Great major for son who doesn’t like math?

[Anonymous]

What about something related to health care? Some require advanced degrees obviously, such as Pharmacy, Physician Assistant Studies, Physical Therapy, etc.

[Anonymous]

Math is so fundamental to so many majors. Without it, you are taking a big chunk out of future possibilities.

[Anonymous]

Almost every college major requires calculus.

Have him take it over the summer at the community college and transfer the credits. The grade does not transfer so he can get a c-.

Get a tutor, it's 6 painful weeks but get it over with.

My son is taking 4 classes a semester/5 years to graduate so it's not such a slog.

[Anonymous]

What about something related to health care? Some require advanced degrees obviously, such as Pharmacy, Physician Assistant Studies, Physical Therapy, etc.

Most of these will require math. Pharmacology is all chemistry/math.
Environmental science also is going to require math and upper level science classes. (Environmental ‘studies’ might be less rigorous at some schools)

[Anonymous]

Sports and Live event management
Communications
hotel management
Look at hospitality schools and their degrees.


Where does he go to school?
What is he good at?

[Anonymous]

A "great major" is the major HE is motivated to complete! He can be "undeclared" for 3 semesters. Let HIM find his interests. He doesn't have to know right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost every college major requires calculus.

Have him take it over the summer at the community college and transfer the credits. The grade does not transfer so he can get a c-.

Get a tutor, it's 6 painful weeks but get it over with.

My son is taking 4 classes a semester/5 years to graduate so it's not such a slog.

Come on, that is not true. This will obviously vary by school, so OP/son should check their school's catalog and look up the major requirements as well as any general ed requirements. They may have to take one math class, but it could probably be something like Statistics or Data Analytics, not necessarily Calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every college major requires calculus [b]or statistics[/b].

Have him take it over the summer at the community college and transfer the credits. The grade does not transfer so he can get a c-.

Get a tutor, it's 6 painful weeks but get it over with.

My son is taking 4 classes a semester/5 years to graduate so it's not such a slog.

Come on, that is not true. This will obviously vary by school, so OP/son should check their school's catalog and look up the major requirements as well as any general ed requirements. They may have to take one math class, but it could probably be something like Statistics or Data Analytics, not necessarily Calculus.

Okay correction... you think stats is easier than calculus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every college major requires calculus [b]or statistics[/b].

Have him take it over the summer at the community college and transfer the credits. The grade does not transfer so he can get a c-.

Get a tutor, it's 6 painful weeks but get it over with.

My son is taking 4 classes a semester/5 years to graduate so it's not such a slog.

Come on, that is not true. This will obviously vary by school, so OP/son should check their school's catalog and look up the major requirements as well as any general ed requirements. They may have to take one math class, but it could probably be something like Statistics or Data Analytics, not necessarily Calculus.

Okay correction... you think stats is easier than calculus?

it is for many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every college major requires calculus.

Have him take it over the summer at the community college and transfer the credits. The grade does not transfer so he can get a c-.

Get a tutor, it's 6 painful weeks but get it over with.

My son is taking 4 classes a semester/5 years to graduate so it's not such a slog.

Come on, that is not true. This will obviously vary by school, so OP/son should check their school's catalog and look up the major requirements as well as any general ed requirements. They may have to take one math class, but it could probably be something like Statistics or Data Analytics, not necessarily Calculus.

For STEM related majors, it is true. For others, some math will be required but may not be Calculus.

Some schools, like UMD, will offer different versions of calculus even within STEM majors. So, Calc Bio major take is different than Calc Engineering majors take. Not saying one is better than the other, just stating the facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every college major requires calculus.

Have him take it over the summer at the community college and transfer the credits. The grade does not transfer so he can get a c-.

Get a tutor, it's 6 painful weeks but get it over with.

My son is taking 4 classes a semester/5 years to graduate so it's not such a slog.

Come on, that is not true. This will obviously vary by school, so OP/son should check their school's catalog and look up the major requirements as well as any general ed requirements. They may have to take one math class, but it could probably be something like Statistics or Data Analytics, not necessarily Calculus.

For STEM related majors, it is true. For others, some math will be required but may not be Calculus.

