<p>Thanks achat. I appreciate your comments. We are very anxious to see where it takes him!</p>
<p>I was conflicted about the whole topic.</p>
<p>OTOneHand I am quite aware that many students major in liberal arts and do quite well financially. Either eventually going into advertising, marketing, other fairly lucrative fields - or going into less lucrative fields but ones where they can still make a living. </p>
<p>OTOH I know my DD. She is not wild about business. She is not particularly outgoing - more nerdy, quirky thoughtful (and that is what drew her to an interest in liberal arts). She also has a knack for figuring spatial things out. Her CAD teacher said she would be a natural engineer. </p>
<p>When she was a sophomore I had what I thought was a balanced, and realistic discussion with her about what she could do with a liberal arts degree, from professional school (the whole gamut from law school to MSW or rabbi school) to marketing/sales/advertising to NGOs to HS teaching. Or to going for a Phd and academia. Or the Foreign Service, or the CIA. We came to the conclusion that IF she were to major in liberal arts, it would be very useful to someone like her to have a vocationally oriented back up, like a comp sci minor. This was before she had taken the CAD class. I think I made it clear though, that we would be supportive whatever she chose to major in. We didn’t want to determine her major - we DID want her to think through the implications of any given major, and to know herself. </p>
<p>By senior year she had decided on architecture as the major AND field she wanted. Still using that visual-spatial strength, but with more artsiness than engineering. She was admitted to RPI and will be a B Arch. She was disappointed in RPIs relative weakness in liberal arts, but is glad at least they have phil, psych, and anthro. She will be doing a gap year in Israel, and we have decided to deem that the equivalent of a minor in Jewish Studies. </p>
<p>Architecture is hardly lucrative. But it is at least “marketable” (in normal times) and I think a good match to DDs personality and skills. She is realistic about what her lifestyle will be on graduation. </p>
<p>So I cannot disapprove, and will be supportive in any way I can be.</p>
<p>She may yet change her mind. If she does, I will be supportive in that. (and yes, if she decides to become an anthro major, I will strongly suggest she consider a minor that could be a back up)</p>
<p>I approved of my S theater major but ONLY if he did something else in addition theater. He’s double majoring in theater and communications with an emphasis in film and media studies.</p>