Daughter wants to give up?

momofthreeboys
Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:27:00 +0000

I think I agree with EmmyBet that linear thinkers tend to struggle the most in college. Most often colleges are not “training for a career” they are for exploration of the mind and the kids that see things as step progression can often flounder.

I’m also wondering if she might need a break from college as some have suggested. Can she take a semester off and do some self introspection? I know doing a foreign study between sophomore and junior year for me was a huge boost to returning to campus more focused in my thinking but really any break could fill that function. If she did something like this then you wouldn’t be paying for an extra semester.

Finally I don’t think the situation is all that unusual. For most kids year one and year two are filled with prescribed classes to complete gen ed requirements…not all that different from high school where kids follow a loose course track but come the end of sophomore year in college many are, for the first time, confronted by the need to make their own decisions and point themselves in a direction they choose. Financially it’s critical because from now on, if they “switch majors” it can throw the kids into extra semesters. A break is really not a bad idea for the student and for the parental wallet.