Help! My kid is a generalist!

[Anonymous]

You sound overly anxious.

Thank God that you don’t have a child with an actual problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is a child. Let him be!

If you can afford it, expose him to different fields (say thru summer programs or volunteer jobs, etc). He will figure out who he is.

Volunteer jobs - that's a great idea! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't pointy all the rage now?! From the Admission's offices: we want to see breadth and depth, they say. Whose BS is it? It's the colleges that are driving this bus!

And yet they admit tons and tons of so-called "generalists" -- aka regular, curious, intellectual teenagers.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat with DD, but she is slowly starting to show preferences. We had her read the book What Color Is Your Parachute (Teen Edition) to help her think about what she enjoys about various subjects and activities. It's an ongoing conversation. While it sometimes stresses *me* out, DD seems happy and well adjusted, and I just have to wait patiently to see what course she eventually takes.

[Anonymous]

Both of my kids were good at everything, stellar at nothing. Currently freshmen in college and have already changed ideas on majors a few times but don’t have to commit to anything for another year.

Absolutely nothing wrong with your kid, nothing needs to be done. Let him be a happy learner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, I guess I'm new to this. Do kids not have to declare their major when they apply? Or, is that only for a few programs/schools?

No they don’t, most schools ask what their desired major is but you’re not locked in. For engineering or other specialized programs like nursing you may have to but that is the exception not the rule.

My DD went into UVA thinking pre med, now thinking pre law, or heck maybe business. She doesn’t need to decide yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do I get my DS 9th grader to focus: he likes to dabble in a variety of things (theater, math, history, science, lit) but can't seem to find his passion in any one thing. He has straight As in school but has not really shown a true passion for any ONE or TWO things. I am truly stumped with this kid! I'm searching through my memories to see if he was passionate about any one thing in ES or earlier, but he's always been a very happy, well-adjusted kid who was always game for anything: math workbooks? sure. writing games? why not. science museum? sure. theater camp? sure. soccer? sure. baseball? sure. chess? sure. Aaargh! The result has been that he's very adaptable and switches modes easily. A little too easily.

It's time to start thinking of college, and I need help to guide him forward and find some passion. How do I do that if he doesn't know what he's truly passionate about? How have you kindled this in your high schoolers?

Sorry to interrupt the college decision season and TiA!

Jesus Christ.

[Anonymous]

The students who come to college with curiosity are the ones I want to teach. It's great if eventually they want to major in my department, but I have terrific relationships even with the ones who don't, because they were curious. Cling to that part of DC's academic personality with all you are worth; encourage it; foster the exploration. When the focus surfaces, as it inevitably will, it will then be a natural and happy development, rather than a limiting or abandoning of all of the other things that made DC tick for years. DC is lucky to be this person who is willing and able to explore, and it is OK for you to enjoy it rather than trying to direct it. Enthusiasm, comfort in one's own skin, and psychological wholeness will manifest in enough accomplishments for DC to have a happy landing at the right college.

--College prof

[Anonymous]

Maybe he'd make a good Classics, International Relations, Environmental Science and Policy, etc. major. There are a lot of interdisciplinary majors out there for kids who like to take a variety of subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't pointy all the rage now?! From the Admission's offices: we want to see breadth and depth, they say. Whose BS is it? It's the colleges that are driving this bus!

And yet they admit tons and tons of so-called "generalists" -- aka regular, curious, intellectual teenagers.

It doesn't seem like it, with all the data the colleges put out on admit rates, and yield rates, and class profiles. It's a frenzy the schools are only too happy to gin up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe he'd make a good Classics, International Relations, Environmental Science and Policy, etc. major. There are a lot of interdisciplinary majors out there for kids who like to take a variety of subjects.

And then, eventually law school. Ugh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This used to be called "well rounded." Bizarre that it's now perceived as a problem.

+1 Renassaince Man.

[Anonymous]

Keep up with the good grades and the rest will happen. As he ages in high school and takes AP classes, his preferences will become obvious.

[Anonymous]

FFS

[Anonymous]

When I was a college freshman, the college president, in his welcoming speech told us that most people entering college hadn’t decided on a major, and that those who had, would probably change their minds. I was one of those undecideds, thinking I might major in chemistry or foreign relations. Fulfilling the general requirements, I found something else I liked much better, that I hadn’t even considered. I think most colleges have a core set of general requirements because they want well-rounded graduates. That gives most kids a chance to explore their options before they have to commit to a major.