<p>It's about a major called Construction Management, and highlights a school called Wentworth Institute of Technology. It sounds so interesting. But, how would any kid ever come up with the idea - Oh, I think I'll go into construction management? </p>
<p>There are so many interesting things to do in life, and it is so hard to find out about them.</p>
<p>Didn't know there was a major in it :eek:. But have used construction managers - when we built the new FAO Schwarz in NY (before the current debacle), our constr mgr was key. School districts use them to manage major building projects, etc.</p>
<p>A friend of mine has her BS in Architecture from MIT and her MArch from Berkeley and works in construction management. She got tired of designing windows...and now does big project management for a "Major University"....She has no regrets about her academic background, but would be quick to talk to any architects in the making about the satisfactions and dissatisfactions of her initially chosen profession. I think that by talking to practitioners in different fields kids can get a much better idea of 'real world' rather than the over focus on a narrow range of potential careers. Unfortunately, most HS counselors are overfocused on college selection and underfocused on "life" selection- at least where we are...</p>
<p>I know a kid who entered a University specifically to study Paper Engineering!! How is that!</p>
<p>I'm in the environmental science, engineering & construction world, & I am looking for "CM" majors all of the time for hire. Often, a civil engineering department will have a specialty in construction management. CM as an area of study not only covers the techniques of construction but also scheduling (i.e., critical path method), claims management & litigation, and much more. As CM must be delivered on site for the most part, its a career that has fewer chances than many of being shipped offshore. Good construction managers happen to be good with people, as smoothing out conflicts with awnry contractors & impatient clients is a job requirement.</p>
<p>I was looking at college websites and came across the major in Packaging. Which is exactly what it sounds like -- they study how to package products, the properties of cardboard vs. plastic, etc. Needless to say, we need people who know how to package products, but it did make me wonder how in the world 17-year-olds decide to major in that.</p>
<p>Now Paper Engineering sounds like something I could recommend to my origami-loving S whose passion for abstract math is unlikely to lead to riches! </p>
<p>I once met a Harvard student who wanted to go to the Wentworth Institute to learn car repair after graduating from Harvard. I don't know how his mother greeted this news, especially since this was before the era of Click & Clack.</p>
<p>learn car repair after graduating from Harvard.</p>
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<p>He should get together with my buddy from the class of '98 who graduated and then spent his summers roofing houses in Minnesota and his winters teaching skiing in Utah. His life's work is getting play, so this allowed him to pursue his, um, passions. He's always been a very happy guy.</p>
<p>life takes many twists. HS classmate & buddy of mine was Einstein-like math/science brain, went to Yale, now a plumber, not the rocket scientist we thought he'd be. To each his own, he seems very well the times I have seen him over the years.</p>
<p>Speaking of odd majors, I have a friend who is writing a book "How to be a Funeral Director." Not kidding. And, yes, there are schools that offer a major in Funeral Service Management. Now, tell me a 17 year old kid who would sign up to make THAT his or her life's work.</p>
<p>After a BA in French, my cousin went to a 2 year funeral director school. It's actually quite rigorous, and is 3 years in some states. He ran a funeral home for about 15 years, got an MBA and is now an accountant. </p>
<p>I also heard the Construction Management program. Sounded interesting.</p>
<p>In Nevada you can major in Casino Management. One of the dormies at my S's school tried to put that down on a college app and the GC was not happy. Probably was concerned what the kid's parents back in Asia would think...</p>
<p>I always gulp a little when 17 year olds pick schools for <em>any</em> specific major, from Funeral Directing to pre-med. </p>
<p>These kids may know the region of their interest, but isn't college about discovery and refinement too?</p>
<p>I had a friend who went to RISD-- really talented-- in fashion design, got incredible jobs in NYC, worked up the high-fashion ladder... Then at 30 decided she liked her volunteer job (rocking crack babies) better than her "real" job on 6th avenue. So she quit and went back to college & nursing school.</p>
<p>Pratt Institute has a BS in Construction Management that is very successful. They have a high placement rate for that major. It is found as part of their architecture program.</p>
<p>My favorite is Turf Management - supposed to be many jobs, great locales and high paying. I have it on good authority that the place for young ladies to camp out and try to catch the notice of guys at UMass-Amherst, is on the steps of the building where the basic Turf Management classes are held.
Wonder what those would be - Introduction to Nematodes or Fertilizer - Not Just for Cows?</p>