How do you prevent your weak-minded child from majoring in something easy?

[Anonymous]

Everything about this thread is gross.

[Anonymous]

Why not let your "weak-minded" child major in something easy? What is a "weak-minded" child anyway? If she isn't all that smart, then she needs something easy to study. Let her do what makes her happy. So what if she ends up as a preschool teacher making barely above minimum wage. If she's happy, so what? Maybe her life's ambition is to be assistant manager at Olive Garden. What's wrong with that? She won't be rich, but who are you to decide what's best for her, especially if she's not so smart, and you are. Your decision-making for her isn't going to make her any smarter. Let her be who she's going to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does not matter one whit what your child majors in. She/he can get a job in business just as easily with a major in sociology, as long as she knows how to write well and presents herself maturely and professionally.

+1 I've hired sociology majors who are good writers and analysts (marketing research field). A lot of it is learning how that degree can be applied in non-academic fields and packaging your resume appropriately.

[Anonymous]

Easy majors are the ticket to your child moving back home, on your insurance, asking you to buy them another car. If you all want to pay 100K-plus for your kid to get a worthless degree be my guest. It's 2016, the market is flooded with BAs, make them concentrate in something challenging or you're setting your money on fire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For your children's sake, drop the criticism and be supportive. Sure, maybe she's unemployed because she majored in sociology, but she also might be unemployed because a lot of recent grads are unemployed -- it's a terrible job market for them. Here is a recent study showing that: https://www.cgsnet.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Unemployment_Final_update1.pdf

It shows for instance that yes recent humanities grads have a 9.4% unemployment rate, but even computer and math majors have an 8.2% unemployment rate. It sucks for everyone right now. And the lowest unemployment rate among recent grads isn't engineering or accounting or whatever -- it's teaching.

+1. Land your bitch helicopter. If you were my mom I'd hate you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For your children's sake, drop the criticism and be supportive. Sure, maybe she's unemployed because she majored in sociology, but she also might be unemployed because a lot of recent grads are unemployed -- it's a terrible job market for them. Here is a recent study showing that: https://www.cgsnet.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Unemployment_Final_update1.pdf

It shows for instance that yes recent humanities grads have a 9.4% unemployment rate, but even computer and math majors have an 8.2% unemployment rate. It sucks for everyone right now. And the lowest unemployment rate among recent grads isn't engineering or accounting or whatever -- it's teaching.

+1. Land your bitch helicopter. If you were my mom I'd hate you.

+2. This is a recipe for a child who cuts contact. Your disdain is not as hidden as you might think, and adult offspring don't have to put up with it. I certainly didn't.

To answer the title question, however, I didn't/wouldn't. When my kids are in college they can major in anything they want at any school they get admitted to and choose to attend, BUT we make it abundantly clear that we only have a certain amount to cover each child's higher education and once that money is out they're expected to figure out how to make it from there. So it only benefits them to consider job prospects when selecting a major and to make sure they have a plan for major/activities/internships/jobs that will get them a strong resume by graduation. We'll help them research, talk through their plan, offer input, etc. if they ask, but they're adults by the time they're in college and we treat them like it.

[Anonymous]

My degrees are in English. I make $110K a year, work from home often, have a gorgeous office, and leave every day at 4:30. I love my work.

Pity me for my useless degree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My degrees are in English. I make $110K a year, work from home often, have a gorgeous office, and leave every day at 4:30. I love my work.

Pity me for my useless degree!

What type of work are you in? (jealous!)

[Anonymous]

What kind of parent refers to his or her child as weak-minded? How awful! I would advise your child to study psychology to save on therapy.

[Anonymous]

Send them to community college.

Or maybe cosmetology school. Or trade school.

It does not sound like your kids are college material right now. Point them in a direction that will get them self sufficient without wasting tens of thousands of dollars in college tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not let your "weak-minded" child major in something easy? What is a "weak-minded" child anyway? If she isn't all that smart, then she needs something easy to study. Let her do what makes her happy. So what if she ends up as a preschool teacher making barely above minimum wage. If she's happy, so what? Maybe her life's ambition is to be assistant manager at Olive Garden. What's wrong with that? She won't be rich, but who are you to decide what's best for her, especially if she's not so smart, and you are. Your decision-making for her isn't going to make her any smarter. Let her be who she's going to be.

If those are her ambitions then community college is a far better option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For your children's sake, drop the criticism and be supportive. Sure, maybe she's unemployed because she majored in sociology, but she also might be unemployed because a lot of recent grads are unemployed -- it's a terrible job market for them. Here is a recent study showing that: https://www.cgsnet.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Unemployment_Final_update1.pdf

It shows for instance that yes recent humanities grads have a 9.4% unemployment rate, but even computer and math majors have an 8.2% unemployment rate. It sucks for everyone right now. And the lowest unemployment rate among recent grads isn't engineering or accounting or whatever -- it's teaching.

+1. Land your bitch helicopter. If you were my mom I'd hate you.

You lost me with your nasty reference. Classless. Maybe you should learn how to voice your opinion as a thoughtful adult whether you agree or disagree. You sound young, very.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By the time your child is going to college, it's too late for these kinds of lessons. Were you the kind of parent who rewarded a child for grades? If so, then what they learned is that the grade is important, not the effort or the interest in the material.

Grades are important.

[Anonymous]

I just want to point out, you chose your child's father and you raised him or her. So calling him weak minded is a reflection of your parenting style and your genes. Some people should never be a parent. Your poor child. Living with a mother like you.

[Anonymous]

As a manager I would much rather see a substantive liberal arts degree (English, history, sociology) than a prepackaged prelaw or business. Someone with critical thinking skills who knows how to write is what I am looking for, not some kid who thinks they are going to lead the charge on my latest initiative.