<p>PS… Post was in the wrong forum…just move it here.</p>
<p>"As Leaders, Parents, Graduates, etc. If you had to do it all over again, starting from (College, Major & Career Choices) - What would you change or How would you go about it all? "</p>
<p>For me…nothing. For my kids…nothing. We were happy all the way around.</p>
<p>Just curious coco…why the caps on the thread titles?</p>
<p>ccco likes to SHOUT to make his points. I went to our state flagship and majored in something my dad wanted me to major in (business) because I was undecided and really didn’t have any major or career counseling (too intimidated at my large university to seek it out, really, and none was required). Wish I had picked a more academic subject, gotten a PhD, and a tenure track position. That used to be a lot easier then than it is now, of course. And I suspect I would have been better off at a smaller school. But Dad held the purse strings, and it was where most of my family had gone (both parents and my grandfather, and older brother) – I didn’t really have a choice. I have earned a good living with my degree, but it is a pretty soul sucking line of employment, IMHO.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t change anything for D1 – she went to a liberal arts college with good merit money, graduated Phi Beta Kappa in a major she enjoyed (poli sci/public policy double major), has some excellent internship and study abroad experiences, and got a great job right out of college (even in the tough market of two years ago). She still has the job and loves it, and is well positioned to attend grad school if she decides to. Jury is still out on D2, freshman at tough STEM school, but she loves it and appears to have settled on a CS major, is researching on campus this summer, and likely will also have a good outcome. She will have a secondary concentration in studio art.</p>
<p>I think I learned something from my experience, and was able to guide my kids though their college and major selection process with a balance of allowing their personalities and desires to be drivers, but balancing that with some practicality as well. Wouldn’t change a thing for either kid.</p>
<p>I dont think I would do much differently…my kids went to undergrad for nearly free on merit. they are doing well post-undergrad. they are happy, got a great education, have super undergrad memories.</p>
<p>I wish I had been more on top of graduation requirements and the rules of dual-enrollment. Son came home on the Wednesday before winter vacation, telling me he had been called into a meeting with principal, head of dual-enrollment, his GC, and others, and blasted for taking too many dual-enrollment courses. His GC suggested he apply to college for his senior year. She meant the state flagship, but I said why not try others. We didn’t have much time to research, as LORs had to be given out the next day. Many colleges probably eliminated him because he was too late to interview.</p>
<p>What was done right: As part of TIP program, som had spent a few weeks at 2 college campuses. When we travelled, we would drive by or walk around campuses. He was more interested in the CS strength than in a pretty campus or a particular area of the country. </p>
<p>Probably wouldn’t have changed anything. Maybe bought tuition insurance for the term D crashed and burned due to health issues if we could have known it would be happening, but our foresight and prescience isn’t all that great. ;)</p>
<p>Been born rich, smarter, able to check the Native American box and throw a 100 mph fastball. 
</p>
<p>Ok, sorry, you asked a serious question, variants of which have already been asked here before and to which I have admittedly responded, but I am increasingly content with the way it has played out despite some forks in the road. It is of little use second guessing myself at this point, but I do try to pass along life lessons to my children and offer guidance. Often this is dynamic when there is a situational teaching moment. Often it is small and incremental. Bottom line, so far so good. Could life have been more ideal? For sure, but it could have been so much worse. I cannot know the (undesired?) consequences of actions I may have instead taken. Like the Rumsfeld quote (regardless of how you feel about the man):</p>
<p>“there are known knowns; there are things that we know that we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”</p>
<p>So, I don’t know if I had done something differently in my life if my life (family) would have turned out as good…and my life is pretty good.
:-bd </p>
<p>Maybe move to North Dakota - lol I think we did a good job of first of all saving for it, and then researching and visiting schools. From there we were able to narrow down what the kids liked and find other similar schools. I believe we found schools that are great matches for both kids. I do believe it takes a lot of research and time, I don’t know how people do it who just start senior year. </p>
<p>Did not visit the only school which waitlisted DS twice, one time in high school and the other time in middle school.</p>
<p>But the campus visit was a good family trip and a good memory for us.</p>
<p>When the company I was working for offered to pay for my masters I should done it. At the time it seemed like a lot of work and unnecessary. :-< </p>
<p>Think I might have gone for the business degree rather than the law degree.</p>
<p>I definitely wouldn’t have continued in news-editorial journalism. I enjoyed the writing but it required a crusader mindset that I definitely don’t have. I wish I’d at least switched to public relations or even out of journalism altogether into something like legal studies. I would have pursued a master’s in something other than sociology. And when I finally found my niche, in community college administration, I would have been smart enough to stay in the same field after I lost my grant and was laid off. I’ve always foundered career wise and will probably never live up to my full earning potential since I’ve jumped around so much. </p>
<p>Thankfully I can say I would change nothing.</p>
<p>When the company I was working for offered to pay for my masters I should done it. At the time it seemed like a lot of work and unnecessary. >>>>>>>>>>></p>
<p>Oh,I have to ask if there was anyone who advised you against turning this down?</p>
<p>I would have taken things much more seriously the first time around, or else would have just put off school until I could take it more seriously. Half-assing it was not the way to go.</p>
<p>I really wish I had taken DS top choice at their word and let him apply ED. At the time they were meeting 100% need. I should have taken their estimate and let him be done. He applied to a ton of schools and competed in several academic scholarship competitions. No other school gave better aid or meant as much to him. It would have made for a very easy senior year. </p>
<p>@thumper1 ; just a habit. I am learning to change.
@intparent; I try to run, but can’t hide from you… but yes I am learning not to…lol.</p>
<pre><code>Waoo, these are amazing stories and life lessons. More reason I love this forum.
</code></pre>
<p>Is this another survey? ;)</p>
<p>This is a new one “TUITION Insurance!”</p>
<p>@MWCDSS ; I am still scratching my head on your response, I might need an interpreter, …lol</p>
<p>@HARVESTMOON1 ; Interesting perspective; Business degree over Law degree!!.</p>
<p>Very interesting thread.</p>
<p>@BunsenBurner ; I hope not. It is a thread, seeking “WISDOM” from experienced individuals, and learning from their life lessons.</p>