Parents have issues with my choice of degree

It sounds weird, but I know from experience, parents always know best!

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)

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.

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'


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?

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 )

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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.

thanks so much this is really helpful! Just out of curiosity- if I wanted to be a neurosurgeon, what route would I have to take?

thanks so much this is really helpful! Just out of curiosity- if I wanted to be a neurosurgeon, what route would I have to take?

I think they just think that I'm wasting my time and are embarrassed that ill be doing an extra year because the associate that with people who couldn't get it right the first time round!

Im predicted A*A*AA and I'm on target for those grades at the end of this year, and I'd be hoping for at least A*AA in Maths, Bio and Chem respectively, so I think I'd be in a good position with a level grades! That's interesting about medicine, is there anyway of being a neurosurgeon after a neuroscience degree? (Without doing undergrad medicine)

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.

Pretty sure to perform surgery on people, you will have to do medicine!

.....is there anyway of being a neurosurgeon after a neuroscience degree? (Without doing undergrad medicine)

I understand that, but if I were to do a neuroscience degree and then do graduate entry medicine (I know that's very competitive) would that take 20+ years?

Even with that you'll only be doing 1 less year than undergrad medicine, so after your neuroscience degree, you'd apply to 4 more years of grad medicine, then you'll spend several years specialising but hey at the same time you will be making money! So I'd say 7 years at uni will be gone.

No there isn't. You could do a neuroscience degree and graduate medicine though.

I think that's something I would definitely think about, my parents would probably be very happy if I said I was going to be a neurosurgeon but then my dad will just say that I might as well apply for medicine then

I don't really want to be a lecturer or to spend my life studying and doing PHDs etc, I'm just so interested in the course and would be so excited to study it, I wish there were more clear career paths!