I talked earlier in one of my forums about struggling to find a STEM major that could make my parents happy. Related to that, this year, I took an intro chemistry course with a lab, an astrophysics seminar. I struggled with both (C+ in Chem though since first semester is pass/fail, it shows up on my transcript as ‘pass’) and my dad was unhappy that I took the seminar, which is pass/fail, instead of a ‘harder’ class. I also took Calculus 115 (the equivalent of AB Calculus) and Econ 101. In Econ 101, I liked learning about the theories and applying them to the restaurant job I have. However, I struggled with the math portion, which very poorly affected my grade (B- and C- on my midterms). With both classes, I had an assigned tutor I met with once a week and I went to group tutoring sessions to go over homework, so it wasn’t like I wasn’t trying.
Though I really liked my political science class on the War on Terror. That’s the only class where I think I will get a B+ or A- in. I also did very well in my Spanish class, though I don’t know if I want to major or minor in it.
I don’t know how to tell my parents that I can’t major in STEM since I’m not interested in any of the fields and because they don’t make me interested and because I clearly struggle in them, even with help. Yet I’m worried about majoring in political science not only because my parents won’t ‘approve’ (unfortunately, they’re footing my entire tuition) but because I’m worried that I won’t get a job with it right out of college with one (I don’t want to become a lawyer).
However, I got into the CFA Institute Investment Foundations Program for free this summer, which means that I’m going to learn about asset management, and an internship for a strategic communications agency where I’ll be doing PR/Marketing work. Will that be enough?
BTW I go to Wellesley College and I’m a freshman.
Does your college’s career center do career counseling or aptitude testing that would help you decide what type of career you would be suited for? That might help you decide on a major that you would enjoy and do well in. If you’re not a quantitative-type person and you struggle with science courses, a STEM path is probably not right for you. It might be easier to tell your parents you don’t want to do STEM if you had done testing and career counseling, you have a good idea of what you DO want to study, and you have information about what that course of study might prepare you for. Asset management might be tough if you are not comfortable with numbers (and the tests to become a CFA are not easy), but an internship in PR/Marketing will at least give you an idea if that’s something you’d enjoy and be good at.
You will need to take more econ if you are planning a career in finance. You say you didn’t do well because of the math, but the math in econ 101 tends to be just algebra and you are already studying calculus. Perhaps you will have better luck in your next econ class. Students often enjoy the econ classes that come after the required introductory classes.
Congrats on a great summer program!
I know plenty of recent grads who majored in Poli Sci. All are gainly employed and self supporting (not on a lawyer track!). Keep getting work experience and building that resume. Wellesley also has a strong alumni network so don’t be afraid to use it.
Also, don’t be afraid to use the career center for help in assessing your strengths and aptitudes to give you some rough ideas on careers that might be a good match for you.
Do what you love…and love what you do.
Perhaps after this summer internship, you will,have a better picture of what you want to do.
Concentrate on knocking off your distribution requirements and if your parents ask why you aren’t loading up on more science talk about your advisor and how everyone has to do these distribution requirements and it’s best to do this now so you can leave space in the junior and senior year for study abroad, independent study, and research opportunities etc…
If they ask about your major now tell them “Wellesley doesn’t allow you to declare a major until the end of Sophomore year.” Do plant the seeds in their brains that you do not enjoy or feel comfortable with the science classes and that you were very inspired in your Poli Sci class (Wellesley has a very strong department there). Let them know it’s one of the most popular majors. Be honest about it but don’t fight. Stall for now. They may need time to absorb the information and become comfortable with the new direction, so give them that.
As for you in your own mind, do not worry about it yet. You have time.
When my D was at Wellesley, Econ 101 was her lowest grade (C-?). She went to study groups, office hours, everything, but it was just really hard.
She got permission to take the equivalent of Econ 102 at the local university at home the summer after her freshman year. She got an A. Econ is just a lot harder at Wellesley.
She had initially planned to be an International Relations major, but decided to switch to History because of the Econ.
She graduated with a respectable GPA and is gainfully employed. She’s never regretted attending Wellesley and loved her time there, but it was very demanding academically.
If a person did really well in high school Econ (AP scores in both macro and micro = 5), would you recommend she retake Econ 101 and 102 at Wellesley forgoing the AP credits, or would you recommend she use the credits, skip Econ 101/102, and progress to the later classes in the major?
In other words, would the later classes be too hard if you don’t take Econ 101 and 102 at Wellesley? Do you learn a lot more in Econ 101/102 at Wellesley than you would have learned in a very strong high school program? Are AP 5’s enough preparation for the later classes?
(At any school) A lot of kids who “place out” of intro classes drown in the next level up–I did in both math and foreign language back in my day. I just want to give good advice to my D. Is it worth skipping Econ 101?
@doschicos I have a quick off-topic question – the recent grads in poli sci, did they do graduate school or stop at a bachelor’s?
The ones I’m thinking of have not continued on to graduate school yet. Recent grads in the past year or two. I’m sure some might at some point, @bodangles.
I know it’s hard to get some parents off the STEM bandwagon because they think it is the only route to a good job. But you can major in almost anything and still find work after you graduate. Poli sci majors learn good writing and critical thinking, skills that are valuable in many workplaces. You don’t have to go to law school or run for office to use a poli sci degree.
I think @redpoodles’ advice to get the distribution requirements out of the way first is very sound. This will buy you time, but it will also allow you to explore other humanities classes that might lead to a major.
You could always not tell them.
@redpoodles - I’m not sure what to advise you. My D (who struggled mightily in Econ 101) took regular Economics in HS; her HS did not offer AP Econ. Her Econ 101 class at Wellesley was at a totally different level than her Econ 102 class at another university.
Since my D never met a Wellesley class that wasn’t rigorous, I’d probably take both classes at Wellesley and not use AP credit to skip them, if she plans to take more advanced Econ classes.
But she might want to speak with someone in the Econ department specifically.