Kid has no idea what to major in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biased, but I would recommend economics. It is the best interdisciplinary major in my opinion. It is a mix of social sciences and mathematics, and a foundation for numerous jobs. If your kid decides they want to go a more quantitative route, they can take courses in econometrics or forecasting. If your kid decides to go a more social sciences route, there are courses in economic history, law, and policy. More importantly, it also lays prepares you for graduate school or even a change of majors. The reading is great for pre-law and the quant courses are great for pursuing graduate school in accounting, data science, etc. If your kid decides to switch to a STEM major, they will have already taken the required math and stats sequences. If your kid decides to switch to business, the intro econ and math courses are taken care of. Economics really is the best major in my opinion.

Best major is Computer Science period. It's the King.

Economics is a very good major, and many good points addressed.
However if the school have a dedicated undergradaute business program, try to get in there first.
Business programs are almost alwasys better than economics in art & sceicne provided that the school have both.
Job placement is better. It's harder get in and harder to change into. Much easier to change to Econ if you want anytime.

Examples: MIT Sloan, UPenn Wharton, Cornell Dyson, Georgetown McDonugh, Notre Dame Mendoza, UVA Mcintire, Michigan Ross, Berkeley Has, NYU Stern, etc.

CS is “best” in what sense? Sounds like a simplistic statement.

+1
The "CS is King" poster sounds very simplistic. No subject would make me run away faster than Computer Science. Horribly, horribly boring.

Have you lived in a cave for the past 30 years or something? Looks like you got the internet though.
Most of the interesting, innovative, exciting things and advancements are all coming from the computer science field. 
History and psychology are fun too, but let's not kid ourselves here. 

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biased, but I would recommend economics. It is the best interdisciplinary major in my opinion. It is a mix of social sciences and mathematics, and a foundation for numerous jobs. If your kid decides they want to go a more quantitative route, they can take courses in econometrics or forecasting. If your kid decides to go a more social sciences route, there are courses in economic history, law, and policy. More importantly, it also lays prepares you for graduate school or even a change of majors. The reading is great for pre-law and the quant courses are great for pursuing graduate school in accounting, data science, etc. If your kid decides to switch to a STEM major, they will have already taken the required math and stats sequences. If your kid decides to switch to business, the intro econ and math courses are taken care of. Economics really is the best major in my opinion.

Best major is Computer Science period. It's the King.

Economics is a very good major, and many good points addressed.
However if the school have a dedicated undergradaute business program, try to get in there first.
Business programs are almost alwasys better than economics in art & sceicne provided that the school have both.
Job placement is better. It's harder get in and harder to change into. Much easier to change to Econ if you want anytime.

Examples: MIT Sloan, UPenn Wharton, Cornell Dyson, Georgetown McDonugh, Notre Dame Mendoza, UVA Mcintire, Michigan Ross, Berkeley Has, NYU Stern, etc.

CS is “best” in what sense? Sounds like a simplistic statement.

+1
The "CS is King" poster sounds very simplistic. No subject would make me run away faster than Computer Science. Horribly, horribly boring.

Have you lived in a cave for the past 30 years or something? Looks like you got the internet though.
Most of the interesting, innovative, exciting things and advancements are all coming from the computer science field. 
History and psychology are fun too, but let's not kid ourselves here. 

NP
Isn’t CS easier to outsource?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biased, but I would recommend economics. It is the best interdisciplinary major in my opinion. It is a mix of social sciences and mathematics, and a foundation for numerous jobs. If your kid decides they want to go a more quantitative route, they can take courses in econometrics or forecasting. If your kid decides to go a more social sciences route, there are courses in economic history, law, and policy. More importantly, it also lays prepares you for graduate school or even a change of majors. The reading is great for pre-law and the quant courses are great for pursuing graduate school in accounting, data science, etc. If your kid decides to switch to a STEM major, they will have already taken the required math and stats sequences. If your kid decides to switch to business, the intro econ and math courses are taken care of. Economics really is the best major in my opinion.

Best major is Computer Science period. It's the King.

Economics is a very good major, and many good points addressed.
However if the school have a dedicated undergradaute business program, try to get in there first.
Business programs are almost alwasys better than economics in art & sceicne provided that the school have both.
Job placement is better. It's harder get in and harder to change into. Much easier to change to Econ if you want anytime.

Examples: MIT Sloan, UPenn Wharton, Cornell Dyson, Georgetown McDonugh, Notre Dame Mendoza, UVA Mcintire, Michigan Ross, Berkeley Has, NYU Stern, etc.

CS is “best” in what sense? Sounds like a simplistic statement.

