Majors for boy who might not crack 700 on SAT math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I want to (metaphorically speaking, of course) strangle DCUM posters on the college board. This thread is an excellent example.

OP's kid has a 1380 on the SAT, meaning he's obviously very bright. But isn't that strong at upper level math and based on his interests he's not all that academic.

In other words, he's a lot like the overwhelming majority of boys his age, just brighter than most. Of course he should be going to college.

But he shouldn't be going to a LAC, that's clearly not his thing (far too academic), and he shouldn't be going to or even applying to the striver and high pressure schools like Vandy, Emory, WashU or the other ridiculous ideas that posters are coming up with. He should be going to a large or mid-sized state university or chasing merit aid at a solid mid sized private that offers a variety of preprofessional programs and taking introductory classes and figuring it all out. I'd suggest looking hard at Jesuit universities. They are tailored made for a kid like him.

See, I think you are REALLY REALLY WRONG HERE.
A giant state flagship is the worst option for a kid like this. Undecided, perhaps a bit lost. This kid needs guidance. Great advisors. High-touch professors. Easy opportunities to try lots of different things. A SLAC might be just the thing. Or a small private school like a Wake Forest.

Its posts like yours that make me want to strangle DCUM users who think they know everything but really know very little.

Way to cherry pick what I said.

I said large or mid sized state school or chase merit at a mid sized private. I never said "giant state flagship." It's only on DCUM where every high school senior knows exactly what they want to study in college or what they want to do afterwards, and that's only because mommy and daddy have already decided for them. The idea that if you don't have your career carefully plotted out by senior year means you're doomed to failure and dropping out unless you go to a private liberal arts college with a bunch of pampered kids with helicopter parents is just so ridiculous.

This is a public high school kid who has done well. He's grounded and rounded. He's achieving. He's testing well. He's FINE. He doesn't need and wouldn't even benefit from a liberal arts college. He's better off at a school with a wider variety of practical and professional offerings.

Hopefully when he gets his practical and professional degree in supply chain, he’s not eventually miserable doing supply chain.

lol agree. That PP is NUTZ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I want to (metaphorically speaking, of course) strangle DCUM posters on the college board. This thread is an excellent example.

OP's kid has a 1380 on the SAT, meaning he's obviously very bright. But isn't that strong at upper level math and based on his interests he's not all that academic.

In other words, he's a lot like the overwhelming majority of boys his age, just brighter than most. Of course he should be going to college.

But he shouldn't be going to a LAC, that's clearly not his thing (far too academic), and he shouldn't be going to or even applying to the striver and high pressure schools like Vandy, Emory, WashU or the other ridiculous ideas that posters are coming up with. He should be going to a large or mid-sized state university or chasing merit aid at a solid mid sized private that offers a variety of preprofessional programs and taking introductory classes and figuring it all out. I'd suggest looking hard at Jesuit universities. They are tailored made for a kid like him.

See, I think you are REALLY REALLY WRONG HERE.
A giant state flagship is the worst option for a kid like this. Undecided, perhaps a bit lost. This kid needs guidance. Great advisors. High-touch professors. Easy opportunities to try lots of different things. A SLAC might be just the thing. Or a small private school like a Wake Forest.

Its posts like yours that make me want to strangle DCUM users who think they know everything but really know very little.

Way to cherry pick what I said.

I said large or mid sized state school or chase merit at a mid sized private. I never said "giant state flagship." It's only on DCUM where every high school senior knows exactly what they want to study in college or what they want to do afterwards, and that's only because mommy and daddy have already decided for them. The idea that if you don't have your career carefully plotted out by senior year means you're doomed to failure and dropping out unless you go to a private liberal arts college with a bunch of pampered kids with helicopter parents is just so ridiculous.

This is a public high school kid who has done well. He's grounded and rounded. He's achieving. He's testing well. He's FINE. He doesn't need and wouldn't even benefit from a liberal arts college. He's better off at a school with a wider variety of practical and professional offerings.

Disagree with you. It's very old-school outdated advice imo.

And on what kind of experience and knowledge is your opinion based? Do tell. What is your profile? What kind of college did you attend? What are the profiles of your kids and how do they compare to the profile of the kid that OP has shared?

