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Forced to Pick a Major in High School

nytimes.com — Ninth graders often have trouble selecting what clothes to wear to school each morning or what to have for lunch. But 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.

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  • snea, on 10/10/2007, -17/+7I wonder if they have the option to major in Hillbilly?
    • homerowedasdf, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1i thought that was funny.
      im probably the only one that dugg you up.
    • Shelter22, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2you think NJ is hillbilly? i hate jersey as much as the next guy, but the ***** aren't hillbillies
  • fadeout, on 10/10/2007, -6/+42So what? This has been going on for generations, my dad's high school in NYC did this and that was over 30 years ago...
    • WhiteIce89, on 10/10/2007, -2/+19Actually I am a recent graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School (one of the elite specialized high schools of NYC) and you have to choose a major at the end of sophomore year and go through your major's curriculum during junior and senior years. It's very successful, and it's not a life-changing decision but it helps you explore different kinds of trades. Who said this decision is binding for the rest of your life? I took the media communications major which focused a lot on graphic design and video production, while in college I'm going to be taking a bachelor's in Economics.
      • Oronar, on 10/10/2007, -4/+0Go take a visit today, you won't find it very much elite. Atleast from I what I see everyday...

        Oh, and Comp Sci for me! :D
        • WhiteIce89, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1^^ And that's another thing you can't avoid when you go to a 4,000+ student school... Tech people everywhere lol.
        • kuzotz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Computer Engineering for me, but in college I am International Studies and Economics(double major).

      • azkikr27, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Went there too, Environmental Sci all the way... And now I'm Pursuing a career as a doctor. The whole choose a major thing-in my opinion any way, was great, it helped me bond with a group of kids in a school that had 4000+ kids, and it helped me discover the different choices one has. Yeah it says environmental Sci on my degree, but that doesn't mean I'm going to be a tree hugger for a living. And oh yeah-Damn there's a lot of us.
    • Shaggy3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7My High School did this.
      There was about 6 "Majors." I did the Arts major, focusing on music, but half the classes I tried to take had to be dropped because of lack of teachers. I was told that to get the "certificate" I would have to take art classes since there wasn't music options.
      Some education.
    • ncairns, on 10/10/2007, -1/+22I would have *loved* to be able to declare a major in high school - maybe I could have skipped art and gym and taken more math.

      ...

      Oh come on, you guys are geeks too.
      • dragoneye, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8I would have hated to have to choose, I had a hard enough time choosing my major for University starting this year, there was no way I could have done it in 9th grade. I'm the opposite of wanting to skip art. I took both heavy Science and Math courses throughout high school, but I also had a fair amount of visual arts courses, if I had to choose a major I doubt they would have let me do something like that. I would have loved to be able to skip gym though.

        Sure we are geeks, but geeks aren't necessarily focused on math only, there are art geeks.
        • ncairns, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Perhaps, but you belong to a different caste of geekdom. Girls digg artsy guys. In the hierarchical system of geekdom, you guys were like the Brahmins. We're the Untouchables.
          • dragoneye, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1My point is that I am both a Science/Math geek, and also an Art geek. so picking a major that limits the courses that I can take is stupid. Especially when I had a whole bunch of courses to fill up. (I'm from a non-USA school system)
          • ncairns, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Oh. Well the my point is that you weren't a geek. I started taking calculus my freshman year in high school - outside of normal classes. THAT, my friend, is geekdom.
          • ncairns, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1This comment system is ***** ass-terrible. I replied, but I can't see my reply. I just know if I re-post, the original comment will suddenly appear and I'll be dugg down for redundancy. Bah. ***** it.
        • kablaaamo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I was in pretty much exactly the same situation, and I'm thankful for the flexibility my high school allowed; they let me in to start taking calculus when I was in Gr. 8 and let me fast track my hard sciences, which left me with room to take french, politics, visual arts and all that un-stereotypically-nerdy stuff.....and with that perspective I knew that I really did like organic chemistry best of all, even though those other courses were fun. A major program in high school wouldn't have allowed for that. It doesn't seem like a good idea to me at all.

