Indeed, I was panicked back in high school over the sudden need to suddenly pick a college major, specialty college and/or career. I had just been focused on "

Indeed, I was panicked back in high school over the sudden need to suddenly pick a college major, specialty college and/or career. I had just been focused on "college prep" up to that point. I knew little about engineering, which is what everyone who I asked for advice pushed me towards, but I did end up going to an engineering school. That's really not a good way to do it. I endorse learning by specializing early and often. You really can't beat serial specialization to give you a broad set of experiences, rather than a little about a lot or a lot about a little. One of the most common improvements I see in our local schools is earlier specialization. Here in LA, we have life sciences, math & [hard] science, and even marine biology high school programs. For my part, I went to an arts elementary school (grades 5 & 6) to learn acting and still value that experience. However, I notice that well-regarded private primary and secondary schools rarely specialize in that same way. There's Julliard and Olin and even Deep Springs, but not so much before that, is there? I don't think there is, but I'm not sure whether that's an issue of quality or simply parental demand.