[Anonymous]

This is a little crazy, but both of my boys go to college and neither cracked 700 on math.

One has a niche humanities interest and is pursuing that, the other was undecided when he first arrived at college, a small LAC, and now is pursing a business major. Both love college and are doing well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I want to (metaphorically speaking, of course) strangle DCUM posters on the college board. This thread is an excellent example.

OP's kid has a 1380 on the SAT, meaning he's obviously very bright. But isn't that strong at upper level math and based on his interests he's not all that academic.

In other words, he's a lot like the overwhelming majority of boys his age, just brighter than most. Of course he should be going to college.

But he shouldn't be going to a LAC, that's clearly not his thing (far too academic), and he shouldn't be going to or even applying to the striver and high pressure schools like Vandy, Emory, WashU or the other ridiculous ideas that posters are coming up with. He should be going to a large or mid-sized state university or chasing merit aid at a solid mid sized private that offers a variety of preprofessional programs and taking introductory classes and figuring it all out. I'd suggest looking hard at Jesuit universities. They are tailored made for a kid like him.

See, I think you are REALLY REALLY WRONG HERE.
A giant state flagship is the worst option for a kid like this. Undecided, perhaps a bit lost. This kid needs guidance. Great advisors. High-touch professors. Easy opportunities to try lots of different things. A SLAC might be just the thing. Or a small private school like a Wake Forest.

Its posts like yours that make me want to strangle DCUM users who think they know everything but really know very little.

Way to cherry pick what I said.

I said large or mid sized state school or chase merit at a mid sized private. I never said "giant state flagship." It's only on DCUM where every high school senior knows exactly what they want to study in college or what they want to do afterwards, and that's only because mommy and daddy have already decided for them. The idea that if you don't have your career carefully plotted out by senior year means you're doomed to failure and dropping out unless you go to a private liberal arts college with a bunch of pampered kids with helicopter parents is just so ridiculous.

This is a public high school kid who has done well. He's grounded and rounded. He's achieving. He's testing well. He's FINE. He doesn't need and wouldn't even benefit from a liberal arts college. He's better off at a school with a wider variety of practical and professional offerings.

He should apply widely but pick a smart ED choice. This kid could have better options than a large or mid-sized state school.
Especially in the era of AI and the current funding cuts which threaten so many institutions and programs, a liberal arts degree from a well-funded SLAC could do wonders for a lot of kids, like this one.
Ultimately, it's a question of fit.
Only OP knows that.

Uh huh. Like our son-in-law, who's a great guy who we love to death. Attended a top 15 LAC (as did my daughter). Learned "critical thinking skills" while getting a "liberal arts degree."

He's now doing great -- after getting a master's degree in STEM from State U.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I want to (metaphorically speaking, of course) strangle DCUM posters on the college board. This thread is an excellent example.

OP's kid has a 1380 on the SAT, meaning he's obviously very bright. But isn't that strong at upper level math and based on his interests he's not all that academic.

In other words, he's a lot like the overwhelming majority of boys his age, just brighter than most. Of course he should be going to college.

But he shouldn't be going to a LAC, that's clearly not his thing (far too academic), and he shouldn't be going to or even applying to the striver and high pressure schools like Vandy, Emory, WashU or the other ridiculous ideas that posters are coming up with. He should be going to a large or mid-sized state university or chasing merit aid at a solid mid sized private that offers a variety of preprofessional programs and taking introductory classes and figuring it all out. I'd suggest looking hard at Jesuit universities. They are tailored made for a kid like him.

See, I think you are REALLY REALLY WRONG HERE.
A giant state flagship is the worst option for a kid like this. Undecided, perhaps a bit lost. This kid needs guidance. Great advisors. High-touch professors. Easy opportunities to try lots of different things. A SLAC might be just the thing. Or a small private school like a Wake Forest.

Its posts like yours that make me want to strangle DCUM users who think they know everything but really know very little.

Way to cherry pick what I said.

