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Parents have issues with my choice of degree

So I have recently decided that I do not want to do the course I have offers for anymore (for many reasons) and I want to reapply for a new course in September, for 2014 entry. I have currently accepted an offer for Law with French at UCL for this September and my parents were really happy as they see law as a respected degree that I will have a good career from and earn lots of money.

I have decided that I don't have a passion for law anymore and I am really interested in neuroscience. I've done a lot of research into the course and looked at different modules at different universities and I know it's what I want to do. However, I only have two months left of year 13 and I have taken A levels in French, History, Economics and English Lit, with AS levels in biology and maths. I might as well complete my my current A levels and as I need Biology and Chemistry for neuroscience, my sixth form have said that I can come back in September for a third year and finish my Biology and Maths A levels (doing A2 classes) and do Chemistry a level in one whole year.

ANYWAY, aside from the fact that I can tell my parents are embarrassed that I will be staying on for an extra year at sixth form, they are openly condescending about Neuroscience as a degree. My dad says that it is a nothing degree that will lead me nowhere. He thinks that my best bet is to apply for medicine and become a neurosurgeon 'if that's the kind of thing I'm interested in' although I'm sure you can't apply for medicine if you've done 3 years at sixth form.

I love the course in neuroscience and I want to do it because I'm passionate about it and I don't want do spend 3 years doing something that bores me. However even I am struggling to find common jobs from neuroscience that pay well and I have nothing to say when my parents question me in my choice of degree. Is it a nothing degree? What kind of jobs can I do from this degree? Any answers would be much appreciated!

(Sorry for the long post)
(edited 10 years ago)

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Reply 1
Are you Really sure you want to do neuroscience? You might start to do Chem at A-Level and hate it. IMO Youd struggle to do Chem in 1 year, it is a lot of work. Whats wrong with law? You should look more into law before you decide that you dont have passion for the subject anymore.
Meh, if you wanna do something different to what your parents want you to do just go with it. I got 5 offers for accounting&finance but have started to regret it of late. Do I really wanna be stuck in an office from 9-5 for the rest of my life with a job ad boring as this? I would be more interested in a complete different field, e.g. nutrition/sports

I don't know much about it, but neuroscience branches into a lot of various fields doesn't it?, e.g. pharmaceuticals, behavioural studies, etc.

If you enjoy a job and can't wait to get to the next day and do it again, it is no longer a job but merely a hobby for which you get paid --- My own quote( It's gonna be big :smug:)

Sent from my HTC Desire
Reply 3
Original post by Nitrogen
Are you Really sure you want to do neuroscience? You might start to do Chem at A-Level and hate it. IMO Youd struggle to do Chem in 1 year, it is a lot of work. Whats wrong with law? You should look more into law before you decide that you dont have passion for the subject anymore.


I'm 100% sure that I want to study neuroscience, I'm really interested in science and achieved top marks I'm biology AS and my teachers believe that I can do it. Nothing is wrong with law, but since dropping my maths and biology a levels I've realised that science is much more interesting to me and my essay based subjects have become a chore.
Reply 4
Original post by Derrick1509
Meh, if you wanna do something different to what your parents want you to do just go with it. I got 5 offers for accounting&finance but have started to regret it of late. Do I really wanna be stuck in an office from 9-5 for the rest of my life with a job ad boring as this? I would be more interested in a complete different field, e.g. nutrition/sports

I don't know much about it, but neuroscience branches into a lot of various fields doesn't it?, e.g. pharmaceuticals, behavioural studies, etc.

If you enjoy a job and can't wait to get to the next day and do it again, it is no longer a job but merely a hobby for which you get paid --- My own quote( It's gonna be big :smug:)

Sent from my HTC Desire


Congratulations on your offers!

