<p>I'm thinking of double majoring and minoring. However, to do that, and still graduate by a four-year-mark (as well as fufill regular distributionals i.e. Gen Ed stuff), I'll have NO electives. </p>
<p>That's okay by me, but what will good grad schools think? I'm talking general grad school, or maybe professional schools as well-- law and MAYBE medicine.</p>
<p>Currently I am a freshman and have about an A- (around 3.7) average and I hope to keep it that way all my years in school.</p>
<p>Will they:</p>
<p>A. Be impressed by my firm dedication for and good marks in these three different subjects?</p>
<p>B. Feel I limited myself and am prestige-hungry-- like I just wanted to have a loaded transcript but didn't expand to take different classes in different disciplines?</p>
<p>Personally, I think grad schools might be impressed that I did well in three different disciplines, but they might think I didn't do anything else or try anything else, and was too ambitious (in the prideful and perhaps useless "look at my super 'impressive' transcript" type of way). The truth is, the three disciplines I'd like to persue truly to interest me, but having NO electives WHATSOEVER is sort of a bust.</p>
<p>B. I don't think they would reject you for something like that but don't take my word for it. It seems absurd to me for someone to get rejected b/c they didn't branch out enough with the classes. I thought that was what general education was for anyway.</p>
<p>And if you're satisfied with only taking courses in 3 fields, then by all means go for it.</p>
<p>Since the entire point of applying to graduate school is to get further study in your field of choice, graduate schools won't care that you haven't taken any other classes. In fact, they may even prefer it. Grad school is for specialists rather than generalists.</p>
<p>I'm applying for PhD programs this fall, and I'm a double-major. I just realized when you asked this that all of my elective classes are in one of my majors -- I haven't taken a single elective that wasn't required for graduation or in my major department. <em>shrug</em> Never really gave it a second thought -- I love what I'm majoring in enough to go to grad school in it, so why would I want to take classes in other departments?</p>
<p>As long as they are classes you are interested in, you should take them. And if you get good grades, grad schools aren't going to care if you don't take an Art History class when you are getting A's in Biochemistry and Applied Physics. I just hope all your majors/minors are your passions, and you'll be fine.</p>
<p>The graduate schools would, cobrien05, if one is interested in pursuing graduate work in art history or the humanities, and not in the sciences.</p>
<p>I am majoring in two completely unrelated fields. What does this look like for grad school? I am still unsure as to which I want to "grad" in...</p>
<p>DRab, I was assuming that graduate level work (I also made the assumption of masters or PhD work) was continuing those studies from undergraduate work. In other words, I was assuming postbac. studies in biology (as in undergrad), and therefore art history would have very little/no bearing on it. I understand your point, though, and I apologize if I was unclear.</p>
<p>It's fine, cobrien05. It would be more clear if you stated "assuming you're in the sciecnces," as the OP didn't say anything subject areas of study, and then do the same for the social sciences and humanities. I'm glad other people agree about what one should study, though (one's passions/interests).</p>
<p>I'm also in the same boat as the original poster, doubling in math and history. I wouldn't worry about it at this point as your priorities may change between now and grad school.</p>
<p>Just one more thing-- So the lack of electives probably won't hurt me in my grad school prospects. BUT would this hurt me?:</p>
<p>In order to graduate in time (like four years), I will only be able to take the MINIMUM amount of courses required to gain a double-major and minor in my chosen subjects.</p>
<p>Would grad schools not like that? Because they would prefer more in-depth emphasis be put on one or two areas of study rather than the bare minimum for three areas of study?</p>
<p>Grad schools probably won't even know you're taking the minimum number of classes. The minimum number varies so much from school to school anyway.</p>
<p>Honestly, I've heard of GPA and research experience being the most important factors for grad school admissions, followed by recommendations and possibly GRE scores. I've never heard of the specific electives you chose to take or not affecting graduate school admissions.</p>
<p>What general area, as in humanities, social sciences, sciences, or engineering, are included in your majors and minors? Each area has different pirorities for grad school admissions.</p>
<p>I'm thinking a double major in Art History and Polisci, or Art History and English, with a definite minor in Biology (yes, I'm attemtping to throw in a science there). The reason why English and Polisci are at the moment interchangeable is because it would take the same amount of credits for me personally to complete either a Pol or Eng major, and I like both equally.</p>
<p>AH is the one definite major. I love Art. Bio is the one definite minor. I wanted a small concentration in a science, and biology was my best science (never liked chem or physics near as much).</p>
<p>For admissions to a humanities graduate program, such as English or Art History, the most important factors (so I've heard) are the statement of purpose, writing samples, and teacher recs. As to GPA, they prefer high grades in the area of study and decent grades overall, but not stellar, although they don't mind it. For law or medicine, you can basically do whatever you want, as long as you take the right tests for each and classes for medical school. Again, great teacher recs would help admissions to these programs, and GPA is the biggest factor, along with test scores. If you're willing to sacrifice what free courses give you, perhaps the last time to study anything you want with minimal responsibility, then you'll be fine. Oh, for the bio grad school i think molliebat's description is right.</p>
<p>I mean, if you really wanna double major and minor..go for it. I thought about it too, but decided that I might rather spread things out and take some interesting classes that arent necessarily part of my major. I also dont think its all that necessary to do all of that just to get into grad school... so why kill yourself?</p>
<p>
[quote]
For admissions to a humanities graduate program, such as English or Art History, the most important factors (so I've heard) are the statement of purpose, writing samples, and teacher recs. As to GPA, they prefer high grades in the area of study and decent grades overall, but not stellar, although they don't mind it.
[/quote]
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<p>For graduate studies in philosophy, the following is, I think, an accurate depiction of how everything factors in:</p>
<p>1) A high GPA and GRE scores will 'get your foot in the door.'
2) The writing sample and recommendations will be decisive after the first condition is satisfied.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Again, great teacher recs would help admissions
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</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the quality of a recommendation is not the only factor that determines whether a recommendation is 'good.' Faculty-members prefer favor reading good recommendations from professors they know, rather than from professors who are obscure in an intended field of study.</p>
<p>By 'know,' I mean 'know personally.' If you have a professor that worked alongside the faculty-members who will be reviewing your application, you can bet that a good recommendation from him/her will be taken seriously.</p>