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Higher education

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

Original poster

What degree could DD do?

106 replies

year12clueless · 23/06/2023 18:29

DD is floundering trying to choose a degree. She's coming to the end of year 12. Current predicted grades are
PE-A
Sociology-B
Geography- B
Highly possible that she'll do well enough in her tracking tests next term to move one or both of the predicted Bs to As but I don't want her massively pressured as she's had a difficult few years.

She's got 9 GCSES grades 8-5 including a 5 in maths.

She's not traditionally academic and doesn't love any of her subjects. She likes sports science but most universities seem to offer it as a BSc and want biology or chemistry A level so that's not an option.

I think she'd be better off looking at a more vocational course like marketing or communications etc but these seem to be offered at the newer universities and I worry she's selling herself short because the grade requirements are sometimes a lot lower than she'll probably get.

As she's not doing a STEM subject I really think that if she's paying all that money she should at least go to somewhere with a reasonable reputation as that will potentially be something future employers consider. There seems to be a big unfilled gap between "we want A star, A,A" and "B,C,C".

She's sporty, cheerful, organised, personable and well liked. As a job I can see her doing well in a sales/ marketing/ comms/ PR type job- but where to go next? We've looked at degree apprenticeships and they seem to be in stem/ finance, and the sales and barbering ones seem to be thinly disguised advertising sales.

We're both glazing over looking at Unifrog again. Does the MN hive mind have any suggestions?

OP posts:
Shortandsweet20 · 23/06/2023 18:38

My advice is don't do a degree unless it's needed! I know so many people who have degrees and their jobs now don't even require them. Does she know what she wants to do in the future? She could have a year out? Work a bit and get some life experience?

Probably not the advice you're looking for bud I just don't see the value in a degree for the sake of it, especially if she isn't sure of the field she wants to work in!

Original poster
year12clueless · 23/06/2023 18:47

I take your point- but lots of jobs she would be interested in still ask for degrees and do graduate recruitment etc. without a degree plus no clear idea she'll struggle.

OP posts:
Hadalifeonce · 23/06/2023 18:50

Perhaps a gap year would suit her, it would give her time to think about whether she wants to go to university, or decide which degree course she would like to do.

BlissfullyIgnorant · 23/06/2023 18:53

They say 'Education is wasted on the young,' but can she get an apprenticeship somewhere, like in a gym as a physical training instructor or some such?
Really, she definitely doesn't need to go to uni, especially if she's not an academic learner. It'll just make her miserable and she will be set up to fail.
Speaking from experience, btw. Won't disclose, can't expose

MrsElsa · 23/06/2023 18:54

Plenty of sports jobs don't require a degree. Have you looked into what a sports science degree actually involves? It's biology, chemistry, biochemistry so not really going to interest her.

She could start training as an outdoor sports instructor. Get a job at one of the many activity centres around the UK. Get certs as she goes. Then knock off to Oz or wherever. Plenty of fun to be had. Doesn't pay very well but she would be earning and could transition to a different career area in time. All of the centres need management for example.

The most important step is the next step, she can always choose to go to uni later in life after working for a few years.

redskytwonight · 23/06/2023 19:10

Don't do a degree just for the sake of it. How about a Level 3 apprenticeship if none of the degree apprenticeships appeal. Or just getting job (any job ...) to see if it gives her more idea about what she wants to do.

Original poster
year12clueless · 23/06/2023 19:46

I hear what you're all saying and in an ideal world I'd agree , but she really wants to go to uni. She'll do fine as she's organised and motivated and smart enough even if she's not loving it.
She's also pragmatic- looking at future earning potential so whilst she'd enjoy an apprentice level 3 sports type job it won't ever deliver her the money she'd want to earn. She said she'd one day like to buy a house! She's the one student who looks at the "earning after 5 years" bit of the uni prospectus.

So- rephrasing the question- are there any uni courses people have seen that might suit or apprenticeships in potentially lucrative as a non stem type fields?

I did English and Sociology at a top 20ish uni 30 years ago and now earn well as a HR Director so she's aware of possible career trajectories...

OP posts:
Porridgeislife · 23/06/2023 19:56

A lot of big finance & insurance companies take apprentices into things like investor relations, marketing, ESG etc. It’s not just STEM by any means.

