Daughter’s university application

It's a good time to carefully consider her choices as what she will study has a good bearing on her future career prospects. Too many just go with whatever sounds cool or whatever their mates do which gives them little opportunity to stand out in a competitive marketplace.

What do psychology graduates do?The top five jobs held by psychology graduates 15 months after graduation include care workers (12%), teaching and childcare support occupations (7%), welfare and housing associate professionals (8%), therapy professionals (6%) and teaching professionals (5%).

Career prospects by degree

It’s not first come, first serve. Assuming she’s still in education doing A-Levels/BTEC, any offer will only be conditional anyway and so she won’t know if she’s got in until her results.

If she’s stalling, I’d look at why that is. It may be that she isn’t yet sure about which university she wants to attend, or the degree. Whilst she can move university or change course, a years wasted tuition, accommodation (if moving out), loans etc is an expensive mistake to make. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t pressure her to complete her application and would instead encourage exploring her options.

The uni will let you know the deadlines - should be on their website when you apply - it won't be November (my son applied last year).

You apply according to the timelines set by UCAS - not the uni or college you apply to.

Acceptance will be based on results and the universities policies - for example some universities will factor areas applicants live to meet disadvantaged area targets.

There will then be a period of universities offering places as conditional or unconditional depending on what the applicant has already in terms of qualifications. This used to be something in Scotland as most places used to be offered on the basis of Highers, which were largely sat in 5th year. Nowadays most schools will have a lot of the pupils stay on to 6th year anyway.

And then formal offers of placement when exam result come out early August in Scotland, or whenever the RUK results come out, followed by one or two periods of clearing.

Wife is a Uni Admissions Tutor and from the experience of our 2 kids and 3 courses, earlier is better, end Nov ideally, simply because there is a big ramp up in applications midway and the admissions dept. only has so many man hours to process them. Particularly true at popular uni's and popular courses. Doubly true if an interview is required (unlikely for Psy). There are rules for fairness, but the Uni staff can only work with what they are given.
EDIT Also, a BSc is preferable to a BA if further post grad Psy qualifications are likely to be sought as there is a heavier research element in a BSc. (edited)

Good to know I'm not the only parent in this position!