<p>I always think I have found the perfect path for me in life, with the major I'll love leading to a great job. But the thing is...I can never quite understand what I want my major to be. My parents wanted me to be a doctor and I actually went along with that until a few months back where I decided engineering is my passion. Specifically aerospace as I basically grew up in awe of planes and flying rc planes. And to add to aerospace engineering, I actually do enjoy math and science.</p>
<p>Now I'm rethinking my major again as look at what I am best at. Although my overall GPA is a 3.77. I have gotten a C and B- in a math class before (Both in Honors Geometry freshman year). Also I have seen my ACT score today and noticed that my math score isn't in the range for certain engineering schools.</p>
<p>For example, at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign the average ACT is from a 30 to 33. My composite of a 32 suits this. However the average math score is a 31 to 35 and my math scores of a 30 does not meet this. And let me note that the 31 is the 25th percentile at U of I.</p>
<p>Basically by going into engineering I'm lowering my chances and I'm not doing something I'm best at. I would safely say that I am good at math, but I am better at other subjects.</p>
<p>As of right now I'm considering going into finance because I know I would like it and be good it (A+ in AP Econ) </p>
<p>I'm very conflicted about what to do, thank you for any input!</p>
<p>Finance and economics can be heavily mathematical as well. Indeed, economics majors going to graduate school in economics may need to take more math than most engineering majors.</p>
<p>Ok good point, probably should have researched that one before posting but, I guess a sort of general question I have is, should I be going into something that I know my past doesn’t reflect strongly of? And also, should I be worried if it comes to college apps and my weakest point is what I plan on majoring in?</p>
<p>TenMore, you’re still in high school, right? </p>
<p>Do yourself a HUGE favor and quit spending so much effort trying to decide what you should major in. I think it is much better not to know yet. That is what the first year or two of college should be about. There are majors and careers you’ve never heard of. You are going to change a LOT in the next three years (I’m assuming you’re a junior in hs). You will learn things about yourself, what you are good at and what you like that you do not now know. </p>
<p>I hate it that there is so much pressure on 16 year old kids to decide what they are going to be/do with their lives. They are pressured by high school teachers and counselors, college applications and worst of all, scholarship applications to figure out, and write about, their future careers now. Very few kids are going to stick with their junior-year-in-high-school plans. The whole system is ridiculous in that regard. </p>
<p>I know a FEW kids have a clear passion or gift that should obviously be the foundation for a career. But for most kids that is not the case and that is OK–you’ll figure it out in college.</p>
<p>I agree with scubasue. Don’t worry about your major right now, just take classes and try to see what you enjoy the most. </p>
<p>I went into my CC thinking I wanted to be a psychology major, so I volunteered at a rehab center and took psychology classes. I soon realized that route wasn’t for me and ran through a gambit of major selections (i.e. psychobiology, neuroscience, bio engineering, pure math, physics) before I ended up choosing aerospace engineering. </p>
<p>I am now transferring out to Cal Poly SLO in the Fall being 100% sure I am want to study aerospace engineering because I worked on some engineering projects that I absolutely loved. Chances are you may go through something similar to this, so just keep working hard and it’ll work out in the end.</p>
<p>If you enjoy math, and are unhappy with your ACT score, then retake the ACT! Do some solid prep, and take it again. Most students take the test more than once.</p>
<p>And if you think you might want to do engineering, then apply to colleges where you’d be able to do that . . . but where it wouldn’t be your only option. In other words, if you’re not sure about engineering, then don’t apply to “XYZ Engineering School.” Find schools where you could major in engineering, but where it would be easy to switch out of engineering and major in English instead, if you find you don’t enjoy engineering. At some schools, that’s possible. At other schools, it’s not.</p>
<p>What HS year are you in? You can always re-take the ACT, or try to SAT, to see if your math score can improve. How have you done in other math classes, e.g. Algebra II, Pre-Calc? Geometry is quite different from the other math classes. </p>
<p>A 30 math ACT score is high enough to consider an engineering major, although probably not at the most selective Universities. It is also high enough to major in econ or finance at most schools, but keep in mind that those subject require a lot of math. I tend to agree with the others upthread that there is no need to be stressed now about deciding what your major will be. Lots of college students change their mind partway through. Make sure to apply to schools which offer a wide variety of majors, e.g. avoid purely “tech” schools.</p>
<p>You’re going to change your mind multiple times between now and college, and even during college. You shouldn’t even be thinking about a college major right now… take time to enjoy the present, it won’t always be there!</p>
<p>If you are looking for a summer engineering program, and you’re in the U of Il area (you mentioned U of Il) look into Rose Hulman’s Operation Catapult. Rose Hulman (in Indiana) only offers engineering, but it’s a great way to check it out. S1 participated in Operation Catapult between junior and senior year. It’s a three week program. Very reasonably priced for three weeks. S1 originally wanted to study physics, but wanted to see how engineering fit… now he’s finishing up his freshman year at a small LAC with a major in economics and a minor in math (not declared yet… but that’s where he’s aiming). Keep your options open… make sure the school you choose has what you are interested in, plus other options in case you change your mind.</p>
<p>There are two separate issues. Getting into engineering school and doing well once you get there. </p>
