My daughter has dropped 2 weeks into second year

[PatsArrow]

I feel so awful for her.

She was studying Paramedic Science. I didn't enjoy her first year but muddled through and passed with good marks. She saw a whole load of difficult and stressful situations (obviously) during her ambulance placement. She's proud of doing that but has decided she doesn't want to be a Paramedic anymore. She also hates her uni and hasn't settled well.

So she's left. All happened within the last week. Spoken to tutor, spoken to student finance, withdrawal form submitted.

She's now home and really low (naturally). She has no idea what she wants to do. She says she feels like there's a black hole in front of her. She thinks she's like to go back to a different uni eventually, maybe to study English/Humanities but has realised that her A-level grades aren't that great and won't get her onto a good course (she says).
She's 19 and has A,C, E A Levels and now has a good HEAR report for her first year studies.

Not sure what I want to get out if this post really. Maybe some positive stories of children being happy elsewhere after dropping out? How did they find their way?

💐for you and your dd. I think it takes courage to quit something you know isn't right for you so good for her. She's still young so has time, everything is still possible for her. Don't be disheartened. Give her some time and then gently recommend getting some career advice, they can be helpful in suggesting things that neither of you have ever considered. Good luck x

I think ACE might be ok. I suggest she works for a year until she knows what she wants to do.

Admitting something isn't right for you is a real strength and takes courage. She needs to see that.

Is it worth her looking at an Apprenticeship? There's some fabulous ones out there. Google Find an Apprenticeship 😊

I think an app would be a good idea if uni wasn’t for her, something she can do alongside a job.

It’s a massive thing to realise something just isn’t for you, hats off to her for being so brave to make the decision, a lot wouldn’t and would be miserable.

one thing for future courses to bare in mind ( as someone who dropped out of uni twice 🤣🤣) is that SLC will only give you four years of study, so therefore the last year of her course ( if she decides to go to uni again eventually) would be unfunded…. She therefore would need to spend the next X months making enough money to cover her fees.

Right now, just reassure her she’s made the right move - offer support and an ear to listen, maybe some fun things too like shopping and the cinema.

Also as someone who works in the emergency services -nothing can prepare you for what you see…♥️

Does she still like the field even if not directly paramedicine?
An emergency dispatcher in the ops centre could be an option while she decides what to do next

She needs to get a job for a year whilst she decides that she definitely wants to go back and study for another degree - and if so, be certain about what. She won't get another chance if she makes a mistake the 2nd time due to funding.
My DS dropped out just at the start of year 2. He worked in retail for 12 months whilst he made certain he wanted to study for a different degree. He did go back to study something completely unrelated to his 1st choice and even went on to do a Masters.

There are five kids in my family - all went to uni and every single one of us changed our degrees after the first year. My brother started out in engineering and ended up a uni lecturer for Film & TV!
Honesty, nothing is wasted - I bet your daughter learnt a lot in this last year about what she liked and didn't like - learned more about herself as a person. She needs to consider the experience as life experience...I am guessing if she had not have tried it she would have always wondered if she should have so its cross that off the list now.
I am guessing she might need to improve her grades - choose a subject and aim for a B while working part time? Maybe do an EPQ as that can raise your grades by a level if you can get an A in it and is more like 1/2 an A level time wise.

Thanks for responses. It's reassuring to hear.

She is planning on getting a job. Caller dispatch was an idea. However now she's unsure if she wants anything to do with Health.
She'd like to try uni again I think but in a totally different subject.
Because she dropped out within 2 weeks of her second year Student Finance have told her she's within the 'cooling off' period and will get another 3 years funding elsewhere if she applied which is good.

She's looked at Apprenticeships briefly but nothing has grabbed her yet.

Mainly, she's just feeling really lost and scared of making a knee-jerk decision doing something else but at the same time feels panicky that all her old friends are way ahead of her.

I don't even know how to advise her. Where do I find a really good careers advisor?

Sounds like it was being a paramedic that was the problem, not being at uni. She could easily just work in a shop/pub/whatever for a year and apply for a different uni course somewhere else for next year if she wants to study something else.

