Hello! I’m currently a sophomore at the University of Georgia majoring in psychology and planning to apply to a clinical psychology PhD or PsyD program after undergrad. I am about to finish my psychology major requirements and have time to double major, so I was wondering what would be my best choice for a second major. I am considering biology, cellular biology, communication studies, health promotion, human development and family science, english, or social work as a second major (I know it’s a long list- sorry!). I have already completed two biology classes along with three chemistry courses, so I would be able to complete a major in biology within four years. However, I do also have a strong interest in English and social work and would really enjoy these majors. If anyone knows of any other majors/minors to consider as well, please let me know! Thanks so much!
If you’re going to double major, you should select whatever you’d enjoy the most.
There’s an argument for selecting one that would deepen whatever your research focus will be in your PhD program and research career - like if you were interested in biological psychology, picking up a second major in biology would be good; or if you were interested in health psychology, the health promotion double major might be nice.
But really, it doesn’t matter too much - clinical psychology courses are going to be most interested in how you did in your psychology major. So if you wanted to major in English, or social work, either of those would be just fine too!
It’d be less the double major and more the grades and other activities that went along with it.
Being a serious ballet dancer at the college level, as I understand it, is a time-consuming endeavor with a grueling schedule. There’s a significant amount of classwork, maybe private or small group lessons, and performances and recitals to prepare for every year. That kind of schedule and intense focus on the craft and art of ballet may make it difficult to maintain a rigorous course schedule in psychology.
It’s also very likely to conflict with the kinds of things that you need to do to prepare for a PhD program in psychology - like apprentice as a research assistant in a professor’s lab during the academic year, or do summer research training programs rather than summer ballet intensives.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t maintain a connection to ballet; it does mean, though, that at some point you’re going to choose what you pursue and invest most of your time in in terms of career preparation. (Note, though, that it is possible to have a career as a ballet dancer and then pursue academia after that. It is much more difficult, probably nigh impossible, to do the reverse.)