I agree to a certain extent that it doesn't matter what my parents think, but I don't qualify for much of a loan with student finance, so I will be relying on my parents paying for my accommodation. I am hoping to get a job at university but initially I will be very reliant on them. Recently they've been saying things like 'I'm not sure i want to pay out all this money for you to do a wispy washy degree and then go into a job that you could have done without the degree'. I want to do a job that's related to neuroscience but from research it's seems that a lot of neuroscience undergrads go on to do masters a GEM, so it worries me that people are not satisfied with their initial degree and that it might not get people into a secure well paid job. :s-smilie:
Reply 5
There are degrees that combine neuroscience with a year in industry such as Nottingham, Leeds and Manchester. It's a good way to get your foot in the door as industries may offer you a job when you graduate. Leeds for eg have links with companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, QinetiQ, Pfizer and Mayo Clinic, Florida so there are clearly good job opportunities.
Don't feel pressured to do something you don't want to do. For a long time my Dad pressured me to apply for Law for the same reasons you've said but in the end I applied for a different course and overtime he just accepted it. If you change your mind there is obviously the chance to do a conversion course.
Reply 6
Original post by Molly9
So I have recently decided that I do not want to do the course I have offers for anymore (for many reasons) and I want to reapply for a new course in September, for 2014 entry. I have currently accepted an offer for Law with French at UCL for this September and my parents were really happy as they see law as a respected degree that I will have a good career from and earn lots of money.

I have decided that I don't have a passion for law anymore and I am really interested in neuroscience. I've done a lot of research into the course and looked at different modules at different universities and I know it's what I want to do. However, I only have two months left of year 13 and I have taken A levels in French, History, Economics and English Lit, with AS levels in biology and maths. I might as well complete my my current A levels and as I need Biology and Chemistry for neuroscience, my sixth form have said that I can come back in September for a third year and finish my Biology and Maths A levels (doing A2 classes) and do Chemistry a level in one whole year.

ANYWAY, aside from the fact that I can tell my parents are embarrassed that I will be staying on for an extra year at sixth form, they are openly condescending about Neuroscience as a degree. My dad says that it is a nothing degree that will lead me nowhere. He thinks that my best bet is to apply for medicine and become a neurosurgeon 'if that's the kind of thing I'm interested in' although I'm sure you can't apply for medicine if you've done 3 years at sixth form.

I love the course in neuroscience and I want to do it because I'm passionate about it and I don't want do spend 3 years doing something that bores me. However even I am struggling to find common jobs from neuroscience that pay well and I have nothing to say when my parents question me in my choice of degree. Is it a nothing degree? What kind of jobs can I do from this degree? Any answers would be much appreciated!

(Sorry for the long post)



First of all I can completely relate with the whole "parents wanting you to do a respectable degree" I wanted to stay an extra year but they didn't want me to because all our family friends children were going to university. I just say to myself "it's no ones business but mine" :smile:

You can always do a foundation course and then switch to neuroscience.

Neuroscience is on of those courses where you'll need to keep studying after your BSc in order to do really well. You can always find jobs with just a BSc but if you want to work at the top you'll need a BSc or PhD.

Ask for more questions if you like :smile:
Reply 7
It sounds weird, but I know from experience, parents always know best!
Original post by Molly9
I'm 100% sure that I want to study neuroscience, I'm really interested in science and achieved top marks I'm biology AS and my teachers believe that I can do it. Nothing is wrong with law, but since dropping my maths and biology a levels I've realised that science is much more interesting to me and my essay based subjects have become a chore.


i am currently doing Chemistry AS i have my final module and i can tell you it will be a LOT of hard work if you are doing A2 as well in the same year- let me remind you that there are also NO JANUARY MODULES in 2014- so you could have up to many exams in June 2014 (highly likely) not to mention that BIOLOGY is extremely verbose according to my peers and requires a lot memorisation.
Maths C3 and C4 are also quite harder than C1 and C2
Reply 9
Original post by Future-doc
It sounds weird, but I know from experience, parents always know best!
That's a sweeping generalisation you've made there ''Future doc''
Reply 10
It's my understanding that most neuroscientists are researchers. At the end of your degree you'll probably want to do a masters and or PhD. Neuroscience is a good area to get into due to developments in neuroimaging etc, I personally hate it, (I study Psychology, I had a module on addiction and neuroscience) but each to their own. You could aso do a broader degree then specialise with a masters.

