University/college bound ~ have second choices?

[TimNDansMom]

Do your university/college bound kids have second choice programs that they are applying for, in case they don't get into their first choices?

 

[PoohBWV]

My OAC daughter has applied to Business at Laurier, Business & Math Double Degree at Laurier, Economics at Laurier and Business and Commerce at Windsor. Obviously she really hopes to get into Laurier. My grade 12 daughter applied to Music Therapy at Windsor, Music Education at Windsor and Music at Laurier. Since Laurier doesn't have a direct entry into Music therapy, her first choice for program is Music therapy at Windsor which does offer direct entry and second choice is Laurier even though she really likes the campus and atmosphere much better at Laurier. Of the music programs she has applied to, only 15 are admitted to two and 30 into the other. If she doesn't get in, she will take either extra classes in high school, or work for a year and re-apply as she has just turned 17 and is not really sure that she wants to go away just yet.

 

[TimNDansMom]

Thanks for your reply, PoohBWV. My OAC son has applied to Carlson and Waterloo for Architecture and Western/Fanshawe College for Media Theory & Production/Multimedia Design, so far.

I don't think he really knows what he wants to do. He has always been "into" computer web design, but also thought that he would like to be an Architect. Today he told me he's not so sure about Architecture anymore. He has a friend who is thinking the same thing now. Oh Boy!!

There is another program at Western that he'll probably apply for ~ Media, Information and Technoculture, contained in the same faculty as the Media Theory & Production, he's already applied for ~ I think he has to check with Western to see if he can apply to both. I think the MIT enrollment is bigger than the MTP but it sounds difficult to get into either.

At one point last year, he had his sights set on Seneca's Digital Media Programs, but then decided to go for a University degree. He has always been into Art. I don't know, he may end up working for a year and then trying again next year if he can't make up his mind or doesn't get accepted.

I keep asking him, where/what else does he want to apply for, as the time is running out for applications and he doesn't really know!

 

[PoohBWV]

I really feel sorry for these kids trying to make up their minds. It is a huge monetary committment to make when you are 17 or 18 years old. I think that now most people will change their vocation in their lives several times. I have personally been both a real estate salesperson, then broker, then decided that I wanted to sell travel. My dh, while he has always been involved in electronics has also evolved in his career from working for someone else to owning his own repair facility and now to doing software design.

 

[disneykins]

Hi Julie, This really is such a big decision for these kids to be making at such a young age. I guess the days of going to University to "find yourself" isn't possible with the expense involved. It would be nice if they could take something general for a year or two before having to specialise. We keep asking DS what he's going to take in University but he has no idea. He's only in grade 10 and we're panicking that he take the right courses now to be able to get into whatever field he decides on later. Your DS seems smart enough that it'll all fall into place and your worrying will have been for nothing. LOL.
Tony and Debbie

 

[disneyvacationmom]

My DS has only one career plan-he only wants to fly-if he doesn't get in I don't know what he'll do. He's looking at the Sioux, Thunder Bay, and maybe London. He is so determined but it's tough these days. He's going to start flying lessons in the spring-and driving lessons too. Hopefully some air experience will help him to be accepted. Good luck to all those kids trying to make decisions. My DD on the other hand changes her mind every other day-Psychiatrist-Travel Agent and now Marine Biologist-by the way, she hates math and science.LOL

 

[SandraC]

Teenagers have always been under pressure to pick their career too early in their lives. I remember being in the 9th grade and my dad advising me to pick my subjects wisely because the classes I take in high school affect college/university. He was so right. I took a lot of sciences thinking I would head in that direction, and that's starting in the 9th grade! (There weren't computer courses when I was in high school ~ LOL). In college I took financial management. I was in an accounting department for a couple of years and got fed up with that. As an adult, I constantly take courses, upgrade my certificates and kept learning different things. I went from math to writing to fitness to art. I love re-inventing myself. When my brother was picking his major about 10 or 12 years ago, he was going to take economics 'to get a job' but he really didn't want to take economics. I asked him, "What interests you?" He replied, "Russian History." "So take that." I said. It was totally not the logical thing to do, but it not only kept him in school and interested, he also got his masters. Now he is in South Korea teaching. He is very happy. I say, follow your heart, your gut instincts and your head. S

 

[TimNDansMom]

Thank you for all your replies. I do hope, Tony, that this time next year, we WILL be saying that we worried for nothing! Dan is thinking about also applying for visual arts. I want him to talk to his guidance counsellor, too. We've got to get moving if he's going to apply elsewhere, though, because the application time is running out. Tim is in grade 10 and at least I'll have some experience with all this when his time comes!

 

[Tink42]

My DD (OAC) has applied to Laurier for Business, McMaster for Business, Queen's for Commerce, Carleton for Commerce and Waterloo for Business & Arts. After she submitted her application she then had to add her major at a couple of the universities such as marketing, accounting, international business etc. Well I think she is fortunate just to know she wants business. I don't know how they are expected to know exactly what area of business they want from the little business they have at high school.

 

[TimNDansMom]

Dan has the same problem, Tink42. He knows he wants something Art/computer related, but doesn't really know what area of Art he really would like to do. Drawing/designing covers such a large area of choice.