I said large or mid sized state school or chase merit at a mid sized private. I never said "giant state flagship." It's only on DCUM where every high school senior knows exactly what they want to study in college or what they want to do afterwards, and that's only because mommy and daddy have already decided for them. The idea that if you don't have your career carefully plotted out by senior year means you're doomed to failure and dropping out unless you go to a private liberal arts college with a bunch of pampered kids with helicopter parents is just so ridiculous.

This is a public high school kid who has done well. He's grounded and rounded. He's achieving. He's testing well. He's FINE. He doesn't need and wouldn't even benefit from a liberal arts college. He's better off at a school with a wider variety of practical and professional offerings.

Disagree with you. It's very old-school outdated advice imo.

And on what kind of experience and knowledge is your opinion based? Do tell. What is your profile? What kind of college did you attend? What are the profiles of your kids and how do they compare to the profile of the kid that OP has shared?

Settle down. This isn't personal. Whew? What's going on - touch grass?

Btw, T10 here and T3 law school. 2 kids at Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I want to (metaphorically speaking, of course) strangle DCUM posters on the college board. This thread is an excellent example.

OP's kid has a 1380 on the SAT, meaning he's obviously very bright. But isn't that strong at upper level math and based on his interests he's not all that academic.

In other words, he's a lot like the overwhelming majority of boys his age, just brighter than most. Of course he should be going to college.

But he shouldn't be going to a LAC, that's clearly not his thing (far too academic), and he shouldn't be going to or even applying to the striver and high pressure schools like Vandy, Emory, WashU or the other ridiculous ideas that posters are coming up with. He should be going to a large or mid-sized state university or chasing merit aid at a solid mid sized private that offers a variety of preprofessional programs and taking introductory classes and figuring it all out. I'd suggest looking hard at Jesuit universities. They are tailored made for a kid like him.

See, I think you are REALLY REALLY WRONG HERE.
A giant state flagship is the worst option for a kid like this. Undecided, perhaps a bit lost. This kid needs guidance. Great advisors. High-touch professors. Easy opportunities to try lots of different things. A SLAC might be just the thing. Or a small private school like a Wake Forest.

Its posts like yours that make me want to strangle DCUM users who think they know everything but really know very little.

Way to cherry pick what I said.

I said large or mid sized state school or chase merit at a mid sized private. I never said "giant state flagship." It's only on DCUM where every high school senior knows exactly what they want to study in college or what they want to do afterwards, and that's only because mommy and daddy have already decided for them. The idea that if you don't have your career carefully plotted out by senior year means you're doomed to failure and dropping out unless you go to a private liberal arts college with a bunch of pampered kids with helicopter parents is just so ridiculous.

This is a public high school kid who has done well. He's grounded and rounded. He's achieving. He's testing well. He's FINE. He doesn't need and wouldn't even benefit from a liberal arts college. He's better off at a school with a wider variety of practical and professional offerings.

Hopefully when he gets his practical and professional degree in supply chain, he’s not eventually miserable doing supply chain.

Huh? There are plenty of under-employed LAC graduates. Plenty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a little crazy, but both of my boys go to college and neither cracked 700 on math.

One has a niche humanities interest and is pursuing that, the other was undecided when he first arrived at college, a small LAC, and now is pursing a business major. Both love college and are doing well.

This is generally my view as well. The smaller the better for kids (male and female) who seem a bit lost. Larger schools are perfect for kids who know precisely where they're going and can get themselves there with little to no hand-holding.
Now, if finances are an issue, well, just go to the cheapest option. No loans ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I want to (metaphorically speaking, of course) strangle DCUM posters on the college board. This thread is an excellent example.

OP's kid has a 1380 on the SAT, meaning he's obviously very bright. But isn't that strong at upper level math and based on his interests he's not all that academic.

In other words, he's a lot like the overwhelming majority of boys his age, just brighter than most. Of course he should be going to college.

But he shouldn't be going to a LAC, that's clearly not his thing (far too academic), and he shouldn't be going to or even applying to the striver and high pressure schools like Vandy, Emory, WashU or the other ridiculous ideas that posters are coming up with. He should be going to a large or mid-sized state university or chasing merit aid at a solid mid sized private that offers a variety of preprofessional programs and taking introductory classes and figuring it all out. I'd suggest looking hard at Jesuit universities. They are tailored made for a kid like him.

