@deb922, I have to agree with @PrivateConundrum. My son was a computer science major (and now works in the software field). He considered his academic experience to be very different from that of friends who were majoring in engineering, and he had no interest in engineering himself.
My engineering kids didn’t want to be computer science majors either. But they aren’t as different as say engineering and philosophy or English.
I was grouping Tech degrees in the same lump. If I really wanted my kids to major in engineering (which I didn’t, they picked) I wouldn’t think that computer science was that much different. As far as I know, they are both math heavy majors.
Sorry I was being flippant. Been cranky lately I guess.
My advise was the opposite, be anything you want except doctors, lawyers, and accountants. 
I regret having said that. She would have made a decent doctor. Planting prejudice is never a good idea. My intentions were good, go for something interesting instead of being safe.
Guidance is key; you have to know your kid.
My kid who wanted definitive answers - right or wrong answers- went into engineering. This one asked for advice and analysis of colleges and majors.
The charming, social kid with a good logic brain - business management. No help needed.
The thinker who couldn’t let a perceived injustice pass ended up with a philosophy degree. This one struggled with picking the major; wasn’t sure how practical it would be. I pointed out that there will be opportunities in the future that aren’t on today’s radar, offering my H’s career path as example. Learn to think and analyse and you’ll be up for adapting to future challenges.The masters in conflict analysis rounded everything out.
@Iglooo This a really peculiar advice. Why do you think that doctor, lawyer and accountant jobs are not interesting? Surely these may not be the only interesting choices, but not interesting? If you really wanted to make a compelling argument, perhaps you could mention long grueling work hours, and spending half of your life getting the required degrees, certifications and licenses. You also forgot to add investment banking to your list 
P.S. Disclaimer: my job is not related to any of the above
I’m kind of going thru this with my son right now. He is struggling to pick a major and this is his second year in college. I advised him to take several different elective courses to see what interest he has. I advised him that we will discuss the pros and cons regarding his decision but the the final decision is his. I will support whatever decision he makes. It appears he is leaning toward Public Administration but a final decision has not been made. I have always admired kids who knew exactly what they wanted to do at a young age and followed that path.
I keep telling my kids that maybe 10% of kids know what they want to do at, say, age 4, and then follow through. the rest of us muddle along and generally do okay.
I told my son “anything but a polititian”. I started telling him that in 2000. I continued to tell him that every 2 to 4 years or so.
@Grainraiser I don’t always admire kids who think they know what they want, some do but most just think they do. I don’t find see being undecided as a weakness, for many it’s an strength. They explore their options and make educated decisions.
I like it that you admire trait of being decisive but you are supporting your child in taking time and using his own route to get to his destination.
Of course, there will be politics within organizations other than governments or political parties (e.g. businesses, non-profit organizations, colleges and departments, unions, etc.).
I know a kid that wanted to be a marine biologist since the age of 10. For whatever reason he loved everything about it and as a HS freshmen he knew which college he would be attending. He was focused and knew exactly what he wanted to do. His professors loved him because of the passion he had for is major. As stated most of us muddle thru life until we figure out what we want to do. Getting paid for something you really want to do must really be a great feeling. I’ve worked in corporate environments and I can’t say I have enjoyed it. I wish I could have a do over but family obligations will not allow it.
I have a second niece who wanted to be a marine biologist since she was a little girl. Today, she’s living in Hawaii working at a sea park…as a marine biologist…and seems to be living the life of her dreams. Must be something about marine biologists. LOL:)
I’m in the “let kids pick their own majors” camp, but I do know that for some families, the kid needs to be in a lucrative field right out of college because the family is up to its eyeballs in loans. Some parents assume that only a STEM major is going to lead their student to such a job, so this is what they push. I don’t think they’re correct, but I get it.
One lesson I’ve never forgotten is my high school boyfriend’s disastrous decision to go to law school when all he really wanted was to be a high school history teacher. He was really good at it, but his pushy mother prodded him to give up his teaching job to be a lawyer like his older sister (and eventually, his younger brother). So today, at age 54, he’s a struggling lawyer who isn’t very happy with his path.
