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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

About to go to Uni and he wants to change course !

32 replies

Travelledtheworld · 12/09/2018 21:22

DS got good A levels and was offered a place at a Russell Group University to study a science degree. But ever since A level results he has been moping around and acting a bit weird and showing little enthusiasm for actually going to University. I kept asking, "Are you OK, ? Is this what you really want to do ?"
Yesterday he admits he doesn't want to do this course at all, but wants to do a Social Science subject. He has found the course he wants to do and is planning to try to switch as soon as he turns up at University. They still have spaces and accept late entries.

I have suggested to DS he tries a couple of weeks of his science degree first, or that he turns down the place and takes a year off while he considers what to do.

Haven't told DS yet who will go bonkers. He is an engineer and doesn't see the point of arts and social sciences at all.

Any advice, anyone ?

OP posts:
titchy · 12/09/2018 21:40

Errr let him? Why wouldn't you? Confused Although I'd advise to ask them now not in a couple of weeks.

GreatestShowWoman · 12/09/2018 21:42

Yes get him to call now. Someone else could have his place then.

Seniorschoolmum · 12/09/2018 21:47

Also if he starts one course , they may not let him switch to the other course until next September, wasting a year and a year’s fees.

LynetteScavo · 12/09/2018 22:09

It's not about someone else getting his place Hmm

It's about what's best for him. Not you or your DH.

A year out may be the best idea....

Why does he now want to go a different degree? What does he see himself doing long term?

University is a big investment. It's better to give it an extra few months consideration than get it wrong.

Topseyt · 12/09/2018 22:13

Let him change course. He is the one who must be happy with his choice, nobody else.

Ignore DH if he protests. This isn't about him.

welshmist · 12/09/2018 22:16

Oo er. Well I know two students DS friends who started the course tried to change and had to wait until the following year.

Rosered1235 · 12/09/2018 22:22

Tell him to take a gap year. He’s about to get into a lot debt so he better be sure that he’s headed in the right direction. If he’s good at it I would have thought a science degree is a better investment than social sciences. Ask him to think about the type of jobs he sees himself doing and then do some work experience in it before committing to anything.

titchy · 12/09/2018 22:23

He is an engineer and doesn't see the point of arts and social sciences at all.

He sounds like a moron.

AtiaoftheJulii · 12/09/2018 22:30

He sounds like the reason your ds has spent the last year trying to convince himself to do a STEM subject!

To be blunt, it's not really up to you. As soon as ds gets to uni, he can request a transfer, and you can't stop him. Obviously you can stop supporting him, financially or otherwise, but it is only his decision.

BagelGoesWalking · 12/09/2018 22:35

He needs to call the uni ASAP and see what the situation is. My son has deferred his place for a year and changed his mind - from Biology to Politics & International Relations. He now works for a social media company (after a few years working with student societies).

Your son need to feel passionate about what he's studying - otherwise 3 yrs is a long time - but he will probably find it harder to find a job after graduation, than if he'd qualified in a science based degree.

harridan50 · 12/09/2018 22:36

OK it is totally his life not yours. Last year 3A stars daughter off to top uni but came home 2 weeks later as felt on wrong course, like your son was morose since results. Having worked for the past year she is returning to the same uni on a different course and to be fair is a different person, please support your son.

BagelGoesWalking · 12/09/2018 22:37

My son has deferred ... it was a few years ago, he's now 27!

thejeangenie36 · 12/09/2018 23:14

I work in a University. If your son isn't motivated to do his course, it will be disastrous for him. If the course he wants to do is at the same University he could be sorting that out now. If it isn't and he was to start at his currently chosen University, he risks wasting a year and at least a terms worth of fees. Ultimately, you can't stop him - he's an adult and it's his choice.

Could it be that he really wanted to do Social Sciences all along but felt he couldn't because of his Dad?

bumblingbovine49 · 12/09/2018 23:19

At our place he might be able to swap.course at enrolment but they would need to check with the right dept that they would be happy to take him so enrolment will take a bit longer to sort out
Far better to do it now than in semester/term . He needs to look at the course content carefully on the course webpages bfore he goes and contact admissions staff to ask what the procedure for course changes at enrolment are.