          Oh, and I heartily concur that there are such things as art geeks. Spending a week geeking over a specific period of Turner's watercolours then trying to emulate his technique isn't quite the same as compiling a kernel, but it's pretty geeky nonetheless.
      • gungaroo22, on 10/10/2007, -6/+3Geeks get good jobs and are smart. No such thing as "art geeks."
        • offwithyourtv, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5I know quite a few "geeks" who had great potential to be smart and get good jobs, but then they found World of Warcraft. They're still geeks, regardless.
        • uberfu, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1*****

          I have an Art/Graphic Design degree_ Which involved heavy formal art training in everything from clay sculpture to metal fabrication to Life Drawing - to Compueter Graphics - Print media - 3D animation - website design and development to Art History Painting in various mediums and on and on_

          On the flip-side - I have a very high aptitude for technical problem solving and Math_ I have been using and playing with computers since the first and earliest Personal Computers came around in the early 80's_ I have been a System Admin off and on for many many years_ Both Mac and Win_ I have done computer programming - writing video games_ I do hard-coding for websites_ I have run - maintained and set up several computers networks thru the years_ I know how to wire CAT-5 cabling in my sleep_

          But unlike the mainstream idea of a geek - where all they do is technical ***** all day long answering the stupid whims of folks that don't know to reach down and plug the computer back in when they kick out the power cord - I actually also know how to design ***** - make it look clean and modern / cutting edge - retro - traditional - conservative - etc...

          Point of fact is I also know at least a dozen other people that are the same way_ Both creative - art - design and also technical - computers - programming - coding_

          There are prominant design companies out there that employee many more tech/creative folks that can code PHP and design the most kick ass graphic you've ever seen_
      • uberfu, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I might as well have had an ART or DEISGN major in H.S. - That's all I ever took for electives_ My senior year I had Photography -- AP Art -- Graphic Design -- Yearbook Editor_

        But this 9th Grade year thing would have screwed all of that up_ Because first my school - wouldn't allow freshmen to take Graphic Design_ I took ART all 4 years - but the rest of it didn't happen until into my 10th Grade year_

        Also Until I actually received a degree from a 4 year University I had been going back and forth from Biology to Graphic Design and I didn;t know if I really wanted to do either of those_ The ONLY time I ever declared a major was when I filled out my Graduation Application at the end of my senior year in college_ Six weeks before they mailed me my Diploma_

        Even in this context when it only pertains to High School - I had no clue what I wanted to "major" in in H.S.

        Whatever - I don;t have to deal with it - I have my degree(s)
    • hbweb500, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10This could be good or bad depending on how the major affects the courses you take. For example, I disliked English class in high school, so I would've picked a math/sci intensive major. Without the four years of English, journalism, foreign language, etc., I doubt I would be as well rounded as I am now. Colleges are looking for well-rounded students, and the real world needs well rounded thinkers. Plus, I am sure all of the right-brained classes I took in school helped me on the AP and PSAT to get the National Merit Scholarship!
      • hotsake, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I'm glad that even though you didn't enjoy English you realize its benefit. Having an English degree, I'm biased toward its importance. English and other analytical subjects are absolutely necessary skills for people to learn. Sciences and math in high school are straightforward and governed by rules--theorems, constants, the scientific method--thus, you don't get a chance to think outside the box very often. It is English, language, and communication skills in general that I feel a lot of people lack. Not everybody communicates via science, but everyone barring mutes and the deaf must rely on verbal communication. Sciences don't teach anybody how people make decisions or are unique (I don't mean neurology here), nor do they teach one how to relate to other cultures; humanities and the arts do. My dad went to a polytechnic high school in Baltimore whose primary focus was math and science, but back then there was also far more of an emphasis on teaching students about classical literature, poetry, literary criticism, etc. Every Friday during my senior year of English we spent doing vocabulary exercises which amounted to nothing more than jumping through hoops. Although vocabulary is obviously important, we weren't *learning* anything, and half the class ***** off anyway. I do think most people tend to be stronger in one area of the brain than the other, but that doesn't mean students shouldn't be well-rounded. Thus, I disagree with forcing students at this school to choose a particular degree emphasis. They have plenty of time to do that in college.
    • WhiteIce89, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I don't know how this school proposes to do it, but we still had to take the foundation courses (global and US history, English, math, etc.). What space we had left for electives was pretty much covered by majors. This is in Brooklyn Tech by the way so again, I don't know how they plan out the schedule for this case.
    • tedweird, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0well, most people actually rethink i what they MIGHT want to do after college (where most people actually choose what they're going to do, and many of those still change their major while in college) while they are in high school
  • twrife, on 10/10/2007, -8/+35I'm a senior and I don't know what I want to do.
    • lordtyros, on 10/10/2007, -3/+21I'll help you: Fireman

