Common questions from parents
How do I help my kid choose a college major?
Start with what they already do when nobody is pushing them, not with job titles. Notice what they lose track of time doing and what friends come to them for. Then give them small, real things to try, and watch what they go back to. Guide My Kid walks you through this: you and your kid each answer, and you get a direction, matching majors and experiments for the next 30 days.
What if my kid has no idea what they want to be?
That's common, especially from 11 to 16. It doesn't mean something is wrong. The way to find out is to try more things and notice what sticks. If no direction stands out, Guide My Kid says so rather than forcing an answer, and suggests experiments and majors that connect to many kinds of work.
What if my kid's interests are nothing like mine?
Most parents know their own career paths best, so it's easy to steer kids toward what's familiar. Guide My Kid gathers your view and your kid's separately, and helps you notice whether you may be steering toward something you wanted for yourself.
Does my kid have to pick a major when applying to college?
It depends on the college. Many let students apply undeclared, but some programs ask students to choose early. Check with each college. Either way, exploring early gives your kid more to go on.
What are unusual college majors my kid may not know about?
There are far more majors than most families have heard of, from Viticulture and Enology to Ethnomusicology, Entomology and Actuarial Science. Our list of 70 majors at University of California campuses is grouped by interest.
Is Guide My Kid a career test?
It's a starting point, not a test with a right answer. The questions are based on O*NET career interest research, shortened and rewritten for ages 11 to 16. This shortened version has not been separately validated. It can't predict income, pick a college or tell you who your kid is.
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
About 10 minutes in total: roughly 5 for you and 5 for your kid. It's free, with no ads and no account.
Does Guide My Kid use AI?
No AI reads your answers or decides your result. Your guide comes from fixed rules, so the same answers give the same result.
What information do you keep?
If your kid answers later, we keep their first name, age, your answers and the result for up to 90 days, then it's deleted. Your kid's individual answers are never kept. We don't sell your information.
Do we have to live in California?
No. The directions and activities work for any family. The matching majors come from University of California campuses, which gives you real examples to look up. Guide My Kid is independent and is not affiliated with the University of California.