<p>If you only want to triple major because you’re interested in all three subjects: don’t. I love politics, economics, logic, cryptography, and app development/computer science. I’m studying political science and economics. Right now I have a tab for learning logic and a tab for learning cryptography and I’ve been reading a book in each subject each week in addition to my classes, but it wouldn’t be practical to study all of these things. It’d be a waste of time. </p>
<p>I’m fine with taking some classes in those fields (for concepts I want a better grasp of) as electives, but I wouldn’t devote a significant amount of resources to it. There’s no long term benefit and those topics don’t line up with my career interests. I’ll still learn the content, and I may even reach out to some philosophy department (logic) professors to conduct research, but I’m not triple majoring. </p>
<p>It’s just useless to triple major, especially if you’ll stay in school > 4 years, if all three subjects aren’t necessarily helpful for your career path. I don’t know of a career where an actuarial science, physics, and comp sci triple major would see benefit from all three degrees.</p>
<p>As others have pointed out, you don’t need to triple major to study everything you want. You can choose one major and then just take some classes in the others. In fact, you will have more flexibility this way to take the classes you really want to take (as opposed to having to take major requirements to fulfill the major). It seems especially pointless to me to double major in computer science and computer engineering. Just do the computer engineering major and select some additional courses you want from the computer science department. Engineering majors take plenty of physics and you can also supplement. The whole point of a major is to select one (maybe two) things and study them deeply. You can’t achieve depth in everything - that’s why it’s called depth.</p>
<p>The amount of overlap is actually a good sign that you shouldn’t double major, not the other way around. I know that’s counterintuitive, but if two majors really have that much overlap, then double/triple majoring in them doesn’t really add much value - both employment-wise and learning wise.</p>
<p>I know you insist that you love class and you’d be bored without an overload, but you haven’t gotten to college yet, so you’re not yet used to the amount of work necessary in one college class and how much you need to study (especially for STEM classes with problem sets). This is particularly true if you are headed to a top college where the courses are faster-paced and you are in class with competitive, mathematically-oriented students like yourself. You’ve heard a chorus of voices already tell you that 21 credits is an insane amount of work, some from experience. Personally I haven’t done it but I have advised students who have, and if they do get through the semester without dropping a class (uncommon - most end up dropping a class) they universally regret having taken it on. That’s just ONE semester. You propose doing it for EVERY semester, including summers, for 4 straight years. This is a path of destruction. (And for the record, no, many colleges won’t let you register for 21 credits over the summer. I would wager that many colleges don’t even have 21 credits for you to register FOR over the summer.)</p>
<p>Someone else also made a really good point - spend the extra free time (that you may or may not have if you do a regular 18-hour courseload) doing an internship or participating in an extracurricular that will contribute to your professional development, like coding/developing applications or volunteer tech work or something.</p>
<p>I agree with what everyone else has said but want to add that college is not just about going to class. When you do graduate you are going to want to go to graduate school or get a job. To be a viable candidate for either of those you not only need your degree but you need internships (especially in the fields you are interested in), community service, club involvement preferably with leadership positions, research, summer or part time jobs… it’s not enough to get your degree, employers and grad schools are looking to see what practical experience you have and to evaluate your soft skills. </p>
<p>Just to clarify, are you saying that would also want to take 21-24 credits over the summer? </p>
<p>If so, you should probably get that idea out of your head. Summer courses are done in half the time of a regular semester, but they still cover the same amount of material, and you will still be expected to know it all. The rule of 3 hours of study time for every hour of class time during a regular semester is more like 6 hours of study time per 1 hour in class during the summer. Add that up. 21 credits + 6(21) = 147 hours per week. There are 168 hours in a week, which leaves you about 21 hours to sleep, eat, and get to class. These guidelines of 3 hours per hour are generally over estimated ideals, and do greatly depend on the class…but it’s a point to keep in mind. </p>
<p>As others have mentioned, most upper level classes aren’t even offered in the summer. Most summer courses are GenEd type classes, and lower level introductory courses. You may not even have the option of taking all of those courses in the summer like you might like to. If they are offered, there’s a very good chance that you wouldn’t be allowed to register for that many credits in summer. </p>
<p>Many colleges review student applications holistically meaning what you do outside the classroom matters a lot. Employers and grad schools are no different. Do not just go to college to sit in your room to study. That is not what college is all about. Also, you are not familiar with scheduling classes in a college environment. The courses you need to take to complete in many cases conflict with other required courses. So that Computer class you need is at the same time as that Physics class, so what are you going to do? </p>
<p>I’m still trying to get the motivation. I was just on a RIT thread that mentioned only 28% graduate in four years. Well obviously, most of their engineering majors are in five-year programs!</p>
<p>I can understand wanting to have more than one major, even wanting three majors.</p>
<p>But I cannot understand insisting to get it done in four years.</p>
<p>Im a current freshman intending on a triple major in math, CS, and music (BS in math and CS, BA in music, BS in math and CS has no additional coursework than BA because of double major). I am taking 6.5 units (approx 22.75 credits) right now (plus 2 ensembles not for credit and can tell you, it is a very busy schedule. I have 4 academic classes plus my ensembles, lessons, dance, etc. I manage and will probably do the same most semesters (unless I drop one down to a minor). However, I wouldnt recommend it with the majors you want to. Those will be tough classes. I spend a lot of time in rehearsal, which adds up, but you would be spending the time in other academic classes, learning more material, that would also need to be studied.</p>