<p>little background: My son is at IA State, he is a Chemistry major, and because of his ACT scores, AP test scores and placement test scores was able to get credit for some of the classes, so he was on track to finish early.</p>
<p>He called me last night and said that after he 'talked with some guys' he is now going to try to double major in Chemistry and Chem E. I asked him if he spoke with his advisor (he had not) - he just thought it would be interesting and 'fun', and he thought if he could still finish in 4 years, why the heck not?</p>
<p>I'm sorry but I don't get it. Wouldn't those 2 majors be a bit redundant and would they really help him in his quest (for now) to get into either med school or pharmacy school???</p>
<p>I don't want to discourage him, but I'm not sure this plan would benefit him either? Anybody have some thoughts on this?</p>
<p>Chemical engineering will give him better backup job and career options than chemistry if he does not get into medical or pharmacy school, or finds that medical or pharmacy school will be too expensive.</p>
<p>Double majoring in any two STEM subjects is crazy. Even if there is significant overlap, he’d be taking a lot of credits to keep up with the major…</p>
<p>Chem E is far more versatile than a chem major. Though, frankly, if he is interested in a pre-med program, he’ll just be making it hard on his GPA and studying. But, ya, most employers would take a Chem E over a chem major, unless the latter had some very impressive merits. And, if he wanted, he could always go and get an MS in Chem E, or MS/Ph.D in chem, and do more research, if that was up his ally. </p>
<p>I doubt he could do those two in four years…most engineers take 5 years to complete their major, adding on something else (again, overlap or not) is going to hinder that too.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Double majoring in math with any of computer science, physics, or statistics need not necessarily be “crazy” in terms of requirements. Nor would double majoring in physics and astronomy.</p>
<p>Called a local college professor here - friend of a friend of a friend - and he said: Chemistry if he wants to do research, or if he is really gunning for med school (cuz easier to keep the GPA high), Chem E to do hands on/building stuff or if he’s really unsure of the med-school thing (because it’s much more marketable), and you can go to med school with this degree (ANY degree) and if it turns out he doesn’t want to do that he can still get his MS in Chemistry and still do research - basically just reiterated what both of you said above. Oh, he also said no way this kid could finish in 4 with a double major like this. . . .</p>
<p>Bottom line - the kid needs to decide what he wants to do long term</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, appreciate it</p>