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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:
determinedtomakethiswork · 23/06/2023 20:48

Is she entrepreneurial at all?

Original poster
year12clueless · 23/06/2023 21:02

Some really interesting suggestions!

Chartered surveying (mentioned upthread) was suggested by a friend whose husband does it. DD was sceptical but I might get her to look into it more deeply.
It's such a minefield these days. You need a degree but it's so expensive- there's no room to just do something and hope it works out. Honestly she can't be the only 17!year old who doesn't have a career plan yet....!

OP posts:
Russellandholmes · 23/06/2023 21:08

I disagree with your last point. Both DH and I did vocational degrees and have discouraged our children from doing the same. Our advice to them has been to do the A levels they enjoy and then choose the degree subject they can most imagine themselves enjoying.
Careers often require "a degree" but rarely a specific degree.
My children are approaching/at uni and none of them know what career they want to do and that's fine.
It's all about doing each stage as it comes... I fully expect them to find careers that are fulfilling when they're ready.
Obviously it's different if your child wanted to be a physio, OT, SALT etc but, for non visual jobs, they don't need a specific degree.

clary · 23/06/2023 21:10

I agree with a PP that she does really need to love her degree tho OP. I genuinely think (controversial I know) it is better to do a degree in a subject you love than choose something that will lead to a wonderful job - but that you don't enjoy. Three years is a long time to be fed up with a subject. DD took eng lit and it was tough in many ways but she never doubted her love for the subject and sheer enjoyment in reading and analysing texts. Great, it's not fitted her for a job as an engineer - but she would hate that anyway.

It's a bit like being a secondary school teacher - above all things you must love your subject as you do it all day. I speak from experience here - teaching did reignite my love for my degree subject after several years. Just as well too.

So what does she love to do? That's the key if, like many teens as you say, she doesn't yet have a clear career path in mind.

afain · 23/06/2023 21:38

Geography and sociology would be a good basis for Geography at uni. It's a very broad subject, and lots of career options so good for someone who is not sure what they want to "be".

Hairyfairy01 · 23/06/2023 21:49

Some kind of human geography degree? Do they still do degrees like population studies now?

Pip1402 · 23/06/2023 22:25

How about something like this?: www.ntu.ac.uk/course/science-and-technology/ug/bsc-sport-science-health-and-nutrition

Maglin · 23/06/2023 22:27

Sports science at Swansea is excellent and would take her with those grades with no other science.

Paq · 23/06/2023 22:33

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.

This times a thousand.

honestly, it sounds like she needs a gap year to decide where her interests lie.

I’ve worked in universities for 12 years and I really think unless you have some sort of passion or plan, you can make some expensive mistakes.

JazzyBBG · 23/06/2023 22:34

Hello marketing person here 👋🏻 who also did sociology A Level. Lots of good places offer marketing degrees as has been mentioned Bath, Loughborough, Aston etc, look at what are known as the "plate glass" rather than red bricks. You likely want a marketing rather than PR/Comms degree as not got A'level English.

Sociology wise it depends how interested she is - she could go more social science route but only if enough interest.

Surveying - yes if of interest (I work in marketing in this industry oddly) but you need the interest it's a whole field in itself and will then go into other specialisms eg valuation/lettings/property management.

Tourism related studies could be another good option.

Needmoresleep · 23/06/2023 22:35

Physio, paramedic, https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/

If she wants to study something like marketing she might be better off selecting a more practical course than assuming a course at a “good” university will be better.

Health Careers

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/

Diddykong · 23/06/2023 22:38

Sociology, psychology, speech and language therapy?

Maglin · 23/06/2023 22:38

Are there physiotherapy undergraduate degrees who'd take those subjects?

Findyourneutralspace · 23/06/2023 22:40

What’s she actually interested in? Where do her passions lie? If she’s looking to do something long term she might as well enjoy it. Of course money is an issue, but if she’s interested in the human body, or social sciences or whatever it helps to narrow it down.
A subject you love won’t often feel like a chore.

ConfusedGin · 23/06/2023 22:42

As someone who worked in sports marketing, she does not NEED a degree at all. I certainly wouldn't bother if I were making that choice again.

Maglin · 23/06/2023 22:42

Maglin · 23/06/2023 22:38

Are there physiotherapy undergraduate degrees who'd take those subjects?

Meant to say- I don't think there are.

mondaytosunday · 23/06/2023 22:43

I know a good physiotherapist and he said not to do it unless you like exams, exams, and then more exams.

gogomoto · 23/06/2023 22:43

My advice is to take time out. Work, travel, find herself, it's not a race

Maglin · 23/06/2023 22:44

mondaytosunday · 23/06/2023 22:43

I know a good physiotherapist and he said not to do it unless you like exams, exams, and then more exams.

Really? Dd has just finished her masters in physiotherapy and had no written exams at all. Two essays and two practicals.

hoven · 23/06/2023 22:49

Allied health profession. Specifically osteopath or physiotherapist

clary · 23/06/2023 22:52

Interesting that someone mentioned Swansea - mate of Ds is there doing sports science and enjoying it. Think he took biology but the uni itself seems to be happy with PE. Also know someone who did the sports science course at Sheffield Hallam, again PE is enough. You say your dd likes sports science op - there’s two reasonable uni options?

Stirling is another uni of which I have heard good things, good sporting presence at BUCS too. What sport does your dd take part in @year12clueless ?

Dotcheck · 23/06/2023 23:11

What is wrong with a ‘new’ university? Going to one doesn’t bar employment.

Get off unifrog, and use UCAS to search too- there are gaps in unifrog.

Finally- apprenticeship vacancies come and go ( like any job vacancy )and new ones appear all the time.
There are good amounts of business/ marketing apprenticeships- it isn’t just STEM/Finance/ barbering. Look at Rate my Apprenticeship, but make sure you check multiple listing sites as there isn’t just one place for all vacancies.

Anon19902 · 23/06/2023 23:15

Surveying. Make sure it's accredited by RICS

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