<p>A 30 is good enough to get in somewhere good. If not UIUC, then Purdue. However, make no mistake, for engineering, mathematics is your basic toolbox. You want to master algebra 2, precalculus and calculus and I mean every morsel of it. Don’t worry so much about Geometry unless you really want UIUC and plan to retake the ACT. </p>
<p>Instead of worrying about your scores, just make a special effort to learn math better. If that means getting a tutor if your only getting a B so be it. </p>
<p>I think you should go for what fascinates you.</p>
<p>Honestly, you really don’t have to be that good at Math to be successful in engineering. It’s a bit exaggerated. You shouldn’t be terrible at math, but you really don’t have to be good at it either. Perhaps you have to be good at math to be exceptional, but to merely be successful I don’t think so. A 30 on math is kinda low, but it’s probably good enough to indicate that you can do it if you want to. </p>
<p>However, I am not Aero and I think Aero has more math than what I study so I could be a bit off.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for the advice, it is well appreciated and very helpful.</p>
<p>To respond to someone’s questions, yes I am a junior now.</p>
<p>And also to respond to this “I think you should go for what fascinates you.”</p>
<p>That would definitely be geography because love understanding the cultures around us and the earth we live in. The issue is, though, that I would not be able to get the job associated with geography that I would like. I would also not be able to get a job that pays as well too. I’m picking a major for the money…if I did I would go political science…but when it comes to a $30,000 difference in the starting salary, I think that makes a major impact. The professions associated with geography that do pay well usually require a lot of writing, like the profession of a professor. As you probably assumed, I do not writing.</p>
<p>But back to the discussion on math, I am currently getting an A- in AP Calc (AB) so I would believe I have the skills for engineering…it just bothers me that I don’t truly like the subject like I do others, like geography and econ. </p>
<p>However, you guys are right, I still have a lot of time to explore my options. If I don’t get into the college of engineering at U of I, I hope to at least get into general studies and I 'll explore my options there.</p>
<p>Go look at IIT in Chicago; it’s a sleeper school that doesn’t get much coverage here, but is likely the equal of UIUC in overall educational experience because it’s smaller, in Chicago with great alumni network and internship sponsorship, and in Chicago rather than the cornfields of UC. In engineering, it really, really doesn’t matter what engineering school you go to, particularly if you intend to remain within the school’s “home-region”. I know several folks who went from IIT to Ivy grad schools too.</p>
<p>Go look at Rose-Hulman in Indiana too, but I think IIT offers more “bang for the buck”.</p>
<p>If you are not sure about engineering, but still intrigued you might want to apply to engineering at schools where it’s easy to switch to the regular college if it turns out to be a bad fit. If you have a chance to participate in some engineering type activities (summer camps, robotics etc.) that might also give you a better idea of how good a fit it is. But please do pay attention to what your gut is telling you. I’m sitting right now with my best friend from high school whose son realized his senior year of college that actually he loves training people and teaching, but really doesn’t love engineering though he’s perfectly competent. He’s finishing out his engineering degree, but looking for teacher training positions as we speak. He’d have an easier path if he’d figured this all out a little sooner!</p>
<p>Ten: it seems like you are interested in lots of areas of study. In your two posts you mentioned that you were interested in: aerospace engineering, engineering, math, geography, finance, political science, and economics. I’d second the suggestions above–apply to a university that has a wide range of liberal arts and science courses along with an engineering school. Washington University and Tufts University are two places that fit the bill. </p>
<p>If you’re ACT math scores are low–it’s pretty easy to do some prep and retake the exam. Finally, you don’t have to know exactly what you want to study right now either–you’re still in high school. Give yourself time and follow your interests/passions. Why not enroll in a summer engineering program to see if it really is what you want to do?</p>
I completely agree with the first sentence above. Avoid tech schools, and look for schools which offer and are strong in a wide range of subjects.</p>
<p>While WashU and Tufts certainly both meet that criteria, they are very reachy schools. And econ at WashU is very mathematical - my son is a junior there, and even with a 35 math ACT score, found the econ major too mathematical for his tastes and dropped from a econ double major to an econ minor (in addition to a poli sci major). UIUC is a great choice. Be sure to apply to a range of safety, match, and reach schools. </p>
<p>Also, don’t give up on geography if that is what you are interested in. Have you done any programming? There are lots of opportunities in GIS. </p>
<p>It’s great that you have a lot of interests - be sure to explore during your college years to find out what you most want to do. I don’t advise people to go into engineering just for the money. You have to really love engineering-style problem solving to succeed in engineering. Econ or finance might be more to your liking.</p>
<p>I agree with advice above to explore. There are far more ways to incorporate what you love into what you do than you can imagine. Also, as you go through college and have the opportunity to experience some of the subjects that interest you, you will probably realize that some of them are really not for you in terms of actually making a living in the field. (There are plenty of people out there who enjoy and get satisfaction out of reading history throughout their lives, but who do not wish to become historians, just to pick one example. The same thing might well be true for a person who is interested in flight.) </p>
<p>I would also caution against being obsessed with starting salaries. If you graduate from college at 22, you could easily have another 50 years to work ahead of you. Not only do you not want to spend 40+ hours per week doing something you don’t enjoy for 50 years, but the salary you make at 22 is less important than your longer range earning potential.</p>