LoniceraJaponica · 12/09/2018 23:28

This is the reason DD is taking a gap year and currently feeling miserable because her friends and boyfrind are out partying every night

Original poster
Travelledtheworld · 13/09/2018 05:23

Thanks for the replies.
Intrigued that some of you seem to think that I would be able to stop him making this switch. I just want to support him and help him make the right choices in his life. He's not very worldly wise.
He is adamant that he doesn't want to do a gap year and we have discussed this numerous times.

DH did not go to University but left school at 16 to do an apprenticeship. He is now very highly salaried and specialist in his field.
So although he is himself very musical and not a philistine, he does lean heavily towards his son studying a STEM subject. DD is currently in her second year at University and we are paying for both kids accommodation as they are only eligible for minimum maintenance loans. So they are somewhat dependent on us enabling them to go to University.

Will suggest to DS he phones the University admissions tutor for the social science course to see how practical it is to switch. He has the right A levels, and both courses did not fill this year.

OP posts:
JacNaylor · 13/09/2018 06:29

I switched courses after starting uni, went to study history and discovered in the first week that I loathed everything about it. Switching was easy and straightforward and I've never regretted it for a second. I think your ds should go for it unless he has his heart set on a career that needs to science degree.

corythatwas · 13/09/2018 08:17

University lecturer here and tbh trying the original course for a few weeks sounds like the least workable option. As pp have said, the switch itself will take time and by the time he gets started he will have missed all the introductory classes, making life a lot harder.

At my uni we only allow students to switch individual modules during the first 2 weeks of term for this reason, and here we're talking about a whole programme. If he's going to switch, I'd either do it now or take a year out. Purely with my lecturer's hat on I'd advise the year out, but appreciate that he does not want this.

You may want to talk to your dh about out-of-work and paidly paid STEM graduates: they are not that few!! STEM is not a guaranteed meal ticket to a well-paid job any more than social sciences or humanities.

Original poster
Travelledtheworld · 15/09/2018 02:57

Thanks Corythatwas.
I valued your advice throughout the teenagers thread, over the years.

OP posts:
OhtheHillsareAlive · 15/09/2018 09:08

As a university academic, I'd endorse what Cory says - especially the year out of formal education. Kids are on such educational/exam treadmills nowadays, and it's exhausting. They need to find the joy in learning.

I'd add that, in my long experience, students doing courses they don't really want to do (particularly because of parental pressure), tend to do less well overall. You might suggest that to your DH.

RavenLG · 15/09/2018 09:26

Has he actually started the course yet? I work in a university (non academic) and he would most certainly be able to switch courses before freshers and introduction week start 24th September. It would be a rush for the admin / admissions team but doable.

Out of interest, what is your DD studying? Has your DS said why he wants to switch to such a degree? Has he looked if he has the grades / correct A Levels for the course?

Original poster
Travelledtheworld · 15/09/2018 19:09

RavenLG
He doesn't start until next week.
Daughter is studying politics.
Son wants to study politics too. He says it's the only thing he is really interested in. We have lived all over the world and we all have a very wide perspective on politics and government.
He has the right A levels and the right grades. I have suggested he looks at politics and economics to make the most of his A level Maths and analytical mind.

OP posts:
TheBeastInMsRooneysRoom · 15/09/2018 19:14

My parents forced me to stick with my original degree choice (which I had pretty much chosen from about 14) despite my wobbles and even though I was extremely competent in the subject, I had what was in restrospect a breakdown. Dropped out by christmas and restarted uni the following year with a huge sense of failure which followed me for many years. Encourage him to follow his instincts. A lot can change between declaring your choices and actually attending uni. For me, I was bored and burned out with my original selection by the time I actually attended.

TheBeastInMsRooneysRoom · 15/09/2018 19:16

Oh, x-post with your update! You don't need to just let him - actively encourage him! He sounds like he knows what he wants and it's not an unknown subject he has rose-coloured glasses on over.

molifly · 15/09/2018 19:17

Don't make him wait, makes switching impossible most of the time