Suggestions for a degree for DS2.....

[BaconAndAvocado]

It’s a couple of years away but, although he said he’d like to go to Uni, he doesn’t know which degree to aim for.
He’s chosen Maths, Chemistry and Physics for A levels.
He has a kind of business/enterprise going, buying and selling trainers and he makes a fair bit of money (for a 16 yo) from it.
More importantly, he loves it!
I suggested a Business Studies degree but he said he’d heard they are a waste of time. No idea where he heard this as he doesn’t know anyone at Uni.

He is an intelligent boy, at a Grammar school but I’m not sure whether a degree apprenticeship might be a better idea?

Quite a few CEO's & successful entrepreneurs I know come from an accountancy background. Accounting (ucas.com) I think you can choose various modules which can be business based. Computer Studies also - if he's interested in tech. His A level choices would suit these courses,

I don't know if the Peter Coates Foundation would be of any use?

@BaconAndAvocado Look at Bath university. Management courses there are highly thought of. Also Bristol has Entrepreneurship and Innovation options as part of some degrees. They have Business and Management listed as a degree that encompasses this programme. Several other Stem degrees include it too so have a look.

How about Economics as an A level instead of/as well as Physics and Chemistry. Generally more highly thought of than Business Studies. Some sixth forms allow students to start with 4 and drop one once they find the 3 they prefer.

If you go onto the ucas website you can put in the a levels studied and it makes suggestions. There are so many options out there to be explored!

There are some degrees that combine sciences and enterprise skills.
For example
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/medical-innovation-and-enterprise-bsc
Plus science degrees that have modules in entrepreneurship and business.
What about materials science and engineering? The Oxford course includes an option for entrepreneurship.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/materials-science
Many future entrepreneurs start with engineering degrees.

Similar to @sendsummer's suggestion, have a look on UCAS at "engineering business" or "engineering management" degrees?

How about economics? It’s not essential to have the A level if his school doesn’t offer it- maths is what unis look for.

I think you should back off a bit, really.

Encourage him to attend a range of open days and read up on his options.

I'd always advise anyone doing Maths to consider a Maths degree.

They get more of an idea once they actually start their A Levels

My DS is taking maths, FM, chemistry and physics A Level

He always thought he'd take the science route because always loved it so much and started to veer more towards physics but now he's full on into pure maths and will choose maths as his degree.

I think it's best to have general conversations with him but not to give any unsolicited advice or opinions.

I always say to my DC 'oh I heard / read this that and the other blah blah' so any opinion i shove in their direction doesn't sound like it's coming from me. I just feed them facts and information.

Or things like to DD 'when I revised I did it this way because it really helped' not telling DD how to do it but feeding tit bits for her to use if need be. Fortunately she is revising really well in the way I explained to her.

I have to do it this way otherwise I'm perceived as nagging and they just walk off and get bored of being lectured to so I just sort of throw the information out there and let it hang in the air

Also my friend pushed her DS into a more economics degree thinking it would be more useful and he really regrets not taking pure maths

So I would just take a huge step back and let him work out where his true interest lies during A Levels

Chemical engineering, many career opportunities and specialisms, best paid engineering graduates also know a couple who have moved in to banking. Because of my old career I know a lot of chemical engineers. Some work in pharmacy, oil and gas, power, chemical manufacturers, water management, biofuels, food engineering.

Your DS is correct about business degrees.

If he does go down any engineering route makes sure to look at the course as opposed to the University for instance Oxford is not rated for engineering compared to some Universities that people may think less of.

Send off for a paper prospectus or two from universities and let him look through at his own pace. He won't have heard of 90% of the courses but it will give him an idea of what is out there.

@BaconAndAvocado I think it’s perfectly ok to suggest what he might do and have a conversation. He maybe doesn’t have the maturity to think beyond selling trainers. We were thinking about careers with DDs at this age and how you might achieve what you want. That’s the big question - what do you want? Then - how do you get there?

Entrepreneurs have all sorts of degrees. At a grammar he will be exposed to the university chat before long. Other dc will talk about what they are doing and where they are applying - it’s infectious. So he might decide to join in or decide an apprenticeship suits better. Very few still get apprenticeships. Unfortunately apprenticeships offer little choice. Is there a suitable one near you? Will he decide on a career and suitable apprenticeship during 6th form? Uni gives 3-4 years grace. Thinking time. So talk it through before Christmas and see if anything appeals and is attainable.

Ignore Oxbridge suggestions. Unless he’s really top drawer. No FM might limit some suggestions. He certainly could look at all sorts of engineering at all sorts of unis. However I think business people often do it for themselves and often the degree doesn’t matter. However it can be a launch pad. So talk about routes into business. They are varied.

I agree that he should avoid a business degree. Engineering or a science degree would be much more useful and open more doors for him.

Whatthatitwould This is exactly what DS1 did!
Chem Eng and now working in finance!
As others have said, lack of FM may preclude this type of degree?

wildfirewonder
This is more my internal monologue so there's no need for me to "back off" as DS2 is unaware of it.

I would have thought an engineering degree of some sort based on his A levels.

I also think one of the most important things is that he has to be interested in the subject. All the motivation to complete the course will have to come from him, there won’t be teachers or parents nagging him.

A levels will be a bit of a step up compared to GCSEs, then a degree is another big step up in terms of independence and self motivation.

Was going to say this. I have a friend with a ds at Bristol doing something! Sorry not sure what! With entrepreneurship and innovation and it sounds fab.

Does he want to go to university? - it's not essential.

If he's already got a business head on his shoulders and wants to run with that then an degree apprenticeship in business would be a logical option. I suggest he also contacts his Local Enterprise Partnership to see what support they have to help him develop his current business (be quick, they're being closed down but making contact will keep him informed of what will replace them in your area), and he should also contact The Prince's Trust for young entrepreneur support.

If he chooses a business/entrepreneurship degree he should look very carefully at the module options. I have a masters in this area, and twenty+ years later I look back and find it frustrating that whilst we had compulsory modules on macroeconomics we did not have even an optional module that covered basic bookkeeping and financial planning (e.g. cashflow forecasts, accruals..).

Would also second looking at degree apprenticeships and agree there's far too much emphasis on university. One of my dcs got very good A levels but dropped out of uni. Now doing a degree apprenticeship and is loving it - especially as he gets paid well and they will keep him on when he finishes his apprenticeship.

Often entrepreneurs hire others to do the finance! DH never did it himself. He did not start completely on his own but partners often have slightly different skills. This can come down to who you meet and having contacts.

We do have many engineering grads in this country who sadly don’t stay in engineering. However there is an entrepreneurial role within engineering. It’s like many careers, you look at what avenue suits you best.

The last fugues I saw, 3500 degree apprenticeships went to 18 year olds (I think 2021?) . The vast majority go to existing employees changing roles. There may not be anything remotely suitable near the OP. This is why the vast majority have to choose university. If you don’t live near a big well respected employer(s) with great apprentice programmes, it’s very difficult. They are also hugely competitive.

Not having FM won’t be an issue for many straight engineering degrees, but it would preclude courses at Oxbridge / Imperial etc.

There are also a wide variety of degrees that combine management or business with other subjects (engineering, physics, comp sci, sustainable development etc).

Or earth sciences might interest him?

Not having FM ... would preclude courses at Oxbridge / Imperial etc.

Not true, although of course it's helpful.