<p>And why?</p>
<p>10char</p>
<p>S1: started as secondary ed (I think because teaching was a clearly defined vocation), switched to poli sci (despite our attempts to persuade him that his gifts are clearly elsewhere) but is working as a writer. Which is what EVERYONE who knows him thought he would be, anyway.</p>
<p>S2: film/media production or perhaps advertising or perhaps PR. Strong design sense and interest in production, no interest in directing or being in front of a camera. He loves editing film and yet I don’t see the spark necessary; I think this one will end up as a teacher but we’ll see. We try to stay out of it if we can.</p>
<p>Son: Computer science. Obsessively interested in it since seventh grade. Three years of computer-related courses in high school, including AP Computer Science, solidified his decision. Once in college, though, he developed an equally strong interest in philosophy and eventually minored in it. But he stuck with the computer science major because it had better career potential. </p>
<p>Daughter: Economics. I’m not quite sure how she arrived at the decision, except that she likes math but does not like science. So she was looking for a non-science field that was mathematically oriented, and economics seemed appropriate. Also, economics seemed to offer the potential for jobs (as a sort of substitute business major). Taking AP Economics her senior year in high school solidified her decision. </p>
<p>One thing you might notice about these stories is that AP courses played a role in both kids’ choices of college majors. Some people on these boards don’t think highly of APs for a variety of reasons. But APs do offer students opportunities to explore potential areas of interest at a level roughly equivalent to an introductory college course, sometimes in subjects that are not otherwise available in high school, so APs can help them figure out what they want to study in college.</p>
<p>My daugher is a freshman and is majoring in communications, minoring in theater. She wants to be involved in Broadway, behind the scenes. So far, her philosphy professor and her english professor have told her she is wasting her smarts in communications and both are trying to recruit her to their departments.</p>
<p>I think many students’ ideas of major, coming out of high school, are very much subject to change, as well illustrated by greenbutton’s post #2. They’ve not had exposure to all that many potential fields of study, so how can they be sure they wouldn’t love something they’ve not tried yet?</p>
<p>D, HS class of 2012, is currently planning to major in physics, because it’s the HS class she’s liked best. (She’s taking AP Physics C this year). However, I am mindful that back in the olden days, I myself entered college intending to be a a physics major, for the same reason as D. Of my high school courses, I liked physics best.</p>
<p>I ended up a computer science major and have worked in software development ever since. I expect D to end up in something science-y, likely not computer science (it’s too much mom and dad’s thing, in her mind) but I don’t have any strong expectation that she’ll graduate as a physics major.</p>
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<p>Quite true, but there are also kids like mine, who know what they want to major in before they get to college and never change their plans.</p>
<p>If only we all knew in advance which kids would be of which type!</p>
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<p>For sure! It would really help with college choice.</p>
<p>I have a college senior who picked a major and stuck with it. He thought he was interested in becoming a physician so volunteered in hospital during his high school summers. One of the physicians at that hospital convinced him to become a physician assistant. We had never even heard of a P.A., but after researching it, decided it sounded better than many years of medical school. We were even able to find a program that offered direct admission, as a freshman, and cut out a year of undergrad. We were nervous about picking a school based entirely on a major, but, with a little over a year to go, I’d say it’s worked out just fine.</p>
<p>D1- Junior in college, majoring in Film Studies, minoring in French and Italian. Plans to be a communicator, researcher, screenwriter, may make documentaries.</p>
<p>Figured this out (in first two months!) during a History of Film year-long survey course Freshman year at college number 1. She had always loved movies, and did a last-minute independent project writing about 3 foreign films a week she selected for the six weeks of senior year in HS.</p>
<p>She had to transfer to a new college to get this major, however. Did that all on her own, got in everywhere. Loving her major and her academics, her new college. Looking at internships working for Film Societies and Media Literacy companies this summer.</p>
<p>Originally, right after HS, she was interested in a career teaching and education policy, but now feels that she can promote better education through film somehow.
