Good professions without going to uni?

[Badbadbunny]

My year 10 son is a high achiever, straight A/A* student across the board and predicted 8/9's at GCSE.

Trouble is, he hasn't a clue what career he wants to do, and isn't really that keen on uni. Most of his peers are looking at doing history or classics degrees, and he's just not that interested in doing academic subjects. He's adamant that if he goes to Uni, he wants to spend his 3 (or more) years doing something that will be directly related to a particular career. He doesn't want to learn for the sake of it - he wants to learn specific skills etc for a particular reason.

He's good at sciences, so we've broached the subject of the medical profession, but he's not interested in being "hands on" with people, so that's put an end to any ideas about becoming a doctor or dentist!

Just wondering if there are any good professions where you don't actually need to go to uni, or where the uni degree is very practical and relevant?

Accountancy is an obvious choice as their are both degree and non-degree routes to becoming a qualified accountant. He'd probably be interested in that and would probably do fine for a career. But I'm just wanting to explore any other similar professions. I've looked into architecture, but it seems that it's definitely a graduate only route and quite a long uni course, so that's probably off the agenda. What about other professions, such as solicitor, actuary, etc - does anyone know if there are non-graduate entry routes??

I would be tempted to try to persuade him to swap Maths for one of his 3. He could do a degree, or get a job, in any of those subject areas without the related A level but if he did Maths it would be a lot easier.

I had a similar conversation with my nephew a few years back when he was having trouble getting his head round the idea that A level English and History are actually far more useful for a Law degree than A level Law. (My Economics degree is joint with Law)

Can't help much with career although I would say engineering and computing leap out! Word of advice on A levels - usual advice is not to do business studies AND economics but to choose one. If doing computing it's ideal to do maths as well.

I dropped you a message with some info that might help.

I would be tempted to try to persuade him to swap Maths for one of his 3

Sorry, I wasn't clear. He does 4 A levels in total. Maths is the only one that he'll definitely do - those 3 others are the options in addition to Maths.

That is a good set of complimentary a levels though. Maths is generally considered to be the most 'useful' A level- in terms of University entry it's desirable. Has he considered just working for a year and doing A levels Later?

Sports science or human computer interaction (computer science undergrad first)?

Can you get him some work experience. Actually, it would probably shadowing if he is Y10. DS did WE in Y10 in one area (which didn't live up to expectations, so that idea was crossed off the list of potentials) but it was his WE in Y12 that finally gave him his direction.

Regarding engineering, someone mentioned Headstart above. Can I also throw in Smallpeice

Reading with interest, for ds1.

I had a family member in a similar position last year. Had chosen a very science based GCSE programme and then realised he hated them. He's chosen different A levelsi in a different direction and is much happier - it turned out he had a 'secret ambition' that he didn't want to admit, to himself or anyone else.
Might it be worth trying to get him to talk about 'in an ideal world what would you want to do as a job' and take it from there - rather than starting from a list of professions?

I see someone has suggested the RAF, I was about to suggest the Royal Navy, there's a specialist sixth form college for young people interested in STEM subjects and the armed forces, Wellbeck Defence College. The forces are keen on encouraging sport as well, the starting salaries are quite good for officer candidates and it's not compulsory to be a graduate ( although most are these days.) There are fast track engineering career routes for those who join the navy as a rating but score highly in tests, you can end up with a degree. My DS is training right now but unfortunately is not fast track material, he is enjoying earning his own money and is being challenged!

One of my friends went to Welbeck and loved it. Then Sandhurst, officer commission, then Engineering degree at Cambridge paid for by the Army.

At 16, he never expected the varied and exciting opportunities it led to.

Would he be interested in quantity surveying? My friend's son studied that (he wanted a degree that led to a job, too) and found it easy to find work and now runs his own business.

Or what about the BBC Trainee sports journalism apprenticeships? Difficult to get onto, but they offer work experience, too.

How about being an actuary rather than an accountant? It's much better paid.

I studied aeronautical engineering at university, but I moved into actuarial work after i graduated, all that was required was an A in higher maths and a good numerate degree.

