Degree -- Not passionate about College

[Anonymous]

How do I help my son, young 17yr. old Senior in high school find a path in College.

His friends are picking degrees to study based on what everybody else is doing, according to him.

He takes honor classes and some APs at school, participates in sports and works PT.

At 17, of course, he tells me he doesn't know what he wants to do the rest of his life... I know he's not interested in Engineering or IT.

I don't want him to start College as "undecided".

[Anonymous]

Why not be undecided. He is really undecided.

College is a great place to learn.

[Anonymous]

Starting college as an undecided major is fine.

Has your son considered any military options (since he is athletic & undecided) ?

[Anonymous]

Undecided is ok until he decides. Make sure he gets exposure to business classes in college and that he aims to do well in the highest math he can handle. He'll figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Undecided is fine. It can be hard for non-STEM boys to know what to do.

[Anonymous]

I am going to give the counter-point which is maybe your kid should apply, get accepted and then defer.

Too many kids graduate with a degree they never wanted or ever really cared about. They essentially never decide and then just eventually pick a major because they have to for graduation.

It might be good to work for a year or otherwise explore some interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going to give the counter-point which is maybe your kid should apply, get accepted and then defer.

Too many kids graduate with a degree they never wanted or ever really cared about. They essentially never decide and then just eventually pick a major because they have to for graduation.

It might be good to work for a year or otherwise explore some interests.

Tough job market. Even Starbucks requires at least some verifiable coursework toward a PhD.

[Anonymous]

What are his favorite subjects?
What ECs?

[Anonymous]

Agree that undecided is fine. Start by taking classes to satisfy basic requirements (variety of humanities, social sciences, and science) and go from there.

Stay away from "easy" majors like general business and communications that the party people take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Starting college as an undecided major is fine.

Has your son considered any military options (since he is athletic & undecided) ?

OP here -- Not sure that's a consideration but he did mentioned that two of his friends are looking into ROTC paths in College.
I just personally don't know anything (at all) about this path.

[Anonymous]

At this point, I would say he should go to community college. If he doesn't know what to do right now, and then figures out during sophmore he wants to do some specific major, then he wants to go to a 4 yr college that is good for that major.

But, since he doesn't know what he wants to do right now, I would say, go to cc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At this point, I would say he should go to community college. If he doesn't know what to do right now, and then figures out during sophmore he wants to do some specific major, then he wants to go to a 4 yr college that is good for that major.

But, since he doesn't know what he wants to do right now, I would say, go to cc.

CC doesn't feel like a good choice if you don't know what you want to do. That seems like a better option if a trade is possibly part of the decision, or somebody that needs to save $$$s and wants a guaranteed transfer to UMDCP or UVA main campus.

What classes would he even take if he has no idea what he wants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am going to give the counter-point which is maybe your kid should apply, get accepted and then defer.

Too many kids graduate with a degree they never wanted or ever really cared about. They essentially never decide and then just eventually pick a major because they have to for graduation.

It might be good to work for a year or otherwise explore some interests.

Tough job market. Even Starbucks requires at least some verifiable coursework toward a PhD.

Hell yeah. I’m glad my kids are young (college sophomore) and HS senior- hopefully the job market is different by the time they graduate. Older one will go to grad school. It will at least be a different President by then…

My oldest is exploring- abroad doing an internship. It’s almost like there’s less pressure now to decide since nobody knows what jobs will be in demand. He’s at an open curriculum school- some coursework in language, security, AI is recommended.

[Anonymous]

Look at his transcript and his ECs and look for a trend. What subjects does he consistently do well in? If he has an elective, what subject does he choose? Social sciences? English? Math? Science? Art? Pick the one with the most support in the transcript and ECs. Apply to school with a major in something adjacent to the interest supported by his transcript and EC. He can change major his second year after taking lots of different classes freshman and sophomore year. Unless it is engineering or business (at some schools), he should have no problem switching into whatever he discovers in a few years. It is fine! It is ludicrous people are saying CC. College is not trade school. You aren’t expected to know your path at 17. Assure him he can explore and figure it out in a year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At this point, I would say he should go to community college. If he doesn't know what to do right now, and then figures out during sophmore he wants to do some specific major, then he wants to go to a 4 yr college that is good for that major.

But, since he doesn't know what he wants to do right now, I would say, go to cc.

CC doesn't feel like a good choice if you don't know what you want to do. That seems like a better option if a trade is possibly part of the decision, or somebody that needs to save $$$s and wants a guaranteed transfer to UMDCP or UVA main campus.

What classes would he even take if he has no idea what he wants?

? You take all the geneds in CC. In the US system, most kids take geneds the first two years.