DD isn't academic enough for uni but just won't accept this.

[Lillians]

DD is 19 and got 1 A, 4 Bs and 3 Cs at GCSE. She went on to sixth form where she didn't pass the 1st year and had to leave, she went to another college to retake the first year (it was only maths as the other 2 subjects were 2 years) and failed again. She didn't get a chance to do any exams in the other subjects.

She works part time now and volunteers for childline. She says her volunteering has made her realise how much she wants to be a mental health nurse specifically to do with eating disorders.

I have said to her there are sooo many different ways you could get involved with that without being a nurse and she doesn't want to hear it, gets upset saying that she wishes I had faith in her etc. when I do!! She just isn't academic enough for uni.

I don't know how to offer her advice any more.

You sound so unsupportive of her.

I think it is great she wants to do that job and that she should absolutely go for it. The best students are the ones with a little bit of perspective and life experience first anyway, it gives you focus.

Oh and also, my GCSE results are similar to hers. Now I am doing a PhD and teaching undergraduate students after retraining as a mature student. It is not always a linear pathway. Start believing in her.

It's a shame she was so badly advised by school. Who on earth tells someone with a B at GCSE Maths that A Level Maths is their best bet for an 'academic' A Level?

My cousin has just started her nursing degree after an access course. She's been working in care for a few years and it's the experience she's got through that, and the attitude and knowledge she has as a result, that really made her shine when applying to uni. If your dd can get HCA work whilst doing an Access course it will stand her in very good stead. My employer runs a scheme to put some of their best performing HCAs through the nursing degree so that is also something she may want to look into?

My DBro took 4(!) gos to get a c in gcse maths, there's no way he'd manage an a level.

Anyway he's is now a qualified paramedic and got 'distinctions' in quite a few units at uni.

I work in a fe college. There are many ways into he, not just doing a levels. An access course could be a good route for her. Or she could do a health and social care btec (an extended diploma is the equivalent of three a levels). She should go and speak to local
colleges - they'll be able to offer real advice.
Or a lot of NHS trusts are running more apprenticeships to spend their levy. One near us is starting people on a level 4 apprenticeship which can progress right through to a full degree.

would she do btecs? health and social care is a good one

Be aware that at age 19 she is unlikely to be eligible for government funding for an FE course and will likely have to pay fees or get adult learning loan. For this reason alone a 2 year BTEC is not a sensible option, in comparison with a one year course such as Access. In her position I would enquire directly to the HE provider in case she can get in with her existing qualifications and experience.

I'm pretty sure you get funded until 21? If you don't already have a level 3 qualification.

Some people are just not cut out for uni, agreed - it really does not sound like your daughter is one of them though.

DD3 did a BTEC which she finished in the year she was 21. It was funded so she didn't have to pay anything

I got a U in chem at AS and am now finishing my MA in ELS at a top 7 university ... let her live her life .

And uni really isn't that hard ... it's easier than a level as it's a gradual increase in skill and not a thrust like gcse to a level

Also my best friend got DDC at as, BBCat a level and is just finishing her mental health nursing degree at Liverpool with a 1st ...

Most of my GCSEs are around grade C, I fucked up my A levels, I had no idea what the jump between GCSEs and A levels were like. Years later I did an access course, earned mostly distinctions (science), ended up with a first class degree at a decent university. If she finds something she'd really engage with, she may well exceed your expectations.

Be aware that at age 19 she is unlikely to be eligible for government funding for an FE course and will likely have to pay fees or get adult learning loan. For this reason alone a 2 year BTEC is not a sensible option, in comparison with a one year course such as Access. In her position I would enquire directly to the HE provider in case she can get in with her existing qualifications and experience.

This isn't true. Qualifications that are on performance tables are funded for 19+ as long as you don't already have a full qualification at that level. She needs to talk to a college about what is available.

Her gcse results are similar to me and I'm now studying a degree in law and just taken on a degree apprenticeship in business. Have faith in her. It sounds to me like she chose the wrong a level choices the same as me! Has she considered looking at alternatives to a levels such as nvqs or btecs? Not sure what the options for nursing are but she should go to a college open day and speak to a tutor. University isn't at all like school

I happen to know a girl, she did some admin jobs after college,but she really didn't like it. She would like to be a mental health counselor, so she did 1 year NVQ/foundation course with a local college to get to know this career a bit more while she keeps on her admin job. Afterwards, she has decided that is what she want to do, she then enrolled on a degree course. Now she works part time for a charity to provide counselling for young people, and at the same time doing her degree part time. It is hard work, but I think she will get there eventually.

I guess you can support your DD if she find passion on this. You can encourage her to research the ways to get to her target.