Double Major benefical to graduate school?

Graduate School
1

<p>Been intermittently looking at the boards for a while, but this is my first post. So I apologize if I posted incorrectly or anything like that.</p>

<p>I'm currently a senior at a state research university and have about 2.5 semester left majoring in Mathematics (B.S) with an Economics minor (Including the current semester). So this means I should be graduating at the end of next fall as it stands.
I'm looking at applying to Economics graduate programs at various locations but am quite worried about my overall GPA. It is a measly 3.0, and is looking like it will stay in that vicinity between now and when I graduate. Almost all my courses are in Mathematics, Sciences, Engineering and Economics. </p>

<p>That being said, my grades in my Econ courses are very good, it's looking like my minor GPA (6 courses) when I am done with it will be a 3.95 (Using my 4 classes I already took with all A's, and the 2 I am in this semester). I was wondering if it would be beneficial to stick around for an extra semester and a half to pick up a double major in Economics as well, especially if I can maintain such a GPA in the subject (Which I think I can.). This would have me graduating in the spring instead of the fall of my 5th year as an undergraduate. This would also have the added benefit of getting my overall GPA up to a 3.1 or 3.2 if I am lucky. </p>

<p>Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated, as the end of my college days is getting closer I am getting more and more worried about employability and the prospect of graduate school. </p>

<p>If it Is at all helpful, my average GRE scores on the first two Kaplan practice tests without studying are: V:160, Q: 169. Not really sure how reflective those are on subsequent actual GRE scores though. </p>

2

<p>If you want to do economics in grad school I’d say it makes a lot of sense to increase your econ courses now and get the double major (or even switch to a straight econ major unless you’ve done most of what you need to for math already and/or future math courses will help in grad school).</p>

3

<p>Yeah that math I have left will help in graduate school quite a bit, I am also almost done with the degree so it wouldn’t make much sense for me to switch to straight economics at this point. I’m thinking the double major would be beneficial, thanks for the reply.</p>

4

<p>i don’t generally recommend doing a second degree but since it will already take you 4.5 years to finish your Math degree, then it is probably a good idea unless it causes financial hardship.</p>

<p>in addition, the graduate admission calendar is such that you are best off trying to enter a graduate program in the Fall so taking that extra semester is more natural for your applications.</p>

5

<p>I’d have to take out some loans, but it is looking like I will need to do that for the first part of the year anyway. (I haven’t had to take any so far.) </p>

6

<p>I’m a double major and my advisor said that since my GPA is high ill be a shoe in at some programs. It’s only worth double majoring though if you can graduate on time and if it won’t bring down your GPA. if you have a high GPA and two majors (I also have a minor) then you’re golden. </p>