You know what? A high school classmate of mine died suddenly yesterday. I didn’t know him well-he was in my sister’s class-but he was the cousin of a good friend. He was 56. I’m seeing all the comments about him and to his family and closest friends come across my Facebook. Not one. NOT ONE is about the work that he did. Not one. They’re about his love of a certain football team, and Guinness, and skiing, and what a great guy he was and how loving a husband and family man he was.
I cannot for the life of me understand how any parent would pick and force a kid to major in and make a career of something they don’t want to do. Life is to short. No one is counting this man’s cars or houses, or money. They’re remembered a person. And by all accounts, he was HAPPY doing whatever he did. And that’s as it should be.
My dad tried to force me to go into computer programming, which 40 years ago was a beginning field. My dad worked for a municipality and he helped get it computerized so it was clearly a love of his. I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 9 years old and love history and poli sci. I had zero interest in computers and although I had aptitude for math, I had no interest in it as a subject.
Since my parents weren’t paying one cent towards my schooling AND charged me rent to boot, I felt no qualms about studying what I wanted. My father’s insistence went so far as that he actually called my college one semester (I think he had my sister do it for the female voice) and registered me in computer classes. When I got my schedule in the mail, I went ballistic. Needless to say, this damaged our relationship and we were not reconciled when he died.
I have been a practicing lawyer for over 30 years and have never regretted it for one minute.
With my kids, I have not dictated their majors. My D got a masters in special ed; I would have preferred her to be a lawyer but it’s not in her personality nature.
@techmom99 I may have already mentioned this to you somewhere on CC, but my D is majoring in special ed. She’s actually had people suggest law, but this is her absolute passion. Good for you for not repeating your father’s mistakes. My ex tried to do the same thing his dad did with my/our older daughter, and it didn’t go well. She chose other than what he wanted and they are still no close.
@sseamom -
Special ed is an amazing thing to do. All 4 of my sons are/were classified for different things and D wanted to help kids like them. Unfortunately, one year of teaching did her in and she realized she hates being a classroom teacher and resource room positions are harder to get. She’s kind of itinerant now, just got back a road trip where she taught music in different places. I hope that your D sticks with it. It kills me that she gave up health insurance and a pension…but you’re right, I can’t force them. I love them too much to have the relationship with them that I had with my dad.
I sometimes think that my D will go to law school eventually because she wants to advocate and it’s one of the best ways to be able to do so. Her best friend just passed the bar and D is so excited for her.I tell my D all the time that my 3 best friends from law school were all women who had taught for more than 10 years before going to law school.
I hope that your D and her dad can repair their relationship. I do sometimes miss the dad I knew when I was little.
S picked engineering and entered his 4-year college with 26 credits. I wasn’t too sure about the engineering aspect, so I had him take a couple comp sci classes. Sure enough, after Calc 2 he said he wasn’t going to do Calc 3. He had no idea what to study, so I nudged him into Comp Sci. He still graduated within 4 years and is now happily employed as a programmer. So yes, you can sometimes ‘push’ your kids but I wouldn’t advise it. Life is too short.
Our kids choose freely. S said to us and HS counselor that he liked math, physics, science and computers. The counselor nudged him to try engineering and S became an EE and is happily employed doing robotics, flying drones, using wearable tech and doing project mgmt. he’s happy and gets paid to do things he enjoys.
D chose cinema and is still making her way in her field. So far she also seems pretty happy.
Back in the day, I wanted to choose Community Service and Public Affairs (yes, a real BA major). Mom vetoed, so I majored in sociology and went to law school. She was fine with that combo, tho she had hoped I’d choose teaching and special ed as she and my 2 sisters did.
Ironically, I am now no longer actively practicing law but started and run a nonprofit instead.
I wouldn’t have tried to pick my kids’ majors, but I would have not paid for “high priced private schools” for certain majors. For example, NYU full pay for acting wasn’t going to happen with the loans that would have been required.