Double Major/Unhappiness/Worries et. al

College Life
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am a freshman at UC-San Diego and to be frank, I hate it. I don't have much time to get into why I am so unhappy at this school, but let's just say it's at the point of irreparability. </p>

<p>To mitigate this, I have decided to graduate in three years and with the money saved my parents plan on supporting a year abroad in Italy post-graduation (becoming trilingual) or even a little help for graduate school (MBA).</p>

<p>I am an International Studies major who is minoring in Communication, as I want to work for an American media conglomerate overseas or maybe in the film industry...or something to that effect.</p>

<p>Recently, I have been entertaining the idea of double majoring in both International Studies (with emphases in Linguistics and European Studies) and Communication. I feel this would make for a stronger r?sum? and I am interested in both fields. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, both majors are vastly different in terms of course requirements, therefore there aren't many courses that overlap. </p>

<p>If I go through with it, my undergraduate education would be prolonged by two quarters (a quarter is ten weeks, there are three quarters in the school year) and I most likely would not be able to study abroad, something that I would very much like to do for the whole year.</p>

<p>Is it worth the double major to be unhappy for an additional two quarters and without studying abroad? </p>

<p>Which, in your opinion, would be better:</p>

<p>International Studies- Linguistics and European Studies
Minor in Communication</p>

<p>OR</p>

<p>Double Major
International Studies-Linguistics and European Studies + Communication</p>

<p>As an aside, I am fortunate enough that my parents are paying for my undergraduate education, however that is not to say that my parents aren't dealing with a huge financial burden, as I have a twin brother who is currently enrolled at an equally pricey university. </p>

<p>Thanks for your time.</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
Is it worth the double major to be unhappy for an additional two quarters and without studying abroad?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It's really a personal call. Honestly, if by then, you still feel as miserable as you feel now, I see no point in prolonging your stay. Do what makes you feel happy. If double majoring compromises this, then I'm the first to say no. =/</p>

3

<p>I understand, but is the unhappiness worth the potentially increased professional/graduate school prospects?</p>

<p>Bear in mind I am interested in both subjects.</p>

4

<p>LOL as a fellow UCSD student I can sympathize. You're one of the few freshmen I know who's unhappy though - every freshman I met this year seems so happy and giggly.</p>

<p>You should probably transfer out if you're unhappy though, check if other UCs have similar programs. By the way, I would study abroad instead of having doubl e majors - work experience and extracurriculars triumph over GPA once you made it off the cutoff during grad school admissions. Studying abroad could give you something to talk about during interviews.</p>

<p>Remember, success follows happiness. You are more likely to be successful if you're happy where you are and like what you do. So keep the idea of transferring out of UCSD in mind.</p>

5

<p>Trust me, I have exhaustively researched potential universities to which I could transfer, however, my family simply can't afford the schools I am looking at.</p>

<p>And I suppose transferring to Berkeley (maybe UCLA, too) isn't entirely out of the question, but as of now I think I should just bite the bullet and move on with my life.</p>

6

<p>Additionally, I have lived abroad and that is perhaps partly why I can't stand UCSD so much...I know there are so many other places in the world I'd rather be.</p>

<p>As of now, I think I'd like to graduate THEN study abroad (to add yet another language to my repertoire)...but if it's worth a double major to forgo all of that...then we'll talk</p>

7

<p>it can't hurt to file a transfer application. even if you think it's unlikely, or you won't be able to afford the new college. just keep your options open.
also, have you looked at the course requirements for the comm major and minor? are there any classes you really want to take that you can only take through the major? is your interest in communications something that outweighs your desire to study abroad, or will the course requirements for a comm minor satisfy your interests? some of the same basic classes are required for both the major and minor. you can still pick upper-division electives, and maybe there would be fewer requirements than in the major that you would have to fulfill even if you didn't like them.
in my situation, i was looking at double majoring in psychology and linguistics. then i realized there's a major called, linguistics and psychology. linguistics and psych has pre-reqs that i like better than the pre-reqs for psych (if only i realized that AFTER i took half the psych pre-reqs!) :rolleyes:</p>

8

<p>From what I've heard, a double-major vs a single major and a minor doesn't make as much a difference with jobs or grad school admissions as you seem to believe it does. Being able to say that you are trilingual and having an interesting study abroad experience to talk about will though. I would recommend talking to your school's Career Services about this, or to your advisors, but try to learn exactly how much of a difference a second major (as opposed to a minor) can actually make.</p>

9

<p>Huh! My friend at UCSD has soured a lot on that place too. He'll apply for transfer after next year, but don't know yet if he'll stay or go.</p>

<p>So I'll say, if you're really unhappy, try to get the highest GPA you can and either transfer next year or graduate in 3 years and move on with your life. </p>

<p>Double major isn't a gigantic career booster, so only do a double major if it makes you happier and lets you take more courses you want.</p>

<p>I do recommend you keep at it and keep a positive mind, because you never know, things might improve. Especially if it's isolated things like bad roommate, bad professor, etc. that are bugging you.</p>

10

<p>Obviously a counselor would know better, but I'd think a major wouldn't be that much more impressive than a minor.</p>

11

<p>if you can, try and transfer to another school (inter UC is hard but possible).</p>

12

<p>I think that everything that can be said on the subject has been said, but just to nitpick/for future reference, et al refers to people ( et al= and others); the correct term would be et cetera ( and other things).............</p>

13

<p>:rolleyes:</p>

14

<p>the reason I wrote that was because I wanted it to sound like a court case...but yeah I guess no one understood it I should've written "...et al. vs. something"</p>

<p>but otherwise: irrelevant.</p>

15

<p>Irrelevant? No offense but language is not irrelevant. I mean i understand if you're not interested in linguistics (specifically the field of semantics)/ other languages, but still, have some respect....................</p>

16

<p>Language is rarely irrelevant.</p>

<p>However, to this thread, it most certainly is.</p>

17

<p>Wall post? Oh Lecorbeau, you've done it again. </p>

<p>This is not facebook.........................</p>

18

<p>I refuse to take part in this.</p>

19

<p>Technically "et al." could be short for "et alia" which is more literally "and other things"</p>

<p>But, yes, irrelevant. :) Now back to helping the poor guy :)</p>

<p>I've heard that inter-UC is hard, also, so while I'm encouraging my friend to apply to UCLA and USC, I hope he'll apply some other places as well.</p>

<p>How are financials? Assuming you're paying in-state now, how would transferring to a private affect things?</p>

20

<p>Private would simply be too much. I have a twin brother (as stated) who is enrolled at another university and without an exorbitant amount of loans it just wouldn't be possible. I also plan on going to grad school so, despite the utter suckiness of being here, I suppose I'll thank myself in the long run?</p>