Depressed about my kid

[Anonymous]

My kid (gender neutral to prevent doxxing) is a rising junior at a top Ivy. That’s the only good part—they basically peaked in high school. In a useless humanities major at their school with a low GPA. Got rejected from all 50 internships they applied to this summer, so they’re currently working as a camp counselor. I’m distraught. We’re middle class and my kid gets a ton of aid from their school, so we can’t afford to have them major in something useless while not working in important, resume-building internships. But they don’t listen. So frustrating. Can anyone else relate? It’s just so frustrating seeing them sabotage every single chance they get.

[Anonymous]

I hope this is a joke.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure it's super-frustrating to not have well intentioned advice be followed, but your kid is 18+ years old, and you're going to have to accept that at this point, they are going to make their own decisions. Also...a few positives here:
1) your kids had the gumption to apply for 50 internships. maybe they're in glamorous or competitive fields, but most college kids wouldn't try that hard.
2) if you're kid is getting a ton of aid, they're at least presumably not incurring a ton of debt. so if they need grad school at a later date to improve career prospects they can finance that on their own.
3) most important, your kid is healthy, and presumably reasonably happy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid (gender neutral to prevent doxxing) is a rising junior at a top Ivy. That’s the only good part—they basically peaked in high school. In a useless humanities major at their school with a low GPA. Got rejected from all 50 internships they applied to this summer, so they’re currently working as a camp counselor. I’m distraught. We’re middle class and my kid gets a ton of aid from their school, so we can’t afford to have them major in something useless while not working in important, resume-building internships. But they don’t listen. So frustrating. Can anyone else relate? It’s just so frustrating seeing them sabotage every single chance they get.

This sounds inconsistent. Tons of aid and you can’t afford to be embarrassed basically. Is that what you really mean, OP? Try to be proud of your adult child for making it this far. Everyone in college doesn’t make straight As like in high school. They are obviously in good academic standing or they would not still be there. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many companies may not be at full capacity with internships. Camp counselors are in demand this summer because there’s a shortage due to the pandemic. It sounds like you are the saboteur, OP, Your kid likely senses your disappointment.

[Anonymous]

I can’t tell if this is a conserva-troll just using this post to slam Ivys and liberal arts majors, or not.
If so: my response is “send your kid to Hillsdale. Their job prospects will go way way way down… unless they want a conservative affirmative action job paid by billionaires. Charles Koch is always hiring ideologues.”

If not, my response is: What do you call a Princeton grad with a low GPA who worked their junior summer as a camp counselor? “A Princeton grad.”
Your kid will be fine. They should commit themselves more to school, but don’t sweat it.

[Anonymous]

I work in a law firm and am on the recruiting committee. Do you have any idea how many applicants have a humanities major on their resume before they went to law school? At least half, if not more.

[Anonymous]

OP, the internship programs this summer are totally skewed by COVID. Your kid will find their way.

[Anonymous]

I worked in summer camps in college - it was crazy fun and I learned a ton.

[Anonymous]

This is a troll - Ivy grad here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it's super-frustrating to not have well intentioned advice be followed, but your kid is 18+ years old, and you're going to have to accept that at this point, they are going to make their own decisions. Also...a few positives here:
1) your kids had the gumption to apply for 50 internships. maybe they're in glamorous or competitive fields, but most college kids wouldn't try that hard.
2) if you're kid is getting a ton of aid, they're at least presumably not incurring a ton of debt. so if they need grad school at a later date to improve career prospects they can finance that on their own.
3) most important, your kid is healthy, and presumably reasonably happy

I've learned that point #3 is often overlooked and is indeed, most important. If you've got a healthy and happy kid, count your blessings and rest assured that your kid will be just fine. Don't over stress on anything else.

[Anonymous]

Are you the Dartmouth mom who hits her kid?

[Anonymous]

Not sure why some people are lashing out at you, OP. This is not an uncommon situation, but people usually don't go out of their way to advertise it.

At the end of the day your kid will get a job if only because of the halo of the name, so you don't have to worry about them being employable. No advice on how to get them to improve their grades but at least be glad you're not full pay.

[Anonymous]

To be honest, OP, I majored in a "useless humanities major" at Harvard, and I'm doing fine. My major taught me to think, write, and analyze, which are skills that have served me well.

Also, I'm 42 now and recently started a new job: the H bomb on my CV still had full effect, for what it's worth. I'm sure this will work the same way for your kid if he does well academically and graduates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you the Dartmouth mom who hits her kid?

Sounds like it to me. To warn others, there is a pretty sick mom on here who is CONSTANTLY bashing her child. Condemning her for not apreciating the work her parents put in to get her where she is. Saying the child is lazy, squandering her opportunity by not majoring in what the mother wants her to. It is a sad tale, and if we are right, you probably DO NO want to engage with this poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a troll - Ivy grad here.

Hahahahaha you think being an Ivy grad gives you more street cred than others to spot a troll?