Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

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

Original poster

Year 11 says GCSEs ‘don’t matter’ but wants to go into Banking, how can I inspire him?

46 replies

bobtheveryoldBuilder · 03/10/2022 09:19

As everyone here has managed to get their bright children to be engaged with the progress I wonder if you had some tips?

DS is clever but dyslexic. He finds book learning hard.
He knows that he has to get good A level results and is doing math, Econ and Com Sci
But he seems to have decided GCSEs are not important.

Any good website or videos or resources I can direct him to?
Where do I start with internship info?

OP posts:
SirBlobby · 03/10/2022 09:23

Has he looked at current job advertisements for banking jobs. Might be useful for him to look at vacancies, any criteria to get those jobs and work down.

Does he need a certain degree/masters
How does he get the degree, certain a-level subjects or apprenticeships?
Does he know how competitive Uni/apprenticeships are now, what does he need to get to that stage, what level GCSEs? Any extra curricular?

He needs to see the salary, then the expectations on how to get there.

Sure someone else will have more practical advice

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 03/10/2022 09:24

He sounds anxious. He is trying to claim that GCSEs don't matter because he find book learning hard and he is afraid of failing them.

So what you need to do is to show confidence in him and his ability to do well enough in his GCSEs (and then his A levels) to have the career he wants - or if not, that he will still be able to find an alternative route to the career he wants that will work for him, because he is bright.

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 03/10/2022 09:34

-well, he'll find his way as long as he puts in some effort! But it probably all feels overwhelming at the moment.

RampantIvy · 03/10/2022 09:34

What support does he gets for his dyslexia?

Maths A level is hard. Most post 16 institutions won't allow students with grades less than a 7 to take A levels maths. Usually they ask for an 8 or a 9.

Moominmammacat · 03/10/2022 10:01

There's banking and there's banking. What exactly does he want to do? Mine would not have had a clue at that age ...

Original poster
bobtheveryoldBuilder · 03/10/2022 11:16

this is all great, and yes he probably is nervous / anxious.

Banking as in investment banking, a friend is in the industry but it's a closed shop from the outside as far as I can see.

OP posts:
mintich · 03/10/2022 11:21

My brother is an investment banker at one of the largest companies in the city. He needed a 2:1 to get on their programme. I remember a lot of stress over interviews etc at that time!

bestbefore · 03/10/2022 11:26

It's all a stepping stone, if he doesn't get GCSEs he won't be able to do a levels and so on!
My dyslexic ds found YouTube to be amazing for his gcse revision - even on the day! - loads of videos courses which spoke to him much better than teachers somehow. Mr Everything English was especially good

TeenDivided · 03/10/2022 11:33

To do those A levels he'll need a 7 in his maths GCSE, so that's important.
Then some unis will look at GCSE results when making degree offers.

If something happens during A levels (such as a MH issue) then having good GCSE grades may become more important to show his underlying ability.

If he doesn't learn how to apply himself now, how is he going to manage the big step up to A levels? He needs to learn how to learn and revise now, not be doing it for the first time in y12/13 when the grades matter. Remember y12 exams are used for grade predictions for uni.

How will he feel on results day when a bunch of peers who he is clever than get better GCSE grades because they bothered to work and he didn't?

Does he know that 'oh I could have got better grades but couldn't be bothered' makes him sound foolish not clever?

Lonecatwithkitten · 03/10/2022 11:40

bobtheveryoldBuilder · 03/10/2022 11:16

this is all great, and yes he probably is nervous / anxious.

Banking as in investment banking, a friend is in the industry but it's a closed shop from the outside as far as I can see.

I have several Uni friends who are investment bankers. All had excellent GCSEs, 2:1 or 1st on first degree and MSc all in science/engineering at top flight universities.
At every step of the ladder competition is fierce he needs to give himself every advantage possible.
He needs to understand that he will largely sacrifice his 20s and early 30s to studying for FSA exams and trading weird hours to climb the pole.
Yes my friends are enormously wealthy, but it comes at a cost,

HavfrueDenizKisi · 03/10/2022 11:51

Well with that attitude re GCSEs he's already unlikely to get into investment banking. So I think you should be honest with him. It's incredibly competitive so GCSEs are part of that stepping stone. Yes he's anxious but telling him he can achieve anything he wants can cause more harm than good.

There is no substitute for hard work. This is what he needs to learn.

All the investment bankers I know had an excellent academic record and degrees from top end universities.

Also the question you ask 'Where do I start with internship info?' you don't start anywhere. The drive and search for info on this has to come from him.

