Dd unsure about her chosen course

[RockyKeen]

She spoked to do media production in ljmu . She’s very arty. Probably will get A or A* for a
level art , and has also done sociology and history of art predicted A and B. She really wants a creative degree and was adamant that she wanted to be in Liverpool. Not sure what to advise her.

Watching with interest as going through similar with my child. Should get predicated grades for course but now not sure at all if it's the right choice. I am totally unsure on what to say !

With predicted A*AB she would have options to do other courses at other universities.

In your shoes I would encourage her to look at what clearing options are currently available.

What course would she want if she had a blank slate?

What else is on offer at LJMU or Uni of Liverpool, if that's her preferred city?

In terms of 'what to say' you encourage them to investigate all options and support them to review by e.g. helping them research.

She really wants a creative course but she’s not sure what. She’s so stressed she’s like a headless chicken not looking at anything . She needs a supportive uni as she has adhd . She’s also voicing her opinions but them doesn’t want to talk about it . This is so stressful.

I am but she doesn’t want to talk about it !

No good will come from you getting stressed too (although it is hard not to!), and no harm is going to come from slowing it all down.

She's panicking, so all you can do is help her regulate her panic so eventually some coherent thoughts can form. I'd tell her things like 'this is normal, I am here, you are ok, the answer will come in its own time'.

Can you break it down for her - Tuesday you look together at the LJMU clearing page. That's it. Then go for a walk. Tell her before you start looking you are not going to ask her questions, you're going to help her look at what is there.

Wednesday look at the Liverpool clearing page. Then go for a walk. Again no questions.

Thursday read the UCAS clearing process page. Then go for a walk. Again no questions.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday - just go for a walk. No questions. How will she react if you say supportive things - you worked out your GCSEs, your A-levels, you're already a success, it's going to be ok - does that calm her down?

Just to add - she could email LJMU and ask them what they advise she does about being uncertain it is the right course - they deal with this ALL the time!

ive Suggested this to her , that maybe sending an e-mail will help . I’ve also told her to remember that Liverpool is not the only city in uk !

My advice … breathe, listen and support! DD1 had firm choice, got her grades and on alevels day changed her mind about the career so entered clearing! Dd2 is about to enter clearing as she has also changed career path since she chose her course. They are so young and unsure so just be there to help them work through it.

University of Liverpool doesn't offer creative arts courses, so you can easily rule that one out.

If in doubt encourage a gap year. So many benefits. She can take her time to decide. Work, volunteer, visit friends at unis etc.

I have and there’s no way of convincing her ,

I think a gap year is a good idea. But if she won't hear of it then I think you're right saying it's no good to keep suggesting it. But if she starts a course and doesn't like it that will be a problem too,. I'm not a fan of Manchester but it's very popular with students.

Why is she so sure she now doesn’t want the course she applied for? In many unis there is an option to change the course once enrolled if it doesn’t suit and there is space on the course you want and you have the qualifications

Would she consider an art foundation course? I know someone who did that as a sort of gap year.

the course she chose was ljmu media production. She has done a level art , history of art and sociology and has enjoyed it very much. She knew she wanted to do something creative and when we went to visit uni she for a good feel for this course. She was also adamant that she wanted to live in Liverpool after visiting ( also visited Leeds , Nottingham, York , Newcastle , Sheffield , Lincoln, Manchester) .
However she’s done a week at the BBC and hasn’t enjoyed it. She still draws every day either in her sketch book or iPad , and is worried she’s making a mistake. It’s so hard to guide her. She loved a course in Sheffield Hallam but a few students told her how the support and contact time had gone down hill since the cuts .

I’ve told her but im uniste if there’s any spaces . She’s messaged Leeds arts university .

An art foundation would definitely buy her time. The yp I know didn’t want to do an art degree but used it as breathing space. So got A level results and then applied for uni grades in hand. Meanwhile it gave her structure for her year off. The course was pleasant (she did textiles her hobby) and only a few days in college a week and she worked pt and saved too. The student had an autism diagnosis so I think felt better with some structure there.
I believe it was funded as yr14 at local college so no extra debt.

Well done for getting a placement at the BBC! What did she hate about it? I find work experience to be exhausting and stressful and not really like work at all. It’s also not really like a degree!

If you’re in London then there may be a chance that there are spaces left on a few of the art foundations. I’ll not list them in case you aren’t.

It would give another year to decide, but I’m not sure that’s always a help? Maybe it is for some young people?

if she still wants to move in Liverpool then maybe have a look to see if there is a less focused course on clearing she may be interested in.

Or realise not everything has to be perfect and if she definitely wants a degree, and probably wants to live in Liverpool then look at the financial implications of giving it a go.

edited to add-the school may be able to help. Not many state schools do History of Art, so if it’s a private school I’d expect them to have assistance over the holidays. If it’s one of the few states they may have holiday contact although it’s less likely but they’ll have someone around on results day.

If she achieves those A Level results, she can aim much higher than LJMU. It's not the most challenging or well-funded of universities ...

Has she considered doing a more traditional Arts degree - Drama, History, English, MFL - and getting involved with extra-curricular & student societies in her area/s of creative practice? Best of both worlds.

Liverpool has a similar feel to Glasgow and the four year degree would allow her to keep her options wide in the first year, trying a few different things, even a curveball elective. Would she be open to a visit? The Glasgow School of Art has a great reputation and quite inspiring. Even if she doesn't want to go there, it might give her an idea of the type of art that grabs her.

it is a state school. I think it’s a news programme, the first few days were not what she expected although she did enjoy the camera work. She’s always done art and is always drawing so I think she thought maybe she should have gone another route like graphic design. . However when we visited uni it didn’t feel right . A level art also took the joy out of drawing and she’s enjoying it again and wanted it to be her own thing , that’s whibshe chose media production because it was creative but not drawing and she loved the oon day . I’ve told her the course will not be a news room .
with results day looming it may be her spiralling because of her adhd.

Her sister did suggest Glasgow to her as an alternative to Liverpool but she doesn’t want to that far and it not be easy for her to visit other friends in uni.

She doesn’t want a higher uni. Her sisters went higher uni and she says it’s not for her. She doesn’t want an academic degree. Her grades are a result of 35 plus hours a week studying . She doesn’t think she can sustain that indefinitely.

If she's happy with the choice of uni, she should look at the other courses at LJMU and talk to admissions. I would think most unis will allow students to switch course fairly easily (ours does). She could talk to the course leaders or staff (someone will be covering clearing next Thursday).