<p>My D is a Creative Writing major. She was recently contacted by the Director of International Languages, Literatures and Cultures and asked to schedule a meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies as a result of a recommendation by her French professor. In a nutshell, they are pushing hard for her to declare a double major in French.</p>
<p>Ironically, D and I had previously discussed the possibility of a minor or double major in French. When she met with her advisor about registration last semester, she was told she could declare the minor or major any time prior to graduation. So my questions are:</p>
<p>~ Is there any advantage to declaring one of them now? I assumed she would receive course selection preference, but her advisor said there is no preference given.</p>
<p>~ Is there any disadvantage to declaring one of them now? My concern is if she declares it now, gets deeper into the coursework and decides it isn't for her, wouldn't that impact her academic record in a negative way if she either un-declares or simply doesn't complete the requirements?</p>
<p>There must be angles of this I am not thinking of. </p>
<p>Sounds like the French department needs to up their numbers. Can she gain anything tangible from declaring now - scholarship funds, a trip to Paris, early registration date, research with a professor?</p>
<p>On her final transcript/diploma, it would only show the major she graduated with, although I’m sure fluency in French would be a plus in the job search. The only downside might be that she would have fewer elective classes to choose from since she would be fulfilling major requirements in two areas.</p>
<p>At some colleges, an over- enrolled class will give the spaces to the “concentrators” first before allowing in those who are not majoring (or minoring) in the subject. At some colleges, your D would get first crack at job opportunities (TA, editing a professors book, etc.) which are available in that department, and would get priority for applying for a summer fellowship or travel/study awards, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t see a downside unless your D just wants to wait until she’s deeper into it.</p>
<p>Thanks, stradmom and blossom. Those are helpful tidbits. Finding a cross-over between the two majors (via internships or campus jobs) would be a big plus. I’m among those wondering what she will do with these majors…</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s any downside if she’s interested, she’d presumably get an adviser from the French department as well. There might be other perks we don’t know about. I don’t know of any college where it would show on a transcript that you dropped a major. I’m not a big fan of double majors as I think it can sometimes mean that students can be forced to miss out on more interesting courses while filling less interesting courses required by their second major. OTOH French strikes me as a more useful major than creative writing. :)</p>
<p>Thanks, mathmom. I hope you are right that there would not be a negative impact on her transcript. I honestly have no idea how/whether it would show up if she undeclared at a later date.</p>
<p>It’s not going to be anywhere on her transcript that she dropped a major.</p>
<p>Another perk is that majors often learn of new/interesting classes and opportunities via a major’s listserv before other students. </p>
<p>Thanks for mentioning that, romani. I should have thought of that as it just happened for the Creative Writing majors - a unique class that will be offered one semester only by a special guest professor. </p>
<p>My daughter had a double major…at one point almost had enough credits to get two bachelors degrees. </p>
<p>The advantage…she got an advisor in her other major (different college than her first major), and was NOT at the bottom of the food chain during registration time.</p>
<p>Thanks, thumper, I agree. She has met with a French department advisor but does not have one formally assigned to her. It would be a good person to have available, as she hopes to study abroad junior year.</p>