+1
The "CS is King" poster sounds very simplistic. No subject would make me run away faster than Computer Science. Horribly, horribly boring.

Have you lived in a cave for the past 30 years or something? Looks like you got the internet though.
Most of the interesting, innovative, exciting things and advancements are all coming from the computer science field. 
History and psychology are fun too, but let's not kid ourselves here. 

A lot of harm is also being done by those in the computer science field and their innovations too. So we will need people trained in other disciplines to deal with the fallout from that. For starters, every CS major should be required to take several ethics classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biased, but I would recommend economics. It is the best interdisciplinary major in my opinion. It is a mix of social sciences and mathematics, and a foundation for numerous jobs. If your kid decides they want to go a more quantitative route, they can take courses in econometrics or forecasting. If your kid decides to go a more social sciences route, there are courses in economic history, law, and policy. More importantly, it also lays prepares you for graduate school or even a change of majors. The reading is great for pre-law and the quant courses are great for pursuing graduate school in accounting, data science, etc. If your kid decides to switch to a STEM major, they will have already taken the required math and stats sequences. If your kid decides to switch to business, the intro econ and math courses are taken care of. Economics really is the best major in my opinion.

Best major is Computer Science period. It's the King.

Economics is a very good major, and many good points addressed.
However if the school have a dedicated undergradaute business program, try to get in there first.
Business programs are almost alwasys better than economics in art & sceicne provided that the school have both.
Job placement is better. It's harder get in and harder to change into. Much easier to change to Econ if you want anytime.

Examples: MIT Sloan, UPenn Wharton, Cornell Dyson, Georgetown McDonugh, Notre Dame Mendoza, UVA Mcintire, Michigan Ross, Berkeley Has, NYU Stern, etc.

CS is “best” in what sense? Sounds like a simplistic statement.

+1
The "CS is King" poster sounds very simplistic. No subject would make me run away faster than Computer Science. Horribly, horribly boring.

Have you lived in a cave for the past 30 years or something? Looks like you got the internet though.
Most of the interesting, innovative, exciting things and advancements are all coming from the computer science field. 
History and psychology are fun too, but let's not kid ourselves here. 

NP
Isn’t CS easier to outsource?

Yep! I work in tech (but in Legal). I’ve been at several companies. Much of the work is outsourced to India and South America where it is cheaper. I agree that CS is an important field but I think we need other majors as well. The companies do not run on tech alone and in my experience, the developers are good at what they do and not so good at other aspects of the business. Just like any other field, there is a developer mindset or type (just like there is a business or a legal mindset). If you don’t think like a CS mind, you are not going to enjoy or excel is CS. It’s not for everyone and we need other types of thinkers for other roles, so the CS is king poster really has it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Have you lived in a cave for the past 30 years or something? Looks like you got the internet though.
Most of the interesting, innovative, exciting things and advancements are all coming from the computer science field. 
History and psychology are fun too, but let's not kid ourselves here. 

The vaccine scientists all say, "hi". As the do the battery developers. And Netflix content developers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biased, but I would recommend economics. It is the best interdisciplinary major in my opinion. It is a mix of social sciences and mathematics, and a foundation for numerous jobs. If your kid decides they want to go a more quantitative route, they can take courses in econometrics or forecasting. If your kid decides to go a more social sciences route, there are courses in economic history, law, and policy. More importantly, it also lays prepares you for graduate school or even a change of majors. The reading is great for pre-law and the quant courses are great for pursuing graduate school in accounting, data science, etc. If your kid decides to switch to a STEM major, they will have already taken the required math and stats sequences. If your kid decides to switch to business, the intro econ and math courses are taken care of. Economics really is the best major in my opinion.

Best major is Computer Science period. It's the King.

Economics is a very good major, and many good points addressed.
However if the school have a dedicated undergradaute business program, try to get in there first.
Business programs are almost alwasys better than economics in art & sceicne provided that the school have both.
Job placement is better. It's harder get in and harder to change into. Much easier to change to Econ if you want anytime.

Examples: MIT Sloan, UPenn Wharton, Cornell Dyson, Georgetown McDonugh, Notre Dame Mendoza, UVA Mcintire, Michigan Ross, Berkeley Has, NYU Stern, etc.

CS is “best” in what sense? Sounds like a simplistic statement.

+1
The "CS is King" poster sounds very simplistic. No subject would make me run away faster than Computer Science. Horribly, horribly boring.

Have you lived in a cave for the past 30 years or something? Looks like you got the internet though.
Most of the interesting, innovative, exciting things and advancements are all coming from the computer science field. 
History and psychology are fun too, but let's not kid ourselves here. 

