Reply to Majors for boy who might not crack 700 on SAT math

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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. [/quote]

Interesting perspective but at LACs you generally learn critical thinking skills and the major is really secondary.  And many of them
are not overly academic (I went to one where it was at most 50% studying and at least 50% socializing).  Going to a state school you run the risk of working to get some degree that’s very specialized and then changing majors and then not graduating on time.  If you know you want to be an architect at 17, go for it.  If unsure, just get some thinking skills and go from there.  [/quote]

Agree with you. Esp since OP said she's saved a lot and is likely 100% full pay.
State school (to me) is the last case option for a kid who doesn't know what they want - large classes, lack of customization and advisors. Just a piss poor experience for undecided majors. Best for kids who know EXACTLY what they want.[/quote]

OMG you people are just relentless.

Only a tiny percentage of American college students attend private liberal arts colleges.  The large majority go elsewhere, and guess what?  Many of them don't know what they want to major in or do afterwards but they land on their feet.  Nothing in this kid's profile suggests in any way that he needs to have his hand held by a private liberal arts college.  He doesn't need to learn "critical thinking skills" anymore than any other kid, and even if he did he can learn them anywhere.  He's just not the kind of nerdy kid who belongs in an LAC.

There are many, many schools that fall between Big State U and Suffocating LAC.  He belongs in one of them.

By the way, I've had kids attend all three types. [/quote]

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