Choosing the right college major in US: What every international student's parent should know

"I initially thought that following in his sister's footsteps and specializing in English would be beneficial," she said while speaking at a recent conference on studying abroad.

"But when he cried and said it was not for him, I knew I could not force him."

Realizing her son's genuine interest lay elsewhere, Van allowed him to explore his passion for physics.

Her decision proved wise as he successfully joined the Physics-specialized class at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School.

But then the next challenge emerged soon: choosing the right university major.

"My husband and I debated whether our son should pursue computer science, which is popular, or electrical engineering, closely related to physics," she said.

"This choice proved even tougher than the previous one."

Minh Ha, whose son is now 18, faced a similar dilemma. Considering her son's strength in math and excellent memory, she initially thought about majors like computer science and artificial intelligence.

But after conversations with study-abroad advisors she began questioning how well she really knew her son's preferences.

Listen to your children

Many Vietnamese parents planning to send their children to the U.S. face the challenging question of which path is the right one to take

Tran Phuong Hoa, director of Summit Education, an English training and study abroad consultancy organization based in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, said selecting the right major at the age of 16 or 17 is difficult.

"Students at this age lack experience and struggle to visualize their future careers."

A 2023 survey by the HCMC-based Institute of Studies of International Education and Economics found 15-20% of university graduates saying they had chosen the wrong major.

For students aiming to study abroad, Hoa emphasized the importance of starting planning early, ideally by grade nine or 10, to ensure they have solid university applications.

Hoa said parents should focus first on their children's favorite subjects and guide them toward relevant projects and extracurricular activities.

For instance, if a child struggles in mathematics, parents should avoid pushing them into STEM, finance or data science, he said.

"If students find it difficult to pinpoint one major, they should engage in activities bridging multiple interests, ensuring their applications remain versatile."

Nguyen Pham Dieu Nhi, a student specializing in English at the Hanoi National University of Education’s High School for Gifted Students, once struggled to choose between economics and psychology.

But after participating in activities related to both, she realized her passion lay in solving economic issues, which ultimately secured her a VND5.5 billion (US$212,400) scholarship from Grinnell College, a leading liberal arts school in the U.S.

"Experiencing various fields is crucial to understanding what you truly enjoy," Nhi said.

Ultimately, Van encouraged her son to join a robotics club, noticing his enthusiasm for programming and assembling robots.

His passion took him to several robotics competitions and eventually the mechanical engineering program at Columbia University in the U.S. this April.

"Parents should listen closely to their children," Van concluded.

"We can provide guidance, but 80% of the decision should be theirs."