Regretting my choice of degree after sending off application

Before you switch, i would advise finding 5 or 6 people who are already 'credentialed' in both fields, [use the national organisations for this - ask them for contact information for their members who would be willing to discuss their careers with you, as you are considering joining their profession. Make up a list of questions to ask them, such as: "How much do you make, what other careers did you consider when you were entering uni, where do you see yourself in 5 yrs, 10 yrs, if you were to change careers, what would you change to. When you ask about salary, consider 'average' salary, NOT maximum. Most practitioners do NOT make the maximum. Best of luck!!

Reply 3

swanseajack1

19

Primary Education isnt offered everywhere. You could act as already advised if somewhere has both courses. If not you can decline your offers and apply through extra and clearing to a university accepting applications. The other option would be to take a gap year and reapply next year.

Reply 4

OP

Original post by WantBeAnonymous

Provided you don’t want to change unis as well, you can email the uni’s admission department to ask to swap to another course. If they agree to it, they’ll update ucas

Okay thank you!

Reply 5

OP

Original post by swanseajack1

Primary Education isnt offered everywhere. You could act as already advised if somewhere has both courses. If not you can decline your offers and apply through extra and clearing to a university accepting applications. The other option would be to take a gap year and reapply next year.

What would i do about my personal statement do you know? because obviously it’s very much based around nursing. And i’m really trying to avoid deferring a year as i have already retaken year 12 lol

Reply 6

OP

Original post by Rabbit2

Before you switch, i would advise finding 5 or 6 people who are already 'credentialed' in both fields, [use the national organisations for this - ask them for contact information for their members who would be willing to discuss their careers with you, as you are considering joining their profession. Make up a list of questions to ask them, such as: "How much do you make, what other careers did you consider when you were entering uni, where do you see yourself in 5 yrs, 10 yrs, if you were to change careers, what would you change to. When you ask about salary, consider 'average' salary, NOT maximum. Most practitioners do NOT make the maximum. Best of luck!!

Thank you very much!

Reply 7

swanseajack1

19

Original post by holly1602

What would i do about my personal statement do you know? because obviously it’s very much based around nursing. And i’m really trying to avoid deferring a year as i have already retaken year 12 lol

You could ask the university you are applying to whether they will accept a new PS as you are applying for a new course. Note you can only apply 1 university at a time through extra. If rejected you can apply elsewhere. It will depend on whether the university has available places. Perhaps try ringing the university you intend applying to and discuss it with them,

Reply 8

Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by holly1602

Thank you very much!

Consider the questions you are asking. The way you "phrase" a question can affect the reply. I would recommend recording the answers (presuming that the subject does not object. The reason is, take a response of: "No, i don't think that is the case".... In print, this seems innocuous. Now consider the effect in speech: 1> "No, I don't think that is the case"... emphasis on the "I". The implication is that someone else might think that it WAS the case. 2> "No, i don't THINK that is the case" ... emphasis on the "THINK" [I don't think it is the case, ... but it might be]. 3> "No, i don't think THAT is the case"... emphasis on the "THAT" ... [I don't think THAT is the case, but something else might be...

Your interviewee may be trying to tell you something subtle, perhaps without "calling a spade a Fu***** spade". I used to date a 'shrink' [psychologist]. She used to videotape her clients during her interview. My friend told me that a surprising amount could be deduced by observing their body language, in conjunction with their verbal statements. She said that she could detect when her clients were lying to her lots of time by their body language. They would deny that they were in an abusive relationship, when they actually were.

Best of luck!!!

Reply 9

PQ

21

Primary Education is one of the most competitive degrees out there. Definitely investigate both options for swapping course at your existing 5 choices and any universities that still have vacancies available on UCAS course search to find out if they do have vacancies and whether they'll accept an alternative PS from someone in your situation.

A reasonable backup option would be to take an Education BA/BEd without QTS with a view to either take a PGCE to become a primary teacher or a PG course to become a nurse depending on your position in 3 years time. That gives you a fairly versatile degree alongside an opportunity to get as much practical experience as possible to boost your chances of making the right decision and being successful with whichever route you choose to take.

Reply 10

OP

Original post by PQ

Primary Education is one of the most competitive degrees out there. Definitely investigate both options for swapping course at your existing 5 choices and any universities that still have vacancies available on UCAS course search to find out if they do have vacancies and whether they'll accept an alternative PS from someone in your situation.

A reasonable backup option would be to take an Education BA/BEd without QTS with a view to either take a PGCE to become a primary teacher or a PG course to become a nurse depending on your position in 3 years time. That gives you a fairly versatile degree alongside an opportunity to get as much practical experience as possible to boost your chances of making the right decision and being successful with whichever route you choose to take.

Thank you!