      That'll be $25

      /majored in Career-Picking
    • Tenlow, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7I'm in college and I dont know what I want to do. My major has changed no fewer than 7 times in the last year.
      • AxeSwinger, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Pick the one that will get you a decent paying job right out of school. The reality is that you probably will not be working in your major ten years from now, even if it is engineering or science based. You just want a strong foundation in something that interests you to springboard you to your next passion.
        • kuzotz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I am International Studies, and I'm most likely going into foreign services.
    • fnaqzna, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Just remember that you are not your job title.
    • Elranzer, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I advise you to get a career, what can I say?

      /career-advisor
    • mrwiggles123, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1None of yall had dad's huh

      ***** losers.
  • AriaStar, on 10/10/2007, -8/+74How many teenagers want to go into the same career field their senior year as their freshman? Not many.

    Forcing kids to pick a path at 14 or 15 is going to INCREASE the drop-our rate as kids find themselves wondering why they are continuing with school their junior year when they no longer want to go into field X, but can't take classes to learn field Y because of a forced life-decision before being old enough to drive.
    • WhiteIce89, on 10/10/2007, -4/+8It's really not that bad.. Coming from someone who had to go through a major during high school Jr. and Sr. years.
      • zengonzo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Realizing that it is not a binding choice .. it would probably be more productive for them to encourage exploring multiple paths than giving even the vague impression that they will be picking their life's ambition ..
    • galiean251, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I went to a vocational high school in Southern Jersey - freshman year, you tried out three different shop majors (for me it was advertising & design, culinary arts, and environmental sciences) and then at the end of the year picked the one you liked the most - our school had high scores and even though I'm not a environmentalist (actually a firefighter/emt), everything I learned helped me get my job (GIS / Meteorology / Forestry Principles / etc.).

      So rather than being a drop-out when I switched from field X to field Y at graduation, I had considerably extra knowledge to offer when I got hired.
    • Dustyb, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1My freshman year I wanted to be a graphics designer, and now in my senior year I'm looking into being a diesel mechanic, I can't imagine being forced to study what I originally wanted to do 4 years ago.
  • SwissCamel, on 10/10/2007, -5/+76I imagine most 14 year olds will major in getting spyware and wearing t shirts 4 sizes too big, amirite?!
    • alpineedge3, on 10/10/2007, -5/+0not these kids...dwight is a rich preppy school
    • rebz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2funny comments amplify themselves when people post serious replies.
  • HunterTV, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8They had something like this in my HS back in the late 80's where you could tailor your studies if you knew what you were going to college for, but it certainly wasn't mandatory. That's kind of silly.

    On the other hand, even though I did it, and started college with the major I planned on, I switched, but it didn't have a negative effect. In fact it was positive. Had a nice science background that allowed me to sail through my new psych major.
  • str3ama, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12I finished university and I still have no clue what I'd like to do. I highly doubt a high school freshman is going to be able to say "yea I think I'll major in retail or as a gas clerk"
    • capiCrimm, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6was gas clerk really the best major your could think of?
    • LordofShadows, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2I knew I wanted to become a software engineer before highschool. Although my highschool didnt have much to offer, only one programming elective. (next closest thing was learning to type) I think its great to have students think about majors early on because most just keep pushing it off until they run out of general education courses to take at the university.
  • cheddarbek, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4It'll only work if they implement a more college like system. Don't make students decide on a major before Junior year.

