Researching A Path To A Career
How To Choose Between Two Very Different Majors
A reader inquires about how to find the right Post Secondary school for a difficult decision on choosing a career.
Note - information pertaining to specifics was deleted from this letter to ensure anonimity and adhere to publishing requirements.
Q. My son is a junior in high school, and looking at college. He has a 3.96 GPA. His strengths are in math, and has been taking AP classes. He has been considering Engineering as a career. He is not familiar w/ the different “Engineering areas” and was wondering where he might find the most comprehensive information about the different Engineering degrees.
This being said, he also is feeling very torn and uncertain --- he is extremely talented in music. He (as well as us) has been told repeatedly by instructors and professionals that he really should be pursuing music like at Julliard School of Music or similar. He is not certain that teaching music would be an acceptable avenue.. He has voiced that he would possibly like to pursue an Engineering degree with a very strong minor in Music. I believe he would like to find a college, which excelled in a very strong Music program, in which they would also offer Engineering………we are at a loss if such exists!
A. Engineering requires a University Degree, but many Colleges have an articulation agreement with Universities (just means you start with the College but your courses count towards the BSc required for Engineering). As Engineering is usually considered a Science, and Music an Art, it will be very difficult to find one place that will allow major in one with a minor in another - especially as with Music you must be interviewed and auditioned. However, this is not impossible; but Engineering usually has a very strict programme of study, which may not allow the courses needed to complete a Music minor.
It's wonderful that your son is so talented. Considering his age, he should try to talk to a local College/University about each program, and where each can lead.
Pass on this important message though - if the heart is sad, no amount of money will make him happy. Ask him if he needs a Ferrari or a Chevy, a mansion or a house. If the former, his goal in life is money, so Engineering is best. If the latter, then follow his heart, which may still be Engineering.
Best place to start your research is with the State Universities/Colleges - check them out and ask for information to be sent. Have your son talk to Guidance/Career Services at his school - they should have local information and dates of local University/College fairs.
Good luck - you are right to start this research process now. It's obvious he can get in wherever he wants, the hard part is deciding what (this dilemma is not unique to him, most teens have a hard time deciding what to do with the rest of their lives!). There is also nothing wrong with starting with one, and realizing you want/need the other. Education is never wasted, and it would be looked upon as a bonus, that he changed when he realized what he should be doing. And remind him, there is no such thing as one career for the rest of his life.
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Copyright March 25, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.