A lot of harm is also being done by those in the computer science field and their innovations too. So we will need people trained in other disciplines to deal with the fallout from that. For starters, every CS major should be required to take several ethics classes.

Right. The bros at Facebook can create algos, but they don’t seem to appreciate the harm they’re inflicting on society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Have you lived in a cave for the past 30 years or something? Looks like you got the internet though.
Most of the interesting, innovative, exciting things and advancements are all coming from the computer science field. 
History and psychology are fun too, but let's not kid ourselves here. 

The vaccine scientists all say, "hi". As the do the battery developers. And Netflix content developers.

Thank you! You see the broader picture. You’re admitted; the “CS or die” poster is not.

[Anonymous]

Kids should not be programmed like computers.

Your son needs to discover his passion, which is likely aligned to his talents.

It is a huge society out there, that needs all kinds of contributions.

This board is so obsessed with acquiring wealth, it is disturbing.

I would focus more on raising a fulfilled, healthy human than guaranteeing a return-on-investment.

[Anonymous]

Those girls out on LA damn

[Anonymous]

What if your kid is insistent on what to major in, and you are strongly opposed to it? DS, 15, insists he want to get a degree in video game design. He is not artsy at all, but want to get a fine arts degree, not a computer science degree (with a minor in the game design fine arts).

DS is a math/logic type of kid. Has never been an English or art or creative type. Moreover, I've been reading about the gaming industry and it is BRUTAL. No job security, 18 hr days for months on end, no weekends off, and lay-offs constantly. Health insurance -- questionable. Not compatible with having a family or any kind of self-care.

I don't know why anyone would pursue this. And I don't want to pay for a FINE ARTS degree in video game design that has very little cross-over use (I'd be ok with the comsci degree +video game minor).

All of this is just a long way of saying: being undecided is better than being stubbornly committed to something that has a brutal future. Go with "undecided!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if your kid is insistent on what to major in, and you are strongly opposed to it? DS, 15, insists he want to get a degree in video game design. He is not artsy at all, but want to get a fine arts degree, not a computer science degree (with a minor in the game design fine arts).

DS is a math/logic type of kid. Has never been an English or art or creative type. Moreover, I've been reading about the gaming industry and it is BRUTAL. No job security, 18 hr days for months on end, no weekends off, and lay-offs constantly. Health insurance -- questionable. Not compatible with having a family or any kind of self-care.

I don't know why anyone would pursue this. And I don't want to pay for a FINE ARTS degree in video game design that has very little cross-over use (I'd be ok with the comsci degree +video game minor).

All of this is just a long way of saying: being undecided is better than being stubbornly committed to something that has a brutal future. Go with "undecided!"

To the parent whose kid wants to design video games...I suggest that you occasionally share the articles you are reading. If you respond in a heavy handed way, with an adolescent, it will backfire. You can also negotiate. Like send him to a school that offers a BS/BA, but has coursework in video design. Or agree that he should combine this interest with a marketable minor.

Instead of focusing on how flawed his dream is, try making him aware that 1/3 kids change their major so he should choose a place that offers other options in case HE changes his mind.

https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018434.pdf

(Again, emphasizing him making choices not you. That will be a more winning argument with a teenager.)

In the end, you have to accept that eventually HE will get to choose his future/career. Some motivation will be needed for success. So, a negotiated outcome is your best shot at having any influence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if your kid is insistent on what to major in, and you are strongly opposed to it? DS, 15, insists he want to get a degree in video game design. He is not artsy at all, but want to get a fine arts degree, not a computer science degree (with a minor in the game design fine arts).

DS is a math/logic type of kid. Has never been an English or art or creative type. Moreover, I've been reading about the gaming industry and it is BRUTAL. No job security, 18 hr days for months on end, no weekends off, and lay-offs constantly. Health insurance -- questionable. Not compatible with having a family or any kind of self-care.

I don't know why anyone would pursue this. And I don't want to pay for a FINE ARTS degree in video game design that has very little cross-over use (I'd be ok with the comsci degree +video game minor).

All of this is just a long way of saying: being undecided is better than being stubbornly committed to something that has a brutal future. Go with "undecided!"

He's 15. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

That being said, encourage him to try to get an internship or similar in his chosen field. Or at least to try to design a game and see how he likes it.

[Anonymous]

I told my DD when she applied that she had to choose a STEM major and give it a good try. She’s one semester into Biology now and is debating between something in medical field, public health or science education. Lots of options where the first year courses are similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I told my DD when she applied that she had to choose a STEM major and give it a good try. She’s one semester into Biology now and is debating between something in medical field, public health or science education. Lots of options where the first year courses are similar.

Avoid public health

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1023334.page#21562950