She needs to probably think what she’s looking to get from uni.
My brother did a degree, ultimately hated it and struggled then did a four week electrician course and loves his work now. Sister dropped out, started apprenticeship instead. It’s worth her taking the time to think what it is she would like to explore and trying to get some wider experience

My DH dropped out. Did two degrees with the OU in his 30s. Has a successful career.

Better to change now than slog through three years knowing it's not the job for you.

I think work with her to identify what she did and didn't enjoy about it.

Does she like the medical side of it but not the trauma? In which case nursing and midwifery still possible to experience traumatic events but are one step removed from it.

Does she like the adrenaline / out and about nature of the role.

Other organisations she might be interested in are the Environment Agency, all staff members are expected to have an incident role and it often draws ex military, police, fire and ambulance. She can start in a field team out and about or an admin type office role and then move into other roles and they'll pay for the training etc.

St Johns Ambulance which provide first aid at event etc, less likely to attend RTCs etc although can never guarantee it.

Border Force / security at airports for similar public sector working

RNLI or coast guard if by the beach or mountain rescue if inland

Volunteering at a cadet unit.

Outdoor activity instructor

All those jobs are very different but fit into the adrenaline or public sector or outdoorsy nature of being a paramedic.

Her uni careers service may well be able to help her.
https://www.16personalities.com Might give her some clues or direction. A year to explore what she enjoys is a good idea- voluntary work, all sorts.

Hi!! This happened to me!! I went to do nursing at uni and knew pretty much straight away it wasn’t for me. I stuck it out for a bit because I’m ’not a quitter’ but I ended up very poorly (depression and anxiety). I quit eventually and came home. I felt very lost for a while but I started to look for work until I decided what I wanted to do. Ended up working at an after school club….Im a teacher now so I found where I was supposed to go! From quitting at 18 I spent 3 years working and then went back to uni at 21. I loved uni the second time.

A year or two out working is the best thing, let her find what appeals and also consider degree apprenticeships as another route.

I work in HE, if the first choice isn’t right it’s best not to rush in to a second try for a while. And if you go in as a “mature” student grades matter less. Whilst I am obviously pro HE we have quite a number who do better if they come back to us after a few years working.

The world is her lobster! No rush.

I'd say the best option is work this year, maybe a shop/restauarant or even a teaching assistant, think for the next few months about what she'd like to re-apply for, and then apply in January for ucas if she decides uni, while also looking through apprenticeships - teaching could be an option if she likes humanities, still working with people etc. Some early years education apprenticeships start in December ish time. Or she could re-sit the a level that she got an E in this year? Some unis - Liverpool hope etc, accept E though so this isn't necessary!

I would look now on clearing and see if there's any of those humanities courses still with places - Bath Spa, UEA, that kind of thing. Its worth a look.

What about something really different like work abroad to take pressure off and give her breathing space. When we were in Whistler there were lots of Brits and Australians working in coffee shops/hotels think there’s several companies to work in Canada.

There is actually a National Careers Service.
nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

If she wants a “service” type career have a look at civilian positions in the police force - there are many roles that don’t require a degree and are really interesting eg organising court hearings, victim and witness support, admin for the uniform officers. There is zero point in applying for another degree just for the sake of doing a degree - she might as well get into a job with prospects of advancement from within and get earning.

It is not a race, your dd shouldn’t be concerned about the fact that her friends are ‘ahead’ of her. She is still very young
I think it was brave of her leaving the course . She made absolutely the right decision.
Agree that she should perhaps take a year off and apply next year
She will be fine

Or look at local government jobs entry level. Often scope for training and progression.

If she is counted as having started second year for student finance purposes, then yes, she would be missing one year of entitlement for a subsequent degree (formula 'length of current course, plus one year, minus previous years of study', so she needs to clarify her situation). But it would be the first year that is unfunded, not the final year.

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies#youve-studied-before

She's spoken to Student Finance who have clarified that she IS within the time period of withdrawing before being regarded as having started her second year.

She could get a Christmas retail job, have a bit of fun and earn some money. See how she feels in January

Tell her from me she's very brave and has made the right decision. Also tell her that there is no rush. Breathe and find joy in the little things ✨️ 💕