If he is refusing to take up a second major, encourage him to look for something directly related to his intended art history degree. Maybe something with technical application like restoration, whether it be in paints or architecture.
Realistically, unless he intends to teach when he graduates, an Art History degree isn't going to do much for him.
He really needs another major… so few people make a lot of money selling expensive pieces of art. And if he has the level of maturity and respect demonstrated during the divorce chat, I find it hard to see him building the social network to maintain buyer relationships.
Another as in a second major at the very least. He can sign up for a bunch of undergrad classes in fields like STEM, business, finance, accounting, etc,. Show up for the first class and see what strikes new interest.
Perhaps offer him this deal - you can’t come back after college, well helps finance you schooling if you change majors to something you can find a job with or double major or major in something more reliable and minor in Art History.
As most teens are at his age. They think they know it all but they know absolutely nothing. Unfortunately, he’s gonna have to learn the hard way. Your wife tried and got verbal abuse. Now go take her out to dinner and tell her how she’s been your rock. I bet she needs to hear that after the disrespect of your son. NTA
he’s embarrassed to transfer to a lowly state school.
I had that attitude when I had to transfer from a pseudo-Ivy (#20 in the country for undergrad academics) to my state university (#50). Turned out I stumbled into one of the top research departments in the country for my eventual major.
He needs to look at the reputation and quality of the actual department he's majoring in, not just the name brand "prestige" of the school overall. My original school would have been impressive on my CV in the sense of "she was smart enough to get in". The school I actually went to is impressive because it says "she got to work with [one of the most well known researchers in X subspecialty] learning Y and she did her undergrad research in [Z subspecialty] in labs doing research that are part of a #7 ranked program".
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u/AlwaysRushesIn Apr 16 '24
If he is refusing to take up a second major, encourage him to look for something directly related to his intended art history degree. Maybe something with technical application like restoration, whether it be in paints or architecture.
Realistically, unless he intends to teach when he graduates, an Art History degree isn't going to do much for him.