Pick a Major in Your Freshman Year … of High School
A little while ago the New York Times had a story about high schools demanding that ninth graders choose a major. The story starts in New Jersey, but includes similar programs in Mississippi, Florida and South Carolina.
“Starting this fall, freshmen at Dwight Morrow High School here in Bergen County must declare a major that will determine what electives they take for four years and be noted on their diplomas.”
The majors offered vary from school to school, but may include sports management, fine and performing arts, health sciences and communications.
According to a UCLA study, 7.2 percent of incoming college freshmen are undecided. Once you get to get college you can always change your major. But changing majors may delay graduation which may cost you money. So should high school students pick a major?
Does this add to the college search stress? Or, do you think deciding on a college major will be easier once you graduate?
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October 3rd, 2007 at 7:45 am
Why let freshmen selcet a major when they are right out middle school and their minds are not mature eough to make those kinds of decision, because you have to put a lot of thought into what you want to do, where you want college or go to the military.
November 20th, 2007 at 8:19 am
My High school makes the freshman pick their futures. I think it is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. They think that if they will know what they want, they are 14!
November 27th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I’m in 8th grade and college coaches are already looking at me for sports i just wanna be a kid for a while but people keep telling me i need to start planning where i’m gonna go WHY DO I NEED TO? I’m 14 I love sports but i have 4.5 yrs till i graduate and schools are breathing down my neck…i come on these things to get a better understanding of what to look for for opprotunities and look at possibilities….
November 30th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I’m in 10th grade and our school has started making us declare majors in 9th grade. I think it’s dumb. Why should we HAVE to declare a major? I thought High School was all about trying new things and testing out what you might want to do and what you absolutley don’t want to do. We have 8 years, at most, to decide, let us be kids and try different things.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I never knew what I was going to do throughout my years of middle school and high school. I was always into different things. It wasn’t until the middle of my junior year in high school did I decide “hay I need to take school more serious and really figure out what I want to do” It was obvious to me thou because I was always taking up Art classes and I was serious about my work. So thats when I myself declare that I was going to school and I was majoring in Art.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I had trouble deciding what I wanted to do all of my middle school years as well. I considered everything from being a fireman (or woman, for that matter) to being a lawyer. But, this year (my sophomore year), I think I’ve finally decided on a career. I think every person is different in choosing what they want to be. For some people, they know it when they’re five; for others, they discover they’re dream job while they’re in college. Nobody should be able to force someone into making a decision. That will only lead to a rushed decision, that could really change in a short period of time. For me, tenth grade seemed like a good year to decide what I wanted to do, but that’s just me.
January 8th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I don’t think this is a good idea, either! My friends and I are 4.0 students and work incredibly hard at school, but we’re not sure exactly what we want to do when we grow up. Making kids who are 14 and 15 pick what they want their life to look like isn’t realistic and it just turns college and the future into something stressful and scary. I know that my friends and I will figure out what we want to do, just maybe not when we’re 16…
January 18th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Declaring a major as a high school freshman is a mixed blessing. It can encourage students to focus on an occupation/career field, but some students may see this as unneccessary pressure. Changes can be made. Exploring a career field as a high school frehman can be more advantageous than disadvantageous. It is a critical ingredient to acquiring an education. Think about it. Why education? What is the ultimate goal?
February 14th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Most people never know what they want to do. And, if they do, once they are doing it they question it. Isn’t it the education that matters, what we learn, and not the consumption of a degree? If colleges/universities were really interested in education, they might remove majors all together and replace them with a focus on fluid development. Well said, all of you. There is no need to box ourselves in.
March 29th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
High school is a time where students try to decide what they want to do with the rest of their life. They have four years to think about college and the major they might decide to pursue. High school is where students should take the required classes and find where their interests lie. From that, they can choose electives and extra classes they may enjoy. Choosing a major as a freshman in high school is simply ridiculous. At that point, most students are too young and don’t have enough experience with their “major” to make a strong, valid argument as to why they selected it. A high school curriculum should make room for these electives and not force students to declare a major. Counselors should offer guidance, but no binding decisions regarding courses should be made as a freshman.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I think it is a great Idea to get kids looking a major’s early, freshman year is a great place to start. Maybe not exactly picking a major, but exploring different Majors. If someone is interested in Medicine, let them pursue classes that relate to the medical field, this would prepare them for college better. Give them options, Medical, Marine Science, Cosmopolgy, Teaching, Art, etc.. If they show an apptitude or interest for something help them prepare for it. High school today only teachs the basics to live up to the “No Child Left Behind Act”. It really doesn’t prepare them for college or help them to pursue things that might interest them. Get them involved early, offer them ways to explore different majors and get a taste of what they would learn in college. Start in the Freshman year, get them interested in their future.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Believe what you want but deciding what you want to be before you get into college is the best thing to do. Even if you’re not sure that is what you really want to do as a career, its best to get an idea. Just to make the road to college less bumpy.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Although it is wise for students to decide on their major early in their high school years, it is not the best idea to have high schoolers be forced to choose a major. Majority of these schools tell their counselors that the student may only change their choice once, which I think stunts the student’s ability to actually be able to choose their major or career wisely. Furthermore, college is not for everyone. High school is for teens to learn about the different opportunities available after high school, whether they want to continue their education or work is entirely up to them. Besides, even if they do go to college with a decided major, they may change it in the middle of their college years like many other college students. I think the important role of a Counselor is to provide students information about recommended courses for their major in college, this would definitely help many high school students because certain majors are harder to get into than others.