Y12 son has no idea what he wants to do at uni

[buffy20]

My Y12 son is studying English Lit, History and Business Studies for A-level. At the moment he's on track to get BBB but I'm sure he could squeeze an A in at least one of them if he tried. He's bright, but not particularly driven or enthusiastic, happy to coast.

I always knew what I wanted to study at uni so my parents didnt even need to get involved in the process. However, my son has no idea, none at all. I've been trying to gently coax him into looking at law, I think that would play to his strengths but Im starting to get a bit panicky (he's not) about what he's going to do when the time to apply comes round later this year.

I would love for him to go to a Russell Group, but not sure 3 Bs would cut it. I just wish he had some idea of what he wanted to do

I wondered if anyone else with kids has been in a similar situation with similar subjects and how things turned out for them.

Thanks!

@Ilovemaisie

Percy I have a 20 year old relative who dropped out of college at 17 because he didn't feel it was leading anywhere. He had a part time weekend job in a major high st retailer. He took on extra shifts and is now assistant manager. Staying at home in a 'dead end job' worked out ok for him.

Well not really - he is an assistant manager at a high street reatiler.

@Ilovemaisie

If he has no particular plan or job he wants to aim for then why bother to go to university. He doesn't have to go. Save your money (or loan).

Because a degree level education is of value to some people even if it is not your belief that it has value.

In honesty - gap year or two! It's not a race to get a degree, let him work and discover what he really wants to do. Too many young people are at university as some kind of finishing school because their parents, school, friends all expected it, hate the subject they chose and drop out/get a poor degree.

A couple of years working at McDonald's did dd a world of good, and she didn't need to borrow as much

Staying at home in a 'dead end job' worked out ok for him.

Well not really - he is an assistant manager at a high street reatiler.

What's wrong with that?

• Staying at home in a 'dead end job' worked out ok for him.

Well not really - he is an assistant manager at a high street reatiler.*

Whats that supposed to mean?

If it wasn't for many High St retail managers how would lockdown worked out for most of you.... if lockdown has proved anything it's that retail and logistics are some of the most important things a country needs to survive.

Schleckie I thought you could get a student loan at any age.

Thanks everyone, some interesting food for thought.

I think there was a comment about RG and law being MY dream. Yeah, I get that conclusion, but it's not about that. I think everyone wants better for their child than they had themselves. I did English Literature at a non - RG uni, and at that stage knew exactly what I wanted to do career wise. I feel that if like my son you're unclear about what you want to do then the best thing is to go somewhere with a bit of "prestige" as that will obviously open more doors for you.

He understands the need for and wants to go to uni, we are a relatively academic family, it's kind of a given. I'm reluctant for a gap year because I think he will lose momentum, and also, where the hell would he get a job in the current climate!!!

I'm starting to think that his likely BBB achievement is not going to impress the RG unis, I had a look at the UCAS website, although there are some courses he could get on to. I should have added, he is also doing Welsh Bacc which he is likely to get an A in and some unis accept in lieu of an A-level.

Someone asked how I knew his predicted grades already. His school provide estimated grades at the end of every half term

I think unifrog might be the website mentioned earlier as one you can put your A levels into and it suggests degree options. I’m not sure if it requires an account, but lots of sixth forms use it.

@buffy20 I understand where you're coming from, I'm from an 'academic family' where we were expected to go to university, but that was before fees... And also before all the higher / degree apprenticeships were available. There definitely isn't a 'need' for university. Sometimes it can even be a hindrance; my brother definitely found that, as his 2:2 from an RG uni wasn't good enough to get on graduate schemes and he was 'overqualified' for other things.

I worked for nearly 20 years at a top 4 accountancy firm and there are lots of people there without degrees, many of whom were higher up than me, including directors. Their higher apprenticeships are a really good option and a fast-track way to becoming a chartered accountant or chartered tax advisor earlier than the graduates.

That's just an example, but many careers are now possible via apprenticeships, although admittedly they are quite competitive to get into. Higher and degree apprenticeships are still being offered despite the pandemic, in all sorts of different areas (finance, IT, policing, health careers etc).

Personally, if I thought something like accountancy was going to be the ultimate destination, I'm not sure I'd recommend a History or English degree and thousands of pounds of debt. However, if he thinks he's likely to go into something that requires a degree (law - but as some of said, it's very competitive) then that would be a good reason to go.

I know of someone who did a degree in either marketing and business management or marketing and media at keele and after a one year masters, started on £32k pa
I'm just saying this as there are so many degrees out there that I'd never even imagined that can lead to good opportunities. Maybe something that is more tangible in the job market would be interesting to him?

That is why business or a business aligned degree is good. Degree holders from RG universities still earn more than non RG universities and non grads. The best apprenticeships offer degrees so they don’t think they are worthless either.

It’s not a debt. It’s a grad tax. It’s a shame some posters have not realised this yet. Also high street retail is a dead duck! Other than supermarkets!

Percy the phrase 'high st retailer' includes supermarkets.
And even if everything sold switched to online the warehouse and distribution centres still need managers.

