Ds1 told by college tutor he should consider uni rather thanan apprenticeship

[Liquorishlucy]

Ds is in his final year of A'levels - physics, geography and computer science, also got a grade c in a one year core maths course this year and passed his gcse english language with a 4 (failed it last year).
He's dyslexic, hates essay writing and required a scribe in his gcses, his work ethic is also variable . Despite admitting that he didn't do that much revision for gcses, he passed 10, no 7s but missed at least 4 by just a couple of marks, in the end got mainly 5s and 6s. He initially wanted to apply for the raf and do something computer related but has an eye condition which although stable for years, precludes him from joining up. He didn't fancy uni because of the 'essay writing' and hated the idea of being stuck in formal education so decided to look into apprenticeships. That was until covid when presumably the economic uncertainty will reduce the numbers available. We don't live in a particularly well off area (nw) so opportunities will be even more scarce and competitive I imagine. His tutor at college has now persuaded him to consider doing a degree but he really hasn't got a clue what in....preferably something that doesn't involve much essay writing and is more practice based but not sure there actually is such a thing. He's predicted c's and maybe b's if he really knuckles down (which he seems to be doing). Just wondered if anyone had been in a similar predicament ? He actually really enjoys physics/geography so I feel a practical degree would be more suitable...any ideas or experience ?

Physics and Computer Science type degrees might be a problem without maths. Geography would be the easier option on that front. However there might be computer courses that don’t require maths if you move away from the “science” bit. I’m sure others will have ideas.

Ecology/environment might be something he could look at or planning. Science degrees have fewer essays but without maths he might have to accept some essays. Obviously geography degrees might be of interest and they vary a lot in content. Their advantage is though that they have lots of choice regarding modules.

Yes, it’s been reported there are way fewer apprenticeships.

Maybe look at this for ideas: www.theuniguide.co.uk/a-level-explorer/computer-science/geography/physics?o=201

A friend's son (A*,A,B) opted for an apprenticeship rather than University as he was sick of studying. About a year later he was feeling envious of his friends and their ability to travel during summer and to live away from home, so started planning a gap year. Then Covid struck and he is very relieved to be in a job and with a routine.

University does not suit everyone, and your DS may simply want a break from studying. As well as an apprenticeship has he considered:

1. A more vocational degree. Paramedic, physiotherapist, or something like a skilled technician etc. Some people enjoy a mix of practical and academic.

1. A gap year. Much more difficult now, but standard stuff like working as a camp counselor or in a holiday or ski resort. Its a chance to get away from home and be with other young people. And to clarfy what he might want to do.

There may be fewer apprenticeships, but they have always existed. Having a real skill, perhaps something like plumbing can get you started as much as many degrees will. And if you are bright, work hard and keep learning can take you just as far. (For example I know a plumber who chose not to go to University when his friends did and now specialises in big commercial premises and who earns a six figure salary, and that is as an employee. The firm's owner earns a lot more.)

Plumbing (or electrician) is fantastic if you have the skillset for it. You need manual dexterity, calmness and an ability to solve problems as you never know what you are going to be confronted with.

I suggested it to ds, but he rightly pointed out how rubbish he was in school DT lessons :)

I am not sure how easy it is to train though?

Friend's son has a minor medical issue that precluded him joining the raf. He's looking at the fleet air arm instead as apparently medical for navy is less picky. Not sure of the details but might be worth looking at
www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/roles-and-specialisations/services/fleet-air-arm
Also if he does want to go down the degree route, a degree with the option for a foundation year might help him figure out if university is for him.

Degree apprenticeships are relatively new. The standard plumbing and trades ones have been around for longer but were very much revived with the YTS scheme in the 80s. YTS didn’t have degrees on offer.

What about a degree like this?
www.ntu.ac.uk/course/architecture-design-and-the-built-environment/ug/bsc-hons-building-surveying
I would suggest that he looks through the list of degrees and degree apprenticeships at a university like this one for ideas.

