An observation on college majors & grades

[Anonymous]

My daughter earned a 2.5 the first two years of colleges & a 3.3 the second two years to end up with a GPA around 2.90 when graduating. She started off as a Chemistry major, really struggled, switched to being an Economics major, and still only did okay and had really work hard for her grades. Fast forward two years since graduating, and she has a relatively well paying job as a financial analyst. She got shut out from elite firms because of her GPA (and probably some grad schools too), but one thing she recently told us is how how happy she is with majoring in Econ. A lot of her friends with great GPAs (3.7-3.9) that studied interesting topics such as Sociology and English are struggling now professionally post-grad. Many are underemployed or working jobs that only require associates degrees. As a parent, especially of a daughter, I would suggest now that sometimes classes that are difficult are worthwhile in the long run, and that earning the highest grades possible shouldn't be the goal. Just my unsolicited two cents as parents have kids going off to school soon.

[Anonymous]

Your judgement is misguided based on one data point with a very short duration post college. These things play out expectantly.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean "judgment"?

[Anonymous]

She’s lucky to have a job, no? But if she does her job well, that’s good. School is not for everybody.

[Anonymous]

You know that "get good grades in easy major" and "get poor grades in a hard major" aren't the only two options, right...?

[Anonymous]

Sanskrit is a difficult major and has poor employment prospects. Business is easy and has good ones. Everyone finds their own balance of intellectual challenge and employability. Some miscalculate, others don't.

[Anonymous]

OP thank you for posting. There are some crabby patties here tonight. I agree with your point about more constructive majors, and how they’re likely better in the end, even if one could have gotten a 4.0 in basket weaving.

[Anonymous]

Wow! A lot of snarky, angry responses! Looks like these pps have college kids with easy majors.

[Anonymous]

I was your daughter and had a great career! Agree that grad school is more prevalent today and it will be harder to get into. But, not impossible. Especially once you have 5 years of work experience.

[Anonymous]

No way kids like op’s daughter can handle grad school.

[Anonymous]

I ended up going to an Econ- and quant-heavy grad program because I avoided those classes in college and needed better quant skills to advance after working for a few years. Good for your daughter OP for getting those already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way kids like op’s daughter can handle grad school.

You have a paragraph about Op’s Daughter and have no idea what she can and cannot handle.
And, she is not applying to grad school.

[Anonymous]

I was your daughter, OP, but instead of Econ I had a 2.9 in engineering. Years later, I have a great career, and even a Masters degree with a 3.9 gpa
There are only a very small handful of careers/paths where gpa matters all that much, despite what dcum will crow on about. And some majors are always in demand, even with less than perfect grades.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this. My kid is in engineering with less than a 3.0 after freshman year. I was an elite student and my own prejudices make it hard for me to think there can still be success for him.

You should be proud of your daughter!

[Anonymous]

OP, you are Martin Luther nailing theses to the church door. Don't expect the DCUM college theocracy to just accept this.