<p>Pros and cons?</p>
<p>Does a double major trump a major and a minor?</p>
<p>In my daughter's case, she may end up one or two courses short of a double major. She's a math major. She could be a math/econ double major. </p>
<p>Is it worth going another semester just to take those two courses?</p>
<p>Does it matter?</p>
<p>Would the two courses be in a summer semester or a long semester? There is no way to fit the last two courses in the semesters remaining, i.e., take 6 courses in each of the last two semesters instead of 5?</p>
<p>It does seem like gilding the lily to double major, and the expense of two courses and deferral of several months of income seems like an expensive gilding at that.</p>
<p>Can she go in the summer instead of having to do an extra semester? That way she'd still graduate "on time." (whatever that is)</p>
<p>I cross posted ^^^</p>
<p>Also, could she just fit those two courses in during a regular semester where her courseload might be relatively 'easier?' Like, take 18 hours instead of 15?</p>
<p>No summer session. The courses have to be taken in the fall. The cost will be around $15,000.</p>
<p>It may not play out that another semester is needed. If it is?</p>
<p>If it's just an expensive gilding, then the option will be dropped.</p>
<p>Geez, if it's only two classes...
could she go back later and get the extra degree from a public university, by taking the extra classes at night? Even if she ended having to take more classes, say 4 or 5 instead of 2, it would be relatively cheap to go ahead and take night classes while she works for a couple years (that's how I worked on an MBA, and the company paid for it too).</p>
<p>doubleplay, I don't know. That's why I'm asking. </p>
<p>I think it is going to work out, but if it doesn't and it doesn't matter, I don't want my daughter to sweat over it.</p>
<p>With econ as a second major, I'd say she has more opportunities for jobs when she graduates. If, instead, she's going to graduate school, I don't think it would matter to graduate schools; they would probably view the econ as a minor and will see that she was only 2 courses shy of the major. I think it really depends on whether she's planning on going to graduate school right away, or wanting to get a job. If her plan is graduate school, by staying that extra semester, she might effectively lose a year--and, again, I don't think it will matter that much to graduate schools.</p>
<p>Funny how the end game has different attitudes and priorities than those going in. Back in the day, I could not wait to be finished with school and working for real paychecks. If your student feels that way then I would not recommend going for it. Also I take it there are no calendar considerations, like law school and teaching jobs only start in the fall?</p>
<p>If money is no big deal and there is no hurry to get to the next big thing, then why not?</p>
<p>I'm not sure that having the second major on the resume really makes much of a difference. Employers and graduate schools that care about the details of an applicant's bachelor's degree are usually going to request a transcript anyway, so they'll see that she took 8 200/300-level econ courses or whatever the total is without the extra semester. Besides, the kinds of employers who hire lots of economics BA's are very unlikely to look down on a math BA; adding an econ credential would be more important if the first major were dance or folklore or the like.</p>
<p>So my advice is: do it if it's personally meaningful to D and not too much of a hassle. Don't do it because you fear that a math BA isn't enough to get you a great job or grad school.</p>
<p>A double major is not superior to a single major. If there is a sincere and strong desire to study two areas, a double major may be appropriate. From your post, it doesn't sound as if that is the case with your daughter, Dstark. </p>
<p>I was at an intimate, seminar-style meeting about a particularly demanding major at my school, and this was agreed upon by every faculty member present (these were high-ups in their departments, I might add).</p>
<p>If your daughter has not applied to grad schools or is not been involved with the job recruitment "dance" in the Career Development Center, it seems she has made up her mind to return next fall. And at most colleges it has been weeks since the degree application deadline.</p>
<p>If on the other hand she is not a senior it should be relatively easy for her to add two extra courses to her upcoming semester schedules.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies.</p>
<p>dstark, as early as D is in the hunt, these issues are already cropping up in course selection. Like tonight. :( She is calling back. I am on the side of one major and as many hours as she can realistically get in her other interest without limiting her general courses (which I seem to put more value on) . D OTOH really wants the double major. I am reading with great interest.</p>
<p>Well, you're not going to get any help from me.</p>
<p>My daughter would like to do the double major. I have mixed feelings about it. I'd like her to take a music appreciation class and an art history class. I think classes like those may have a bigger impact on her life than two more economics classes. Plus, they are easier. :)</p>
<p>Then again, her gpa is higher in econ. I have no idea if her gpa is going to matter, but if it does.....</p>
<p>That's my rambling.</p>
<p>PS Looks like we are on the same side. :)</p>
<p>Agreed. I suggested "archaeology". ;)</p>
<p>Yep..............:)</p>
<p>But hey, you're not the ones taking the courses! Your D's are! I'd say that if she can't overload during the next semester, then don't worry about finishing the econ.<br>
Or pose it to her that if she really,really wants to take the remaining 2 courses and it necessitates another full semester, she will have to pay that semester's costs on her own.</p>
<p>dstark:</p>
<p>If she wants to double, and the $$ is available, I'd go for it. She can always take an art history class at a juco sometime during "life." In out little crack of the world, jobs are just easier to come by with an econ major.</p>
<p>full disclosure: my S is rowing in same boat as Cur's D, only he still three (unrelated) disciplines. :D</p>
<p>Hmmmm. My daughter has talked about living in Southern California after graduation too. :)</p>