My only child DS2018 will be applying this Fall. So I am finally going to jump into this community after getting my big toe wet by reading other posts. I am trying to support and guide him and doing it alone, so I really could join this as a support group. He is a B student and doesn’t want a desk job /career. Time is going by so quickly and he will need to decide very soon. I am thinking CSUs ( we live in California). He is into science. I would like him to go into something that is well paid and good emplyment prospects. I have been doing research on majors and potential careers that may be good for him.
Welcome! If you haven’t already done so, go ahead and introduce yourself in the “Parents of the HS Class of 2018” thread. You’ll find the other parents are very helpful. 
As the parent, have you gotten the financial plan in order so that you know how much you can contribute for his college costs?
I have not. That is partially what is so troublesome. I am researching good career choices and good rate of return for the college investment. I notice RNs have a good rate of return. Even if DS were able to qualify for that competitive program, he behaves as though he is too macho for that when I bring it up.
Also, in regards to DS2018, I have been looking into in state schools and or WUE schools. He wants a fun school such as, SDSU or Cal Poly SLO. Which are both, most likely, a high reach for him.
If I were doing it again I would consider construction management. No idea what the prospects are these days.
Look at the majors at Cal Maritime if he wants to work on a ship: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_University_Maritime_Academy.
Don’t know what job prospects are like for officers and marine engineers, though.
Various CA publics also have forestry majors.
Your son needs to go to a school that fits at least three constraints: (i) He can get accepted; (ii) You can afford to pay for it; (iii) He is comfortable going there. He is going to have to do the work and has to want to do it.
This also applied to his major: He has to pick something that he is comfortable with. As one example: I an aware that an RN degree is a good investment, but there is no way that I would ever do it, or that younger daughter would do it. The issue is the “blood and guts” part of it that would send my daughter and I screaming to the exits in a hurry. Wife and older daughter would be fine with this part of the job.
One issue that will eventually come into this is: Why is he a B student? If he is a B student because he gets A+ in math and C in humanities that might indicate one path, if he gets B in everything because he is bored or doesn’t see the point that might indicate a different path. Nearly all of us are very good at something, but some of us haven’t found out yet what the something is.
I can sympathize with not wanting a desk job. There are quite a few other options, some of which require university and some of which do not.
Make sure that you know what you can afford. Note that if he is a B student in high school, his risk of needing more than 8 semesters is higher, so consider how much you can afford for 9 or 10 semesters (but try to set expectations for 8 semesters initially so that he aims for that).
Nursing is an in-demand profession, and if he has good physical strength, that can be of value when helping moving patients who cannot move themselves. However, it is also an extremely competitive college major, both for frosh direct admission programs (which may have strict progression requirements as well) and for those where one has to compete for admission after enrolling as a pre-nursing student at the college. The “bodily fluids” aspect as mentioned above may also be something to think about.
Yes… things to ponder on and keep me up at night. He seems for some reason that Civil Engineering may be his path. I don’t think he knows enough about that career yet, nor do I. Cal Poly Pomona seems to fit my criteria if he can get in. But, I don’t think he’d be entirely happy there if it is truly a “commuter school”. He likes physics, but I am afraid job prospects may be limited with just a BA in physics. He is sort of a happy go lucky guy that enjoys quality of life over a lot of work. He does do some; however, he values spending time with friends in the outdoors. I would like him to be able to financially support himself one day.
For someone who likes physics (and is good enough at it), at a school that allows for flexibility of majors, a student can enter and take physics and math classes freshman year and then declare for an engineering major after they get a better sense of what each major entails (meeting with advisors and finding out more about different engineering departments at the school). I don’t think the CalPolys and CalStates typically allow for such flexibility, though. But research just to make sure. If the flexibility isn’t there, then some WUE schools may make sense. And look in to NMTech.
He could also consider Earth Sciences or Environmental Science.
A key question is what classes is he getting B’s and C’s in right now in HS?
You might get him The Book of Majors (GC or library may have it). He should look through with post-it’s in hand to mark majors that are very or somewhat interesting to him. Engineering is a tough major for a B student, unless he is stronger than that in math & science.
I don’t think it is necessary to choose a career (for him) right now. He can go to college as an undeclared major and explore a little. With the cost of college, it is natural to want it to be career training, but it is still possible to major in whatever he loves and is good at, learn writing and research skills, and have a good career outcome- without the vocational focus. He can do internships, volunteer or work during college years and summers to further explore career options.
If he prefers practical, hands-on careers, he might want to look into community college for the many job-related degrees and certificates offered there, at least for a time. College can wait for some kids. Not saying he is one of them, but the vocational path does work for many. Also, some schools (Northeastern, Bennington, for starters) have field work terms or coop semesters that give experience in the work world.
