DD changed her mind about degree choice

leopard85

I was in this situation myself. I made the decision to take a year out to decide on what I really wanted from life and it turned out to be the best choice I have ever made! I chose to go down a totally different route and one which has turned out to be perfect for me. Taking away the pressure of figuring out your future career allows you to concentrate on the task in hand - completing A Levels. The year out will also allow her to do work experience and earn money for uni. In my year out I did such a boring job to earn money, and it gave me the incentive to work hard at uni to make sure that I never found myself doing such a boring job again!!! Don't worry - just give her the time to figure out what she wants to do for the next 45 years of her working life.

Belle16

I had the same problem last year. I had got two places at Lancaster to study Music and Music and Theatre, and a place at Sheffield to study Music. I then had a bit of a crisis of faith in myself because I needed AAB/ABB to get on the courses, and then decided I didn't want to study music anymore at all, then had another moment of huge self confidence thinking I could get into somewhere better suited to me so I took a year out. Needless to say I managed to get 3 A grades (all that worry for nothing!!) but I have to say, taking a year out was the best thing I could have done. I will now be going to drama school to study American Theatre Arts after a year of gaining experience in amateur dramatics and musical societies. The year out really made me focus on what sort of degree I wanted to do and made me realise I was really selling myself out and settling for a course I didn't really want to go on because I didn't believe I could get into my top choice. Having said that, a gap year isn't for everyone - you do get very jealous when all your friends go off to university and leave you behind, it means you'll be a year older when you finish your degree (sometimes can be a negative point) and there is the worry you won't find enough to keep you occupied during the year out of education. With regards to UCAS Extra, if she decides to decline the offers she has for Psychology and pick another course elsewhere, bear in mind that the courses listed on UCAS Extra are only ones which MAY have places left - I did this last year for the course I'm studying next academic year and did not receive any notification or interview from the university - presumably because all the course places were filled. You'll also have to remember that as your daughter was applying for Psychology in the first place, her personal statement will be very much geared towards interest in Psychology and may not reflect any other interests and strengths she may have. This may raise questions with the university she may apply to should she apply to study RE, for example, as to why there is so much reference to Psychology if she is not applying to study it. I hope this helps!

squirrelchops

I too had a crisis about what I was doing after I had been conditional offers so decided to take some time out to really decided what I wanted....that was when I was 18.

Finally found my niche and began Uni at 30!!!! I am now in the position that the previous work experience I had gave me invaluable previous knowledge for the degree plus I have got a job when I finish already lined up!

metalgal

i agree with fifipat. At university there is much much more support to help you complete the degree. i have mental health problems and the disability services at my university cannot do enough for me and i haven't even started yet! before giving up completely if its just your daughters dyslexia that is impeding her then she should contact the university's disability advisor. at university its seems they will do everything possible for you to finish your degree in spite of disabilities.

*zippy*

Guys I just wanted to update as you were all so kind calming me down

Its taken a while, but she has decided to do a diploma in art and design as it will open up her options, at the moment she wants to go on to do fashion promotion. She was very lucky to get on the course as she was late and has no art or design qualificaions, but she hit it off with the tutor and they offered her a place. Taking her A-levels has only confirmed it was the right thing to do as she is pretty sure she hasn't passed her psychology. So thank you again, it looks like it all turned out ok x