My college freshman told me she would like to be an event planner or stylist (ala grownish?)

[Anonymous]

"My college freshman told me she would like to be an event planner or stylist (ala grownish?)"

Translation: Mom and dad I'm short sighted and want to study and pursue a fun "career". When I'm broke from age 22 to marriage, will you cover my Big City rent and can I keep your credit card for "emergencies" and is it okay if I stay on your health insurance and cell phone plan, too?

[Anonymous]

OP back, there is a lot of good advice on this thread and I have given DD the link. She is not ditzy or flighty not is she at college to find a husband (I do not think she envisions settling down in her future). I suspect she is more business then scholastic and she can keep calm when others are stressed. She secretly is not a warm person (people think she is because she shows interest and makes them feel seen/heard but that is more about how they perceive her then her being misleading...if that makes sense).
The only requirement I have heard which gives me pause is that she must be detail oriented. In my opinion she loses sight of details. I do think some experience is exactly what she needs to get a better idea if this is what she could see herself doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP back, there is a lot of good advice on this thread and I have given DD the link. She is not ditzy or flighty not is she at college to find a husband (I do not think she envisions settling down in her future). I suspect she is more business then scholastic and she can keep calm when others are stressed. She secretly is not a warm person (people think she is because she shows interest and makes them feel seen/heard but that is more about how they perceive her then her being misleading...if that makes sense).
The only requirement I have heard which gives me pause is that she must be detail oriented. In my opinion she loses sight of details. I do think some experience is exactly what she needs to get a better idea if this is what she could see herself doing.

So she’s cold hearted and sloppy, great

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a good job for someone in their 20's, who doesn't mind constantly working evenings and weekends.

If your daughter wants to have children eventually, then it may make it difficult to stay in this career.

I am not in this industry (am a lawyer myself), but I don't think it would be wise to get a particular "major" in this area -- seems like a dead end. I suspect that you could do a lot of on-the-job training for this line of work, and could have a more broad major (like Business) that is not as limiting as Hospitality.

Read the previous posts. You have no idea the kind of doors a degree in hospitality opens up for people. I have two friends who went to Cornell for this - one is an exec at Marriott, the other plans launch events/conferences in Silicon Valley. Both are very wealthy and very well-regarded in their industries. Most importantly, they are in solid careers with great job security.

Don't treat this as a joke, OP. Take it seriously, and get her more information on potential degree programs she can trasnfer into (a PP above listed some of the well regarded ones), as well as the types of internships and long-term careers that she might end up in.

Too late for ops kid to go to Cornell or comparable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a good job for someone in their 20's, who doesn't mind constantly working evenings and weekends.

If your daughter wants to have children eventually, then it may make it difficult to stay in this career.

I am not in this industry (am a lawyer myself), but I don't think it would be wise to get a particular "major" in this area -- seems like a dead end. I suspect that you could do a lot of on-the-job training for this line of work, and could have a more broad major (like Business) that is not as limiting as Hospitality.

Read the previous posts. You have no idea the kind of doors a degree in hospitality opens up for people. I have two friends who went to Cornell for this - one is an exec at Marriott, the other plans launch events/conferences in Silicon Valley. Both are very wealthy and very well-regarded in their industries. Most importantly, they are in solid careers with great job security.

Don't treat this as a joke, OP. Take it seriously, and get her more information on potential degree programs she can trasnfer into (a PP above listed some of the well regarded ones), as well as the types of internships and long-term careers that she might end up in.

Too late for ops kid to go to Cornell or comparable.

Absolutely untrue. I know 3-4 people who transferred into programs at Michigan State, Cornell and UNLV, anywhere from sophomore year to junior year. All were highly sought at graduation time and being a transfer student did not hinder their options at all. OP's daughter may have to hustle a little to make a sophomore year transfer (because she'll want to visit schools before applying) but it still is a great option for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"My college freshman told me she would like to be an event planner or stylist (ala grownish?)"

Translation: Mom and dad I'm short sighted and want to study and pursue a fun "career". When I'm broke from age 22 to marriage, will you cover my Big City rent and can I keep your credit card for "emergencies" and is it okay if I stay on your health insurance and cell phone plan, too?

Event planning is hard work. As other people here have mentioned, it's financially lucrative.

[Anonymous]

Marketing and PR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:im Assuming this post is a not so subtle dig at event planners and stylists. Great, so we are gate keeping college now? Adult life is full of people who have jobs that don’t require a college degree - but college is good for everyone. Affordability, is the second question. But to assume that you can’t make a good living in event planning or fashion (some offshoot of stylist) is myopic and untrue. Event planning is a big component of a lot of political and non-profit jobs, and there are devoted positions for events (it’s usually called marketing) in big law firms, it’s not just wedding planning.

Agree with this analysis. When I was a lobbyist at a large trade association, we had a very impressive roster of event planners who all graduated from college. One that stood out was a UMD grad who really worked her way up to be SVP of the association and she had a wedding planning business on the side. I believe she majored in communications or marketing and did internships throughout college. Some people on DCUM are really narrow-minded thinkers. People can make great livings in a lot of fields. I'm a lawyer...but not everyone has to be a lawyer, doctor or engineer. This isn't India!

[Anonymous]

My cousin is a stylish (hair and makeup).

She is the main bread winner in her family, takes home a 6 figure salary in her 30s (in a low cola midwest city) and sets her own schedule.

She went to beauty school.