I’ve become interested in the idea of potentially attempting to do a personalized/custom major, as I have discovered that a number of colleges allow this as an option; however, all of the ones that I have looked into seem to only offer it for four-year students. I’m currently enrolled in a state college so that I could begin college while I’m still technically in high school (I’m currently a senior) and I will be applying as a transfer student for after I get my A.A., so I can’t apply to a custom major program as a regular, four-year student. So, does anyone know whether or not any colleges offer custom majors for transfer students? If so, any information that you can give me is greatly appreciated.
What’s wrong w just a normal, uncustomized major or minor?
Many schools offer a customized major. I would contact the Adcoms and explain that you hope to do an independent major. You may need to take an extra year or two of college to complete your major, FYI, to fulfill requirements.
It can be wonderful to customize a major if you have a clear idea of what you want to do. For me, a clear focus is the key. Building your own major can be a way to get out of the “math” silo and the “psychology” silo and the “art history” silo and the “chemistry” silo, for example, and create a multidisciplinary venture where the disciplines “talk” to each other. Several really successful people have done this. If I have all of my facts right, I think that the guy who currently “owns” the Batman franchise did this (I think he decided to major in like superheroes or something at UofI at B and his advisors said: no way; and then when they heard his reasoning came to agree with him And then he did something like purchse the rights to Batman when everyone thought it was hokey or something like that. and now it’s a multi-billion dollar industry) and Will Shortz the editor of the NYTimes crossword majored in puzzles I think at UofI B too. If you have a focus of some sort, or see a way to get out of the “silos” of learning, great things can happen.
If you think about it, there are several multidisciplinary “majors” already out there, like any area studies major includes econ, science, history, language etc and crosses disciplines.
But as a parent I would strongly caution to think clearly about objectives. Ask your advisor to help you come up with a clear plan to achieve those objectives. As with everything else, focus, motivation, and hard work are keys to success here, IMO.
What are the degree requirements for the closest non-custom major? It might make more sense to major in something already offered and then supplement with other courses in your area of interest.
Take a look at Hampshire College. All students design their own Division II plan, which is similar to a major.
When are you planning to apply to college? If you are applying now, and will finish your AA at the same time you graduate from high school, most (if not all) colleges and universities will consider you a freshman applicant because you are taking those dual-enrollment classes while still in high school. If you are going to finish your AA a semester or two after finishing high school, then you will be a transfer applicantfor sure.
So go back and look at the places on your list to see how they handle freshman applicants. Don’t worry just yet about how your CC credits will be handled. That is up to the receiving institution. They might not give you much transfer credit at all.
Some colleges call this a “contract major,” fwiw. May help your search.
That said, most top colleges (at least) do offer this as an option, including my alma mater, Williams.
Many colleges offer individualized majors. You need to check the rules of each 4 year college you are considering.
The question is how would an employer look at your customized major, isn’t finding a good job the goal of college?
It’s one goal, but far from the only one, and thinking of it as the only one is an impoverished perspective on education.
Even if finding a job is not the only goal of college, it’s still important that employers view the customized major positively. Unless you don’t want a job.
Some colleges call this an “Interdisciplinary Major”. Google all the terms.
It can work really well. My roommate did it, combining Business, Speech, and Psych, and it set her up perfectly to go into Human Resources.
Okay, but then two things (1) where do you propose to find data on how employers view contract majors and (2) why would you presume that “contract major” is a meaningful category in terms of employer opinion when contract majors vary so widely that they could be a combo of anything from engineering and econ to art and religion, gov’t and statistics to psych and art?