<p>It’s probably just pre-freshman year jitters, but my son is starting to freak out because he has NO idea what he’ll want to major in. I know most students start college “undecided”, but he feels uncomfortable with this. He truly has absolutely no idea what might interest him as a career. It could be something like chemistry, but he’s never taken AP Chem (just academic in hs) He’s a fairly good writer, but not outstanding by any means. No obvious “strengths”. He doesn’t feel the business world is his thing. I’m at a loss what advice to give him, and at this point I’m just hoping his college advisor will have some wisdom. Anybody out there have insight on how to steer him so he’s not totally directionless? Perhaps he’s panicking because the college he’s attending suggests waiting to select math & sciences courses until you know what your major will be.</p>
<p>Major in something like nursing, accounting, or math. Other degrees would be a waste of money, unless he wants to go to grad school.</p>
<p>Just try to keep him from panicking. I felt the same panic many years ago and because of that rushed into an engineering major, which I came to hate. </p>
<p>Maybe if you could get him some books or articles about people who have changed careers or plans.</p>
<p>Give him a list of people you know who aren’t doing what they said they wanted to do when they graduated from highschool. I did an informal survey of the roughly 40 people who I could think of whose post highschool choice I knew. Only two, one a doctor and one a nurse were doing what they planned on highschool graduation. This might tend to put his undecided on major dilemna in perspective.</p>
<p>Most kids do not have much idea of what they want. You usually start knocking off the most basic requirements that the college has so that when you do pick your major or direction, you won’t have them in your way. The reason the suggestion is ther about selecting the math and science courses after you have some idea of direction is because there are some math and science courses that will not fulfill certain majors. If he does not have any obvious weaknesses and doesn not hate the maths and sciences, there is no reason why he should not take a math or science course that is a beginning level course that is a solid such as Chem1. That could be the foundation for the sciences and also fulfill science electives for humanities whereas taking Astronomy or Geology would be ok to fulfill non math/sceince reequirements but would not help if he wanted to go into the sciences. But really, he does not even have to be as pragmatic as that, and just take a science he would enjoy. My H took several science courses that he still remembers enjoying today,and they are not science core courses. I</p>
<p>If you look at the discussion on the Parent’s Forum about Core courses, there are some good ideas of some courses that schools and people think make a good base. That can be a good start.</p>
<p>TexDad, I didn’t hate engineering but it was a bad fit for me. I had lousy counseling in the sense of looking at my strengths and weaknesses and personality as opposed to just what classes to take, both in high school and in college.</p>
<p>I guess my lack of confidence in the counseling he’ll get in college is part of the reason for my nerves - I, myself, was simply asked “What do you like to do?” by my freshman year counselor. “Science, you say? Okay, be a biology major.” I totally bombed in that major, really shaking my confidence until I found my niche a couple years later (delaying my graduation a couple years in the process!) Probably my son’s best bet, like Jamimom suggested, is to take solid prereq’s like Chem 1 for his science. At least it will give him a real idea of it’s something he might be cut out for as a major, while fulfilling basic requirements. Brother, I hope the counselors are helpful!</p>
<p>… and, thanks for the reminder Texdad, that most people discover what they’re truly cut out for well into their college career, not before. You are right.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=67944[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=67944</a></p>
<p>Wow - great thread! (how did I miss this…) This is like a snapshot of everything my son is churning over right now. Really helps, reading through this, to get perspective.</p>
<p>I think one very good piece of advice is to tell your DS that he is NOT expected to KNOW what he is going to major in RIGHT NOW!!! That it is very much OK - and to keep the anxiety and spasssss down to a dull roar - the first year of school will most likely be filled with the Gen Ed requirements - that ALL students have to do - and if he can maybe jump into something of real interest to him - maybe an art class - or a ‘fun’ science class - or just anything that may peak his interest at all. Part of this experience for many kids - is discovering where they will go - and that road may have some twists and turns along the way - and that is perfectly OK!!!</p>
<p>Kids of 17-18 should not necessarily have to KNOW exactly where they are headed for the rest of their lives - and please remind him that he is NOT alone in this at all - many many many of his classmates are in the same place as your DS is.</p>
