As the mom of a college freshman who spent my dd’s jr and sr yrs’ of high school helping her find colleges that fit our bduget that offered a Russian major, I don’t think Russian is an obscure, nebulous field requiring a a longshot PhD for employment. My dd also toyed with the idea of linguistics, but after taking both lingutistics and econ her sr yr, she decided that she wanted to puruse econ as a path with her languages vs. linguistics.
What draws your dd to Russian? Does she know? My dd was young when she fell in love with the language, so there wasn’t initially much behind it other than she wanted to learn a language with a different alphabet. But once she started studying it, she fell in love with the beauty of the language and its grammar intensity.
I have absolutely no clue what she will end up doing in the future. She loves languages. She is very strong in math, but doesn’t care for math itself. She is, however, really enjoying an accounting class she is taking this semester. Who knows? I sure don’t. After all our focus on Russian, maybe she’ll end up an accountant!! B-) But, regardless, Russian will always be something she glad she studied even if her actual career takes her in a different direction. But when it came to applying to colleges, it is what controlled every decision. And who knows, it may still end up being what she pursues. 18 is a long way from knowing life’s answers.
The best advice you can give your dd is that college isn’t about just going to class and grades. It is about making the most of the opportunities that are offered. The students that are meeting professors, finding research opportunities, actively pursuing internships, etc…those students are the ones that are forming their careers and exploring their options before college graduation. Those are the students that will be employed .
For learning Russian, also consider NSLI-Y, a government funded, full merit-based program for studying languages abroad. They offer both summer and academic year programs. The academic year program could be a good gap year option with very minimal costs. I believe applications are now open for 2018.
I really appreciate everyone who took the time to reply. A couple of years ago my daughter became fascinated with Japanese and Russian and started teaching herself both. Her hobbies are dog agility and confirmation handling. She briefly considered speech-language, physical therapy, teaching (no Japanese or Russian in most high schools). She has no interest in computers and business sounds boring to her (computational linguistics or international business). Our budget is capped at Rutgers price ($33,000 per year) and with no chance of aid, it eliminates most private programs. After reading your suggestions, I think I’ll have her apply undecided and hope she finds her way!
Why do you think she has no chance of aid?
33k is a good budget, quite generous - add some work earnings and the federal loans and she’s got 40k to work with. (A lot of colleges have small merit scholarships that don’t make a sufficient sent in a 15k budget, but will totally bridge the gap between 40k and final costs).
She wouldn’t get any merit and wouldn’t get into Rutgers honors, but there are lots of possibilities. Run the NPC on colleges listed here and check out graduation rates as well as points of strength (you want a college with strong advising -IE., personal advisers starting at orientation, not random adviser in CLA- + strength in the humanities + career center that offers internships and support to humanities majors.
I wonder why you characterize your daughter as “frozen” in the title of this thread. I pictured a dire scenario when I read that title. Your daughter seems more directed than many kids her age, frankly. I don’t think you need to worry. But I would reflect on why you used that word in your thread title, since it really does seem to indicate some sort of fear on your part that reality does not support
If your D is interested in linguistics she is ALREADY interested in computers, she just doesn’t know it yet. There are hundreds of companies right now working in areas related to language acquisition, how humans develop speech patterns, how speech gets dispersed across geography and generations, etc. It has profound applications to the future of artificial intelligence. And likewise for business- if all your D knows is what most HS kids see- retail, credit cards, car insurance-- that’s “business”- she has no idea about the fascinating ways that a fluency in Russian could be applied to business. (I sat on a plane recently next to someone who is in the business of provenance verification- an expert in a particular field of art history who works for an insurance company trying to prove or disprove the chain of custody of works of art going back to when they were initially created- i.e. was the work stolen? sold? seized by the Nazis? taken during a war and plundered? legitimately held by the current owner who is trying to sell it? THIS is a business career!)
The student can do well at a small college. General intelligence, aptitude, and specific skills (language, statistics, coding, GIS, research and writing, etc.) are background for subsequent choices and decisions about a career. Back in the day, I attended a small LAC (Reed), studied Russian and German (after studying Spanish in middle and high school) and majored in social sciences – along with satisfying the core requirements in science, math, the humanities, and so on. I did go on to a PhD and an academic career. But that path has become more difficult since then because of what’s happening in the academic marketplace.
The OP’s daughter will not be handicapped in her future career options by attending an LAC. She doesn’t need majors that largely focus on skills appropriate to specific occupations. But she should look for LAC’s that can allow students a variety of options, including study abroad or practical work or experience in a skill area during summers, so that when they graduate they have some demonstrated skills that are either marketable or give her credibility when looking for a job or a graduate program.
Added: I didn’t drive either of my children to an academic career. But they had interests and ambitions that they pursued in college and beyond – with a variety of career adjustments. One of them did get advanced degrees (MS, MBA – after having earned a BFA) and I advised her not to pursue a PhD in her field. The other used his core skills in writing and math, and built career that was more related to his long-time hobbies and interests than to anything he learned in college. But college (BA) did enhance his skills and credentials; and a year studying abroad also broadened his experiences and knowledge.
Whatever she decides to choose for a major, it seems important to keep her on pace to graduate in 4 years.
The best way to try to achieve that is to have a 4 year plan that meets all of the requirements from the beginning. Then, you can adapt/update/revise it every semester. It is going to change but you still know whether you are on track.
Too many students don’t do this. They when it is too late, they are further from finishing in 4 years than they thought.
