Alternative to Uni?

[Wrapp]

DS is in year 13. He's bright enough for Uni, but has dyslexia and doesn't enjoy learning much as it is a bit of a struggle.

He's not applied to Uni this year and is planning a year out next year to try to decide next steps.

While I can see Uni may not be a good fit for him, I really think he'd benefit from the semi-independence, immersive experience, meeting new people and trying new things that is the Uni experience.

Are there other things he could do that would bring similar that aren't studying at Uni? I am not a fan of the Army, and he's not got anything like the confidence or desire to do something like Camp America, much as I'd love him to. He's quite introverted, not into partying or drugs. A kind kid, quite young for his age, happy being at home. He does enjoy sport.

Any suggestions for him?

Apprenticeship? Some brilliant opportunities out there.
Apprenticeships website where you can search available ones

Thanks @AnEmbarrasmentofWitches
I don't know much about Apprenticeships, but I didn't think it was the kind of 'living on campus experience' I was hoping for. More a job with a day in Uni?

Ah, ok I see what you mean! Somewhere like this? You can live-in, on campus, but there is a wide range of courses.
There are colleges like this all over the country - this is our nearest ..
https://duchy.ac.uk/

notgoingtouni.co.uk might have ideas or www.workaway.info The Princes Trust has some practical courses and opportunities.

Yes, that kind of thing! Thank you.
How do I find these places? Cornwall is a bit far.

The Army is not the only force - the Royal Navy provides so many different opportunities, with travel.

There are other courses available in higher education that are not degrees but are an extension of learning - lots are more vocational. What kind of things is he interested in?

Eg there can be foundation years in many subjects - my own ds is looking at creative subjects - or diplomas. It might be worth exploring avenues that interest him.

Roughly where are you?

There’s an alphabetical list here, but they’re not all named in an easy way to work out Wiki link to Land based colleges UKtheir region - for example Askham Bryan I think is in Yorkshire.

Degree apprenticeship? We went to an open day at a large finance company. The current apprentices said they all share houses and live in the studenty area. They said it was good as although they had to go to work, they had money to spend. Think it was one day a week at uni.

I was going to suggest a Degree Apprenticeship too. DGodD is doing one. She spends one day a week in Uni and has the odd residential.

The only thing I would caution about apprenticeships, is that my DC has found a lot of apprentices on their course are a lot older, existing middle aged employees who took advantage of the training rather than younger people. DC goes to uni for several block weeks a year and has to stay in a hotel with the older people, so although they are very nice, DC is not getting a "uni experience" at all.

Thank you for all the links. I am not sure if the thing I am hoping for for DS actually exists!

I'm reluctant for DS to do anything that involves getting Student Finance for a degree, as I suspect he will end up in that middle group of paying every month for 40 years. It would be different if he knew what he wanted, and his career choice required a degree, but a lifetime of debt when he has no idea what he wants to do seems silly.

He is not any kind of Armed Forces material - some SEN in addition to dyslexia would make that an unlikely option. Degree Apprenticeships are also not really his bag - most seem in Business, Finance, IT, and pretty competitive to get onto, which again just isn't DS at this point in his life.

I'll take a look at Princes Trust. One thing that occurred to me was working at an Outdoor Pursuits Centre kind of place. But I assume you need qualifications to get an in there? Though that doesn't really meet all my hopeful requirements, it does meet some!

Hello. My eldest DD did a fabulous year course as an outdoor apprentice. She gained a lot of qualifications in climbing, paddlesports, hiking etc and the course included 3 months work experience, plus travel abroad. She lived away from home for the whole year with 11 other people her age. It suited her really well. She’s nearly 20 and is now working independently in the industry without any student loan. The course was quite expensive and its never going to be a highly paid career, but it was the only realistic way of her leaving home, getting a uni-type experience in a career that she loves. She very bright but uni wasn’t for her. She worked in Tesco for several months to save the money for the course. DM me if you want more details.

Thankyou @Wotrewelookinat , I've PMed you!

My daughter is the same - bright but with some mild sen needs - we are thinking of a series of short courses or a part-time job in the right place. Largely looking to give her a feel for being with like minded kids similar in age to her but with the bonus of adult responsibilities.

I know you said no to camp America, I did the equivalent (many years ago) for Disney for a summer. However they did have a year long exchange for British people and it was quite campus feel. You get put in a flat with people who are on the same programme and there is transport to your work and people you can go to with issues.

I did my summer one through yummyjobs.com but I think they do the year long Epcot exchange too. Might worth looking at.

@Wrapp , this TV programme may be of interest to you. Looks like the worm is turning on the merits of Higher Education expansion:

BBC News - Geoff Norcott: Should my son bother going to uni?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68484598

While uni is not for everyone, I do think it’s quite important to have some sort of plan and get some qualifications. Otherwise people get stuck doing minimum wage jobs as they have experience but no qualifications to back it up.

My DD was in a similar situation post-A levels, in that she wanted to live away from home in a city (we're very rural), but at that time wasn't sure about uni & didn't have a clear idea what direction she wanted to take.

She did a year's live in volunteering at a L'arche community - it included accommodation, food etc plus a monthly allowance which was enough to cover a reasonable social life, train travel home etc.

It made such a difference to her, she did then decide to go to uni, but in the city where she'd been working, which meant she already had a bit of a support network in place (she has an asd, so change is hard).

There's various places that offer this sort of live-in, somewhat supported volunteering, mostly either care / support work, or outdoors activities (being a YHA voluntary warden was another option she looked at). They mostly seem to appeal to young people like dd who don't want to go to uni, or not immediately, but want the 'away from home' experience.

https://aircraft.airbus.com/en/services/train/airbus-flight-academy/become-a-pilot-cadet
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/careers/apprentices-graduates-and-placements
https://www.nationaltrustjobs.org.uk/where-you-could-work/apprenticeships/

https://pyb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Trainee-Instructor.pdf
https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/supporting-seafarers/merchant-navy-cadet-scheme-mncs/mncs-study-options/deck-officer-cadetship
https://maritime.solent.ac.uk/careers/officer-cadet-training