Dear Roadie:
My daughter is smart and hardworking but doesn’t always make the most practical decisions, so I’m considering asking her to sign a contract with me. I’ll pay for her college education, but only if she chooses a practical, well-paying field that’s worth my investment. I’m thinking science or engineering since she’s done so well in high school with those subjects. But she’s also interested in creative writing and poetry, and I wouldn’t want to throw away my money like that. Am I being unfair? What do you think about the whole idea of all these majors that seem fairly useless in the real world of work?
– Happy To Be Contractually Obligated
Dear Happy To Be Contractually Obligated,
I understand your desire for a secure return on your investment, but many factors determine whether a person settles into a well-paying field, and their choice of major has only a little bit to do with it.
Of course, no one’s going to hire a doctor if they haven’t gone to medical school, but for the most part, your daughter can forge a successful career path without having to rely on a specific major. In the modern workplace, the adage that only some majors lead to success in specific roles is outdated. Even tech companies like Google and Microsoft hire humanities and other majors, in part because they’re trained to consider various outcomes when problem-solving. Some professionals earn degrees in art history, anthropology, and political science and work in fields like Information Technology making a nice living. Stephen Smith, the President and CEO of L.L.Bean, graduated from Dickinson College with a degree in art history and a minor in physics. Howard Schulz majored in communications and became the CEO of Starbucks. Disney’s Michael Eisner graduated with a degree in English literature.
The idea that the path to success is linear is just not true, and it’s certainly not based on anyone’s choice of major.
I understand your concern. You’re about to spend a boatload of money. The last thing you want to say is, “Here’s a bunch of cash, no strings attached.” But you also don’t want to see her crash and burn while studying a subject she hates.
Maybe she chooses to study an off-the-beaten-path subject but becomes so passionate about it that she takes advantage of every opportunity and becomes successful just the same. I understand your reluctance to embrace the idea that if you study what you love, the money will follow, but passion, determination, and tenacity can get you far in life, sometimes way farther than a business degree.
If seeing a return on your investment is important to you, you might consider the cost of the school she’ll be attending compared to potential earnings. Some jobs are more likely to have higher earnings right out of school. In that case, spending more may make sense. But even then there are nuances.
Learning to seek the maximum return on her investments is a worthwhile lesson to teach her. It will serve her well throughout life, whether she’s buying a car or a house, or she’s choosing between jobs. But there are other ways to teach her that without choosing a major for her.
Perhaps the better contract is an agreement that she keeps her grades up and doesn’t withdraw from any classes. Set consequences together if she falls short, so there are no surprises. Perhaps she can take a part-time job to help offset costs. Setting expectations is perfectly understandable. You’re offering her the chance to earn a degree debt-free. But demanding the expectations are met is another matter entirely.
In the end, there are benefits to higher education that extend far beyond majors, and a student’s choice of major doesn’t necessarily determine a career.
Have a perplexing college question? Email Dear Roadie for advice at dearroadie@road2college.com
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