Majors for a non-math kid

[Anonymous]

Michigan State & Nebraska (& probably many other schools) have a department that combines Advertising & Public Relations. Students who are inclined towards business but don’t like math often end up in departments like this.

[Anonymous]

There are lots of interesting options!

Communications/ Marketing/ Journalism, Global Studies or Sustainability Management (both have some Econ but looks doable), English or Writing

[Anonymous]

I was like your son. Majored in English, worked for a lobbyist in D.C. and then went to law school. I was afraid of the math on the GRE. Yes, the LSATs (and law school) require logic, but it’s NOT math. I joke that I only know “English major math.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public Policy
Political science
International Relations
English, History or Philosophy then Law School.

Agree with all but philosophy. Philosophy requires a mathematical mind. It's all logic, like math, but the logic is applied to language and ideas in search of reason and proof. It is also closely aligned with aspects of computer science. I was a math major who switched to a double major in CS and Phil. and explored the crossovers in my thesis.

Depending on the school, polysci, public policy and IR may have a lot of economics and statistics courses. They are fairly quantitative areas these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a freshman at a Jesuit school. He thought he might want to pursue business but he is a terrible math student (I was too). He would have to take calculus and stats and maybe a few other math courses and he's scared that he won't pass (he barely passed pre-calc as a senior). He doesn't have to declare a major until next year but his adviser told him to try out some courses in business. He's taking microeconomics now and barely passing. BTW- he is an excellent writer (thanks Catholic school!) so any ideas on majors that might involve writing and are not math heavy?

Please let your kid pick his own major.

[Anonymous]

This is just nuts. Helicoptering on steroids. C’mon man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a freshman at a Jesuit school. He thought he might want to pursue business but he is a terrible math student (I was too). He would have to take calculus and stats and maybe a few other math courses and he's scared that he won't pass (he barely passed pre-calc as a senior). He doesn't have to declare a major until next year but his adviser told him to try out some courses in business. He's taking microeconomics now and barely passing. BTW- he is an excellent writer (thanks Catholic school!) so any ideas on majors that might involve writing and are not math heavy?

Please let your kid pick his own major.

It sounds like OPs kid is struggling and they just want to help. They aren't planning on picking his major, just offering some suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is just nuts. Helicoptering on steroids. C’mon man.

I didn’t gather from the post that OP is choosing her son’s major for him. I think she’s just looking for ideas. You can have conversations with your kids about their goals/plans without being a helicopter.

[Anonymous]

Anthropology

[Anonymous]

information systems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a freshman at a Jesuit school. He thought he might want to pursue business but he is a terrible math student (I was too). He would have to take calculus and stats and maybe a few other math courses and he's scared that he won't pass (he barely passed pre-calc as a senior). He doesn't have to declare a major until next year but his adviser told him to try out some courses in business. He's taking microeconomics now and barely passing. BTW- he is an excellent writer (thanks Catholic school!) so any ideas on majors that might involve writing and are not math heavy?

Please let your kid pick his own major.

Not if the ROI is not there. My DD would of end up doing ART in college. I encourage her to do STEM, with tons of push back but she listened while revolting. A year out of college she's earning 100k, and just got her TSI SCI last week. She thanks me everyday (not literally), loves her job and loves the purchasing power of her salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a freshman at a Jesuit school. He thought he might want to pursue business but he is a terrible math student (I was too). He would have to take calculus and stats and maybe a few other math courses and he's scared that he won't pass (he barely passed pre-calc as a senior). He doesn't have to declare a major until next year but his adviser told him to try out some courses in business. He's taking microeconomics now and barely passing. BTW- he is an excellent writer (thanks Catholic school!) so any ideas on majors that might involve writing and are not math heavy?

You do not have to be very good at math to get a business degree. Tell him not to be dissuaded, if he wants to major in business. I bet he could find some tutoring at the school to get him through calculus and statistics. I'm actually surprised that he is required to take calculus for a business degree.

[Anonymous]

Everyone on here is suggesting switching majors because of math, but if he really wants a business degree, the answer is to persevere through these classes and to seek outside help, if needed, to get through -- not to give up and try to go to law school later. Maximize GPA by doing well in the other courses.

[Anonymous]

This (smaller than a large state U) Jesuit school IS NOT going to have ALL the majors people are talking about. Only thing that matters: what majors are offered at Op's son's school.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I appreciate all of the replies. My son has never talked much about school but when he came home for fall break, he was very nervous and unsure about what classes he should register for next semester. I guess the mention of calculus made him worry and doubt himself. Years and years of struggle with math will do that. For now, I just told him to put off calculus and take many of the other core classes which is his plan. I have never been a helicopter parent about school because he rarely talks about school (except for his math woes). I might have him ask about possibly taking calculus somewhere else this summer where it will be cheaper. But thanks so much for all of the ideas. Keep them coming!