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My son is just starting on this quest of deciding on what he wants to do and the best major to pursue and then determining which school would be best suited for his choice.
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<p>IMO, that's a backwards approach. Fact is, most college students don't decide what to major in until sophmore year and don't decide "what to do" until sometimes years after that. It's pretty much a waste of time to ask a high school student to pick a career (or major). After all, what do they have to base it on? High school math? AP English? How could a teenager decide, for example, to spend the rest of his life as an engineer before every having taken a college level course in engineering?</p>
<p>Think more broadly. Think about the type of colleges -- by visiting a large state U, a mid-size private U, and a small undergrad college. Visit urban schools. Rural schools. Think about West coast or East coast. Climate. Type of campus culture. Frats and drinking? More academic and geeky? </p>
<p>Get the big picture stuff right. Look at college as a way to explore various fields and figure out what he enjoys and has an aptitude for. The majors and careers will take care of themselves.</p>
<p>The point that confuses me, Chuck, and I'd guess many other parents who have responded to your query is why is your son even looking at Yale when you don't qualify for need based aid and you don't want to pay tuition? </p>
<p>Do you mean you may be willing to pay for some schools but not others? Nothing wrong with that as it's your decision, but it's impossible to make a reasonable list without knowing your financial parameters.</p>
<p>Be very careful with choosing colleges based on specific programs unless you are totally sure. I was convinced that I wanted to do International Relations while searching for colleges last summer until I realized that it wasn't truly what I wanted and that I wanted all of my options open. I've seen many of my friends change their majors COMPLETELY from one subject to another...one friend based all of his decisions on wanting to do business undergrad and then wanted to do theater. So I totally agree to look for location, academic, and social fit first before scouting out programs. Because if you're happy somewhere, a great program will just be icing on the cake.</p>
<p>I think we decided to only consider larger schools that offer many options or an LAC for a good all around education as a basis for graduate school. I still think he is looking at a larger school away from Kentucky and near or in a big city. </p>
<p>Yes I cant see myself paying 50g a year for college. Thats why the search for a grasp on realistic merit scholarships. He did not contact Yale. They sent the unsolicited letter he got yesterday. We have no idea why he got the letter unless they have access to his ACT scores and his name on the states athletic roster. I suspect its a fishing letter that was sent out to thousands. I was only asking to get insight from somebody who may actually know. We are still trying to learn the the game. Also wondering if these schools have outside scholarships that are not need based that help gain athletes or students they want?</p>
<p>More info, he asked me today if I thought he could shadow a lawyer for a day to see what its like. Good idea but i told him that there are so many areas of law. Being a big corporate lawyer, defense lawyer, prosecutor or the local guy who does title searches,deeds, wills, divorces etc is vastly different. </p>
<p>He wants to be able to earn big money so he thinks he needs to go to a top 10 law school if he goes that route. So picking the undergraduate school is important in that respect. </p>
<p>The money is why he doesnt want to go for a science major. Today his AP calculus teacher said he should look at a science major. Does anybody have any input as to the sciences and earnings? Need some bait to at least get him looking that direction.</p>
<p>I am trying to get through to him that how much money you make wont give the satisfaction in life like enjoying what you do and feeling like you have made a difference to society in a positive way.</p>
<p>I also considered law for the money aspect. Then, I did a few internships and decided it just wasn't really the career I wanted to take. I'm still thinking about it, but i'd much rather teach law than practice it. Either way, law school is on hold for now. For some reason, every lawyer I've ever met has always said the same thing - "how come you don't want to go to med school?" Regardless, certainly go for the law shadowing thing. </p>
<p>If he cares alot about money, tell him to look into Investment Banking ... with a BS degree he can most likely pump in 6 figures for his first year. Unfortunately, he'll also have to put in 3 figures a week for hours and will probably be burned out after 2-3 years as an analysis. Great money though!</p>
<p>It's true that lawyers can make some great money out of college, though competition is very tough for the top firms and law school students usually accumulate heavy debts. </p>
<p>I don't know much about science majors to start off ... but, academics are a great profession. I'd love to be a university professor, great money, great hours, easy summers, tenure after so long. It's just you'll have to stay in college for quite a while to get that degree. </p>
<p>Perhaps try to look into some career options at vault.com or other sites. Either way I still suggest that you check that "undecided" box when picking a major.</p>
<p>a77- When he heres that it may make him think. We talked about options over dinner and he is still considering Engineering. That stat answers a question i was thinking but afraid to ask. Thank you </p>
<p>gomestar- I almost went to Law school myself but when I considered what they actually did, writing & reading details over & over I decided not to go and stayed in business for myself. The investment banking may be exciting for a time. Teaching is a pretty good gig and I thought about doing it myself. If something happens with my business I may go the teacher route for fullfillment. Professor is the ultimate position in that field. I appreciate your response.</p>
<p>Mike- I not only will have my son read those links but I have to say they were very applicable to my own life. I am 45 and what he says is right on. Money aint everything. I am evaluating the essence of the content myself. Thank you for links and response. </p>
<p>My freshman son was searching college web pages tonight. That was encouraging.</p>
<p>The junior who got the letter from Yale about playing football has his mind set on playing football for Yale now. I tried to explain this was most likely a fishing letter going out to thousands. I tried to explain he is putting too much into that letter. I am afraid he is for a let down. I explained he would still have to pay the 48k a year. He thinks if I will pay 20k a year, and he has 30k in a 579 fund that he would just borrow the rest. I tried to explain that would put him about 90k in debt when he graduated not even considering graduate school. I am hoping he will eventually see the best route which I think is going to merit school and if no football scholarship then an academic one and walking on for football. If Yale gave football scholarships I would say go for it. Can anybody shed some light on whether there are outside scholarships, like from alumni or booster groups, for athletes at IVY schools. </p>
<p>Too bad we dont live in NY. Cornell seems like a good fit for him. My cousin went there also. The instate tuition is reasonable to me.</p>
<p>What 17 year old knows what they want to do with 100% certainty? he is perfectly normal. that why i am such a big fan of LAC. It gives you time to explore and still have a top notch degree whatever the field.</p>
<p>Why does that make you a fan of LACs, out of all things? LACs are small, and by definition they offer a minimal amount of academic programs and majors. Your reasoning only applies if "whatever the field" is only in the liberal arts, because most LACs only have majors in the liberal arts. What if you find out in a LAC that your passion in, say, business, pharmacy, engineering/technology, agriculture, nursing, or other non-liberal-arts fields? Too bad, because most LACs don't offer them. Hell, many LACs don't even offer less-common fields in the liberal arts, such as archeology. Your logic seems to fit larger schools much better, as they tend to have much more academic offerings to explore.</p>
<p>Now he wants to know if I researched Boston College. The tuition is just like the Ivy's and I couldnt find any info on merit scholarship. BC football team is probably way above the level of play my son can attain. Of course we still have a year to see.</p>