Lots of good comments here. One point worth mentioning is that, right or wrong, it is nearly impossible to live one’s life with financial independence these days without a college degree. Many jobs that don’t seem like they should require the degree, still DO require that 4-year college degree. So to me, the only question is: should your daughter go to college now or wait? And the answer to THAT question is also clear, given that the odds of completing the 4 year degree are much lower for those who put off starting college (unless it is a planned one-year deferral). Even in that case, it is best to apply now and then once admitted, ask for a deferral.
So – my best advice is:to go to college on the traditional time frame. Do not worry at all about going in undeclared. Remember that if she finds herself behind the four-year plan, she can take summer classes at a local community college.
Of the three colleges listed, Rutgers seems best given its name recognition.
Just want to say the Linguistics department at Rutgers is a top notch, and there are many jobs and opportunities one can obtain with a linguistics/undergraduate degree. It is perhaps more versatile than a straight psych degree. To give some examples from an undergrad Ling major (who took some psych and computer science courses along the way) – I worked teaching English in both the United states and abroad, worked at a major international corporation in the their computer networks division, worked for a non-profit helping Russian immigrants find jobs, and had opportunities at internet start-ups if I had been willing to move to Silicon Valley (as many of peers did).
Furthermore, my background in linguistics prepared me to enter a top doctoral program in psychology, and would have allowed me to go on to law school (legal and linguistic reasoning are highly correlated), professional programs in speech pathology or other professional fields, educational fields such as a Masters in teaching, higher ed, technical writing, etc.
Skills in foreign languages are also in high demand currently. You can train up employees to do a lot of things, but fluency in language takes a lot of time and exposure, so corporations typically have to hire with that already in place.
Thank you for your reply and the detailed response regarding your linguistics background. I’m certainly not opposed to my dd going on to grad school if she chooses but would prefer she chooses a major that doesn’t require it for success. I believe she will start as undecided and go from there. She has been crying and upset daily at the thought of not knowing what she wants you do and unwilling to start applications. Everyone here advising that she could apply undecided and still make it out in time has helped. She attends a high school with kids who’s parents often have advanced degrees and are competitively crazy. I think hearing her friends talk constantly about having their whole lives mapped up is what paralyzed her. This takes a bit of a load off!
Hugs to her! Tell her that many, many kids who think they have their lives mapped out now will end up changing majors in college. There is nothing wrong with giving yourself time to grow before making decisions. She is being smart about this!
@3irishgirls I actually entered my undergrad program as a microbiology major, switched to linguistics late sophomore year, and then ended up with a doctorate in psychology. Most people I knew also switched majors. Even if she decides to apply with a major, it is very very easy to switch at a place like Rutgers, assuming she is not in a pre-professional program.
So please tell your daughter that she is not at all unusual, and she WILL find her passion. Just, if the passion ends up being linguistics, keep in mind that is not such a bad choice. I would caution students much more about doctoral programs in linguistics – a Ph.D. in ling is not so marketable.
In terms of majoring in Russian and fluency, it would be worthwhile noting the graduation level objectives of the individual depts. Russian is not the same as say French or Spanish. Intermediate to advanced-low level profiency was the graduation goal of the vast majority of schools we researched. I glanced through Rutger’s website, and it is really comparable to the vast majority of depts that we investigated:
If you think in terms of functional to proficient to fluent, that middle area is the level of most dept goals.
Professional level fluency in Russian in 4 yrs will take serious dedication and most likely a yr abroad. I am not posting that to be discouraging, b/c it is absolutely possible. But dabbling in Russian as a major vs. being dedicated to it will lead to very different outcomes for most students. If she is really interested in Russian, I would encourage her to study abroad bc it will make all the difference.
I have read again and again that having life mapped out prematurely creates rigidity and misses opportunities that present themselves to those who are more flexible. There is a term, “wise wandering,” that I read in the context of post-graduation, but the same applies to your daughter’s situation.
Honestly, it is absolutely fine to be undecided. Where is her guidance counselor in all this?
And just want to add that it is still true for many that college is not vocational training. A college education can create generalists who can read, write, analyze, research and have many other skills applicable to many jobs.
ps I do not agree that everyone should go to college, profdad, and know kids who have done fine without. Instead of saying everyone needs to go to college, let’s support real vocational training and apprenticeships. Sorry to create a tangent.
My first kid never wavered from his college major,and career choice. He is a freelance musician…with a masters degree.
The second kid applied to and enrolled as undeclared. Sometime at the beginning of her sophomore year, she declared engineering as her major. She then switched to the college of engineering. But wait. She decided engineering really wasn’t the field for her…but also decided to complete the major. She picked up a second major in the College of Arts and Sciences…biology.
Still…she graduated college without a clear vision of what she wanted as a career. So…she applied to and did a two year Peace Corps assignment. During that time, she sort of figured out what she wanted to do. When she came home, she did a three year EMT employment…and is now in professional,school.
My point being…even the best laid plans…can change. Your daughter needs to hear that you support her attending college as a place to further her education…and develop a interests.
There are thousands of different kinds of jobs out there. More than you will ever even know exist. There is no major that requires graduate school. If you go to school and study what interests you, you can a find a job with a bachelor’s that is either related to your major, or not. A good education allows you flexibility, teaches you how to learn and be ready for a changing future.
Several LACs that could offer merit to meet your budget come to mind here in Ohio, I know some in PA - neither too far form home in NJ for you. College of Wooster? Denison? Ohio Wesleyan? Albright? Maybe Lehigh, Ursinus, Juniata…
Students don’t generally declare a major before the end of sophomore year at LACs. You’d want to look into how much Russian if offered, and Japanese if she wants that too, but I suspect many will have enough. The womens colleges could be great too, Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke or Smith - if any offer merit (sorry not up on if they do or don’t).
