DD decided against applying for Oxbridge

[SinuousTendrils]

My DD has finally decided not to apply for Oxbridge. Of course i realise she had a slim chance of getting in but I'd really hoped she'd throw her hat in the ring. With the current graduate jobs market as it is, I thought she might be in with a chance of a golden ticket if she got in.
Is it really that dire out there? Would a talented high achiever really struggle to find a career after uni? I've been advising her to consider her STEM subjects rather than literature, which i think she'd enjoy more...thinking at Oxbridge humanities degrees still have currency...it's so hard, isn't it?!

But with the jobs market in such flux thanks to AI I actually think things swing back round to just studying something you love
I can't imagine how galling it must be to study something purely for the job at the end of it and then find the jobs just aren't there.

I think if they don't know what they want to do they are better working. If they have a career they know they want to do then apprenticeships are the best route now. But if there is a subject they really love and want to study at a high level then it feels like a privilege to help them through university whatever comes next.

I've a sneaking suspicion that's where she'll choose, off to the open day next week.
Which course did you do? I'm intrigued.

Has she thought about economics? Those would be the perfect A Levels. And I believe it's still currently the most employable degree, or highest paid degree? One or the other. If she doesn't fancy endless financial modelling and wittering on about markets, there's always behavioural economics which requires mathematical skill, the ability to comprehend and communicate complex ideas, and a strong interest in psychology. It might be worth investigation, if it's not something she's encountered.

Geography, I loved it. We had some great modules and I had a brilliant tutor. It also pleased my "indecisive" nature as I did french modules in my first year and then geography is so wonderfully diverse so I studied modules covering everything from geology, economics, historical geography, climate change and sustainability, town planning ....

My top tip is to really research colleges as they are all quite different and she needs to choose one that feels right for her (and also consider the location of them in relation to where her lectures are likely to be)

Oxbridge isn't for everyone.

If she enjoys everything and is good at everything, I'd suggest either -

1. Something vocational with clearly good job prospects, eg dentistry
2. Something broader / at a uni where you can swap or incorporate different subjects eg an OU Open degree, a Scottish uni where you can do more subjects in the first year I believe, a subject with a year abroad (I know someone who did engineering with a year in France so spoke fluent French as well as his engineering).
3. Delay uni until she finds her passion. In the meantime try a variety of things.

@IlikebigboatsandIcannotlie so interesting to read about your experience, sounds great. Funnily enough, dd almost chose geography a level...
Sounds like Durham have alot of flexibility with modules so might suit.
Colleges are so hard to decipher. So far main criteria is a decent gym and fully catered as she's a power lifter who can't bear the thought of other people's kitchen habits!

I had friends from all the colleges (from my sport) so ignore any tribalism about college "types" and focus mainly on facilities and locations sounds sensible

I always wished my dd would go to Oxford, after her whole life spent in private education.
Instead she had a gap year age 18, travelling by herself throughout Asia.
Then she went to Newcastle uni, which she loves.
Now on her summer break, travelling in Asia for 7 weeks.
I am so happy she chose her own path x

If she doesn't know what she wants to study perhaps she should take a gap year and 'find' where her passions lie before applying for any unis?

My DD decided not to apply. Seeing how the pressure hit her in the run up to A levels it was totally the best decision.

I dont think young people are as 'dazzled' by Oxford/Cambridge as older generations. My dds school had about 18 offers this year (i think the most ever). One has firmed Courtauld instead of Ox for Art History, one has firmed Imperial for engineering over Camb, one has Royal school of music over Oxford & a Cambs med is going to Manchester because she liked it better in the end.
The way the grad market looks & the huge cost inccured your daughter is very wise to choose somewhere shes really going to enjoy.
Best of luck to her💐

You sound over invested

Don’t get invested in college choice at Durham…it’s not particularly common that you get your first (or second/third) choice! Every year there are many many kids who get colleges from the bottom of their list…plus Durham move people around after results day!

@SinuousTendrils My advice to students in your daughter's position (or parents who want to help) would be to put herself in the shoes of a current student/graduate, create a list of potential job search terms (even if as broad as Manager, Analyst, Sales, Science, but ideally more specific) and subscribe to alerts from some big jobs boards like Indeed and Gradcracker (for STEM) for internships and grad jobs. Then monitor the opportunities and read their criteria to see what they're looking for. Most will be fairly specific about the degrees they consider relevant. Some may say "any degree", but those will obviously get many more applications and applicants will need other things on their CV to stand out. Some employers may want evidence of high academic achievement, but most will be more interested in work experience, especially relevant work experience. Leadership roles in extra curricular activities can also help.

When she gets to uni she should engage with her careers service from day 1 - a good careers service will be sending regular emails listing opportunities for employment skills and internship opportunities, but many students don't start reading them until year 3, which leaves them at a disadvantage.

@OtherS this is brilliant, thank you.

@theredcar genius suggestion, thanks so much.

The Redcar you sound very knowledgeable. What is your view on a student not doing a broader respected traditional subject she is good at and enjoys (keeping” options open) or a narrower less “prestigious” non traditional degree which has a clearer path to the job she wants? We think she should do the former she wants to do the latter.

I'll be invested by about £60k i should think!
She's asked for help with researching her uni options, which is what I'm doing.

would she consider a liberal arts degree at a top university?

i know some people look down on them, but i think it’s a great option if you don’t know what you want to study.

a friend of mine’s kids went to UCL (both from top private secondary schools in London) and one went straight to working in Finance and the second majored in Quant Computing and is doing a Masters next.

Dd was the same. Just wasn’t interested in whole vibe. She is just about to graduate after doing a law degree at Sheffield and has just got a major scholarship from her inn of court to fund her bar course and MA. Sounds like your daughter will be fabulous wherever she ends up.

Does her school have a careers adviser? DD’s has been v helpful.

Hard to say without knowing what the degrees are and without knowing the employment sector. Can you be more specific? A lot will depend on supply of grads versus the demand for grads in the sector of interest.

My DP son just graduated from Oxford with a humanities degree and is working on the tills at Tesco in a near zero hours contract and feels bloody lucky to have that at least.
Many big companies now recruit university blind so won't even see what uni the applicant went to. A first from any uni will probably stand her in good stead (and she is clearly bright!). Work experience will also stand her in good stead and Oxbridge academic demands are very intense which makes part time work impossible.
She will be fine! She seems really capable already !

Its totally fine to give some guidance and be there for her to bounce ideas off.
At 17/18 they are still making sense of the world

Without a burning passion for her subject she likely wouldn’t get in to Oxbridge anyway - the whole interview seems to hinge on that.

Maybe a gap year would be a good idea if she’s unsure (my DS had a last minute one after making the wrong choice and leaving uni early on in the course - he went back the following year and all was well. He got a great deal out of that gap year)