@PresentingPercy I agree it's a grad tax - but if you end up in exactly the same job (eg chartered accountant in a big 4 firm) you'll be taking home less than your colleagues who entered on a higher apprenticeship. So it's worth thinking about...

Granted, there are lots of professions that require a degree.

@Moondust001

Does he actually want to go to university? Because the entire of your post is about what you want or expect. Maybe some time out of education is best, so when and if he decides to study at university he is deciding that for himself and is motivated? My son didn't think he wanted to go. And he didn't straight out of school. He's now a leading authority in his subject and in huge demand.

Agree completely with this. University really shouldn’t be the default option!

DS2 did very well academically and was steered (by selective grammar school ) towards humanities A levels, & then degree straight from 6th form. It wasn’t right for him, he had a bit of a breakdown in 3rd year & didn’t graduate.
He did eventually do 3 semesters at a different university and managed a 2.2 - 7 years after leaving school! - but it cost a lot, both emotionally and financially.
And it turns out he’s actually quite artistic, and would have been much better served doing something creative
So @buffy20, if your boy really doesn’t know at this point where he wants to go in life, let him try other things for a year or two while he makes his mind up

Thinking about whether a uni is 'RG' or not ahead of sorting out a sensible subject choice seems to be putting the cart before the horse. Apart from the obvious fact that for some subjects the best courses may be at institutions without this tag, there are many youngsters who may be better served by a more vocational choice - even at a former poly(sarcasm) - than a middling generic arts degree if they're unlikely to end up as a real expert in that field.

There are lots and lots of adults already employed by organisations who are now apprentices. There are fewer and fewer 18 year olds getting apprenticeships and the overall number of apprenticeships has shrunk dramatically. The good ones are harder to get than a degree and are attracting very good applicants.

At the moment getting any job is not easy. So many are out of work and it’s often those with fewer qualifications.

The high street doesn’t mean supermarkets. It means everything but because supermarkets are frequently out of town. Retail such as department stores, clothes shops, jewellers and so on are the “high street”. Supermarkets are a distinct form of retailing. Local store managers and supporting staff are not the same as head office staff where very many will be grads. M&S was famous for taking school leavers but not now. The days of working your way up from shop floor to high level management are now limited.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with studying an academic subject that isn’t obviously job related. Even if you study engineering you don’t have to become one. However business and management grads often do well and are likely to earn more than non degree entrants. Some companies do not recruit from school at all.

If he doesn't know he shouldn't go. I ended up with a law degree I wasn't really interested in, and ended working in online marketing. So waste of time really.

Do consider level 6 apprenticeship instead of university.

I work with people doing the economics one and it seems to be a great option.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-government-economic-service-degree-level-apprenticeship

@Spring2021 - my DS did those A-levels and is currently studying Astro Physics at uni. Although not entirely sure what career , but he’s enjoying the course. Also the Further Maths has been very useful for the degree course. It meant he was a bit ahead of those who hadn’t done Further so maybe he found some of the modules not as taxing as if it had all been new.

This is a virtual uni/careers event happening soon if he wants to register (free) www.whatcareerlive.co.uk/virtual-march-2021?utm_source=Venture%20Marketing%20Group&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12146690_WCSV21%3A%20Exhibitor%20list%205.02.21&utm_content=WCSV21&dm_i=1RRK,78CG2,W7CHO7,TB3FB,1

Apprenticeships especially the higher level 6/7 aren’t a ‘bide your time’ option. I’m not sure how they would help someone who doesn’t know what they want to do. The assessment stages are not easy. They need to be very focused, do their research, and understand the company. They are highly competitive. I think for the JP Morgan school-leaver one there’s around 5000 applicants for 50 places across the whole U.K. Similar numbers for the Big4 accountancy firms across the country. The recruitment process consists of academic tests, psychometric tests, interviews, assessment days (these days are 5 hours online in some cases), second interviews. So not for someone who doesn’t really know what they fancy. Having said this, if a 17/18 year old does know what they want to do careerwise they’re a great option.
Out of interest & for comparison, how many places do the civil service offer each year to school leavers (non-graduates) @firsttimekat and how many apply? Is the recruitment process pretty stringent too?

OP - you said He's bright, but not particularly driven or enthusiastic, happy to coast this latter aspect will need to change before he starts applying for apprenticeships, internships, graduate schemes - so may be a few years at uni will help him realise his aspirations and thus become more enthusiastic. He may not have these latter qualities yet if he’s not found his ‘thing’. Likewise, a year out doing whatever covid allows may help him narrow down which degree most appeals but most importantly help him realise how much his work ethic matters too.

@NotDonna I'm not involved in the recruitment process so don't know how competitive they are or what's involved sorry.

I think some people don't know what jobs are out there so hard to know what might suit them. Looking at a range of apprentice schemes could help with ideas alongside looking at uni options. You could decide the apprentice approach isn't right for you but if it helps with job options great!

The economist one I linked to pays your course fees (for a full undergraduate degree) and pays you a full time wage, with a guaranteed job at the end plus obviously the on the job training and experience I think that sounds amazing compared to current uni fees!