DD changed her mind about degree choice

bitsandpieces

Lots of subjects differ a lot between degree and A-level - not sure about Psychology A-level, but the possibility of differences is worth bearing in mind. It's often the stats that people struggle with in degree-level psychology - what's your daughter like with numbers? Dyslexia certainly needn't stop someone getting a Psychology degree.

No need to rush to a decision - you can both sleep on it for a bit, get your daughter to see a careers adviser, etc. The teacher's advice may or may not be helpful (it's hard to predict someone's future performance, with different learning material and in a different setting). The best course may also depend on your daughters goals: if she wants to work with patients ASAP a nursing course might be a good plan; if she wants something more academic or to work in different areas, Psychology may be the better option.

By the way, if a University is able to ask for 3 Bs from students, they're clearly not struggling too much to get bums on seats! They certainly wouldn't need to offer to people they didn't think could handle the course.

tabskitten

I am Dyslexic and I took a Psychology Degree. And did just fine.

tsabo

Like someone above said, at least she didn't realise when she had already started the course.
Things like UCAS track and clearing are available but don't rush in to a place as it seems like the only option. (which is what I did)
If I could do it again I would take a year out, do some resits if needed, get some more work experience and make sure this is the right course.
Does your daughter have a good careers service at college?

And don't worry, it's SO much easier applying the second time round.

*zippy*

Thank you again x

No tsabo, she said the careers people are a waste of time.

A quick update, we had a nice calm chat last night and I think she is just exhausted and under too much pressure and it got too much. She has been studying the AS Psychology in the lunch times, her A2's, working full time during the hols, the resits, us going on has she started revising, worrying she needed this B, which is never going to happen etc. Enough was enough and her teacher was the final straw.

She is going to have break until she feels better and not make any decisions until then. She doesn't want to do nursing, but is going to meet with a social worker she knows to see if she fancies that as she will have plenty of points to study it and she is going to look into a dietitian, she can do a foundation course locally to get the sciences she would need. To be honest though I think she will come full circle and keep to her Psychology as talking to her it still seems her main motivation.

Thank you for all your advice and calming me down

fifipat

There is a lot of help at uni for students with additional support needs. Your DD should get help with funding for a computer and appropriate software as well as support from the lecturers. She should be given her lecture notes in whatever format suits her eg coloured paper, font, size of text, etc She will be given extra time in her exams and if ncessary can get a scribe or use a computer for her exams. I used to work in a Scottish uni and made arrangements for students who were sometimes only diagnosed as being dyslexic once they started uni. The uni has advisors and loads of facilities for your DD to access. Good Luck

cba321

Just to let you know, to use UCAS Extra, you need to have used up all your 5 choices and have no offers. Clearing doesn't start until after 30th June.

redpete

jd87 wrote: »

Are you sure the teacher knows what they are talking about? The university wouldn't have offered your daughter a place if they didn't think she would be able to cope with the course.

Any degree course is easy if it's something you love, and it sounds like it is something she loved until the teacher trapped off.

I suggest the teacher knows more about this than you do. The place was offered on the basis of the student getting 3 Bs; the university will have very little idea about how the daughter will cope, only what results are predicted, GCSE and AS results (which have little bearing on how the student will do at degree level) and a personal statement that says more about the students personality than academic ability. The OP says the required A2 grade is unlikely in the key subject, despite her daughter putting in extra effort. The teacher will know how much work the student is having to put into getting those results in A2s and how much more difficult the degree course will be. Any decent degree course will demand significant academic ability, enjoying the subject will help but this is not enough on its own.

Far better to make the right decision now than realise the mistake after starting a degree course. Re-applying through clearing might be a reasonable idea but maybe taking a year out will give her more of a chance to consider what she really wants to do; if so then using the time to do some serious work experience in relevant and related areas will help her understand whether the work still interests her and will also help her case if she re-applies in next year's application round.

juno

cba321 wrote: »

Just to let you know, to use UCAS Extra, you need to have used up all your 5 choices and have no offers. Clearing doesn't start until after 30th June.

But you can decline your offers. You don't have to have received all rejections.

sarah_elton

I was in a very similar position when I did my A-Levels (1999). I was doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics and English Lit and for years had planned to do a maths degree. I had a conditional offer at Sheffield Uni to study maths, which I was happy about in December of A-level year when I got the offer.

But, as time went on, studying Further Maths A-Level put me right off taking it to degree level. I also felt burnt out from study and fed up with the whole thing.

I didn't decide anything before my exams (you can't think clearly through the exam stress). I got my results, and turned down the place at Sheffield even though I had the grades. I managed to get an entry level job in a bank instead.

After a few months of working, I decided the real world wasn't as fun as I thought it would be after all. I went through UCAS again, and wound up doing a year's work after A-levels then studying Economics and Management at Oxford. :j I never applied to Oxford or Cambridge the first time around as I didn't think I had a prayer, and also didn't think I'd fit in (went to a comprehensive that hadn't sent kids there, had the usual preconception that it was all snobby). Working really opened my eyes, and already having good A-level grades gave me the confidence to go for it.

Having done a year's work, studying Business at uni was brilliant (I don't know how people study it who have never worked a day in their lives; some people on my course were in that position).

Anyway, I'm just one example and in this economy getting a job or work placement after A-levels would be an awful lot harder I know, but I do believe that your daughter shouldn't take up her uni place if she's got serious doubts about the course. I had friends who dropped out due to not enjoying their subjects and it's a horrible decision to make, not least because uni costs more now than when I went. If need be she could take a year out and re-apply with a clear head. Going through UCAS when you've already done your A-levels is a breeze as you know your grades and know what courses you can apply for. I do think delaying and getting the course right is better than going into it then having the heartache of changing it later. But for now, just keep all the options open.

Mankysteve

I'm at a uni with a large Psychology department. Everyone and there dog seems to have a Psychology degree now a days you have to be the best of the best to get anywhere in actually Psychology.

My friends who have left with psychology degrees have all gone in to social care/nursing areas. Might as well cut out the extra time studying and go do that in the first place.