Education major at an elite school, good or bad?

[Anonymous]

My son wants to be a middle school teacher. He has high rigor, great grades at a top DMV private. 1550. Dream school is Vanderbilt or similar places. looking at applying as an education major or at a minimum emphasizing education in essays, etc,
All extracurriculars support this: paid jobs at camps, volunteering at an elementary school, head of Best Buddies, paid internship at a Dept of health doing peer education etc.

Do you think applying to elite universities with a strong interest in education helps or hurts one's cause? It's not a popular choose these days (good) but may not be viewed as enough of an aspirational career (potentially bad?... don't these schools mostly want kids who have the raw material to future tech CEOs, etc? Kind of kidding but not.
Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Are you wealthy? If so, then whatever. If not, then JMU for teaching. If you think he’ll or want him to) consider other majors, then go to a school with a range of majors and focus on getting summer internships.

[Anonymous]

Bad

[Anonymous]

I think if the school has an education department then it's fine. Looks like Vanderbilt does.

[Anonymous]

He should get a degree in the state he might want to teach in. It’s easiest that way. Save the more elite school in case he wants to purse a leadership degree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He should get a degree in the state he might want to teach in. It’s easiest that way. Save the more elite school in case he wants to purse a leadership degree

This.

[Anonymous]

My guess is that this is a thought on how to get in a strong school but so many people do the pretend education route that schools are on to it. Carry on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that this is a thought on how to get in a strong school but so many people do the pretend education route that schools are on to it. Carry on.

It works for some elite schools, but most elite schools don’t admit by major. They may look at the intended major as a way to craft a well-rounded class, but they probably realize many kids switch around once they enter

[Anonymous]

I think it helps if it really comes off as legit. Especially as a super smart boy. Those are few and far between in education departments.

[Anonymous]

Is this a dream school and are you full pay and very wealthy? Then yes. It’s fine to say he’s interested in education.

Otherwise save your money and go somewhere less expensive. I’m a teacher and DH is not, so we are not struggling financially. I would not pay for an expensive private for my kids to major in education.

At this point, my district is taking anyone interested and paying for their classes if they are willing to get certified. Schools are desperate for teachers. We are looking for people willing to teach. There are still positions in my building that don’t have a teacher and have day to day subs or long term subs.

[Anonymous]

Bad. Seriously, if you are wasting an elite acceptance on an education major, you’re not v smart. That graduate is going to land in a school district filled with people from local state (not flagship) colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son wants to be a middle school teacher. He has high rigor, great grades at a top DMV private. 1550. Dream school is Vanderbilt or similar places. looking at applying as an education major or at a minimum emphasizing education in essays, etc,
All extracurriculars support this: paid jobs at camps, volunteering at an elementary school, head of Best Buddies, paid internship at a Dept of health doing peer education etc.

Do you think applying to elite universities with a strong interest in education helps or hurts one's cause? It's not a popular choose these days (good) but may not be viewed as enough of an aspirational career (potentially bad?... don't these schools mostly want kids who have the raw material to future tech CEOs, etc? Kind of kidding but not.
Thoughts?

Is there a particular reason why he wants to do middle school?

Does he realize that it is by far the hardest set of years to teach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bad. Seriously, if you are wasting an elite acceptance on an education major, you’re not v smart. That graduate is going to land in a school district filled with people from local state (not flagship) colleges.

Maybe he wants to teach at a boarding school in the NE?

If so, it def helps going to a better ranked school (and if you have family money)

[Anonymous]

Because it appears to be demonstrably true based on ECs, I think it will help. Essays that say something unusual are more memorable, and that's usually a positive. What will matter more are his reasons and ability to articulate them.

I can't really comment on the ROI angle, but hopefully he gets offered a good package. Some administrators can be paid well. They usually have advanced degrees in education, which often require or at least presume some actual teaching experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it helps if it really comes off as legit. Especially as a super smart boy. Those are few and far between in education departments.

Vandy would love to have a kid like this if they believe his interest is genuine