<p>“we needed her out of school in 4 years–expensive school with a sibling coming up soon” </p>
<p>Take a look at some FAFSA and CSS Profile calculators. It may pay for your daughter to take a year break… and then have 2 in college more years to qualify for better aid.</p>
<p>S2 walked out in his Junior year. Did not like his major. Did not know what he wanted to do and felt he was not getting anywhere. Could not see the way to go. Took several years working miscellaneous jobs but is back in school with a purpose and will graduate next year. The break did set him back. He is living in a different state now and he went to community college then transferred to that state’s university. Since he is older he no longer has to file our financial information so he is eligible for all kinds of aid. Some just take longer to find their own path.</p>
<p>I think I agree with EmmyBet that linear thinkers tend to struggle the most in college. Most often colleges are not “training for a career” they are for exploration of the mind and the kids that see things as step progression can often flounder. </p>
<p>I’m also wondering if she might need a break from college as some have suggested. Can she take a semester off and do some self introspection? I know doing a foreign study between sophomore and junior year for me was a huge boost to returning to campus more focused in my thinking but really any break could fill that function. If she did something like this then you wouldn’t be paying for an extra semester. </p>
<p>Finally I don’t think the situation is all that unusual. For most kids year one and year two are filled with prescribed classes to complete gen ed requirements…not all that different from high school where kids follow a loose course track but come the end of sophomore year in college many are, for the first time, confronted by the need to make their own decisions and point themselves in a direction they choose. Financially it’s critical because from now on, if they “switch majors” it can throw the kids into extra semesters. A break is really not a bad idea for the student and for the parental wallet.</p>
<p>Following momofthreeboys’ idea: Maybe she could start a language in the fall with the goal of doing a semester abroad in the spring? That might give her something to look forward to.</p>
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<p>I have to put a plug in here for accounting. If she goes into public accounting after graduation, it can be anything but boring. My experiences in just my first few years of working after graduation led me to work on companies in a wide variety of industries that I would never have been exposed to otherwise. I audited companies that were established in their industries and start up companies in emerging industries. I had contact with a wide range of personnel in these companies, all the way up to the highest level officers. I learned about industries from the inside out. It was a great way to preview companies and industries as potential careers and even to land a job in private industry.</p>
<p>Actually think that library science or something that combines her sort of “sciency” thinking with her “creative thinking”…art restoration, environmental studies…interdisciplinary areas like that that aren’t hard core science and aren’t hard core arts might fit her and there are tons and tons of possibilities especially if she is at a larger public and not a liberal arts college. I have “one” like that who likes art and science and is equally skilled at both. He has no clue what to do although I’ve pointed out art restoration and a number of other interdisciplinary studies that really intrigued him, fortunately he’s a rising college freshman so he has two years to figure it out. My other is double majoring in English and business to satisfy his love of writing with his more practical bent and because he couldn’t “settle” on one major. Being abit in “love” with everything is not all bad, and she should spend time with her advisor (and the college course catelogue) searching for that combination that will work for her. Many, many adults have BA degrees that have absolutely nothing to do with what we do for careers…I’m one of those. Stumbled into my career…never “planned” my way there.</p>
<p>I’m sorry your daughter’s going through this rough and pressured decision time. I see some real merit in Smithie’s suggestion to take some time off and do other explorative things.</p>
<p>OTOH, I gotta say if she were my D, entering Jr year, I’d say pick whatever feels most comfortable or least objectionable, and that you’ll be able to rack up enough credits in to finish in 4 years, and get the degree.</p>
<p>For someone in your D’s position (and there are MANY of them), it matters little what the degree is in. Finishing is key, and in the 2 yrs it will take her to do that, she may have a whole new level of focus, maturity, interest, etc. Regardless of what one is doing, there’s a lot to be said for finishing. Best of luck to you and your daughter as she struggles with this.</p>
<p>She is actually very interested in studying abroad. (Even has a few places in mind.) However, she wants to have a major before she goes anywhere.</p>
<p>@EmmyBet: I’m sorry that our daughter had problems as well. I am sincerely hoping that mine will have similar results regarding being open-minded.</p>
<p>@Singersmom07: Your son’s story sounds just like my daughter’s boyfriend’s (another person she often compares herself to). He now has a great internship and is doing incredibly well. I’m glad things worked out for your son as well.</p>
<p>@momofthreeboys: I’ll mention the library science thing to her, she’s at a large, public university (not her first choice, but definiately the cheapest), so I figure that there should be a large number of areas for her to choose from. She refuses to see her advisor. Not advisors in general, just hers specifically. Apparently she went in for help and whatever she was asking, the woman said that it wasn’t her job to do that.</p>
<p>@momofsongbird: I’m worried that she won’t be happy with just finishing. She’s too focused on everything being “perfect”.</p>
<p>Thanks again to all of you.</p>
<p>I wonder if she would like psych or econ-- not clinical psych but something where she could get involved in research even though it isn’t a pure science.</p>
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I do understand that way of thinking, really I do (as something of a perfectionist myself). The problem is that it can become paralyzing. There is always a reason why something isn’t perfect, ergo a reason not to do it at all. I struggled with this way of thinking in my younger days, and I really encourage you to gently help your daughter ease out of that mentality.</p>
<p>A thing done, 80% well, is so, so far better than not done with insistence on perfection. I truly speak from experience (and the heart) when I tell you that this is possibly the most important lesson your daughter needs to learn in these last college years.</p>
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<p>Not to worry, Colorado_mom–D1 graduated on the 4 year plan and is actually working in a job that she got because of some of those classes that the ass’t department head suggested could count toward graduation (computer science courses). </p>
<p>Still not sure what she ultimately wants to do, but has a full time job that pays the bills and keeps her brain working. Once she figures out what she wants, she plans to figure out what further schooling (or whatever it is that she needs) to get there. </p>
<p>I was just agreeing with another poster that sometimes you just need to concentrate on getting whatever degree it is you can get with the least amount of trouble considering what courses you already have taken. Finding out what will be your life’s work may take years…</p>
<p>First thing she needs to do is pick a different advisor. If she’s not seeing and not working with an advisor she’s not getting any help. Most likely since she is not "declared’ a major she can pick anyone and then when she does declare she can switch to someone in that major, but to try and navigate thiis without an advisor is not a “good” idea. </p>
<p>Maybe explain to her that the college advisor is not the same role as the “guidance counselor” in high schools. I know my S1 rarely if ever talked to a HS guidance counselor, but I’m not sure he could have navigated his way to his majors and his decisions in college without his advisor(s) and he switched from his assigned freshman counselor to a prof he liked to finely this year as a junior one in his major. Majny kids don’t “click” with their first advisor that is preassigned.</p>