<p>My DD is a good example of ‘change’ - she kinda thought she wanted to do the pre-physical therapy major of exercise physiology - well - second semester she had an awakening of sorts - she woke up one day and just KNEW that she did NOT want to do that - but was also in a panic of what to do - we searched around the schools site and course offerings and found a great direction for her - fits her to a tee - and she loves her now intended major - Outdoor Recreation Management - she can’t imagine doing anything else - but it took her awhile to find herself in the college maze.</p>
<p>As Dr. Seuss said - OH - THE PLACES THEY WILL GO… tell your DS to take his time and it will present itself as to what direction he is to go - but to also enjoy what is there in the meantime - and good luck to him - and stay calm - it will be ok</p>
<p>PEOPLE - BTW - what type of school will he be attending??? - big - small - univ - lac?? Just curious.</p>
<p>I am on faculty at a midwestern state university. I also advise students. My advice to them in college is always the same. My personal and professional view is that the goal of college is to get an education – not a job. This distinguishes college from vocational training. In my experience, if you begin by taking core curriculum courses and adding courses that pique your interest, students begin–fairly quickly–to create “keep” and “toss” areas and a decision on a major is typically in place by sometime in the sophomore year (most students switch at least once). </p>
<p>As others have noted, it is not unusual to have no idea about major or career direction when just out of high school. Most kids do not find their “passion” until later. Gaining intellectual breadth and depth in college should yield an educated, thoughtful, person who can communicate. There’s quite a market for those skills these days. I’ve yet to see the enthusiastic demonstration of a good education NOT result in multiple job offers or graduate/professional school acceptances.</p>
<p>I think discovering what you love (and hate!) and find fascinating is the real joy of college. Turning that into a career is the next phase. Sometimes that is straightforward (e.g., accounting or nursing) and sometimes not as straightforward (e.g., anthropology or philosophy). Some kids find their passion early (my own D and many on this board). But in my experience, most do not find it until they have been in college and sampled the “academic buffet.” Best of luck to your S on his exciting journey.</p>
<p>Daughter is a college soph and has changed her thoughts on this 4 times! She was wise enough to pick a school that would allow her to explore all of her interests. She maintains that most kids her age that act like they know what they are doing really are just ‘acting’. Most of her HS friends that were sure of their direction have changed direction by now. Knowing what you want out of life at 18 and sticking with it would be the exception, not the norm. Your son is normal. He just needs to relax and find something constructive to focus on that he has some control over!</p>
<p>Oh-and d’s college gave her the same advice about math classes. It was good advice. She would have chosen the wrong class as a frosh and would have had to take another later to agree with her major requirement if she had made the decision then.</p>
<p>Jeepmom, He’ll be attending a LAC, not upper-tier though. Still, it has a very good reputation. It wasn’t his first choice, though, so I think that’s contributing to his anxiety. They’ve got depth and strength in the humanities, but if he ends up with some sort of hard science as a major, I can envision him transferring. Being a LAC, he’ll get a lot more contact and attention from the profs, so I’m feeling good about this, even though he’s a bit sour. I’m more concerned with his maturing and growing into a fine, educated young man. He, on the other hand, wants to have his life all mapped out… like… NOW! Ah, he will learn (He WILL learn… won’t he? Fret, fret…) It really does help to vent on these boards.</p>
<p>Musicmomic - A lot of wisdom in your post.</p>
<p>People (the poster, not y’all), your son wanting his whole life mapped out reflects a desire for security. Takes me back a few, I was there myself. But life isn’t that mappable, on so many levels. Better to think of it as sailing into uncharted waters but as having acquired (or acquiring) the skills to deal with whatever come up. Look at how many careers today didn’t exist 20 years ago. Look at the multiple makeovers of the political and cultural framework. Look at the “Chance” cards that come out of the deck…and you never know when.</p>
<p>Having a plan of where you want to be headed at any one time is a good thing. But the further out in time you go, the more flexible that plan needs to be, with very rare exceptions. Consider an iron rod and a steel rod…the steel will bend where the iron will break.</p>
<p>TheDad - Great analogy, fitting in very nicely with what I’ve heard a man’s character should be: velvet-covered steel. Here’s to navigating uncharted waters! They say you never find grand destinations if you refuse to lose sight of the shore…</p>
<p>Funny, People, but I often think of the first Bronze Age sailors who deliberately set off beyond sight of land…</p>
<p>Of course, I also wonder about the person who discovered that artichokes were edible…and this even before the invention of Hollandaise sauce.</p>
<p><em>smile</em> I’ve often wondered who thought of making gelatin - is it really made from horse’s hooves?</p>