Regarding the actuarial sciences stuff: you don’t actually need a major in that. The career is based on passing actuarial exams, requiring a strong math background. But you seem like a bright enough person that you should probably take a good amount of math classes, which is a good complement for your econ/business major anyway.
If you have 23 credits going into college and a 3.83 GPA after freshman year, you sound like you can do the actuarial stuff, if that’s something you desire, without going to UCONN or whatever . At any rate, you are not a human rubber band to be pulled and stretched into your parents’ , or anyone else’s, viewpoint.
Regarding your social situation, I would also encourage the club joining suggestions given so far. I myself am quite the introvert and in my adult life have found that joining local organizations and stepping up to do stuff (like making websites - which no one wants to do) has made things a lot easier. It gives you something substantive to talk about with others, because idle chit chat may not be something you are comfortable with. I have very deep interests in many things that most people don’t care about, so I have learned over the years to limit how much I say in normal social situations . I had to consciously learn this. So you may want to reflect on that - you seem quite self-aware, and definitely capable of higher level inferential skills in your academic work. You now need to translate that into a social context.
Apparently the interview is not happening because I called them earlier today and asked why they haven’t responded. They sent it out on the 20th, or a while ago as they say, and they’re not scheduling any interviews right now. Makes me wonder why they even sent me the email I. The first place. On the bright side, I did earn $270 last week landscaping for my dad’s friend.
@CTmom2018
A) At this point I’m just waiting for summer to be over with so I can look for an on-campus job in the fall. It probably won’t be in landscaping.
B) The majors conflict continues. My parents want me to develop a marketable skill, neither of which my majors I want to pursue allegedly provide.
C) Still somewhat isolated and confused, and am filled with some anxiety for the upcoming year.
@dyiu13 Economics is not a business major, but rather a social science. And according to them, economics doesn’t give me any marketable skills. I still am anxious in the other two aspects too, btw.
Again, I don’t think you’re going to find friends at college while in big groups. Try to have interactions (collaborations) with the same small group of welcoming people each week. It might be part of a job or an activity. People have to get to know you to like you. That’s pretty much how it works, and big groups tend to make relationship-building difficult.
@dyiu13 I’m pairing economics with history. That’s why they want me to develop a marketable skill so I can make a good living. I switched out of Accounting last October to History because I would be happier with my life. Did I make a mistake? Also, clubs have never worked for me, going as far back as middle school, because I’ve oddly felt out of place. That’s how I feel in big groups too. And I have no idea what to do for the next two months, nor do I have any idea what will be in store after that. Oh and the people I am closer with, well I text them and they respond, but I’m the one that starts the conversation 99% of the time, and this applies from last August up until now. I just sort of feel like that I’m a burden to them and they only put up with me and don’t want to be my friend. After all of it coming together, I guess I deserve it?
This summer teach yourself clerical skills including Excel. Prepare to be competitive for jobs and internships in the fall. Become employable. There. Do that.
Declare Econ and History double-major and set a semester-by-semester plan ASAP with an adviser. Plot some needed gen eds for summer school at community college in 2017. Research career paths for econ and History majors. (Read that link, btw.)
Work consistently over the next two years with a psychotherapist who specializes in young men with ASD and work on addressing your feelings about your childhood and teen experiences that are probably chilling your choices and strategies for social relationships in college. Or, decide to ignore making desired progress on the social front and focus solely on the academics and career development. That’s ok if you can find a way to endure it.
Try this and see if it works out over the next few years. Seriously. Take an active approach to your options.
@dyiu13
What would be a marketable skill that would make me a good living? That’s why my parents want me to pair History with Accounting, Finance, or Actuarial Sciences. There isn’t an Actuarial Sciences major at my school, I switched out of Accounting, and idk about Finance. They won’t be happy if I declare a History-Econ major. My gen eds will be out of the way by Summer 2017, or at least those that don’t require specific courses in the Honors Programs to fill them, so that is not an option. I’ve already been taught Excel in high school, so IDK. Finally, there are no psychotherapists on my campus, although there are counselors at the CAPS center, but other than giving me someone to vent to, I don’t think it’s done much. PS I am living in Honors Themed Housing next year because I didn’t want to be placed randomly but if the large social gatherings last year were any indication, IDK how it will go. And I’ll probably be in the dining hall sitting by myself most of the time because most people are cooking their own food and I’m not a god cook so I got a limited meal plan to 150 swipes in the hall.
So you already know Excel. Find a piece of business, accounting, or publishing software you don’t know and learn that. Are you sure there are NO courses you could take next summer that would help you to advance? I wouldn’t dismiss it out-of-hand until I spoke with my adviser. As for psychotherapists, there aren’t any on any school campus. Go to counseling and get a referral, or contact one directly and set up an appointment yourself. (You’ll need to make sure they accept your insurance.)
Instead of poking holes in everyone’s advice, try to see how you could make it work for you, in your situation, at this point in your life. Otherwise, it does no good to ask for it.
Read these or similar books over the next two months. You also might want to read the advice books for teens with ASD even though you’re out of high school because the advice might be transferable to your stage in life.
Also it sounds like you have not yet done the research on jobs and careers for people with bachelors in history or econ. Without that research, you will soon your wheels and might just have to love your life excactly as your parents instruct you to. Also, I bet advisers and counseling offices can talk with you via phone or email over the summer. You want to hit the ground running in fall.
If you already know Excel basics, go deeper. Also learn statistics and analytics. Maybe do a MOOC now.
There is no way that there are no other kids like you on campus, especially in the honors program.
What do you like to do, play video games, ride a bike, play music?
You could even start your own club. You don’t have to join a crowd. Just find an activity you enjoy and then you will meet other people with those interests.
An update of sorts:
I have made about $510 from casual labor this summer so far which I guess it’s better than nothing. As far as the History and Economics Double Major goes, my dad is starting to come around to it although idk about my mom. That leaves the social aspect.
Update: I made a few hundred bucks this summer from yard work and my parents came around to my double major decision. The last thing on the list not resolved is the social aspect and quite frankly IDK if there’s anything I can do about it.
Hi @wizman631 I thought about you the other night when my son called me after his steak dinner meeting. It was a waste of time, he said, but at least he got to eat steak.