His ideas about gender in nursing are outdated. As you probably know. Also many nurses these days don’t have to deal as much with the blood and guts, at least in the wards: there are underlings who do. Physicians assistant programs are competitive. Some school shave EMT and paramedic training.
I think that rather than undergo the pressure of choosing a career that gives return on investment, it might be better to keep that investment down. Community college is increasingly being used for two years, often with guaranteed admission to the state university after meeting certain criteria. CSU’s might be affordable too.
There are many ways to attend college, and he can also take classes while working- at continuing ed, extension,online or adult learner programs. If he wants the traditional residential college experience, finances may be an issue but there are both public and private schools that research may unearth that fit his-and your- needs.
ps the fact that he wants a “fun” school, and that is one of his main criteria, might be fine but might also be worrisome 
If he likes science, how about geoscience or environmrpental science? Lots of field work career opportunities. Oh sorry I see @PurpleTitan already mentioned that. I know UCSC has a good earth science department.
Another career path to possible consider is industrial engineering. It is more hands on and there is a good demand for the degree. You might look for schools that have the first year just as a general engineering program and the students decide after that year what engineering discipline they want to do.
My DD does go to a school that has a “commuter school” reputation and it is true that many of the students do go home on the weekend, at least initially. Her school does have housing for most freshman and a good portion of upperclassmen. She has found a large group of friends that are not from the area or do not go home on the weekends and they do many things on the weekends. Many are off campus such as camping, hiking, participating in clubs. I guess what I am trying to say is look beyond the reputation. Does the campus have significant housing on site? If they do, there will be many students who stay there. Another thing to look at is the surrounding environment. Are there things to do close by that your son would enjoy. My DD wanted a large urban city but with camping/hiking. She found that in Dallas. Don’t automatically toss “commuter schools” because they could be a good fit.
Great that you are here looking for advice and support. Can I just start by saying that you really should not be trying to choose your son’s major? He needs to decide what his college path is, or it is just going to end in resentment and you will be blamed for forcing him into something he doesn’t want to study. If your school has Naviance, he can take the aptitude test that will hope him narrow down areas of interest.
Here is a link you may find useful: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/a-plus
Do a search on CC for various threads that have been around for a long time but are great for B students. One is called “I got in without a 3.7 GPA club” or something like that. Another is called “colleges for the Jewish B student.” Another is called soemthing like “colleges for 3.0-3.4 GPA” or similar.
The best way for,him to,figure out where he has a good chance of getting in is to look at the Common Data Set for any colleges of interest. He can look at GPA and Tests score ranges for all accepted students. His best chances will be at colleges where his GPA and test scores put him in the top 75th percentile. He can take a shot at colleges where his stats are above the 50th percentile. Anything below that is a reach.
- I think the person who posted this wondered if you had looked at your college paying financial constraints in terms of YOU paying...not ROI.
So…do you have a college budget? How much will you be able to contribute annually to,your son’s college education?
Every college has a net price calculator on it. You should plug your numbers into ones for those Cal States your kid ins interested in applying to.
Are you Calgrant eligible? Income would need to be $80,000 or less for that to be the case?
- Please...PLEASE...let your son choose his major. Believe me...he will be able to do so. He has to do,this based on what he LIKES to do and does well. Really...I know your intentions are good, but let this one go...let HIM choose...he is going to college...not you.
Many kids don’t choose their actual major until they are IN college. Many also change majors. That’s really fine. College is a good time to figure this out. He doesn’t have to do this as a 17 year old HS student.
- There is an old saying..."do what you like and you will like what you do". This is very important. If YOU pick a career path for your son...it might very well be something YOU like...but he does NOT like. Do you really want him to work in any career where he doesn't like the type of work...regardless of the rate of return on mypu college payments?
TBH… I would NOT want a nurse caring for me who didn’t want to do this work.
- There are TONS of career opportunities for students interested in the sciences. Tons. LET HIM FIND WHAT INTERESTS HIM.
- You mention he is a B student. What is his ACT or SAT score?
A Physics major would not lock him into any one particular career track. Don’t worry about that just yet.
As suggested above, get a handle on what you can pay. Visit a few of the places that look affordable without loans other than the federal student loans. Check out the commuting-distance community colleges as a back up plan. And encourage your kid to get a summer job. That can go a long way to helping people find focus!
Civil engineering involves some office work, but also involves some work in the field.
Most CSUs have substantial populations of commuters.
Here is the CSU net price calculator: http://www.csumentor.edu/finaid/pais/
Use it to estimate cost and financial aid at the various CSU campuses.