Sixth form daughter has no idea what to do at University

[rachel48]

Eldest daughter is about to start Upper Sixth. Although she says she wants to go to Uni she doesn't really know what to study. When I try and offer suggestions she either gets cross or upset and then we get no further. Any suggestions how to tackle this and encourage her to look at the different options/courses that are out there. I feel she has her head in the sand, worrying about it but not doing anything to alleviate the worry. She is predicted AAB A levels in academic subjects so she is quite capable.

For students who don't yet want to specialise, there are several degree courses available (at well-regarded universities) in Liberal Arts or Natural Sciences.

My DD is in exactly the same position. She thinks she wants to do Maths or some kind of engineering but isn't convinced she wants to actually go to university - it's such an abstract concept for her that I don't think she can imagine it. She's looking at degree apprenticeships or taking a year out, but her 6th Form are pushing all of the yr13s to do UCAS applications.

What I found interesting was that my daughter continued the "I don't know what to do" line in public long after she had made her mind up...she admitted it was " the done thing". She told her best friend only.

It's terribly daunting.
Talk to her about how many degrees lead to a huge variety of careers so it's not restricting your future.
Do you know current students who she can chat to? ANy friends of friends?

What do you think she is interested in/would be suited to? Can she judge courses into "no way" and "perhaps". Either use the Russell guide or just pull a few web pages up ( I think I justbpulled up biological related courses form some universities I had heard of and after 10 minutes I was able to accurately predict which pile any course would go in...she had really clear ideas and she ended up laughing at herself

Dd loves her course and university now

Then Get her to select a few open days and see as many departments as Is sensible given what she is interested in. The first visits can just be to universities in cities you like or want to visit if she says no to something, that's great as it narrows the choices, better if you can understand why

Our degree apprentices typically also applied to university. Keep those options open

Well Chairing, if you have not visited a university yet, I would not get DD to
apply for 2019. Stuff the school. She can apply post results next year.

University really isn’t abstract! It’s a real experience but is best approached by a positive young person who has clearly understood what they are applying for. If she does a gap year, she could do relevant work experience maybe and think about what type of engineering she actually wants.

Maths is a school subject. She knows what that is but she should research what maths at university is about. Allied courses might be economics or management. Both pretty mathsy!

Regarding Engineering: there are many varieties! She would need to think what she enjoys about physics (mechanical) and whether she is interested in the built environment (civil and structural) or electrical or indeed one of several other disciplines, eg aeronautical, automotive etc. There are allied careers such as surveying, planning and architecture, Landscape Architecture and environmental science for which sciences are useful. Obviously many more! Take time to look at alternatives and see where he enthusiasm takes her.

DD wasn't sure what she wanted to do. She then decided at the 11th hour to apply for medicine, but was unsuccessful (a blessing in disguise). She excelled in her A levels, has decided to go back to plan A of biomedical science, and is taking a year out to find a university she really loves. In the meantime she has her first job interview tomorrow.

With hindsight, I wish I'd encouraged my dc to give some more serious thought to taking a year out and getting some savings behind them before going to University. It's not for everyone, obviously - some love studying and are passionate about their subject and all is well, but many dc just 'go to university' because it is 'what you do after 6th form' without really having any idea what they want to do with their lives, or without a passion to stud a particular subject.
I am not saying you have to know what you want to do as a career, but I think many youngsters benefit from spending time at work (or even better if they can also get some work experience somewhere they think they might be interested).

Might be worth her considering a Scottish uni. Degrees are 4 years and you don't need to make your final subject choices until the beginning of your 3rd year. I started intending to do Spanish and English lit and came out with something completely different.

I think that many people forget that university can also be about growing and developing as a person, honing your social skills and bridging the gap between childhood and the adult years. You form friendships which can last a lifetime and learn the skills needed to form arguments and reason your case.

I had no idea what to do at university so I did a subject that sounded interesting (and a bit cool) at a university sufficiently far from home by the beach. It was the making of me. I grew as a person, made some wonderful friends, partied hard and came out with an okay degree. I worked in my field of expertise for a number of years but the degree really came into its own when I joined a programme to work in Japan which was reliant on a degree (any degree).

Twenty years on, I don't work in that field but I am still intensely proud of have those letters after my name. Sometimes it's no bad thing to just get on with it and do something even if you don't have your life planned out.

ginswingerIt's all well and good going to uni to help develop your social skills and stuff. In your days the government probably gave u grants to go. These days its a massive debt to get the experience you talk about. I'm not sure I'd want to be saddled with debts, uncertainty, picking the right degree and university. If i wasnt sure on the career path. I would wait take gap year get work experience mature and grow from that. There is more pressure these days than 20 years ago.