<p>I was speaking with a consultant and she mentioned that kids should consider boarding schools as something which leads to a specific major or future university. Whilst I originally believed that I wanted to go to boarding school really for what it has to offer, I never thought about what the schools has in relation to a specific major or college. Do you think 8th grade students should begin thinking seriously about this subject?</p>
<p>Do I think 8th grade students should begin thinking about a specific career?</p>
<p>No No No and NO!</p>
<p>Sorry, it bugs me. Eighth grade students should focus on learning as much as they can about as many things as they can so that when the time comes to make a decision, they will know enough to make a good one. That doesn’t mean that a 13yo can’t know what he’s really good at or what he really loves, but he shouldn’t be planning his college major at that age. It’s just silly. Also, just because someone is good at something, doesn’t mean that it’s their vocation.</p>
<p>i think by 13 you’ve found your passion o_O or at least have a rough idea of where you want to head on to
i have the same career dream that I had since I was like… 6 LOL. Maybe not a specific subcategorized job or anything, but at least I know what I’ll major and minor in college and stuff 
</p>
<p>then again people scare me when they say I’M GOING TO STUDY FOR HARVARD AND DO MY GRAD AT YALE AND BECOME A PROSECUTOR or something</p>
<p>I think many, many 13 year olds have not found their passion yet and I think that is very normal.</p>
<p>leekleek – Most US boarding schools are not designed to lead to a specific major or university. The only schools I can think of would be boarding schools that specialize in the arts or military prep schools. By 11th grade or before, most schools will encourage students to take the highest level courses offered in the subject areas that interest them the most, or to take electives in those areas. This is different from specializing for a major. </p>
<p>I think most boarding schools encourage students to try new things and build on strengths. It is more about self discovery than early specialization. </p>
<p>By 11th grade, schools will ask students to consider the types of colleges and universities that are available so the students can start to discover the right fit in preparation for college applications.</p>
<p>It sounds as if the consultant is not experienced in the American system. The leading boarding schools spring from the liberal arts tradition, in which it’s a heresy to restrict one’s academic interests at such a young age.</p>
<p>There are specialty boarding schools, but they tend to center themselves around the arts or sports. There are public magnet schools, particularly on the state level, which can concentrate on science and technology, for example, but even there, students will receive a rigorous preparation for college study in the humanities.</p>
<p>Hmm, I agree with the posts above. I used to think that it was a good idea to look for a school that suited my child’s business career best: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/560421-best-school-business.html?highlight=hotchkiss+business[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/560421-best-school-business.html?highlight=hotchkiss+business</a> </p>
<p>But now the more I think about it perhaps its best just to let them wait and decide when they are older. If you child is 16 or 17 and coming in as a junior and is dead set on what they want in life then perhaps it is a factor to consider but otherwise perhaps its not.</p>
<p>By gr. 10, you begin to see your strengths and weaknesses such as your really good at math, a mediocre essay writer, you find chemistry awesome…etc.etc…</p>
<p>so Id gr 11 is a good time to begin your quest down the pathway.</p>