her to go to college unless she has more of a plan.
I went to college, where as my sister left school at 16 and she doesn't earn much less than me. She found a niche that suited her by working her way up in companies and is an expert in her field.

The UCL Arts and Sciences or the Natural Sciences would be ideal. Scottish option too...

Or do something fairly versatile like Economics at a really good university so she would have some choice when she graduates.

Don't go to uni unless you are sure.

I went in my 30s after disability ended my first career, which was something I dropped in to rather than planned.

Also she might not realise all the jobs that are open to her. I love animals but at 18 it didn't occur to me that there were actual jobs with animals.

Gap years can be an extended holiday or they can be an opportunity to try out various jobs by doing things like camp America or getting the working holiday visa for Australia.

Providing she is 15 years old, she sounds like an ideal candidate for the Morrisby Profile psychometric test. This assesses a students potential abilities in a number of areas, as well as their personality & matches it up to career & course decisions. The profile will give your DD a 24 page report on her abilities & also an opportunity to discuss the outcomes with a qualified guidance professional. Look at www.morrisby.com for details about the profile, and an opportunity to search for accredited professionals near you.