Flying Jets & Becoming Vets: Dr. Seuss & the Reality of College Majors
Why majors matter now more than ever and tools to help your student unlock their path.
Last week, in the midst of our usual bedtime routine, I found myself reading Dr. Seuss's Maybe You Should Fly a Jet! Maybe You Should Be a Vet! to my kids.
Maybe you should fly a jet.
Maybe you should be a vet.
How about a deep-sea diver?
How about a beehive hiver?
Would you like to be an actor?
Would you like to run a tractor?
Like to drive a taxicab?
Or run a big computer lab?
And like any parent, I couldn't help but wonder, as each 'maybe' echoed, what wild paths my own little ones might take.
But here's the kicker: in today's college landscape, those 'maybes' aren't just whimsical dreams. Declaring a major, showing genuine interest in that field, proving you've done the work – is all part of the application puzzle. Forget 'undecided' and ‘figuring it out later.’ For a teenager who just wants to fit in, or for any of us who find it hard to pinpoint what makes us 'different,' picking a major feels like a huge, scary step. And it's made even harder by the fact that colleges want to see vulnerability and how you stand out.
Honestly, it bugs me that kids are pressured to pick majors and careers before they even know who they are. But I can't change the rules. What I can do is help families navigate this maze. We can break down those big, scary questions into bite-sized pieces. Focus on their skills, their strengths, their genuine direction and that's how we unlock an authentic application. And who knows? Maybe they will fly a jet or become a vet!
Below are five tried and true tools to guide your teen as they think about which major interests them:
2. UC Berkeley's What Can I Do With a Major In..?
4. UC Freshman Admission by Discipline
Soar Sooner,
Carrie
When I was a child, I was often asked what I was going to be when I grew up.
I decided that I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was six years old.
I worked hard at school.
I went to vet school.
I didn't like being a vet.
Turns out, six-year-old me didn't have much idea about what I wanted in a career!
That's one reason I never ask children "what they want to be when they grow up." Making decisions too early is not in their best interests...
My kids just went through this process, and I really appreciate this. This generation keeps being pushed to make decisions instead of exploring things. I work at a university and see it every day. Thanks for this post.