<p>I'm thinking to double major Psychology and English literature, because I love literature and want to be a writer after graduate, and am interested in psychology. Also think that learning psychology would help me to analyse people better and thus write better. </p>
<p>But I heard that both require heavy essay writing and research. What are other challenges? Is it realistic?</p>
<p>My psych courses usually had one big paper due per term of about 10-15 pages. I also took advanced writing courses (but did not major or minor in it), and I had no problems handling the work. If you enjoy writing, you probably will not find this as demanding as someone who does not enjoy writing.</p>
<p>It is certainly realistic. But you do need to choose where you want your focus to be when it comes to internships. Since you want to be a writer, your internships and other academic opportunities will likely evolve around English Lit. My psych program did not require internships or research experience, but some do, so check into whether you would need to squeeze in an internship or thesis for psychology at some point as well. That might be the only challenge, if the psych department requires it, but with some good planning you should be able to pull it off.</p>
<p>I would ask people in these programs at your school what it’s like. I think it should be doable, but I know my english courses had a good three to five 10-15 page papers a semester, plus an even bigger paper for the final, plus anywhere from 5 to 8 books to read. This was no problem on its own, but when I was taking multiple of these classes at the upper level, the papers were always due at the same times and it was doable but was not a cakewalk, and I have always been good at reading and writing. It’s just a lot that piles up at once. If that had been my particlar program I am not sure if I would have double majored or not… it would depend on the nature of the coursework for the other major. At my first school, the english classes were not as intense so it would have been easy to double major, but programs vary quite a bit.</p>
<p>Finding a high-paying job.</p>
<p>Oh bluestar, you beat me to it.</p>
I’m a med student who double majored in both Psychology and English. I’m also a writer. As much as I love what I do as a writer, there was a true calling for me to become a psychiatrist and so, a double major was in order. It is certainly not a choice that would suit everyone as it takes a lot of time, effort, patience, and dedicated but it can be done and it can be very rewarding. I did it with a child, a husband, 3 dogs, and a job.
Also consider you could major in English, but take extra Psychology courses without doing a formal second major.