BluesDad · 03/10/2022 12:02

This might sound OTT but I wish someone had done this to me. I still work in the building trade and I’m sick of coming home all dusty at 47. I didn’t make the most of my education and I’ve always regretted it.
So explain to him that a shovel is much heavier than a pen and ask him which one he wants to still be using in his 60’s or as an old man who will never be able to afford to stop working if he doesn’t study.
You can illustrate the point, if you wish, by getting him to stand with his arms outstretched one holding a shovel and the other a pen for 10 or 15 minutes.

tribpot · 03/10/2022 12:10

I remember the oldest son of a friend (and long time Mumsnetter) explaining to his younger siblings when he did his GCSEs that they are like a level in a game. You have to complete the level to progress to the next one. They're not necessarily a goal in and of themselves, but he does need to do well in them to level up. The better he does, the more XP he has in the next level.

I'm a bit confused, he's 'doing' math, Econ and Com Sci (amongst other GCSEs) or he's currently doing them at A level? I assume not the latter of these. The school where he wants to do A level presumably have some information on the minimum grade you need to get to get on to the A level courses, and they will also have a minimum level needed in English and Maths. So it's as simple as: these are the tasks you have to complete in order to move to the next stage of the process, like it or not.

Original poster
bobtheveryoldBuilder · 03/10/2022 15:22

agreed best before, but he thinks, with the wisdom of youth that AS LONG AS he gets a 8/9 inmates (which he can do) then the other GCSEs don't matter.

So annoying

OP posts:
Original poster
bobtheveryoldBuilder · 03/10/2022 15:22

lol 8 / 9 in maths !

OP posts:
Madamecastafiore · 03/10/2022 15:44

If he's not prepared to work for his GCSEs I'd write off investment banking, you need to be of the mindset that you'll go above and beyond everyday to reach your goal. He'll also need decent GCSEs to do a levels won't he?

Lilacsunflowers · 03/10/2022 17:07

It sounds like YOU are trying to manage too much for him. The successful candidates that do well in Finance/Technology are themselves driven and ambitious. Companies hire from the top Unis not just the UK but from abroad - there are lots of highly ambitious multilingual candidates out there!

If your son feels 'that GCSEs don't matter' he's unlikely to be one of them.

Lilacsunflowers · 03/10/2022 17:07

Ideally he'll have also taken Further Maths.

Mushroo · 03/10/2022 17:11

Investment banking is so competitive everything is a factor.

When recruiting for roles everyone will have amazing GCSEs, a levels, degree from a top uni and extra curriculars. An easy way to end up on the ‘discard’ pile is lower GCSEs as it’s such an easy way to filter a pile of excellent applications.

MsTSwift · 03/10/2022 17:13

It’s a competitive industry you need to be driven and work hard. His current attitude indicates it’s not for him. Dd1 did GCSEs last year she is very driven wants to do law and worked like mad.Those with a high grade average at gcse have been identified already and gone onto schemes with the better universities. GCSEs do matter if you are aiming for a competitive career.

Chisquared · 03/10/2022 17:22

My DS is a 3rd year undergrad on a 4 year integrated Masters and is currently applying for internships for next summer in the banking/Fintech world. The effort he is putting in is eye watering - he has so far applied for around 30, been rejected from about 18 just on CV, but is having to go through multiple rounds of assessments, tests, interviews for the ones he is still in the running for. He is at a leading university and near at the top of his year and has both work experience and an internship from this summer on his CV
It would be a good idea to find out about what is expected, as others have said it's a very competitive world

Rocketclub · 03/10/2022 17:23

bobtheveryoldBuilder · 03/10/2022 11:16

this is all great, and yes he probably is nervous / anxious.

Banking as in investment banking, a friend is in the industry but it's a closed shop from the outside as far as I can see.

Mentoring via your friend - giving him a kick up the bum regarding his GCSEs - all of them - is this an option?

StillNotWarm · 03/10/2022 17:33

As a start, what are the minimum requirements to get into the sixth-form or college of his choice? Possibly 5 GCSEs above grade 4 or 5. Plus higher grades in subjects linked to the a levels he wants to do. And a pass in English (and maths, but doesn't sound like that's an issue).

Ignore the "maths is hard" post. It's fine if you've got the right type of mind.

WombatChocolate · 03/10/2022 17:37

Point out that there will be grade requirements for A Levels and top unis will expect all or mostly 7/8/9 at GCSE alongside great predicted grades at A Level.

Make sure he knows that graduate schemes sift applicants by looking at their school exam results as well as degrees.

Make sure he knows that those who get onto the schemes have great degrees, great A Levels and great GCSEs.

A really good way to motivate him is to attend an event where an A Level or degree student or early career banker is present and talks about what allowed them to get where they are. Sometimes kids find it hard to listen to adults but when they hear it from someone a couple of years older, they listen.

To a degree this might be fear. However, don’t let that mean he absolves responsibility. He needs to know the score and there’s no point pretending grades don’t matter. They really do.

DeeofDenmark · 03/10/2022 17:58

Well when he applies to university the only solid example of his worth will be his GCSEs. If they are good enough then they will look at expected A levels, but without good grade at that level he will be rejected.