Dad wants a practical major

calmom
Sun, 17 Jul 2016 01:10:44 +0000

@PaigeyPoo189 - you might also consider simply going for an MPH rather than an MD, if that’s your interest. Do look at entry requirements for those grad programs – I seem to remember that when my DD was looking at grad programs she was interested in a particular MPH program but found that she didn’t have some requisite undergrad course – she ended up getting an MPA instead. An MD is a long slog – tough to get into medical school in the first place, then several years of residency after graduation. (Plus generally a lot more debt picked up along the way - my DD got her MPA attending part-time while fully employed, and I think there are MPH programs can also be completed on a part-time basis, and in any case a student is going to rack up more debt in a 4 year program than a 2 year program. ). There is logic in your planning to take required courses to keep your options open – but you could find that the MPH is a more direct way of reaching your personal goals.

But then again, the goals you have at age 22 may be very different than what you think you want to do with your life at 18.

My DD was a poli sci/IR major at Barnard and had no problem getting a job when she graduated. Her first job was in her field --she worked closely with the UN in NY. But she then went on to do something entirely different. She has a business-focused job and makes good money.

As to the math question – my DD has never been a math-y person, but needed at least one math course in college to meet graduation requirements. I told her to take statistics --because it was a course that I came to regret not taking during my career. She followed my advice, got an A, but griped to me about how terrible the course was and what a waste of time it was. But then it turned out that the undergrad stats class was enough to allow her to waive out of taking a required stats course for her MPA degree… so in hindsight it turned out my advice was good.

I’d add that my DD did not choose to study econ in college, but her fiance was a poli sci/econ major at Columbia. He’s got a great job, but his college major has absolutely nothing to do with it. His college work-study job was far more important in that respect.

DON’T select courses because of parental or peer pressure-- and don’t select a career that way either. If you want advice on course selection or career planning, then go to your college advisers and your college career center.