Choosing a college major is difficult. It’s hard to fit all our passions into one course of study or to find a path that really clicks. Sometimes, it feels like we have to choose between a major that we’re passionate about and a major that will help us get a job. As the second semester begins, many of us are thinking about how we can maximize our college experience. If you’re considering adding a major, read this first!
There are a lot of pros to double majoring. While you’re in college, double majoring can help you become a more well-rounded student, meet new people, and explore your passions through taking classes you would not have otherwise had the opportunity to take. Double majoring also gives you a unique background and shows employers that you can bring something different to that job. It helps you develop many transferable skills that future employers and graduate programs are looking for, as well as opening up new opportunities in other disciplines.
Giulia, a freshman screenwriting major, is adding a psychology double major. She explains that in addition to her “general interest in psychology,” she chose this combination because “by studying human behavior, I am able to better understand and develop the character I create in my stories.” This adds a unique perspective to her screenwriting background and also gives her career opportunities in the field of psychology.
On the other side of the coin, when you are double majoring, you’ll certainly be studying more, as you have to take twice the number of required major classes, and you’ll have less time for electives. This extra commitment could also mean less time to gain experience outside of the classroom. Employers value experience in the field, such as internships. It’s important to prioritize your classes, but if you are cramming in every last credit instead of pursuing these extracurricular activities, it might affect your application in the opposite way!
Depending on how demanding each of your fields are, it can be difficult, or even impossible, to graduate on time. If you want to pursue two majors, both with a very heavy course loads, graduating in eight semesters will be very difficult. However, meeting with your advisor can help you create a plan to study both subjects. You have options such as taking summer classes or choosing to minor in one and major in the other.
For example, Tara, a sophomore film production major at LMU, decided to minor in music because she is “passionate about music, and the classes at LMU were flexible enough to allow me to pursue both film and music.” While it would have been difficult for her to balance the number of classes as a double major, minoring in music allows her to pursue her passion for music in a lower stress environment.
If you are considering double majoring, make sure to weigh the pros and cons, and reflect on how double-majoring will help you meet your goals. Although it may seem daunting, double majoring is rewarding and totally possible!