Any Advice for Senior who does not know what he/she wants to major in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:well if you're aiming for Towson State or somewhere like that it probably doesn't matter; but if you're aiming for Duke or any of the more selective schools you had better be prepared to tell them what your main area of interest is.

But what you tell Duke with your carefully crafted elevator speech is one thing. What you really think and want to do is another. Kids change when they go to college. Yes, these days you do have to have a plan about finding employment and building a career but as a freshman? That's premature.

^ yes of course. I'm the pp you quoted and I quite agree - but the point is you have to tell them something - you're not likely to get in if you admit you're really not too sure what you want to major in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:well if you're aiming for Towson State or somewhere like that it probably doesn't matter; but if you're aiming for Duke or any of the more selective schools you had better be prepared to tell them what your main area of interest is.

But what you tell Duke with your carefully crafted elevator speech is one thing. What you really think and want to do is another. Kids change when they go to college. Yes, these days you do have to have a plan about finding employment and building a career but as a freshman? That's premature.

^ yes of course. I'm the pp you quoted and I quite agree - but the point is you have to tell them something - you're not likely to get in if you admit you're really not too sure what you want to major in.

Okay then the problem is that the kid doesn't know how to promote herself - not that she doesn't have a specific major in mind.

[Anonymous]

When we toured UNC-CH last year, they made the point that it is PERFECTLY OKAY if the student doesn't know what they want to major in when they begin classes at their school. Many schools have students work on core classes the first two years, which UNC looks at as a time of exploration, when the students can discover what their interests are. The other large and mid-size state universities we toured also have resources which can help a student find out what they might be interested in majoring in. There is nothing wrong with being 'undeclared' when you begin college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can a college bound senior not know what they are going to major in? Don't colleges/universities ask, at least in a general way, what field they may be looking to get into (e.g., engineering, computer science, medicine, business, teaching, social work, etc.)?

No, they don't.

OP, at most schools you don't have to declare your major until halfway through sophomore year. Encourage your child to take a wide variety of core courses and to pursue internships throughout his/her college career in industries or professions that could be a possibility for his/her future. Encourage your child to establish a good relationship with their advisor and to take advantage of the career center's resources. S/he doesn't have to start the first semester knowing what s/he wants to major in or pursue as a profession. But s/he does need to know how to pursue college as a focused opportunity to discover those things as opposed to being aimless. Help him/her do that, make it clear you are not paying for them to aimlessly "find themselves," and it will be okay. I promise. I used to work at universities and I've had this conversation with dozens of parents. I've been invited to lots of graduation parties and received a lot of LinkedIn invitations from recently employed grads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:well if you're aiming for Towson State or somewhere like that it probably doesn't matter; but if you're aiming for Duke or any of the more selective schools you had better be prepared to tell them what your main area of interest is.

But what you tell Duke with your carefully crafted elevator speech is one thing. What you really think and want to do is another. Kids change when they go to college. Yes, these days you do have to have a plan about finding employment and building a career but as a freshman? That's premature.

^ yes of course. I'm the pp you quoted and I quite agree - but the point is you have to tell them something - you're not likely to get in if you admit you're really not too sure what you want to major in.

Okay then the problem is that the kid doesn't know how to promote herself - not that she doesn't have a specific major in mind.

huh The OP said she doesn't have a specific major in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we toured UNC-CH last year, they made the point that it is PERFECTLY OKAY if the student doesn't know what they want to major in when they begin classes at their school. Many schools have students work on core classes the first two years, which UNC looks at as a time of exploration, when the students can discover what their interests are. The other large and mid-size state universities we toured also have resources which can help a student find out what they might be interested in majoring in. There is nothing wrong with being 'undeclared' when you begin college.

UNC Chapel Hill acceptance rate about 30% - so your SATs/grades must be very high if your essay indicates you really don't know what field of study you plan to pursue.

[Anonymous]

send her the bill and she will definitely drop that non engineer / science crap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we toured UNC-CH last year, they made the point that it is PERFECTLY OKAY if the student doesn't know what they want to major in when they begin classes at their school. Many schools have students work on core classes the first two years, which UNC looks at as a time of exploration, when the students can discover what their interests are. The other large and mid-size state universities we toured also have resources which can help a student find out what they might be interested in majoring in. There is nothing wrong with being 'undeclared' when you begin college.

UNC Chapel Hill acceptance rate about 30% - so your SATs/grades must be very high if your essay indicates you really don't know what field of study you plan to pursue.

They use the Common App and there were several essay choices, so not necessary. In fact, my child didn't have to write an essay for any school which discussed field of interest.

[Anonymous]

whatever you do, choose a major that is marketable, and a minor that's a hobby. not the other way around.......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:well if you're aiming for Towson State or somewhere like that it probably doesn't matter; but if you're aiming for Duke or any of the more selective schools you had better be prepared to tell them what your main area of interest is.

But what you tell Duke with your carefully crafted elevator speech is one thing. What you really think and want to do is another. Kids change when they go to college. Yes, these days you do have to have a plan about finding employment and building a career but as a freshman? That's premature.

^ yes of course. I'm the pp you quoted and I quite agree - but the point is you have to tell them something - you're not likely to get in if you admit you're really not too sure what you want to major in.

Okay then the problem is that the kid doesn't know how to promote herself - not that she doesn't have a specific major in mind.

huh The OP said she doesn't have a specific major in mind.

Yes, but that's not a problem. Like the other pps have been saying, colleges don't expect you to come in knowing what you want to major in. This pp said that you have to tell them something that you're interested in - presumably so you look assertive and focused and in charge of your life. But that's a whole lot different from giving them a specific major. OP's kid will look good if she says she wants to be active in local politics for example - she doesn't have to say and therefore I'm going to major in political science (which wouldn't necessarily be the best major for that anyway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

They use the Common App and there were several essay choices, so not necessary. In fact, my child didn't have to write an essay for any school which discussed field of interest.

Often the school's own supplemental essay asking you to "tell us why you want to come to our school" is the vehicle for this. This is your chance to explain your passion for dairy farming and how School X has one of the top dairy programs in the country, with exciting and well-regarded dairy professors. You're right, the Common App essays may or may not open the door to writing about your passion.

PPs are right, though. For the more selective colleges, you need to distinguish yourself from the herd by identifying a "passion." Of course, they will also look at whether you express your passion in your ECs, and if you never set foot on a farm, it's all over.

And as others have said, the "passion" helps with admissions. But it doesn't determine your life, and many kids change majors several times before declaring.