Some schools, like UMD, will offer different versions of calculus even within STEM majors. So, Calc Bio major take is different than Calc Engineering majors take. Not saying one is better than the other, just stating the facts.

Name majors at UMD that don’t require calculus. I know there are 2 differ calculus versions (STEM vs. business)… but it is still calculus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every college major requires calculus.

Have him take it over the summer at the community college and transfer the credits. The grade does not transfer so he can get a c-.

Get a tutor, it's 6 painful weeks but get it over with.

My son is taking 4 classes a semester/5 years to graduate so it's not such a slog.

Come on, that is not true. This will obviously vary by school, so OP/son should check their school's catalog and look up the major requirements as well as any general ed requirements. They may have to take one math class, but it could probably be something like Statistics or Data Analytics, not necessarily Calculus.

For STEM related majors, it is true. For others, some math will be required but may not be Calculus.

Some schools, like UMD, will offer different versions of calculus even within STEM majors. So, Calc Bio major take is different than Calc Engineering majors take. Not saying one is better than the other, just stating the facts.

Name majors at UMD that don’t require calculus. I know there are 2 differ calculus versions (STEM vs. business)… but it is still calculus

You seem oddly confrontational. My first line had nothing to do with UMD - it was a general statement. My second line does not talk about (STEM vs business). I was talking about within STEM field, different majors take different Calc courses. How do i know it? I had 3 kids thru UMD - one in Engineering (take Math 140/141, 240 route) vs. 2 bio kids who took Math 130/131 route. They are both called Calc.

Now, calm down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the answer. Don’t push him to decide on a major right now. Encourage him to think about what interests him and take classes in those areas. I’m guessing he doesn’t need to declare a major until the end of second year. He’s in his first semester of college—he doesn’t need the answer to this question yet!

.

This. Freshman year is for feeling overwhelmed and then starting to feel less overwhelmed. Sophomore year is for taking a variety of courses beyond freshman-specific ones and narrowing down/opening up options. I agree DS should enjoy college and recommend trying to take off the pressure to decide until the middle of next year as a way to do that.

– College Professor, with nephew who is now a happy sophomore developing a much clearer sense of what he wants to do after eliminating some things he really didn't like last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the answer. Don’t push him to decide on a major right now. Encourage him to think about what interests him and take classes in those areas. I’m guessing he doesn’t need to declare a major until the end of second year. He’s in his first semester of college—he doesn’t need the answer to this question yet!

.

This. Freshman year is for feeling overwhelmed and then starting to feel less overwhelmed. Sophomore year is for taking a variety of courses beyond freshman-specific ones and narrowing down/opening up options. I agree DS should enjoy college and recommend trying to take off the pressure to decide until the middle of next year as a way to do that.

– College Professor, with nephew who is now a happy sophomore developing a much clearer sense of what he wants to do after eliminating some things he really didn't like last year.

OP here. Thank you for this. And for all the others who weighed in. He’s just the sort of kid who isn’t asking for help and at the same time doesn’t seem very engaged and I really want this college experience to work for him. I appreciate all the positive feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the answer. Don’t push him to decide on a major right now. Encourage him to think about what interests him and take classes in those areas. I’m guessing he doesn’t need to declare a major until the end of second year. He’s in his first semester of college—he doesn’t need the answer to this question yet!

.

This. Freshman year is for feeling overwhelmed and then starting to feel less overwhelmed. Sophomore year is for taking a variety of courses beyond freshman-specific ones and narrowing down/opening up options. I agree DS should enjoy college and recommend trying to take off the pressure to decide until the middle of next year as a way to do that.

– College Professor, with nephew who is now a happy sophomore developing a much clearer sense of what he wants to do after eliminating some things he really didn't like last year.

OP here. Thank you for this. And for all the others who weighed in. He’s just the sort of kid who isn’t asking for help and at the same time doesn’t seem very engaged and I really want this college experience to work for him. I appreciate all the positive feedback.

A lot of kids (particularly boys) are like that. You kid is no different in that regard. I want to caution you that your attempt to make his "college experience to work for him" can make him even more stressed. Know when to step back. Do not suffocate him.