Computer Writing and Research Lab | University of Texas at Austin

Picking a Major...in High School

Submitted by Jim Brown on August 16, 2007 - 8:03am

The NY Times has this story about students being forced to pick a major as a freshman in high school. I find this disturbing:

Here in Englewood, every eighth-grader already works with a guidance counselor to formulate a six-year academic career plan that stretches through the first year of college. Elementary-school classrooms are named Harvard, Yale and Rutgers. The district’s 1,063 high school students attend classes in Gothic-style buildings on a 40-acre campus named for Dwight Morrow, a former senator and diplomat whose daughter, Anne, married Charles Lindbergh.

This shift is driven by colleges that "have said over the years that they favor students with expertise in particular areas since it demonstrates commitment and passion." The implication seems to be that a liberal arts or multidisciplinary education lacks "commitment and passion."

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The district officials are

Submitted by AnnetteT94 on August 17, 2007 - 7:43am.

The district officials are conflating two different ideas, one of which is off-base. Yes, colleges favor students that demonstrate commitment and passion--in their choice of extracurriculars. Too many students get involved in everything in school thinking it will make their college application look good. Colleges would rather see a person who is committed to and excels at a few activities. But that doesn't mean they want the student to come to college with a major.

Personalizing the learning experience is important. The one-size-fits all liberal arts education does not connect with the majority of high school students. Finding a way to make learning relevant to these students is critical for their futures. I agree with this teacher: “It eliminates the phrase, ‘I’m never going to need that when I grow up,’ ...I don’t want to just throw education at them. I want them to be here for something they like....”

But what 14-yr old can choose a major? It's hard enough for college freshmen. I found it very disturbing that one student thinks she might like to be a doctor or nurse, but chose the performing arts high school because she likes to dance. Will she get the quality of math and science at the performing arts school that would let her choose to become a doctor or nurse later?

High school is a time to let students explore, and the more real world opportunities we can afford them the better. The challenge is providing those opportunities in a comprehensive high school. I went to a large HS that had enough to interest most students. My children went to a small HS whose limited offerings created problems for them, so we had to supplement where we could. If the girl mentioned above were my daughter, I would have encouraged her to take a health major and then paid for dance lessons as an extracurricular. Can her family afford to do that? Do they understand the system enough to give that type of advice? Can any of us foresee the consequences of the choices that are being made with this type of system?

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