<p>Hi My daughter is in 9th grade ..I know I am starting a bit soon but... i feel like the "college path" is fast approaching. What are the kinds of things I can do to help her figure out what her "calling" is or her "passion" </p>
<p>She dances, tap, jazz, ballet, modern and has been doing it for 7-8 yrs. (she isn't sure if this is her calling but she sure enjoys performing)
I told her that she has a huge plus and that is I am fluent in French and lived there for 13 yrs. my husband is French but is from Morocco. She has the knowledge base of all 3 cultures so I am telling her something in IR or International Business would be good.<br>
She is taking all honors classes and with a very busy "dance company" schedule is doing fairly well. Should I get a mentor person who could talk to her an guide her? or use her guidance counselor? I personally had no career guidance and this did not help me too well professionally. I don't want her to make the same mistakes I did. Help!</p>
<p>Start with the college counseling office at her high school. They should have lots of books you can look at, including general guides to admissions like “Admission Matters” by Springer/Reider/Franck.</p>
<p>What are her favorite subjects at school? (She is also fluent in French?)</p>
<p>Still, 9th-10th grade may be a bit early; a college-bound student will generally take a well rounded set of rigorous courses including English, math, history, science, foreign language (unless has provable foreign language skills as a native or heritage speaker), etc., regardless of intended major in college. By 11th-12th grade, many students have some idea of at least the general area (e.g. humanities, social studies, science, performing art, etc.) they are interested in most, so career exploration may be more helpful at that time.</p>
<p>Many students in the humanities and social studies do not decide their majors until their sophomore year in college, although students interested in science, engineering, and arts likely have to get started on the prerequisites for those majors as freshmen. Some colleges admit everyone undeclared, to declare majors later; others admit by major or by division (e.g. arts and sciences, engineering, etc.).</p>
<p>A 14-15 year old is a child without the maturity or experience to figure out their “calling” regardless of how much coaching they receive. (Frontal lobe development continues into the twenties!) She could be attracted to a career today that seems totally unappealing in a few years as she grows and develops. There’s no point in pressuring your kid this way. She’ll figure it out. (And she won’t make the same mistakes you did–she’ll make her own!)</p>
<p>I would hesitate to encourage her toward a specific path at this stage. And she shouldn’t base her future major on the fact that her parents lived in France and Morocco. And while I think college students should feel free to pursue their interests and hesitate to discourage any particular major, international relations is a very common major these days - kind of trendy. If she is drawn to it great, but I wouldn’t pressure her into it for any reason, least of all for reasons that don’t have anything to do with who SHE is.</p>
<p>The performing arts are phenomenal ways to learn self-discipline and teamwork. Even if your daughter stops dancing tomorrow those skills are things that can translate well into any academic setting or workplace that she might find herself in one day. Right now, the most valuable things that you and your husband can do, is to get your heads screwed on right so that when your daughter develops a career goal you are prepared to support that goal.</p>
<p>Ask yourselves how you feel about her ending up in a career in the arts. Is the life of a financially struggling performer OK with you, provided she adores her career? How important would it be that she be prepared to shift into another profession at some point - for example would you want her to have a business minor or a teaching certificate as complements for a college major in dance? Is it OK with you if she begins to dance professionally immediately out of high school, and delays college (or never even attends college at all)?</p>
<p>Along the same line, you and your husband should get straight about paying for her education. Run the EFC calculators at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and read through some of the threads in the Financial Aid Forum. How much can you pay without having to eat rice and beans? How much can you pay if you cut the rest of your budget to the bone? What colleges/universities/dance conservatories are you willing to struggle to pay for, and which ones would you consider to be bad investments?</p>
<p>Happykid knew exactly what she wanted to do professionally by the end of 9th grade. Most kids don’t. Your daughter’s high school guidance and career offices should have all sorts of materials designed to help students think about their futures. Encourage her to stop by there, and learn about these resources so that when she’s ready to think about this, she will know where to start.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best as you start this process!</p>
<p>The good news is she doesn’t have to do anything. She should take the most advanced courses she can as long as she can also do well in them. She should take a typical college prep curriculum - which is generally at least 4 years of English, 3 years of science, 3 years of social studies/history, 4 years of math, 3 preferably 4 years of foreign language, at least 1 year of art and rounded out by other electives and advanced courses (AP/IB or whatever school provides) in the areas of her interests.</p>
<p>Languages can be useful in many careers, not just IR. </p>
<p>She should follow her interests. Being good at something at a high level is always a plus in college admissions. It doesn’t have to be dance. My younger son excelled in origami. (But he had other more typical activities like violin as well.)</p>
<p>It’s definitely way too early to be committed to careers, but it never hurts to discuss possible careers and to do job shadowing or volunteering in the summer. My older son had several years of employment in computer programming under his belt when applying to college and I am sure it helped him.</p>
<p>I would suggest that this summer she try to either work or volunteer. with her dance experience, perhaps a summer camp? This would expose her to the working world, and help her begin to none her interests. many colleges look for students who have given back to their community.</p>
<p>Encourage to take her academics as seriously as her dancing.
To put herself in the best position in her college applications she needs to take the most rigorous curriculum her hs offers.
Her gpa matters.</p>
<p>The tippy top students are not only stellar scholars but often talented musicians, dedicated researchers, and excel in areas they are passionate and dedicated about.</p>