when the dream school isn't particularly well-known for kid's intended major

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll preface this by saying I (obviously) realize there's no guarantee that DD gets into this school, but she will need to make a decision about ED soon.

DH and I are both Vandy alums and DD has talked about wanting to go there since...oh...5th grade She loves everything about that place- the location, the academics, the tradition...however, as she's gotten older she's realized she really has a passion for math and science and is set on majoring in engineering. Probably MechE, maybe electrical. Obviously it's Vanderbilt so it'll look fine (good) on a resume regardless, but I wouldn't say Vandy is really known for its engineering program. For a kid who is interested in engineering, I think there are probably many other schools I'd recommend before Vanderbilt. But...she loves it there.

Does it matter? anyone BTDT?

Unless your daughter is an utter STEM rock star, she might be better off at a good, but weaker, engineering program than at a very top program.

The very top programs are trying to challenge kids who were really ready for college when they were 12. They’re extreme overkill for most kids. They turn respectable STEM students into economics majors.

Vanderbilt might be more likely to challenge and educate your daughter without torturing her. So, the fact that it’s just great at engineering, but not spectacular, is a plus.

[Anonymous]

"Dream school" as a description should never exist

[Anonymous]

I posted earlier but I want to add. I’m the one that posted about my experience of taking engineering at a school less known for engineering because I thought I’d be happier there.

The engineering is fine. But. There are a lot of engineering majors. Someone on this thread earlier said engineers don’t change majors as much. That’s only partly true. There are a lot of majors within engineering at a large engineering school. You can almost have no idea what kind of engineer you want to be when you decide to become an engineer. Many majors are closely related. Easy to switch between as you learn more. IF you go to a school with a lot of engineering options. If you are at a liberal arts school that has engineering, you will likely have very few options. Just Mech, Chem, Civ, Elec, maybe environment and CS. But not much else. And fewer electives within engineering. It’s definitely worth carefully thinking of that. There are a lot of great schools out there. I wish I had had any kind of guidance at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
For my kids, the "dream" school is the school that has their preferred major.

Makes sense, no?

Not really because something like over 70% of college students change their major at least once in college. Mine has already changed and she just started sophomore year. SO if you are only going to school because of a major you THINK you like at age 17, you may be very disappointed. I am 100% a fan of going to the best overall option, weighing atmosphere, price, location, AND major. Not just major.

Well duh, PP. All things being equal - location, price, atmosphere, etc - , my kids prefer the ones that have a strong department in their preferred major (and no, I don't think they'll change it - we've always been very certain of what we wanted to study in the family).

And that's how it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Dream school" as a description should never exist

It can, you just have to know expectations wise that all dreams won't become realities and some can turn out to be nightmares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
For my kids, the "dream" school is the school that has their preferred major.

Makes sense, no?

Not really because something like over 70% of college students change their major at least once in college. Mine has already changed and she just started sophomore year. SO if you are only going to school because of a major you THINK you like at age 17, you may be very disappointed. I am 100% a fan of going to the best overall option, weighing atmosphere, price, location, AND major. Not just major.

Well duh, PP. All things being equal - location, price, atmosphere, etc - , my kids prefer the ones that have a strong department in their preferred major (and no, I don't think they'll change it - we've always been very certain of what we wanted to study in the family).

And that's how it should be.

No that’s not how it should be PP, in many peoples minds. Kids need to learn and grow and become exposed to things they had no idea existed before. That’s what I believe should happen in college. I’m glad I’m not a member of your family because I had no clue what I wanted to major in or do when I was 17/18 or heck even older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
For my kids, the "dream" school is the school that has their preferred major.

Makes sense, no?

Not really because something like over 70% of college students change their major at least once in college. Mine has already changed and she just started sophomore year. SO if you are only going to school because of a major you THINK you like at age 17, you may be very disappointed. I am 100% a fan of going to the best overall option, weighing atmosphere, price, location, AND major. Not just major.

Well duh, PP. All things being equal - location, price, atmosphere, etc - , my kids prefer the ones that have a strong department in their preferred major (and no, I don't think they'll change it - we've always been very certain of what we wanted to study in the family).

And that's how it should be.

No that’s not how it should be PP, in many peoples minds. Kids need to learn and grow and become exposed to things they had no idea existed before. That’s what I believe should happen in college. I’m glad I’m not a member of your family because I had no clue what I wanted to major in or do when I was 17/18 or heck even older.

But thread isn’t about you, it’s about op’s dd who does apparently have a very specific idea of what she would like to major in. Probably worth exploring where the best programs are, which op seems open to doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She needs to choose a university based on what she can learn in her major, professors in her department, etc. You don’t choose a college because your mommy is a fan and has wanted you to go there since you were like 10.

This.

Try to minimize the influence of your past on her future.

[Anonymous]

Why not? My kid chose Notre Dame. Neither I nor my husband are alum, but husband is "subway alum." Did this influence his choice? Probably. Was it the right fit? Absolutely. How a kid comes to his/her decision doesn't matter as long as it is the right fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
For my kids, the "dream" school is the school that has their preferred major.

Makes sense, no?

Not really because something like over 70% of college students change their major at least once in college. Mine has already changed and she just started sophomore year. SO if you are only going to school because of a major you THINK you like at age 17, you may be very disappointed. I am 100% a fan of going to the best overall option, weighing atmosphere, price, location, AND major. Not just major.

Well duh, PP. All things being equal - location, price, atmosphere, etc - , my kids prefer the ones that have a strong department in their preferred major (and no, I don't think they'll change it - we've always been very certain of what we wanted to study in the family).

And that's how it should be.

Good plan. Just make sure their choice include easy access to several other majors as well (ie. you can change your. major easily), since majority of kids do change their intended major at least once. My kids are attending schools with a variety of majors, all easy to get into (if you have the necessary prerequisites) should they decide to change. Far too many are direct entry for everything except some majors in Arts & Sciences, and that means if your kid wants to switch out of engineering to say business or pre-med, it's a challenge.