StreetScooby 5 #1 June 17, 2008 What are they majoring in these days? My son is 13, and I need to start getting ideas on this. I'm a chemical engineer. Don't think I'm going to suggest that as a major...We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #2 June 17, 2008 I majored in screenwriting. As long as he doesn't want to go into math or science, he can major in pretty much anything. Lots of employers just want you to have a degree, so if he picks something that will hold his interest for four years, he'll be just fine. He's only 13. It's probably too early to be thinking about this, because by the time he's 17/18 and ready to go to college, he's going to be a totally different person. Teenagers grow and change a lot during high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VTmotoMike08 0 #3 June 17, 2008 That's one way to think of it. Is he going to college to "find himself" (good) or to be prepared to get a lucrative job when he gets out? (better) If the goal is a lucrative job, then math, science and engineering are statistically more likely to bring a high income than the liberal arts. It is, afterall, 2008. That being said, if I could start college over tomorrow, I would major in Materials Science Engineering and pursue a PhD in nanotechnoloy. Thats where the money is gonna be at in the upcoming decades. But my degree in Civil Engineering, with a focus on innovative environmental remediation techniques should also be fairly lucrative. I can say for certain that I am making more money than my friends with liberal arts degrees. Edit: Obviously, I did not major in english. I can't even spell nanotechnology Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #4 June 17, 2008 My brother is starting college with a major in biomechanical engineering. He's hardcore. If I had it to do over again, I'd go into materials engineering or geology. Rookie Geologists are making more than Harvard MBAs right now. Thus far, in my fam, I've been the political science major, with no choice but to go to law school to find something to do with it. My sister is a civil engineer. My brother is a computer engineer. An there's the 16 year-old who may yet make me look like the black sheep. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #5 June 17, 2008 Quote ...with a major in biomechanical engineering. What is this?We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #6 June 17, 2008 Quote Is he going to college to "find himself" (good)... Hopefully, my son will have a pretty good idea who he is before he leaves my house. That's my goal. He's gets alot of latitude, though he may not realize it right now.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #7 June 17, 2008 Kids these days major in a whole varity of things... when I was in Jr. High I wanted to be a CAD/CAM designer (late 80s) or at the very least that I wanted to be in a technical/scientific field. I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to study in college until after my first year studying Calc and Physics... then after that I decided to get into Materials Science and Engineering... now at the moment the only aspect of my degree I use is as a technical advisor as I don't do actual research/work... but I am gainfully employed...Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vskydiver 0 #8 June 17, 2008 My oldest is getting her degree in bio-engineering. Then she wants to go on and get her medical degree and go into research. My second is starting college in the fall and she has no idea what she is going to do. Business? My third is technically a Junior in High School but he's doing running start so he's going to a community college and will graduate with an associates degree as well as the High School diploma. He is taking the aviation course and wants to be an Air Traffic Controller as soon as he graduates. (Like Father like son) Who knows what the fourth one will do when she gets out of High School. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #9 June 17, 2008 Quote Quote ...with a major in biomechanical engineering. What is this? many biomechanical engineering programs are extentions of mechanical engineering programs that usually incorporate a biological or more accurately medical aspect to it. Some of the things that I've seen biomedical engineers get involved in are better artifical limbs, cochlear implants... it really is a good field to get into both from a monetary standpoint and you are doing good for others. at least that's my take on it... if there are any biomedical/mechanical engineers and I got it way off please let me know... Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #10 June 17, 2008 Quote ...but he's doing running start so he's going to a community college ... That's a great idea, re: running start!We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vskydiver 0 #11 June 17, 2008 Yes! The school district pays for it. Big bonus! My oldest daughter did that too. The only difference between her doing it and my son is that he's more focused on getting the High School diploma as well as the community college diploma. My oldest didn't complete her Senior Project so the High School wouldn't graduate her. She didn't care though because she graduated with her community college. Plus she already had a 4 year tuition paid scholarship from a college in Boston! I don't think that dropping out of High School is going to matter to her too much. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #12 June 17, 2008 Quote That's one way to think of it. Is he going to college to "find himself" (good) or to be prepared to get a lucrative job when he gets out? (better) If the goal is a lucrative job, then math, science and engineering are statistically more likely to bring a high income than the liberal arts. It is, afterall, 2008.... If he's into math or science, he'll gravitate to a major in that area without parental prodding. If he's not, pushing him into it will just make him miserable, and he'll probably drop out. It's also perfectly okay to go to college "undeclared" and take some general ed requirements to find out what you're into. What you do in college may or may not actually have anything to do with your career. I majored in screenwriting. I'm now a lawyer. One has nothing to do with the other, except the undergrad degree fulfilled a requirement for law school admission, and I learned about the amazing power of the written word. The lady who sat next to me through several law school classes was a dance major. A friend from work is starting medical school this August. She was an English major. In college, you're just picking a subject to study deeply. You don't have to pick your entire life path. Once in college, students must be self-motivated, because parents aren't there to supervise, and it's time to grow up a little. If they're in a major they dislike, that self-motivation is going to be a lot harder to find. The student should get a degree. Any major is okay. That degree will open doors, and if the student decides later on that a math or science field is the right place, he or she can always go back and take some night classes to meet the requirements while working in a decent job during the day and not worrying about how to pay the rent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #13 June 17, 2008 QuoteQuote ...with a major in biomechanical engineering. What is this? He tolf me that he is specifcally interested in working on imaging technologies and other diagnostic equipment. He'd like to be in on building the next generation of scanners and stuff. Yeah - the kid has his sights set really low. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #14 June 17, 2008 Cool, really cool... Very exciting stuff.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
