<p>Not my kid, at least not THAT radical, but an old thread has made me wonder- "how many kids start out and finish with the same degree plan?" Thought it might be interesting to everybody but especially to the "younger" set who are debating the strength of various schools their kiddo is considering attending. </p>
<p>My D's mentor advised her to "throw things against the wall and see what sticks". She's doing a pretty good job of it so far.</p>
<p>I'll start. This is in 2 academic years. </p>
<p>Biology/Spanish double major
Biology/Chemistry double major/Spanish minor
Biology/Chemistry double major
Biology/Chemistry double major/possible Religious Studies Minor
Biology major/Religious Studies Minor/possible Chemistry double Major</p>
<p>I think if time were of no consequence she would do all 4.</p>
<p>My just-graduated son knew from age 10 that he wanted to major in computer science. His degree is EE/CS (electrical engineering/computer science), with his focus on CS, not EE.</p>
<p>College sophomore looked for schools with biological engineering (not biomedical engineering). At the end of last year he switched to EE/CS, focusing on CS. He said he will work some bio eng classes in there somewhere.</p>
<p>LOL. She ain’t anywhere yet. There’s still time to screw everything up royally.</p>
<p>My counsel, which has so far gone un-heeded (what’s new?), has been to be a Bio major (her one constant) and take classes in whatever looked cool that semester. OTOH “Ms. Focused” has to have a “plan” although it’s clear that her “plans” (other than Bio) have the life-span of a gnat.</p>
<p>Mine is also starting his junior year and his has looked like this:</p>
<p>Biology major / French minor
Biology major / French and chemistry minors
Biology and math majors / French and chem minors.</p>
<p>The chem minor came about because he realized that after he completed the required classes for the bio major he only needed one more for the minor. The math came a bit out of the blue. He has always liked it and started out with 8 AP credits. He took multivariable calculus just to finish out calc and really liked the class and the teacher so he kept taking classes each semester. One thing led to another. </p>
<p>My 2 older ones were pretty much a straight shot - Music performance for the oldest and biology major / chem minor for the middle one.</p>
<p>I have an exciting major path- lots of changes rather late in the game:
Undeclared
Bio Major
Bio Major, Honors Program Minor
(Study Abroad in London)
English Major, Bio Minor, Honors Program Minor</p>
<p>How about this one:
started
Aero engineering (lifelong dream - NASA)
aero-mech engineering
aero -mech engineering/ “this great program in product design”
Product design/engineering
design/art</p>
<p>2 years off - wasn’t good at art. Epiphany that student was good at sciences (Duh!)</p>
<p>biology
biology/neurosciences</p>
<p>PhD program in Neuro.</p>
<p>They all find their niche. Some just take the scenic route.</p>
<p>My kids are the odd ones. DS entered as a music performance major and is completing his masters degree as a music performance major. DD entered undeclared but took the engineering sequence with the intention of declaring her major as engineering. She’s a junior majoring in engineering. I suppose there is still plenty of time for her to change majors…not.</p>
<p>Of course, what remains to be seen is if either of them gets a job in their college major field.</p>
<p>Funny, Shennie, D2 entered as a likely bio major, but maybe astrophysics, maybe math…took MV calc and explored the next steps and realised she prefers math with one right answer, so no math.</p>
<p>D1 started bio, did not have fun, took up psych, finished both UG degrees, as a matter of pride and is doing psych/cog sci graduate work, dissecting brains this term, so I guess that bio history will come in handy!</p>
<p>Freshman year: Political Science/Philosophy/Liberal Studies majors
Sophomore year: Political Science major
Junior year: Political Science/History major
Senior year (so far): Political Science/History major (looks like the double major will stick this time!)</p>
<p>The funniest thing to us is he’s become a radio sports announcer for his campus station. In fact, they are flying him all expenses paid to the Virgin Islands for a women’s basketball tournament over Thanksgiving. This is the kid who (seriously) watched not one sporting event in the 17 years that he lived with us. Never threw a ball around with Dad, yawned and complained through little sister’s basketball, soccer, swimming events… Oh the irony of life.</p>
<p>I went in thinking I’d be a history and lit major. I hated the first history course I took (though really it was more a history of political theory) and switched to Visual and Environmental Studies. But what I really realized was that I had no interest in being an academic.</p>
<p>Mathson is majoring in computer science and minoring in physics - could have predicted that when he was seven. (Though it was more electronics and circuits back then.)</p>
<p>My mom started college as a chemical engineering major and graduated with a degree in theatre. 20 years later, she went back to school and got a Master’s in Field-Based Mathematics Education.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, I’m on my third week of school and still have the same major as I did going in, so thus far I’m doing pretty well.</p>
<p>The only thing D1 waffled on was the possibility of a double major of PR and Public Policy, and she was headed that way for the first two years. Junior year she switched to a major in PR and minor in public policy, and that’s what she graduated with.</p>
<p>D2 is double majoring in theatre and vocal performance… made it through first year with no changes, and I suspect it will stay that way this year.</p>
<p>Curm - I think it’s not unusual at all for bio majors to contemplate adding on religious studies classes/minors. I think they often get into some of their more advanced bio classes, and they are exposed to stuff that makes them use some critical thinking skills - same with bio majors and ethics classes/minors. I think it makes a great combination. We need people who can think in both realms.</p>
<p>Me:
First semester freshman year: bio major (pre-pharm)/Japanese classes (had extensive study in HS, hated the department, still miss the language a ton!)</p>
<p>Second semester freshman year: bio major/pre-something not pharm</p>
<p>Sophomore year: social work major/psychology major/bio minor</p>
<p>First semester junior year: social work major/psychology major/bio minor/Spanish classes planned for Senior year
All others: TBD!</p>
<p>Like Cur’s D I always need a “plan” and LOVE planning out schedules… The two constants have been bio and my desire to go into some sort of clinical work (just changed from more of a physical emphasis to more of a mental one). I never, ever would have thought I’d wind up as a psych and social work double major when I entered college, though… So maybe for most kids, choosing a college based on a major isn’t exactly a great idea…?</p>
<p>My D still has 2 more years before college and she has been planning (and changing) her intended majors/minors for years! Every time she finds an interesting subject she declares it is going to be one of her majors/minors. I guess it is a good thing, shows she enjoys a lot of things.</p>
<p>D started as Chemistry major. After first semester, she went to Criminal Justice major/Philosophy major and that was the way she graduated. She is employed as a social worker and will be starting a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology.</p>
<p>S started at first college as a CS major. Transferred for second semester freshman year and became a Computer Information Systems major. I expect he will stick with that, unless he should decide to switch to CS.</p>
<p>Curm, all I could think when I saw the thread’s title was how you reacted when you got the phone call: “Dad, forget med school. I’m on my way to New York City with stars in my eyes!” LOL</p>
<p>My D started out last year as a freshman in bioengineering. Second semester freshman year, switched to Bio. Now, still a Bio major, but we’ve added a Chem minor (only needs one class for the minor), Art minor (had several art AP credits that were good towards this) and ITALIAN minor. Also we are filling requirements for premed as we go along. And we’re playing club rugby and riding on the equestrian team, and an officer in student honor council.</p>
<p>I get exhausted just listening to her sometimes! But she is loving life right now, and sounds so happy.</p>
<p>ITALIAN! We’re not Italian, we’ve never been to Italy…</p>