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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

College applications

14 replies

orangepeelsz · 20/09/2021 08:58

Hi, my daughter is 15 and will be 16 next year, currently in year 11.

We went on some local college websites at the weekend and my daughter was really deflated at the process.

She isn't interested in any of the courses on offer. I asked her what is her best subjects and she said she is best at history however she hates it, she said she has a good teacher so remembers what she is taught but doesn't actually enjoy it.

Her predicted grades are good enough that she can mostly pick and choose what course she wants to do but she really doesn't have a clue.

The only thing she indicated she would be interested in was travel and tourism but that's it.

I'm not even sure whether she should just go down the route of picking 3 generic A Levels or a Btec in travel if that the only thing she is interested in.

I worry if she specialises with the Btec she will regret it later if she doesn't enjoy it.

Anyone else in this position?

OP posts:
Lilactimes · 20/09/2021 09:19

I was in this position with my daughter. She never liked any of the sixth forms she visited and couldn’t think of courses to study.
Finally she went to one that was very flexible - not a school. She’s doing 3 A Levels. She’s now in yr 13. It’s up snd down. She likes aspects of freedom of college but last year was hard with Covid regulations.
The biggest thing I kept saying to her at the start was to see these exams as passports to more choice in the future. Keep subjects broad, study hard and then you can decide on Uni, Gap year, traveling the world, apprenticeships… whatever really. I think it motivated my daughter a bit. She’s certainly worked quite hard… but has a year to go. She’s decided to go to Uni but take a year out first as she’s an August baby.

WeAllHaveWings · 20/09/2021 10:29

Is she planning on going to uni after college? Can she look at uni courses, for which there should be a broader choice and see if she has any interest in them? Then she can pick college subjects that take her on that path.

Original poster
orangepeelsz · 20/09/2021 10:46

Thanks both

She isn't sure about uni either Confused she's a young 15 if that makes sense and she would be far too immature to do an apprenticeship or anything so college is the best route but then she has no idea what to do after that.

I'm thinking some generic Alevels are probably best, I will talk to her about picking 3 that she thinks she would do well in and then she can reasses at the end of college

OP posts:
DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 20/09/2021 19:15

Is she specifically interested in working in the travel industry or does she just want to travel? How about a degree with a year abroad?

is she thinking of taking a language?

Original poster
orangepeelsz · 20/09/2021 19:34

She is interested in the cabin crew role - I think she is also good at Spanish so she could do a language I'll suggest that to her.

OP posts:
Andi2020 · 20/09/2021 19:36

I have 2 dd and completely different academically
Dd1 is in last year of Alevel in Northern Ireland and keeps changing her mind what,she wants to do after.
She took mix of Alevel and Btec
Business studies,Sports, ICT
At the moment she is saying she wants to do a course in Law at a college or an apprenticeship.

Dd2 is 16 and will leave after GCSE and going to a college to study Animal foundation course and will do a day a week work experience. She always wanted to do something with animals.
At age 15 it's so hard for them to decide what they want to do
Best of luck to your dd

DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 20/09/2021 20:58

Ok if she likes Spanish, how about Dual Honours with History or Business Administration with a year abroad?

TeenMinusTests · 22/09/2021 16:53

My DD started with Spanish A level and Diploma (2 A level equiv) in Travel & Tourism.

My advice for what it's worth:

  • unless she is keen on a particular BTEC, do A levels if she is capable, it keeps more options open
  • she can apply for as many colleges as she wants so can apply for BTECs and A levels and decide later
SE13Mummy · 22/09/2021 23:21

What are your DD's strongest skills in the subjects she's best at? If she's good at essay writing, perhaps she'd find a new social science interesting e.g. philosophy, sociology or criminology. If she's good enough at Spanish to consider the A-level, is interested in travel and tourism as a course and decent at science, she could look at A-level environmental science. There are lots of subjects that students don't encounter at GCSE so it may be a good idea for her to look at subjects in general and see what takes her fancy rather than starting with the local colleges she knows of and looking at what they offer. There are more places to study post 16 courses at than I'd realised until DD1 started looking.

lljkk · 23/09/2021 06:21

Definitely the language.
Geography is helpful, too, solid academic A-level that fits with most travel-related careers.

Business-A-level would fit well.

Those would leave many doors open, Uni or set her up well for a higher apprenticeship in travel industry too, or cabin crew programmes.

Original poster
orangepeelsz · 23/09/2021 20:22

Some great ideas and things to think about thank you

The subjects she's good at she doesn't actually enjoy which I know sounds odd.

She said she doesn't actually enjoy any of her lessons Sad I think she just isn't going to be happy in a more practical job, I am going to talk about her with everyone's suggestions.

OP posts:
Cheeseplantboots · 28/09/2021 14:27

We’re in the same position. My daughter is keen to look at the animal courses at one college, eg veterinary nursing and she’s also interested in an army apprenticeship either nursing or animal care.

Original poster
orangepeelsz · 28/09/2021 18:11

It's really hard what to advise

We had another chat, she has narrowed it down to A levels Criminology, sociology and Law and Btec in in either animal management or travel and tourism. Total mixed bag there but I hope she gets the grades needed to do A Levels and then she with have more choices open to her after year 13

OP posts:
TeenMinusTests · 01/10/2021 12:15

That is a really really wide range of things.

Can you turn it on it's head? what is she interested in outside of school? What are her skills?

For my DD1, she like visiting new places, and languages. Was good with people. So she started on Spanish A level and T&T BTEC. The T&T BTEC has loads of different optional units so you would have to check which were being offered. She was doing well as hotel receptionist and would have made a good holiday rep if events hadn't got in the way.

For my DD2, she has loved animals since tiny. So she has just started Animal Care. At her college the L3 Animal care has 1 day of practical and 2 of theory per week. The theory has a fair bit of science (as in biology). If she doesn't like animals and science she probably shouldn't do animal management.
(DD2 started on L2 but has dropped down to L1. The L2 has GCSE level biology in it.)

If she is looking at criminology, sociology and law A levels (slightly risky 2 or 3 new subjects) I'm surprised she isn't looking at e.g. uniformed public services

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