    Hell, when I was a freshman in High School I thought I wanted to be a computer programmer later in life. By my Junior year my plans had changed, I wanted to be a theatre tech.
  • DebtOn2, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1It could be a good idea, but making it mandatory is crazy. Those who know definitely what they want to do at that age are lucky. There's a poll about it here:
    http://www.blubet.com/bet/Should_high_school_students_have_to_declare_a_major
  • tehpwnerofn00bs, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4This is wrong on so many levels......
  • robothearts, on 10/10/2007, -1/+26i cant even decide on a goddamn major in college.
    • belv, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0yeah, my suggestion would be for every kid to just declare undecided so the school board will realize they're idiots.
    • codered1322, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I graduated college and feel like I still can't pick a major.
  • supyonamesjosh, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7Shouldn't this help them when they REALLY have to pick a major in college?

    better the F up sooner then later
  • OffPiste, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4This is how they do it in Germany. In Germany not only do you pick your major but you also have to chose if you want to go to college prep or trade school. This is asking 8th graders what they want to do in life. Want to be a doctor but decide that at age 25? Too late, the government already sent you to waiter school. Now you're stuck.
    • AxeSwinger, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Yeah, but Germany has a more formal schooling system and protects it's tradesmen as well as it's white collar workers. Since the 80s public as well as private schools have taken away money for trade or shop classes here in the US. Now if you want to learn a trade you generally have to apprentice and go to a junior college or be in a union and a lot of unions send there people to JCs.
  • Dysarthria, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Stupid.

    How 'bout majoring in fundamental math, science, history and English?
  • reddevil3, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5What the f? So many people are still undecided in their first year of college, let alone high school!
  • allaboutdatiki, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Lunacy.
  • viggenguy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1they're starting this with the freshmen in my district this year. personally, i wish i could've picked a major in chemistry last year
  • brennan40, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0I don't think there's much wrong to it as long as it stays generalised. Like let's say you either choose to enter business or science and focus on topics that will help reach there. I think most students should have a general idea where they want to go. At least they should have one.
    It makes the transition to college that much easier through my experience.
    • knde, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Double Post:

      That's similar to what I had in my UK Boarding School, seven years ago. In the 4th Form (Grade 10 here I believe), you had to decide which field of study you were interested in. At the time, there were three options; Arts, Business, and Sciences. And you took courses related to that field, for your last three years in school.

      I for instance have never had to take a Physics or Chemistry class, as I chose the Business field. And likewise my sister's never had to take an Accounting or Economics class as she chose the Science field. I think choosing a general field of study is a much better idea than picking a specific major.
      • kuzotz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I just went to a college prep charter school in the states.

        You have to go through all of the math and sciences, and you learn to program in 3 different programing languages. Then you take your liberal arts such as history, civics, English, etc.v For foreign language its between Spanish or Turkish. This is in Oklahoma BTW.
  • Ap31r0n, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6I question the motives of this style of teaching...

    make them choose their future barely out of childhood. WTF.
  • Poweroft, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2***** that. Its horrible that they would make them choose what they want to do going into high school. I even question the benefits of making college freshmen choose.
  • ozid, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7My first thought was "who cares?"

    My next thought is that nobody is going to stick to their major, especially in High School. It's just a waste of time. High school is supposed to be your time to eat up as much general ed as you can, while slacking off. My school had the right idea, made you try one of each type of class (a computer, a shop class, a homec class, and art class) your freshman year, and then you could pick your electives yourself for the rest of high school, given you passed all of them.
  • TehSoM, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2I think they should have both systems in place. Allow the regular one-size-fits-all system that most schools have, but if you would like to/know what you want to focus on, allow kids to reshape their classes towards that. I for one have known for a while that whatever I am going to do in college, its going to be in writing. I tested out of school because I couldn't stand the fact that I was FORCED to take physics and calculus, even though once I am out of those classes, I will never touch those fields ever again. However, like you guys have said, a lot of kids don't know what they are doing, so the one-size-fits-all system works relatively well for these kids. The downside is it negatively affects people who DO know what they want to do.
  • awa1ct, on 10/10/2007, -5/+4Central High School, Philadelphia. One of the top schools in the country, second oldest in the country too. We are a college prep school, so we don't choose a major. We can, though, choose elective classes such as Photography, Web Design, Pharmacology, Robotics, European History, Creative Writing, etc, etc, etc as elective courses.
  • CornStarch, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Hell it takes most people 2 years of pre-req's just to figure it out.
    • NewOntario, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I hear ya. When I was a freshman, I wanted to go into Journalism, but then i was soon kicked out of the newspaper because my stories on world events we're not acceptable for high school reader. This was fall of 2001, we all know what kind of ***** happened then. So then I started doing underground journalism, but that flopped cause after a couple of issues of discussing how the district was screwing students over, the administration started looking around fiercely and nearly found me. So I had to close shop on that project.

