University courses advice

[HighlandCowLover2]

My DD will be doing Maths, Physics and Computer Science A levels starting in September and is looking onwards to university courses. She would like to go to a RG university. Myself, her father and her brother all did pretty rubbish in our A-levels but still went to university, but she is hoping to aim a bit higher. She is worried about job prospects which is what made her rule out Marine Biology/Ecology and English Lit, hence why she didn’t choose Biology or Lit for A levels.

Both myself and her father did computer science at university many moons ago, however she seems to be worried that she would find this too boring (despite enjoying coding). She likes physics but thinks she would struggle as she had to work hard to get an 8 in maths. She is bright as she got mostly 8s in her GCSEs.

She is also considering an engineering degree or geophysics, but is just a very indecisive person.

Any advice or ideas about how she could narrow down her options are welcome!!

What about Material Science & engineering?

A friend of DD did this course at uni, and had several placements in industry and went into manufacturing (defence, I think?)

you can do Biology degrees without Chemistry though. Pharmacy companies employ Biologists and pay well if that motivates her…

(Slight bias as dc did Bio to PhD level without Chem or Maths A level - now a very very very happy scientist doing what they love, admittedly not well paid - but currently wants to remain in charity/public sector).

Material Sci needs Chemistry.

@titchy Thank you for correcting me then! Biology could be a good choice for her, knowing that. She really does enjoy it.

@HighlandCowLover2 The highest paid roles usually depend on more than the degree though. It’s how you progress through employment to reach a higher pay grade. Or get new employment. Many careers are well paid at the top end but you have to work out how to get there.

Environmental science is less well paid than environmental engineering as the former is more likely to be in the public or voluntary sector. Geographers have many options, perhaps more on the science side. It’s a degree that’s the foundation to many careers, some of which will be well paid. It’s also true that not everyone will have the attributes needed for earning well but I think a general degree can allow dc to branch out into interesting jobs and be less prescriptive than some others.

DS has just graduated in biological sciences from Durham. A levels were biology, physics and maths, with a view to a biology degree but no plan beyond that. The main areas he applied for graduate jobs in were environmental (water companies, civil engineering consultancies etc) and food (eg Arla, Nestle). All the generic options such as the civil service are also open to scientists of any hue. DS starts on a grad scheme next month in the food sector. Let your DD choose a degree she will enjoy and hopefully she will flourish. The only thing I would say is advice I gave to DS - save marine biology for a masters as it's narrow, start off broad as it's harder to go the other way.

I think she has a lot of doors open with those A levels for uni, the job market is changing so fast right now it's so hard to predict what will be the money maker in the 4 years or 5 years time. She should do well in her A levels now, apply to what she is genuienly interested in and go from there. I think science has a lot to offer but if you are going that pathway then you'll have to do a graduate degree afterwards anyway

Hi OP
DS did maths biology computer science a levels and was unsure, liked biology best, and has ended up doing mechanical engineering at a great uni that also offers biomechanical engineering in the fourth year. His engineering choices were restricted by not having physics though

Both biomedical options and engineering options from a range of unis were open to him with maths computer science biology although some needed chemistry or physics.

Both biomedical options and engineering options from a range of unis were open to him with maths computer science biology although some needed chemistry or physics.