Um, your senior does not have to have a clue about her major right now. Look at what schools will best support her needs.

Unless she is getting a vocational education, which I doubt is the case given the time and the board, she should major in something she really enjoys. Having good grades in a "useless" major is a lot better than getting so-so grades in a "career path" major.

Signed,
Lawyer who majored in history because I loved it enough to earn a 4.0 and knew I wanted to go to law school.

Anonymous wrote:Most people change their majors several times in the first couple of years. She'll be taking English, History, .....all the core classes her first year. I wouldn't worry about it. My oldest is a college senior and he changed his major last year with no effect on his graduation date.

Changed my major four times and dh changed his major twice. Take a deep breath, mom/dad. I know it helps to have some idea of what your dd wants to do in order to pick the right college but I guarantee you that her interests are likely to change as she goes through school. It's all part of the process. Good luck with your college search!

That's what liberal arts are for. My DD starts college next week and completely changed her mind about what she wants to major in and is now trying to change her schedule accordingly. I suspect she will change her mind several more times in the next year. I had absolutely no idea at 16 or 17, or even 23, what I wanted to do.

Just have her take as many pre-req's as humanly possible, work hard, get good grades, and she will be fine. Don'r sweat it.

What about pre-med - I know lots of pre-meds that were English or Arts majors, but took the required science classes to go to Med school.

Anonymous wrote: She is very strong in Math and Science but does not want to major in these or in Engineering. She loves literature, drama and languages. How can we help her find a major and a career path??!! Any advice appreciated!

Maybe she would like to be a pharmacist?
Information technology?
Architecture?

My DD found a book called Do What You Are to be helpful in giving her some ideas. She ended up having a major she could tell people and which so far she has stuck with. She also goes to a place with an extensive core so it's not such a big deal to change.

Anonymous wrote:I think the bigger problem is finding a career path. It's relatively easy to fulfill general education requirements for the first year of classes and then go into some arts or humanities major that is going to lead to trying to make it as an actor or getting an English PhD. It's hard to make a living in arts/humanities, especially if she's going to have school debt. Try to get her to see what her earning potential and ease of finding a job would be with various majors--you want her to at least be going into this with her eyes open. Lots of people have a day job that's ok and hobbies that they are passionate about (reading, community theater, etc.). Is she at all interested in teaching high school English or some other subject she's passionate about? She could major in English and education and end up with a teaching certificate. Not that the job market for teachers is great, but at least there are some teaching openings. Math/science/engineering would probably be best from a financial perspective, but it seems like she doesn't want to do that.

In relation to your more immediate concerns, pick a school that is strong in many areas. Then she can fill her first year with general education-required classes while trying on possible majors.

I wouldn't put too much pressure on a 17 year old to find a career path, but I do agree on choosing the best all-around college that best fits her.

I think the bigger problem is finding a career path. It's relatively easy to fulfill general education requirements for the first year of classes and then go into some arts or humanities major that is going to lead to trying to make it as an actor or getting an English PhD. It's hard to make a living in arts/humanities, especially if she's going to have school debt. Try to get her to see what her earning potential and ease of finding a job would be with various majors--you want her to at least be going into this with her eyes open. Lots of people have a day job that's ok and hobbies that they are passionate about (reading, community theater, etc.). Is she at all interested in teaching high school English or some other subject she's passionate about? She could major in English and education and end up with a teaching certificate. Not that the job market for teachers is great, but at least there are some teaching openings. Math/science/engineering would probably be best from a financial perspective, but it seems like she doesn't want to do that.

In relation to your more immediate concerns, pick a school that is strong in many areas. Then she can fill her first year with general education-required classes while trying on possible majors.

We just went through this. I think all you can do is help her go to the best school for her with the information you have. Go with the big vs. medium, rural vs urban, climate, etc etc. This drove DH and I a bit crazy but we learned that lots of people were in the same boat. Spend the time visiting the colleges. If she can't narrow it down, apply to more and varied colleges. Our DS ended up choosing a medium to big sports-crazy school that had decent programs in 3-4 areas he was interested in. Now a full year since he applied to the school and he has decided on a major. Fortunately his chosen school has a great department for his chosen major. Point is that you can only do what you can do (and pressuring a 17 yo to decide a major is, well, not a good idea).

Most people change their majors several times in the first couple of years. She'll be taking English, History, .....all the core classes her first year. I wouldn't worry about it. My oldest is a college senior and he changed his major last year with no effect on his graduation date.

Gap year is a great idea, but if that's not in the cards, I wouldn't sweat it.

Most seniors don't know their majors, and if they do, half probably change mid-way through freshman year. Most of the courses in freshman year are core courses anyway (unless she's pre-med and then she's taking the hardcore sciences). If I were her, I'd go to a big state school, honor program (if she can get in), or a small liberal arts school. Sounds like she's deadset against an engineering-focused school, but an Ivy, if she can get in, would provide many opportunities. Also, Carnegie Mellon I've heard has a top-notch Drama program as well as strong in Math/Sciences.

have a gap year.
1 year of college is expensive to waste

My DD will be a senior this year, we have been looking at colleges but are finding it hard to really zero in on a particular school because she does not know what she wants to major in. She is very strong in Math and Science but does not want to major in these or in Engineering. She loves literature, drama and languages. How can we help her find a major and a career path??!! Any advice appreciated!