      So now as I go into my third year of college, I have settled into pursuing degrees in Computer Science and Art History. That was decided after doing two years of pre-req's in a multitude of subjects so I can get an idea of what is out there.
      • kuzotz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1do journalism mate.

        Your job is to piss people off by telling the truth.

        Keep it up.
    • CornStarch, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Yeah they can be annoying, but there's a reason they're there.
  • andrgo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I didn't figure out what I wanted to do until January of my senior year. Who the hell do these clowns think they are at this joke of a school?
  • irisadler, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I'm over 25 and i have no idea what I want to do! there's no way you can know at 14!
  • bigal90, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1old news man i could of told you guys this ***** years ago... For ***** sake there making middle school kids choose professions while entering 6th grade, While your son Tony's jumping around with his thumb up his ass, do you honestly think he even knows what the ***** a Major is? Pfft maybe its just real bad here in Florida dunno...
  • ssteeg, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Anyone else think of Dwight Schrute when reading the description? .... just me?
    • alpineedge3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0he would major in Assistant Regional Manager
    • H0tKarl, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1No, I was thinking of Sir Arthur VonBurgensteinmal.
  • augsod, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3I graduated from the "magnet school in the district" about a year ago (the Bergen County Academies) and I can say that the it's not "some" of us that are allowed to pick a major (we actually refer to them as academies). ALL students for the last 15 years have been required to.

    Either way, people are far too squeamish about this sort of thing. Since when does a college care what I studied in High School? I finished the state requirements like everybody else, and just because I studied some extra, possibly irrelevant material, I'm suddenly less qualified? It just provides a slightly more structured curriculum for something you'd like to learn, and in the end provides for a greater depth of learning in a field of interest.
  • atlacatl, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2This is not much different in the way it is done in some Latin American countries.

    Having studied a couple of years of high-school in a Central American country, it is actually not a such a bad idea. The way it works is that there are a few different types of diplomas that specialize in different subjects depending of where you want to go to University.

    For example, if you are interested in Engineering or Mathematics or Physics or Computer Science, you "must" take the "Mathematics and Physics" branch; on the other hand, if you wanted to study medicine, then you must take the "Science" branch; and so on. Note that there are not that many branches: I remember there being around 4 or 5.

    I finally completed my high-school studies in Canada and found the practice of electives a bit confusing, as there were too many choices (structure is sometimes good). I did find out, though, that "general" and "advanced" classes were different and one was geared toward University studies (I also had to do OACs, if you are from Ontario, you know what those were).

    I think that by asking you to choose what you want to be when you grow old at such a young age forces you to really think about the future--even if you just keep saying Medicine to keep you parents happy ;). Another difference is that in Central America there are no "community colleges" (not that I knew of), so kids had two options: University, or the stigma of not being professionally educated and "just work" for a living. Most (if not all) of the people I knew always chose the U route. Sure, they are probably not the most happy lawyers or architects you know, but it beat the other options out there.

    BTW, I'm not a Dr., but I've seen may being played by actors on TV...

    BTW2, I'm not comparing the educational system at all...
    • knde, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1That's similar to what I had in my UK Boarding School, seven years ago. In the 4th Form (Grade 10 here I believe), you had to decide which field of study you were interested in. At the time, there were three options; Arts, Business, and Sciences. And you took courses related to those for your last three years in school.

