One of the biggest decisions we face in college is which major we should declare—but what happens when you throw two majors into the equation?
When selecting a major, you are picking more than just the fine print that goes on your diploma; you are choosing your courses, your curriculum, your degree type and potentially your career. Of course, with a decision as big as a college major, there are many factors that play into it: your interests, your talents, your personal and professional goals and more.
Some ambitious collegiettes may find that their interests fall into more than one category and decide to double major—but though we may think doing so makes us look like hard workers, sometimes, when it comes to majors, less is more. Double majors aren’t for everybody, so it’s important to do your homework before taking the plunge. In the meantime, here are three reasons why you may want to consider ditching the idea of a double major (plus a couple reasons why double majoring might be right for you).
1. Your grades might suffer
Eric Chen, associate professor at Saint Joseph College, explained that one of the reasons double majoring can be problematic is because it usually means double the course load.
“Double majoring is a rigorous endeavor,” he says. “Extra courses may also strain the academic performance of even the best student. Graduation with extra credits is impressive. However, graduating with a lowered grade point average because you were shouldering the load of extra credits isn’t. There is no substitute of quantity for quality.”
The National Association of Colleges and Employers released in their 2011 Job Outlook that GPA screening has been on the rise for the class of 2011, meaning that GPA is being taken into consideration now more than ever when applying for a job post-graduation. With the current, competitive job market, three out of four job applicants from the class of 2011 had their GPA considered—an all-time high—so it’s important to focus on your GPA.
Suzanne Dagger, Director of Career Services at Hofstra University, agreed that it’s more important to raise your GPA than diversify your course load.
“A double major would be a bad idea if a student could not handle the academic rigor of the courses,” she said. “Students should aim for a strong GPA, which is highly valued by most employers. If the student could maintain a high GPA with just one major versus two, this would most likely be a better path to take.”
2. It may cost you extra money—and time in school
Even if you’re not worried about your grades being impacted, there are other factors to consider that aren’t academic at all. The extra courses may not only lower your GPA, but also your bank account balance.
“Extra courses might mean extra costs,” Chen said. “Costs that have the student and their family scratching their heads over whether the extra dollars are worth it.” These costs range from taking out additional loans to compensate for the extra credits that are needed to fulfill your double major to purchasing extra textbooks for classes.
For University of North Alabama junior Sydney Threet, a communication and journalism double major, not only is she digging deeper into her wallet to support her studies, but she’s also investing more time. Though happy with her decision to pursue two majors, Sydney admits her time in school has been prolonged because of her choice to study two academic areas instead of one.
“If I had not had two majors, I would have graduated in three years, which would have saved me money,” she said.
But perhaps the real cost doesn’t come from those additional expenses, but rather whether or not it will actually pay off in the long-run in terms of your career.
Kathryn Favaro, an independent college counselor, agrees. While a second major is likely to guarantee you extra costs now, it doesn’t always guarantee a job after graduation.
“I don’t really know always what the payout is,” she says. “You would get that second major in hopes of trying to land a better job, which isn’t always the case.”
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3. There are alternatives to a double major that might make more sense
Having two majors may also be unnecessary since many fields do not require specific undergraduate training, so there’s no need to demonstrate proficiency in so many areas.
Favaro explained that a college major does not necessarily always predict the job that a student will hold after graduation, so it is not necessary to pick two specific fields of study in hopes of pursuing a career.
“There are many jobs that require a bachelor’s degree, so we know that’s the importance of going to college in the first place,” she said. “But there are very few jobs that specifically require what that bachelor’s degree is. Yes, major is relevant in some situations, but largely not.”
Collegiette™ Chelsea Evans, who recently graduated from Tufts University with degrees in international relations and economics, suggested another way to explore different subjects without having to commit to multiple majors.
“If you are interested in many different subjects look for interdisciplinary majors,” she said. “For instance, my international relations major was great for students interested in history, economics, political science and/or foreign language. It was a great way to pursue all of those interests at once.”
Furthermore, a minor is another, often more manageable alternative to double majoring that enables you to explore another academic area.
“One alternative solution would be to take a minor instead of another major,” Dagger says. “Another would be to find an internship, volunteer or work experience in the other area of interest. Lastly, students could become involved with activities on campus including clubs, research, or student programming/events that would supplement their interest in another major.”
Favaro agreed, explaining, “employers are looking for practical experience in the field; they are looking for internships, they are looking for research, they are looking for connections made, jobs made. Majors would probably be the very lowest on that list.”
Georgetown junior Kylie Sago, who majors in both French and English, also suggested just taking classes if you are interested in a subject.
“You don’t have to major in everything that interests you,” she said. “Sometimes just taking classes is enough.”
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When you should double major
Of course, there are also several situations when it does make sense to take on the rigorous course load of a double major.
Dagger explained that having two majors can actually help when applying for a job because it makes a student stand out as a hard worker with varied knowledge.
“Having two majors may allow certain students with diverse interests to explore and learn about both,” she said. “For others, they may pick two majors that support or supplement one another. For most students, a double major is a welcome academic challenge and allows them to expand their network of peers, friends, and faculty. Employers certainly may recognize the academic rigors of two majors (especially if a strong GPA is maintained), find the student more interesting and well-rounded, and/or need a candidate with an education in both areas.”
Bianca Ortega, a Belmont University junior with two majors, agreed that the synergy between two majors is crucial, to avoid problems with general requirements, scheduling conflicts and more.
“I definitely think it’s important to pick majors that will complement each other and make sense in regards to your future career,” she said. “It’s also much easier to dual major if your two majors are in the same college. In my case, both degrees are a BBA, so all my general courses were the same for each major.”
Ultimately, when choosing your classes, minors and major, Goodman reminds us that just as every collegiette is different, so is every collegiette’s academic plan.
“There is no formula here,” he said. “You should create the educational and career path that is fulfilling for you—not someone else.” But given that a double major in many cases can mean extra work, time, and money, you should think carefully before asking your adviser to sign off on it.
Sources
http://www.naceweb.org/so11172010/job_outlook_2011/
Eric Chen, Saint Joseph College
Suzanne Dagger, Hofstra University
Steven Roy Goodman, Career Strategist
Kathryn Favaro, Favaro College Consulting
Kylie Sago, Georgetown ‘13
Chelsea Evans, Tufts ‘11
Bianca Ortega, Belmont ‘13
Sydney Threet, U. of Northern Alabama ‘13
Shachi Phene, Bates ’12
Bianca Ortega, Belmont University ‘12