See, I think you are REALLY REALLY WRONG HERE.
A giant state flagship is the worst option for a kid like this. Undecided, perhaps a bit lost. This kid needs guidance. Great advisors. High-touch professors. Easy opportunities to try lots of different things. A SLAC might be just the thing. Or a small private school like a Wake Forest.

Its posts like yours that make me want to strangle DCUM users who think they know everything but really know very little.

Way to cherry pick what I said.

I said large or mid sized state school or chase merit at a mid sized private. I never said "giant state flagship." It's only on DCUM where every high school senior knows exactly what they want to study in college or what they want to do afterwards, and that's only because mommy and daddy have already decided for them. The idea that if you don't have your career carefully plotted out by senior year means you're doomed to failure and dropping out unless you go to a private liberal arts college with a bunch of pampered kids with helicopter parents is just so ridiculous.

This is a public high school kid who has done well. He's grounded and rounded. He's achieving. He's testing well. He's FINE. He doesn't need and wouldn't even benefit from a liberal arts college. He's better off at a school with a wider variety of practical and professional offerings.

Disagree with you. It's very old-school outdated advice imo.

And on what kind of experience and knowledge is your opinion based? Do tell. What is your profile? What kind of college did you attend? What are the profiles of your kids and how do they compare to the profile of the kid that OP has shared?

Settle down. This isn't personal. Whew? What's going on - touch grass?

Btw, T10 here and T3 law school. 2 kids at Ivies.

Thanks for confirming the obvious: your personal experience and understanding and education has zero relevance or applicability to OP or her kid. Exactly what I expected.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of math related jobs where such a score would be perfectly fine. For example if he likes business or health care he will be perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a little crazy, but both of my boys go to college and neither cracked 700 on math.

One has a niche humanities interest and is pursuing that, the other was undecided when he first arrived at college, a small LAC, and now is pursing a business major. Both love college and are doing well.

This is generally my view as well. The smaller the better for kids (male and female) who seem a bit lost. Larger schools are perfect for kids who know precisely where they're going and can get themselves there with little to no hand-holding.
Now, if finances are an issue, well, just go to the cheapest option. No loans ever.

+100000
especially on loans.

[Anonymous]

What is wrong with a 1380? It is more than most kids score.

[Anonymous]

OP, your kid is already on third base. He’s got the goods to get into many, many good colleges and more importantly you have the goods to pay for it. You don’t need to do anymore than that to help him “launch” his career. Graduating without debt is HUGE. The world will be his oyster.

You definitely don’t need Ivy League mom’s advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is a senior and struggling a bit with high level math. But also not really that interested in soft subjects. His is a very good kid but his only current true “passions” are cars, his sports, and working out.

Should he even go to college?
Should we just send him anyway to LAC and let him figure it out? Unprepped SAT 1380, too late to prep now obviously.

You made it sound like something wrong with these passions.
I think they are fine, better than video games or tiktok.

If he is otherwise a strong student, apply to test optional schools and he will figure it out. Vandy, WUSTL, Emory.

A TO kid that struggles with high level math is not getting into any of these (maybe Vandy if he can throw a football).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is a senior and struggling a bit with high level math. But also not really that interested in soft subjects. His is a very good kid but his only current true “passions” are cars, his sports, and working out.

Should he even go to college?
Should we just send him anyway to LAC and let him figure it out? Unprepped SAT 1380, too late to prep now obviously.

You made it sound like something wrong with these passions.
I think they are fine, better than video games or tiktok.

If he is otherwise a strong student, apply to test optional schools and he will figure it out. Vandy, WUSTL, Emory.

A TO kid that struggles with high level math is not getting into any of these (maybe Vandy if he can throw a football).

Not only that, but why would he WANT to? These are schools for Ivy wannabes. He doesn't need to go to school with that.

[Anonymous]

Anecdata: friend who got Cs in math went to a college ranked in the 100s and majored in finance because he wanted to make money, and oh boy did he ever. Extremely successful and respected in the business.