      I for instance have never had to take a Physics or Chemistry class, as I chose the Business field. And likewise my sister's never had to take an Accounting or Economics class as she chose the Science field. I think choosing a general field of study is a much better idea than picking a specific major.
  • spawesume, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Hmmm I'm a five minute drive from Englewood but my school doesn't do this. I personally feel that I could pick my major at this point (freshman) that would effect my entire high school career, but I'm really not sure about other kids.
  • 12340987, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I shudder to think; in my high school (Boise, Idaho) they would have given you about 4 options. Additions subtractions watching things move and talking English good.
  • sparkmonkeyz, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I am a senior at Rocklin High (it's in Northern California) and I was forced to pick all of my electives freshmen year, yeah it sucked, but they never made a story that hit the digg front page for me, that would have made it much better :(
  • stinkypyper, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2What a ***** retarded idea. It was kinda like that here in Ontario when I was in High School. Lets say you want to be a dentist, you gotta go to dentistry school, wanna get in there they you need a degree most of the time in life sciences, wanna get a degree in life sciences, then you have to take advanced biology courses in high school, wanna take advanced biology high school courses, then you gotta start at an early grade with the prerequisites. You have to pick your career path when your 13. What if you decide you wanna go to University for business instead, your *****! Also, this leaves no room for the courses we seem to not be teaching to kids anymore, like auto shop or wood working.
  • arkmannj, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0We "had" to do this to in our high School (I graduated in 1998 from Provo High School, Provo Utah) we had to take a class called SEOP our freshman year (Student Educational Occupation Planning is what it stood for I think) I could see the purpose behind it, to try and get you ahead in a given area, but in the end I just took what classes I wanted and graduated. (I'd get pulled into the couplers office now and then for being "off-track") but since my parents would back me up every time the school couldn't do much about it.
  • ghostlywind, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I used high school to find out what career path i might want to go. thats how it should stay.
  • fiftycents, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0It didn't affect me, but my high school adopted a similar program last year (I just graduated). In our case, it didn't really affect the freshman at all. They have to declare a "major", and take at least one credit per year in that "field". For example, if you pick journalism, you have to take either history or english. Well, since both are graduation requirements anyway, it doesn't really matter. So its a lame idea, but it doesn't have any significant affect on anyone. Hopefully they don't make it a bigger deal in the future...
  • oneblackcitizen, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2"college admissions officers have said over the years that they favor students with expertise in particular areas since it demonstrates commitment and passion."

    so, basically force students into doing something to fool colleges into thinking they all have "commitment and passion" - You're gonna have commitment and passion whether you like it or not!!

    The students are going to be worse off, and the colleges will see right through it
  • deleuex, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4My major in high school was Star Craft and counter strike and I graduated with honors
    • NewOntario, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Mine was Advanced F-ZERO GX Maneuvers. I studied that subject for many hours every night what that was needed.
  • nyr633, on 10/10/2007, -3/+0i live in bergen county not to far from dwight morrow and just want it to be known that its the biggest ***** whole.... full of kids going no where in life. its in the ghetto and no matter what you make those kids to they will fall back on stealing, rap music, and teenage pregnancy....
    • kuzotz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1rap music doesn't exist in the mainstream. Today rap music is still a form of protest.

      BTW the hiphop you hear on the radio isn't rap when they repeat the same two lines over and over.
  • kberry67, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1this is another idiotic idea out of the east coast. freshmen don't know what the hell they want, i mean the boys can't think beyond 6 inches and the girls still think lindsay lohan is something to aspire to be... so unless you can take 4 years of sex ed or learn how to do coke specialization makes no sense
  • urbannomad23, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3NO! they shouldn't do that! my family comes from pakistan, and over there they do this! and all of my fathers friends regret getting into medschool or engineering. true, the money is there, but they don't enjoy there careers, at all! i shudder to think what the implications of this might be!
  • cyborg, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I have to do this now, there's four programs at my school International Baccaleureate, CS, IDP and MSE, lookup Suncoast Highschool. They've been doing this forever and we have one of the highest suicide rates, and drop out rates. I agree with Ariastar
  • Serveck, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I'm a senior now, and I'm still not entirely certain what I'm going to major in, since freshman year, I've probably changed my major half a dozen times. i probably will not know until I'm actually at college
  • sazai, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0It's so not a big deal. I graduated a couple of years ago with a writing major. Best thing that ever happened. Granted, it was at a school I chose to go to, but still.

    I think it's great so long as enough options are available. People put more value in their learning if they're learning about something that excites them.
  • Shooter1228, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0Bad idea,they should be able to learn everything that can be offered,i know i changed my major many times before i applied for college to college.
  • in2deep, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1This is flippin nuts...most people don't know what they want to do until they retire!
  • SonicAD, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I think that the fact that Sports Management proved to be the most popular choice is reason enough by itself to show this as a bad idea.
  • impedance101, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Get over it, people every where except the US get only a limited number of choices for their majors. Even the thought of picking random courses just to see what you like is unheard of in other countries.
  • Leomarth, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1This is good. It will help prepare teens for later in life when many of their choices have long term impacts on their lives. Now, if only we did a little bit better at raising our children to be adults, instead of raising our children to be children, it may help even more.
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