There are some neuroscience summer schools, at the moment you wouldn't be eligible but after your extra year at college you may be able to get into one (probably the nottingham one).

http://www.helsinkisummerschool.fi/home/courses/cognitive_neuroscience

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ion/involved/summerschool/

http://www.euca-excellence.eu/index.php/en/about-us/scientific-discipline.html

In reality if you hate Neuroscience in the end you could always do a conversion course and go back to Law right!? Maybe that thought will appease your parents. Oh and I would personally pick a course with a sandwich year, I am biased by the fact I did one, but they are very useful for developing research skills and networking with academics.
You can do medicine foundation years with essay subjects if you do change your mind
Reply 12
There is NOTHING worse than doing a course for the wrong reasons. If your heart is not in Law, then kudos for you to admitting to it and looking at readjusting your plans. Yeah I do think Law may be better overall in career potential, but only because it's a respected degree that teaches a wide arrange of applicable skills in a variety of industries.

But if you want to do neuroscience, absolutely go for it. You don't have to be a neurosurgeon, you don't have to be a neurologist, you don't have to be a doctor. You don't have to be anything that others want you to be. You may find that you have a real passion for research and choose to go down that route. There is SO much more you can do with a degree in Neuroscience than be a Neurologist...

Hell even if you get to 3 years and graduate with a good grade, a lot of employers will be impressed by your skills. You could go on to do anything you wanted. Why your parents are 'ashamed' at neurology as a degree choice is beyond me. I think it's fantastic! Even if it doesn't work out, that doesn't mean you've messed up...

'Shoot for the moon and even if you miss, you'll land among the stars' :smile:


Also, have you looked into going to University and doing a foundation course, instead of doing A Levels? That might be more favourable in swinging your parent's views, and perhaps your own? Might just be a little bit more productive?
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Molly9
So I have recently decided that I do not want to do the course I have offers for anymore (for many reasons) and I want to reapply for a new course in September, for 2014 entry. I have currently accepted an offer for Law with French at UCL for this September and my parents were really happy as they see law as a respected degree that I will have a good career from and earn lots of money.

I have decided that I don't have a passion for law anymore and I am really interested in neuroscience. I've done a lot of research into the course and looked at different modules at different universities and I know it's what I want to do. However, I only have two months left of year 13 and I have taken A levels in French, History, Economics and English Lit, with AS levels in biology and maths. I might as well complete my my current A levels and as I need Biology and Chemistry for neuroscience, my sixth form have said that I can come back in September for a third year and finish my Biology and Maths A levels (doing A2 classes) and do Chemistry a level in one whole year.

ANYWAY, aside from the fact that I can tell my parents are embarrassed that I will be staying on for an extra year at sixth form, they are openly condescending about Neuroscience as a degree. My dad says that it is a nothing degree that will lead me nowhere. He thinks that my best bet is to apply for medicine and become a neurosurgeon 'if that's the kind of thing I'm interested in' although I'm sure you can't apply for medicine if you've done 3 years at sixth form.

I love the course in neuroscience and I want to do it because I'm passionate about it and I don't want do spend 3 years doing something that bores me. However even I am struggling to find common jobs from neuroscience that pay well and I have nothing to say when my parents question me in my choice of degree. Is it a nothing degree? What kind of jobs can I do from this degree? Any answers would be much appreciated!

(Sorry for the long post)


The last thing your parents ought to want you to do is commit yourself to a course that you know isn't right for you! I presume that you are predicted at least A*AA this summer, so if you did do 3 years in the 6th form it isn't because you've failed, so why would they be embarrassed? Far from it. It would show that you have given great consideration to your future.

The 'taking 3 years over A levels' being a problem for medicine is only if you take 3 years over the same subjects! Taking extra subjects due to changing career plans shouldn't be. It may be worth making enquiries if you think that's what you might like to do. If you do decide on medicine, you would need to get work experience etc in between now and the October UCAS deadline. Forget the maths and do the full A level in Chemistry and A2 biology. You do not need maths.
(edited 10 years ago)
I disagree with what most people are saying on here about Chemistry, I know it is a LOT of hard work, but in no means impossible, however make sure you know what exam board your college does, if its OCR B, I would ask you to think twice because the coursework is really really hectic and takes up about a month or two and since you'll be doing AS and A2 in a year, it will be hard and you will be juggling in terms of time management etc. That being said, most people end up retaking AS chemistry with their A2 anyway, and since you'll be studying AS and A2 together, it will be good because A2 helps with AS and vice versa. You'll be fine. If this is what you really want to do, then go for it! I'd suggest picking up a few chemistry books and biology books and just having a skim through them over summer before completely throwing your OFFER FROM UCL out the window. I hope it works out.
(edited 10 years ago)
At the end of the day, what's more important to you? Having a job you will enjoy or doing a doing that pays a lot, but you hate? Anyway, there are plenty of things you can do to improve your job prospects- take a year in industry, do internships whilst at uni, carry on to masters etc. Do neuroscience- uni is a big enough change in your life without you hating your course as well :smile: This year will be a lot of work, but if you're determined it will be fine :biggrin: I'm doing genetics and next year I've picked to do a neuroscience module- can't wait! :biggrin:

