<p>As I have mentioned in previous posts, DS is considering a major in Religious Studies with a possible vocation. Yesterday we were discussing the latest "We're interested in you" missive from a college he hadn't heard from before, and I mentioned they didn't have his major, so it wouldn't be an option unless there was a change of major. He looked kind of wide-eyed and said "maybe psychology". (He's taking Psych right now and finding it very interesting.) </p>
<p>We have based our search largely on finding schools with the appropriate major. Of course, every place has Psychology, but if he does change his mind it would open up a couple more options. We are going to Duquesne this weekend, so I'm thinking we'll have a chance to discuss this at greater length in the car. </p>
<p>DS went from biblical archaeology to psychology to engineering, (aerospace mind you - which I believe because there is alot of airy-ness in his brain) in about one month’s time - basically he first saw a few movies (angels& demons, raiders of the lost ark), then took the myers-briggs test, and later met a very charismatic engineering student who led our Michigan tour. Can’t wait to see what Sept. brings!</p>
<p>To me, it would be easier to switch out of religious studies into to psych, than the opposite. If he has no shortage of places to apply, it should not be a problem, the problem would appear if he wanted to switch to something his school didn’t have. Two of my D’s friends from HS transferred for this reason - after 2 years in college they decided on a major their college didn’t have.</p>
<p>I would study job market before plunging into any major (lots of $$ and 4 years of life ). According to our study, psychology is not something that will result in immediate job.
D. is very interested in neuroscience and has been taking lots of college classes in this area and has several EC’s (volunteering, internship in Med. Research Lab), but she ruled out psych. because it is impossible to find a job.</p>
<p>It’s fine to evaluate academic programs at colleges of interest. But the majority of college students – including those who thought they were decided before they enrolled – change their majors at least once. So the strength of a particular academic program should never by anyone’s only reason for choosing a college. I suggest helping your son identify other criteria that are important to him (size, location, campus culture, academic environment, etc.) as he makes campus visits and develops a college list.</p>
<p>My oldest son was interested in Computer Science or maybe Information Technology when we started his college search as a junior. By the end of junior year and his third programming class he didn’t think that he wanted to go in that direction but we made sure that every college that he applied to had the CS or IT major so he could go in that direction if he wanted to. I agree that theology and psychology would be fairly easy to find at many colleges and I also think that they probably share many of the same core requirement classes.</p>
<p>My oldest has been obsessed with computer programming since he was 7, I had no problem that his primary criteria was the quality of the computer science program. I’d be astounded if his direction changed. (He’s a college senior now and yes, he’s majoring in comp sci with a (required) minor in physics.) My younger son found International Relations as an attractive major as part of his college search. It seems like the perfect fit for him, but he may well change. So while we looked for strong IR programs we were also looking at schools that were good overall, and at least one school stayed on the list because he liked it before IR ever came on his radar.</p>
<p>If you’re checking out Duquesne, you might want to swing by Pitt if you have time and are open to secular schools. Pitt has a religious studies major (which I don’t know anything about, sorry) and also an excellent psychology program. My daughter has been very happy with it. She chose Pitt for its strong Japanese language department, and then switched into psychology. </p>
<p>(As an aside: I tried to talk her out of majoring in psychology, because of the occupational outlook or lack thereof, but it really is her passion, especially neuroscience.) </p>
<p>Here are Pitt’s religious studies courses for the Fall 2010 semester:</p>
<p>I also suggest that he apply to schools with a range of possible majors. Applying is not the same as getting in and attending. You’re making the list now … and won’t have acceptances in hand and have to decide until May 1. </p>
<p>For my kids I recommend that they search for schools with the superset of majors in which they are interested … this approach keeps their options longer into their college career. </p>
<p>Interstingly this approach has a huge benny … it helps A TON when trying to cut down from 3000 schools to 10. If there is a major in the superset that is all unique (religious studies, business, theatre, archictecture, etc) then this immediately creates a much smaller set of possible schools … and the more unique the interests are from each other (elementary education and business) then the shorter the list becomes. Tack on size of school, region of country, and academic level of the students and the student probably has a pretty good list without having to do a lot of paring.</p>
<p>Most students change their major at least twice while in college. In most cases, it’s unwise to select a college mainly based on one’s prospective major.</p>
What I meant by that was that we eliminated schools which did not have Religious Studies (or Theology) as a major. That includes most of our in-state SUNY system, etc. DS has eliminated others because of size, location, etc. but having the major had to be the starting point. And it’s not one that everybody has. In addition, doing it at a Catholic U. has definite advantages down the road, if he goes down that road.</p>
<p>Your son can major in anything and then go to grad school/seminary. UNdergrad major does not have to be relevant unless he wants it to be.</p>
<p>I know that some will disagree, but college can be viewed in ways other than preparation for a career. If you son likes to study religion, or psychology, or English or whatever, he should be able to do it out of interest, without too much concern about future jobs. </p>
<p>Most job ads indicate a preference for a BA, but don’t mention the major. Knowing how to read, write, access information, speak intelligently and so on are skills that are refined in college, as is breadth and depth of knowledge in many areas.</p>
<p>I do think this is changing, but for now, it is still possible to go to college to “learn for learning’s sake” and come out with a chance at self-support.</p>
<p>I don’t remember from your other posts, but if your son is interested in being a Catholic priest he should know that most priests do not have just a degree in religious studies, as I suspect is the case with many Protestant ministers. Psychology, education, social work, even business are common degrees for eventual priests. Those who take theology or religious studies as their major do it with the intent of teaching in those subject areas while being a priest. (On the other hand I have known many a theology student who intended to become a priest, but now teach theology on the college level while being married with kids!)</p>
<p>I agree that many freshmen end up changing their major (I read 70%), but in picking a school, you have to start somewhere. It just doesn’t make sense to attend a school that lacks the desired major. And maybe this is where a larger college, which would offer more possible majors, makes sense.</p>
<p>Actually, they have to have a certain background before entering the Seminary. If they DON’T have that background (a certain amount of philosophy and religious studies courses) they have to get it, which adds more time to the process. The straightest path is to get an undergraduate degree in Theology/Religious Studies with a second major or a minor in philosophy and then to go directly to Seminary. </p>
<p>People don’t seem to realize how long this whole thing takes. We would rather not be paying any longer than necessary. And those who think he should have some other career first would never suggest such a thing to a student wanting to be a doctor, lawyer, etc.</p>
<p>I was not suggesting he not get the religious studies degree, but more that he might be thinking in terms of what other major he wants to pair with it. The life of priest can take many turns and a degree in education or social work may prove to be a great value not only to him, but to a congregation in the future.</p>
<p>*As I have mentioned in previous posts, DS is considering a major in Religious Studies with a possible vocation. Yesterday we were discussing the latest “We’re interested in you” missive from a college he hadn’t heard from before, and I mentioned they didn’t have his major, so it wouldn’t be an option unless there was a change of major. He looked kind of wide-eyed and said “maybe psychology”. (He’s taking Psych right now and finding it very interesting.)</p>
<p>We have based our search largely on finding schools with the appropriate major. Of course, every place has Psychology, *</p>
<p>LOL…don’t kids just make you a bit nutty at times. Aren’t you the one with the MIL that wanted your son to major in something else…just in case?</p>
<p>Anyway…I think psychology is wonderful for someone who is thinking he might have a vocation to the priesthood. </p>
<p>And…good for all of you that this opens more school and merit scholarships for you son. :)</p>
Aren’t you the one with the MIL that wanted your son to major in something else…just in case?</p>