Amy is trying to choose what college to attend. She really likes her engineering classes in high school, enjoys most anything to do with a computer, and thinks she might want a career in engineering. Her guidance counselor suggested that she should choose a school with a really strong engineering program in order to get the best job when she graduated, and her parents are encouraging her interest in a scientific career. But she is also a talented violinist--she had been taking music lessons as long as she could remember, loved performing, and her music teachers urged her to apply to a music conservatory or a college with a strong music department. "That way you could keep your options open," they said, "you'll never have a chance to study music if you go to engineering school and take all those classes with tons of homework. Your lab schedule will conflict with orchestra practice. You won't even have a chance to practice let alone do any performing!"

What would you tell her to do? Does she have to choose one or the other? How could she combine her interests? What kind of college should she pick? What if she changes her mind?

BACK to Notes