Reply 11

Original post by PQ

Primary Education is one of the most competitive degrees out there. Definitely investigate both options for swapping course at your existing 5 choices and any universities that still have vacancies available on UCAS course search to find out if they do have vacancies and whether they'll accept an alternative PS from someone in your situation.

A reasonable backup option would be to take an Education BA/BEd without QTS with a view to either take a PGCE to become a primary teacher or a PG course to become a nurse depending on your position in 3 years time. That gives you a fairly versatile degree alongside an opportunity to get as much practical experience as possible to boost your chances of making the right decision and being successful with whichever route you choose to take.

I would recommend sitting down and thinking about your options. It sounds to me as though you haven't done so. I spent about 1.5 years researching my 'major' i.e. what degree i was going to pursue before i graduated from 'school'. I made a list of 6 careers i would consider, and the pluses and minuses of each. The primary filter i applied was: "If i attain this degree, and are credentialed in this field, and make the AVERAGE salary earned by such people, will i be earning enough to support a 'reasonably successful life style'. This being defined as: a> being able to buy enough to eat, b> being able to afford to live in a safe, secure neighbourhood, with a low crime rate, c> being able to afford to attend theater and musical shows occasionally, d> having enough income to support a spouse and any children i produce, e> being able to afford to pursue an advanced degree if i should choose to do so, f> would this career provide reasonable 'job security' and 'ability to relocate' - should i choose to do so, could i see myself continuing in this career path for 30 or 40 years (recognizing that i would have options for varying the details of my career by relocating, changing the details of what i was involved with, and other job variations.

My experience has been that most, if not all young people, only apply the filter: "Would i LIKE this job"?? First off, without doing fairly substantial research, i don't think that anyone can answer that question - you need detailed knowledge of the job to do so. Personally, i could not do 'primary education' - i don't think i could stand it. My observation is that about 60% or more of your time as a teacher is being a 'baby sitter', trying to control the class, and keeping them from killing each other. It is almost like working in 'corrections' - i.e. being a jail guard. Best of luck!!

Reply 12

Scotney

20

Original post by Rabbit2

Before you switch, i would advise finding 5 or 6 people who are already 'credentialed' in both fields, [use the national organisations for this - ask them for contact information for their members who would be willing to discuss their careers with you, as you are considering joining their profession. Make up a list of questions to ask them, such as: "How much do you make, what other careers did you consider when you were entering uni, where do you see yourself in 5 yrs, 10 yrs, if you were to change careers, what would you change to. When you ask about salary, consider 'average' salary, NOT maximum. Most practitioners do NOT make the maximum. Best of luck!!

Original post by Rabbit2

I would recommend sitting down and thinking about your options. It sounds to me as though you haven't done so. I spent about 1.5 years researching my 'major' i.e. what degree i was going to pursue before i graduated from 'school'. I made a list of 6 careers i would consider, and the pluses and minuses of each. The primary filter i applied was: "If i attain this degree, and are credentialed in this field, and make the AVERAGE salary earned by such people, will i be earning enough to support a 'reasonably successful life style'. This being defined as: a> being able to buy enough to eat, b> being able to afford to live in a safe, secure neighbourhood, with a low crime rate, c> being able to afford to attend theater and musical shows occasionally, d> having enough income to support a spouse and any children i produce, e> being able to afford to pursue an advanced degree if i should choose to do so, f> would this career provide reasonable 'job security' and 'ability to relocate' - should i choose to do so, could i see myself continuing in this career path for 30 or 40 years (recognizing that i would have options for varying the details of my career by relocating, changing the details of what i was involved with, and other job variations.

My experience has been that most, if not all young people, only apply the filter: "Would i LIKE this job"?? First off, without doing fairly substantial research, i don't think that anyone can answer that question - you need detailed knowledge of the job to do so. Personally, i could not do 'primary education' - i don't think i could stand it. My observation is that about 60% or more of your time as a teacher is being a 'baby sitter', trying to control the class, and keeping them from killing each other. It is almost like working in 'corrections' - i.e. being a jail guard. Best of luck!!

Absolutely wrong about what being a primary teacher is like. Discipline is established very early on by good teachers. My kids did not play up even if I was not in the room.

Reply 13

Original post by Scotney

Absolutely wrong about what being a primary teacher is like. Discipline is established very early on by good teachers. My kids did not play up even if I was not in the room.

You are unduly fortunate. On this side of the pond, they are having knife fights & dealing drugs while the teacher IS in the room. Cheers.

Reply 14

Scotney

20

Original post by Rabbit2

You are unduly fortunate. On this side of the pond, they are having knife fights & dealing drugs while the teacher IS in the room. Cheers.

Where was this out of genuine interest. Is primary 4-11years like the UK?

Reply 15