She knows she will never be rich financially with this career focus, but she has a very bohemian soul. She wants to do good, make a difference, and be rich with love for her activities.</p>
<p>This, I know, is a work in progress. It is good for me, as a parent, to see her search and pursue with both focus and adventurism in earnest. Things will be “real”(meaningful) each step of the way, even if the path leads to things she does not anticipate at this time.</p>
<p>S1- Business- because he always said he hates working for people and wants to run his own company. He is just starting out but also says he likes accounting. </p>
<p>D1- Psychology- for the exact reason Marian pointed out. Her AP class was the ONLY class she has ever liked in HS. She does extremely well in everything but won’t listen to us and major in one of her strengths. I’m hoping I can at least convince her to minor in math or statistics when she starts next fall.</p>
<p>D2- is still young enough to change every few months. First it’s a rheumatologist, then an astronaut or astrophysicist, lately it’s chemical engineering. I’m guessing it will be something science related like her dad.</p>
<p>S1 majored in computer science - he got the obsession when he was seven. Never any question about what he’d do when he grew up. Lots of experience working in the field before he got to college.</p>
<p>S2 had no idea what he’d major in while he was in high school. (History was usually his favorite course, but he definitely wasn’t interested in teaching or academia.) While looking at colleges he discovered the existence of International Relations so he looked for places with good programs. It’s almost the perfect major for him. (He has no natural gift for languages and he’s in a program that takes it’s language requirement seriously.)</p>
<p>My kids chose majors in college in areas of high interest to them, where they also were high achievers. I’m not sure the specific majors matter as much as the reason why.</p>
<p>ShawSon: Econ/Math double major with an interdisciplinary major in behavioral economics. ShawSon took a freshman seminar on happiness taught by an economist and was so enthused by the subject and the professor that he decided to focus on behavioral economics. In his case, that meant an economics major, psychology courses, and an application to create an interdisciplinary major in behavioral economics. I had also encouraged him to take a math/stats/applied math course each semester, and so he will also meet the requirements for a math major. Stats/applied math are the tools of the trade. But, the committee that judges him/his thesis for honors will be a committee of professors he chose.</p>
<p>ShawD: nursing. She started out studying biology, decided she liked science but loves working with people (especially kids), didn’t want to spend her life in a lab, and transferred to a new school study nursing. She also was pleased that it is a vocationally oriented choice – she likes the fact that she knows she will have a job and really isn’t interested in being in school for any extra day.</p>
<p>S1 graduated with an English/Business double major, S2 is a rising junior Environmental Science with a Water Concentration, S3 is planning on civil engineering or one of those technology/business majors that are becoming prevalent. My two oldest didn’t surprise me so if S3 picks a big public I could see him switching into economics or urban planning or something like that. Time will tell.</p>
<p>DD1 - Major in English with a minor in Studio Arts. Wanted to be an editor, particularly of Manga. She is reassessing that idea now that she has graduated… </p>
<p>DD2 - Major in Math with a minor in Econ and second minor in Japanese. Loves math and is “scary smart” as her sister puts it. She is unsure if she’ll go right to a job or look at advanced degrees. I don’t worry about her job prospects at all.</p>
<p>S-1 Double Major: Theater/Dance and Music because, like Martin Luther, he “can do no other” it’s his passion</p>
<p>D Major:Religion ; minor Art. She says when she tells people --even strangers – she majored in Religion, they immediately open up and tell her their life story. She’s a people person and active listener. That’s not why she chose the major, but it’s a positive fallout.</p>
<p>S-2 Double: Screenwriting and History: writes wonderfully; imagined he could someday be the directors’ go-to guy; in h.s. we had no film equipment just the computer. Once he got to college, he was able to cross over and learned to direct also. Heroes: Coen Brothers. Added History to ground his thinking and creative work in reality.</p>
<p>DD1: Film & TV, minors: English, Business - She has always been interested in power of TV. So, heading that direction was a natural for her. She is an amazing writer as well. So, linking the two with a Film & TV major was successful for her.</p>
<p>DS1: Computer Forensics: He has aspergers so needed to find a major that let him do lots of independent work as large groups really gets him agitated. He is a computer geek all along so computer forensics seemed like a nice fit.</p>
<p>DS2: Theater: He has been an theater lover since he was young so it was a natural for him to choice theater as a college major.</p>
<p>DS is accounting and finance. As a high school senior he wanted engineering. I brought hjm to work with me one day and set up interviews with several peers who majored in either engineering or accounting. Some of the people were working in completely different fields. After that day, he decided he wanted to major in accounting. While he has been at scholl this year he has added on finance. He couldn’t be happier with his choice.</p>
<p>D1-started in radiologic technology in a school where that was offered as a BA. Realized very quickly that interaction with patients was superficial at best, switched to nursing. Likes that it’s a very broad field with a number of graduate possibilities.</p>
<p>D2-still in high school, thinking about a math major.</p>
<p>In high school, D was a quirky, pragmatic but opinionated kid who dressed in Converse sneakers, skinny-legged jeans, and t-shirts from obscure emo bands. She entered college as a business major uncertain of her specialization, except that she was absolutely certain she didn’t want to be an accountant.</p>
<p>She graduates in two months with her degree in accounting and will sit for the CPA exam this summer.</p>