<p>Hello, everyone. This is my very first post here, so nice to meet you all. My son is a successful student in an IB program. He is particularly strong in math, but does well overall. We've been quite laid-back about college so far, but it seems that it is time to start doing something about it. I am ready to buy a college guide, but I think the main difficulty at this point is that my son has no idea of what he wants to study. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to deal with this? TIA</p>
<p>Most colleges don't make you declare a major until your junior year - why rush it?</p>
<p>I was in the same boat when I applied to college long, long ago--no idea what I wanted to major in. My solution was to pick colleges strong in many areas--good liberal arts schools that also had strong science departments. That way I could try a lot of different areas without committing myself before I was ready.</p>
<p>Often a small liberal arts school is suggested in cases like this. At LACs, students are able to sample a variety of subjects in small-class settings, and find it easier to interact with students who represent a variety of academic interests. Once a major is declared, it is usually easier at an LAC to get classes in non-major subjects. And usually (but not always, and for a variety of reasons) it is easier to switch majors at an LAC without taking on a fifth year of study.</p>
<p>Regardless, don't be concerned, the vast majority of hs juniors and seniors are uncertain about their college majors and career interests.</p>
<p>Mine will be starting college this fall, and I think we might know his major by next year. In our case, DS came up with a list of about a half a dozen majors, and we looked at colleges/unis where the institution had most of the desired majors, and he would not have to pick a particular college or course of studies early (for example, this meant CMU was off the list). </p>
<p>In some ways, I think this is better than looking for a specific program that may not suit next spring. If you son can narrow the search in some other way (say geographically or size of school) it will be a little easier to find focus. </p>
<p>Good hunting! Find an area where you can visit 3-4 types of schools. Clarity may start to emerge when we visits and starts to picture himself there (or anywhere but there!).</p>
<p>Hell, I'm a senior in college who needs 6 courses in 2 semesters (3 major classes and 3 electives) to graduate, and I still don't know what I want to study. Find a school that matches his non-academic interests, and the rest will come.</p>
<p>He doesn't know? Good. Then he won't pick a school strong in some area that he likes right now, only to find he hates the field by the end of frosh year.</p>
<p>For example, my older brother started at Rose Hulman many years ago, only to find by the end of his first year that he hated engineering. He had to transfer. It would have been much better if he had started college with no idea, as he ended up in an area he never would have expected.</p>
<p>Welcome, Sep07. The "statistics" backing up most of the info you've received here are that something like 50% of the kids who "know" what they want to major in change majors anyway, so not to worry.</p>
<p>Start with what he DOES know - wants small/large, big sports school/small artsy school, urban/rural etc. etc. And - if he doesn't know, which most don't - visit a few "types" as someone suggested which are near you, even if they're not actual possibles, so he begins to form some preferences.</p>
<p>If there is a chance he might want Engineering/Business....., something which a LAC doesn't offer, than choose a uni or one of the LACs which has all these offerings.</p>
<p>This is so common, and changing majors is so common.Pick wisely, a well rounded school with the other attributes he wants will fit the bill.Maybe by this time next year his wants/needs/likes will be clearer.Rising senior
S,my second,is so sure he wants aparticular major which isnt available all over. But I know from #1 D who changed major three times,to be wary .We have narrowed the list to schools with the major and with the other things he wants (size,sports,etc) but with other strong possibilities,just in case.The honing down process for the list was gradual so don't get too crazy over it now.</p>
<p>Sep07,</p>
<p>My daughter is a senior in IB and doing great academically. She has no idea of a career path or major, but she has ruled a few out ;). I've emphasized to her that if she continues to do well, she will leave all options open; if she slacks off, they will be more limited.</p>
<p>As many here have said this process of choosing a college is NOT about what he wants to study really. Make a list of a few criteria that matter to your son....which when you begin thinking may become more clear. I know for me the first criteria were: Ease of travel to/from as in direct airport service and public transport. I had been at a HS that was 1 hour from a major airport, the journey required bus, shuttle or cab. I also like to see baseball and wanted to be near a major league venue and an orchestra. I like foods other than pizza for late nite eating. These seem like small things but it is a great starting point. You may consider weather, recreational such as skiing/beach. Other points for selection can be determined once you get the personal needs list going and you can have a variety of sizes and campus styles on your list. Some kids want to go to giant football games and others don't care. Start with basic personal needs, that is my suggestion. This makes it about your son.</p>
<p>For the reasons that others have listed, his choice of a major is not important now, and really won't be for a couple of years.</p>
<p>What's important, though, is that if there's any chance that he will major in a math or science field, he needs to take a fourth year of math and he also needs to take physics in high school. He needs the math -- even if he has met IB's requirements -- so that he doesn't get rusty between h.s. and college. He needs physics because most students who do well in college physics classes (that are required for probably all science majors) also have taken it in high school.</p>
<p>S realized this info just before senior year, and ended up having to transfer out of our IB program in order to pick up those courses. Physics wasn't an IB course in his program, and he already had tested out of Math Methods.</p>
<p>He's as senior, and is still deciding on his college major, but at least now, he'll be in good shape to major in math or science fields if he decides to go that route.</p>
<p>Sep07, you don't have a problem, you have a wonderful situation!! Too many kids spend hours trying to pick the "best" college for their intended major, and like other posters have said that really should be way down on the list. For one thing, many kids change majors one or more times. And the "fit" of the college is much more important than the rep of the major. The only time this isn't true is if you're considering an impacted major like engineering or performing arts at a large public U; in these cases, often the only way to get into the major is to be accepted as a frosh.</p>
<p>So my advice is concentrate now on finding what type of college is the right fit, and you've got plenty of time to try things on for size. </p>
<p>1) Start by learning more about the whole process. Get 2 or 3 books about college admissions since each author has a different point of view. Start with a book by Loren Pope such as "Colleges that Change Lives" which is tilted towards LACs, and a second book.</p>
<p>2) set expectations. Fill out one of the online financial-aid calculators and see if what it says is what you can pay. Many people are surprised here, and there's no point evaluating $40K/year colleges if financially it just won't work.</p>
<p>3) Investigate. Visit nearby colleges of various types; a large U, a smaller U, a LAC, an urban school, a rural school. Talk to people, take the tour. Begin to develop a feel for what is the right atmosphere.</p>
<p>4) Then, and ONLY then, begin to select colleges. You'll be miles ahead of the rest of the crowd because you'll be picking colleges that fit what YOU want. To many others do just the opposite. They pick some names out of the top 100 or so colleges in the country, the same ones everyone is applying to, and they say "which one should I go to" or words to that effect. Just browse the posts and you'll see what I mean.</p>