A school friend did chemistry in one year too and he came out with an A. Also nearly everyone who did chemistry had to resit their exams in the A2 year anyways :P
Reply 16
Original post by YB101
First of all I can completely relate with the whole "parents wanting you to do a respectable degree" I wanted to stay an extra year but they didn't want me to because all our family friends children were going to university. I just say to myself "it's no ones business but mine" :smile:

You can always do a foundation course and then switch to neuroscience.

Neuroscience is on of those courses where you'll need to keep studying after your BSc in order to do really well. You can always find jobs with just a BSc but if you want to work at the top you'll need a BSc or PhD.

Ask for more questions if you like :smile:


Thats how I feel! I just want to do something that will excite and interest me and I know I won't feel that way about law. I just wish I wasn't so reliant on them for money!
Reply 17
Original post by nahomyemane778
i am currently doing Chemistry AS i have my final module and i can tell you it will be a LOT of hard work if you are doing A2 as well in the same year- let me remind you that there are also NO JANUARY MODULES in 2014- so you could have up to many exams in June 2014 (highly likely) not to mention that BIOLOGY is extremely verbose according to my peers and requires a lot memorisation.
Maths C3 and C4 are also quite harder than C1 and C2


I understand that it will be a lot of hard work and I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't willing to work hard every day. I got very high ums in both biology and maths AS and came out with As in both, so I'm hoping that those two would be more reasonable for me at A2. I know chemistry will be hard but I'm willing to put in the work.
Reply 18
Original post by Molly9
I'm 100% sure that I want to study neuroscience, I'm really interested in science and achieved top marks I'm biology AS and my teachers believe that I can do it. Nothing is wrong with law, but since dropping my maths and biology a levels I've realised that science is much more interesting to me and my essay based subjects have become a chore.

To be honest I was like that before. In Year 11 I was 100% sure that I wanted to do a computer science degree. I learnt how to program with the aid of my IT teacher. I learnt how to convert numbers/words into binary/hexadecimal codes and how to perform calculation with those codes too, in my spare time. I went on to do computing at AS and I hated it. The thing is that you might be really set on doing neuroscience now, but you might hate it when you go to uni to study it. Being interested in a subject does not mean that studying it will be as fun as you think.

I dont doubt your ability, but chemistry is different to biology. Of course its doable to complete chemistry in one year, but I think you wont be able to get the best possible grade in your ability. I do chemistry and believe me it is tough to complete in 2 years never mind in 1 year.

The difficulty of A2 is a major step up from AS, so its not weird that you don't enjoy your subjects as much as you did in AS. I've applied to do chemistry at uni and I really hate chemistry right now, but I don't regret applying for a degree in chemistry. Everything gets harder eventually and there will be topics that you hate within your subject, but that shouldnt put you off.

Im not here to say that you shouldnt apply for neuroscience, but I just want you to think about it more before you make the decision.
Reply 19
Original post by Molly9
I'm sure you can't apply for medicine if you've done 3 years at sixth form.


I'm not saying you should apply for medicine or anything, but I just thought you'd like to know that there are a handful of medical schools that allow applicants in their third year of college to apply. Graduate-Entry Medicine is also possible with Neuroscience, so you could tell your parents that you might consider it or something to keep them off your back.

Anyway, I'd suggest you stick with neuroscience if you really think you'll enjoy it, and in a worst case scenario you could always do a conversion course for Law (though I doubt you'd want to do that). I'd also suggest trying to get a year in industry as well, and possibly doing an Msc to really get your foot into research.

Original post by Future-doc
It sounds weird, but I know from experience, parents always know best!


No, they don't. All they have is more experience, and in many cases it only extends to very particular aspects of life. Applied correctly, thorough research and rational thought can, to a large extent, overcome any gaps in experience and wisdom.

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