Thanks everyone. Foundation year may be an option in view of lacking the maths A'level. Was also looking at maybe a hnd in an engineering kind of subject ?
Learning a trade was something we'd discussed funnily enough as he likes working with his hands - he's done a few little projects involving woodwork with his dad and enjoyed them, only thing is in some respects he's a bit geeky, something of a home bird and couldn't really imagine in him fitting in on a building site but it's a thought !
Re a technical kind of role he did fancy something like a bt engineering apprenticeship so hands on and not necessarily office based, we've been looking but nothing has come up yet...

Yes T Levels is a great suggestion! They were meant to launch in Sep this year, I don’t know whether that got delayed because of corona.

I wouldn't- DS1 was advised to go for uni, much to our surprise. Mountains of debt later, he dropped out after resitting y2. Total waste.

He did learn a lot those years, but none of it was taught by the Uni!

Even getting an entry level job and working your way up would have been better.

Look up environment health apprenticeships. I think they are very new. Environmental Health is a much bigger arena than food inspections and noise complaints which everyone seems to think is all environmental health officers do! (Some do of course).

Another suggestion:
www.kent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/208/computer-systems-engineering-including-a-foundation-year

A friend of our DC's did this course, entering with a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering (and also seems to have had quite a good time at the University, socially). Tbh, I'm not sure what they're doing currently, but it doesn't sound like the kind of thing that actively renders one unemployable...
The non-foundation year route requires ABB at A level.

Anyone who doesn’t get a very well paid job in the years after university doesn’t have mountains of debt. They won’t pay it off or get anywhere near paying it off.

Of course university isn’t right for everyone. You could see if local government is offering any training in the practical areas of their work.

(Re Kent, if he likes the look of the course, it's a pity you are not closer, because it's one of the few places offering in-person campus tours currently. DS2 and I are going on one tomorrow afternoon).

Would all 6s at GCSE translate to ABB?

Would all 6s at GCSE translate to ABB?

Possibly not. But the requirement for the course at Kent with the integrated Foundation Year, as it states in the course details, is DDD.

Look into support for people with dyslexia at uni, when I went in the 2000s my friends got a lot of resources to help them such as laptops with speech to text software and they found uni work more accessible than at school or college but uni isn't for everyone and if he prefers working with his hands then that's what he should do.

If he's not the building site type what about looking into something more niche, roof thatching, stone masonary there is still need for these skills especially with building restoration, perhaps go straight to the tradespeople and see if they'll take him on.

Just a thought op - has your son thought about civil engineering degrees? There are plenty which don’t require maths a level.

@jayritchie yes we have actually ! It's just a matter of sitting down with him and looking at options, at the moment he's a bit head in the sand and keeps putting it off. Ask him what he wants to do and he hasn't got a clue. I'm wondering if he needs some kind of career advice from somebody more knowledgable than me I'll suggest he asks at college if anything is available...

There are some fantastic science aprentiships. In your area:

Each summer one of the apprentices from Daresbury labs pops off to help repair the large hadron collider at CERN. You get 16 year olds building Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imagers and working on bespoke electronic systems to support cutting edge research.

BNFL have similarly highly regarded aprentiships in a large range of areas.

Typically this sort of course leads to a degree over 5 years or so (if started with A-levels) with most of the time spent working and training and very little academic study.

The raf have stringent sight requirements but the navy are more flexible, would he consider that as a possibility? Otherwise how about engineering, some universities also have a different teaching style which I'm told is better for dyslexia, dd was advised Aston was good although she did choose elsewhere

DH is a civil engineer and I think would dispute the usefulness of engineers without maths. Universities might offer courses but civil engineering IS mathematical. There are other courses that are less so. I would suggest Building Services, Project Management or other degrees which are less mathematical than Civil Engineering that nearly always contains elements of structural design too. That’s why I initially suggested Ecology or Environment might be more attainable to use his geography.

If you're anywhere near Heysham the apprenticeships at the power station are sought after. In fact you don't have to live close as edf send you away to train I think....

What about BAe?