You don't necessarily have to go on to work in the field you study at university. A degree opens doors for you and demonstrates your ability to take in and apply knowledge rather than necessarily preparing you for a particular career path.

Wiggly and OP - my nephew didn't do well at sixth form, and bummed around afterwards. At 23/24 he got himself together, joined the RN, and is on the fast track weapon engineering career route, and he is also training to be a submariner (thank goodness someone is following the family tradition!). He will get his degree, and hopefully a commission as well.

It's not the route taken by dfil or dh who joined as WE officers with degrees funded by the RN, but if it works and it has motivated my nephew beyond belief (even to the extent he rings dh and picks his brains), then it's worth looking at. Dh and dfil both got their C.Eng whilst serving.

That's a good story scary teacher, my DS only has the equivalent of two GCSEs, one in English and one in PE ( he does have some others but they are similar to general level not credit), the RN were willing to give him a modern apprenticeship in the computer and IT side of Weapon Engineering ( he wouldn't have got on to one in college here with those qualifications). I am sort of hoping he will develop academically but if he doesn't he will still have gained useful skills and confidence, at the very least he is now brilliant at ironing!

Forget about accounting, my trade union magazine writes articles about how jobs are going to the robots within the next couple of decades. Actuary etc. requires going to the university for years.

Why not look into forestry, forestry management, and/or becoming an arborist? Somebody's got to do that. If he'd later on like to write a doctoral thesis on forestry management, that option is also available. You're not "hands on" with people but it's a job that is very much "hands on" and there are so many interesting things to learn about it. Forestry is much about computing, computer supported, now so it's a high tech job too. He could also use the education to know how to buy and sell such property. A YouTube search for "forestry education wales" throws up a number of short videos.

Many of the other arguments on this thread are also valid, like most graduate careers don't requiring specific degrees, as someone said.

I have a friend with a DS working in forestry management. He also had to go to college for years. Otoh he absolutely loves his job and his chainsaw and can tie any sort of knot and even weave his own ropes.

My y11 son is most interested in and best at maths, chemistry and biology. He sees himself possibly doing a degree in chemistry, engineering or computer science because his ideal job would be in technology. The engineers and ciders will have specific degrees and qualifications but there's much more flexibility with marketing and management.

I work in the computer games industry. While coding requires a degree in something relevant like maths, physics or computer science, other roles will have more flexibility. I have an economics degree and have worked in marketing and project management.

It sounds like he should look into an apprenticeship. Some offer qualifications that can be used for university entry.

DDs' secondary school is currently advertising modern apprenticeships at the local engineering and IT companies - all large employers locally and Internationally. My understanding is that in both cases it is possible to earn a degree while working.

My family is heavy with lawyers & hairdressers -- both professions that are heavily dissed on MN! But they own their homes, make a good living, happily employed.

He's only yr10, why choosing A-levels now(?? ).

Go into military as an officer after A-levels?
After GCSEs, Become a military engineer (Wellbeck college already mentioned ).

Friend of friend waxes on about how the military engineers get almost no danger but all the fun of a military life.

I work in a tech company and we have just taken on 16 apprentices straight from a levels to eventually become developers - I know not strictly a profession but developers are in high demand so will always have work!
www.manchesterdigital.com/developer-apprenticeship

How about being a pilot?

That's what I wish I'd been (I'm an accountant).

He sounds a perfect fit for the world of IT. There is no ceiling for those without degrees. The route in can be tricky theses days if you don't have a degree but as ceeveebee posted below many companies are beginning to realise this and offer developer apprenticeships or similar.

There are also some universities which work hand in hand with employers and offer part time degrees where you work 3 days a week and attend uni the other two and the employer pays your fees. Can't remember the name of the scheme but would something like this suit him?

Police Service?

He's only yr10, why choosing A-levels now(?? confused ).

Because they have to choose their A levels later this year. In some subjects, they'll be starting to touch on A level work in year 11 as "enrichment" beyond the GCSE syllabus is done for relevant topics to help them understand topics better and help them get top marks in the GCSE papers.