Chartered surveying apprenticeships are also worth a look. As a rule the average surveyor is typically sporty, personable and often not academic. If she wants to go to university there are far far worse vocational options than a surveying degree in terms of earning outcomes.

ZenNudist · 23/06/2023 20:07

My ds are both very bright and academic. I'm academic, got an English lit degree and a good job in accountancy. Dh has a degree and is a company director. Both of us are discussing non degree options with our dc. We don't want them thinking uni is the only route. It's not nowadays. Sadly a mediocre degree in something you're not that bothered about without any idea of career is a passport to debt and not a good career.

Stop researching degrees and get an idea about future jobs.

Same for my friends: smart people, in their 40s, degrees, talking about the options for apprenticeship and school leaver programmes with good companies.

Going into your own business, possibly a trade, looks like a good route to a successful life now.

Sportyleopard · 23/06/2023 20:11

“She's sporty, cheerful, organised, personable… she’s also pragmatic” - not sure about degree, but with those traits she could potentially make a fortune as a recruitment consultant.

EwwSprouts · 23/06/2023 20:29

What about an apprenticeship like this? https://firststepsports.bamboohr.com/careers/226
Or one of DSs friends went to chalet maid, learnt to ski, then first level ski instructor. Probably will get a degree at some point but is enjoying this for now and it's paying her way.

cherryassam · 23/06/2023 20:34

Marketing is offered at some good unis:

Bath has Management with Marketing
Loughborough has Marketing and Management
Lancaster has Marketing
Bristol has Marketing (although does require a 6 in GCSE maths)
Reading has Business and Management (Marketing)

clary · 23/06/2023 20:35

Op you say you can see her doing well in comms or marketing - but can she? She needs to be really motivated esp in that v popular area. Comms is also pretty poorly paid and it sounds as tho money is a motivator for her. I have had a long career in comms (perhaps not with a well-thought-our trajectory) and I earn well below what MN would consider acceptable. But in my field my salary is actually not bad.

Anyway. I actually agree a degree is still asked for by a lot of employers. People may be talking up apprenticeships but I don’t know many 18yos choosing that route, maybe bc they are so hard to find.

I don’t agree about the gap of nothing between A-star AA and BCC btw; both my dc that went to uni were /are on courses asking for ABB fwiw, one science and one humanities. How about something like social policy - can lead to an HR or NHS development role? Or something leading from geography, could lead to a town planning or surveying role. Or a business course - offered by a good range of unis. With ABB I would be looking at less popular courses in some RG (Newcastle and Southampton rather than Durham and Oxford) and then unis like Lancaster, UWE, Leicester, NTU, Kent, Reading.

Toasty280 · 23/06/2023 20:36

Physio or occupational therapy?

clary · 23/06/2023 20:37

Haha @cherryassam i was going to say Lboro but was wary as I am always going on about it! Bath is also a good shout, offer probs not too high if not for maths or engineering.

dazzlingdeborahrose · 23/06/2023 20:40

If she's going to do a degree, she needs to pick a subject she enjoys. It's a long hard slog if you don't enjoy the subject no matter what the claimed earning potential at the end.

titchy · 23/06/2023 20:40

Human Geography, with a view to surveying, or generic grad scheme isn't a bad shout.

cherryassam · 23/06/2023 20:41

@clary I agree, I think Lboro could be a great fit given the interest in sport!

ChopperC110P · 23/06/2023 20:41

What about environmental science? You are forgetting that her Geography A level is a science A level (so she is doing a STEM subject)

Or some sort of graduate scheme with the Environmental Agency? This is a field we are desperately short in.

lilyfire · 23/06/2023 20:44

There are lots of interesting looking geography/international development degrees that I tried to interest my son in as he did geography A level but he wasn’t having it.

Strawberrypicnic · 23/06/2023 20:45

Would she enjoy physiotherapy, if she's sporty?

clary · 23/06/2023 20:46

Hmmm a quick look suggests Lboro needs 6 in maths for marketing degree which is a shame as the A level offer is AAB.

Agree btw @year12clueless that geography is a STEM subject. What does she want to end up doing? Can you work back from there and maybe speak to some employers about what they look for?

cherryassam · 23/06/2023 20:46

Other courses to consider:

Human Resources Management at Leeds
Advertising and Marketing at Lancaster
Environment and Business at Leeds

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