Anonymous wrote:well if you're aiming for Towson State or somewhere like that it probably doesn't matter; but if you're aiming for Duke or any of the more selective schools you had better be prepared to tell them what your main area of interest is.

But what you tell Duke with your carefully crafted elevator speech is one thing. What you really think and want to do is another. Kids change when they go to college. Yes, these days you do have to have a plan about finding employment and building a career but as a freshman? That's premature.

well if you're aiming for Towson State or somewhere like that it probably doesn't matter; but if you're aiming for Duke or any of the more selective schools you had better be prepared to tell them what your main area of interest is.

Anonymous wrote:How can a college bound senior not know what they are going to major in? Don't colleges/universities ask, at least in a general way, what field they may be looking to get into (e.g., engineering, computer science, medicine, business, teaching, social work, etc.)?

Yes, colleges do ask, and many kids struggle to put something besides "undeclared." The liberal arts degree isn't like much of Europe, though, because you can wait until sophomore year or even, at some schools, the beginning of junior year to declare your major. You only need 4-6-8 classes in your major, depending on the subject and the school.

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

This is terrible advice. Might have been true 30 or 20 years ago, but not today.

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

disagree pretty strongly with this. if you don't know where you are going that is where you you'll end up. seriously. all the better schools are looking for motivation, "passion," - not aimlessness. I'd say the DD better come up with something quickly.

How can a college bound senior not know what they are going to major in? Don't colleges/universities ask, at least in a general way, what field they may be looking to get into (e.g., engineering, computer science, medicine, business, teaching, social work, etc.)?

Anonymous wrote:Also, one thing I didn't realize is that sometimes it can actually work out better to go someplace that's not super strong in an area you are interested in. It may seem crazy, but as an example if you go to school with a strong drama department, that means that most of the people in drama classes there will be drama majors and aiming for a professional career in theater. But, if you go someplace with less of a drama department there may be more opportunities for someone to dabble in theater.

Exactly!

Major is whatever she finds interesting. Many people's careers have absolutely nothing to do with what they learned in college.

Also, one thing I didn't realize is that sometimes it can actually work out better to go someplace that's not super strong in an area you are interested in. It may seem crazy, but as an example if you go to school with a strong drama department, that means that most of the people in drama classes there will be drama majors and aiming for a professional career in theater. But, if you go someplace with less of a drama department there may be more opportunities for someone to dabble in theater.

I am a professor, and my recommendation for students is NOT to choose their major right away. Instead, students should use the first two years of college as a time to explore different interests and to take classes with professors, regardless of their subject matter, who have a good reputation for teaching. College may be the only time in a person's life when she can take a course in ancient philosophy or modern Islam, medieval art history, astronomy, or the politics of South Asia.

Parents should NOT be taking an active role in choosing a student's course of study. Students can talk to advisors, talk to professors, and ask other students about interesting classes.

As a parent, you may be tempted into thinking that because you are paying for tuition, that you therefore have a right to determine what your child does with college. I don't think that that is the most productive attitude to take. Your child is now responsible for her own intellectual life.

Go to a university (vs. a college) that has many schools in it, like a college of arts & sciences, engineering school, education school, business school, nursing school, architecture school, etc. That way, she can start off in one school and more easily transfer into another school without complete upheaval if she decides to change majors. Very common for high schoolers not to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. I was always envious of those who had it all figured out early on.

Could she use engineering as a starting point? Construction Management is a great career and people with engineering degrees are being hired (even in this market) at 60K as an undergrad. What about Computer Science? There is a strong call for women in the field. I know she is saying she doesn't want to major in the field but career wise it is a degree with a lot of options.

You don't actually have to know as a senior in HS what you want to be after 4 years in college. That's part of what college is for. Not being at all snarky, just wish I'd realized that when I was sweating out my college interviews. As for a liberal arts degree not being useful, I took my English degree to Wall Street. You'd be surprised how useful it is and how many fields are actually looking for it. I know I was! Try not to stress (easier said than done, I know!) but DC has more time than you think, and as PPs have said, MANY change majors and have no prob graduating on time.

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

It actually does help if you can show a college you have a "passion" about something like opera singing or architecture or the history of the middle ages, and tell a story about yourself that includes summer activities and high school coursework in support of your passion. A passion isn't necessary, but I understand it can help.

There was a (fairly repellent) article in the NY Times earlier this week or maybe last week (DH sent it to me) about high school kids who pay consultants to pull together "narratives" that look consistent, including recommending key summer activities that underscore and tie together the kid's story about his or her passion. (And no, we're not hiring one of these consultants.)

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

Um, not totally helpful. My senior knew he wanted to go to a college with a teaching hospital adjacent to the college campus. Sometimes their "needs" are intertwined with what they'd like to major in and drive the college search.