Double Major vs Multiple Minors

<p>Ok here's the situation...</p>

<p>I'm attending college with a full ride for my four years of undergraduate study. I have a lot of credit from AP, etc.</p>

<p>I know for sure that I want to major in Advertising and minor in Business Administration. I could probably graduate in about 2.5-3 years with that, but it seems kind of crazy to leave a year on the table.</p>

<p>Anyway, would it be beneficial at all to double major in Sociology as well? What about accumulating minors in sociology, geography, and history? </p>

<p>Since the college I am going to doesn't have an "elite" reputation, I'm looking to show that I have gone above and beyond the minimum required to get a degree. Does one way show that more than the other? I think I would enjoy getting multiple minors more because I'd get a more diversified education, but if that's considered a waste of time, then I'm not so sure.</p>

<p>As far as career ambitions, I'd love to go into media research and probably will go to some sort of grad school.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>A complete full-ride? You pay nothing?</p>

<p>As a rule (to which there are may exceptions, of course), double majors tend to "count" more than minors. Also, what do you enjoy? How will each of these play into skills you want to have in your given career(s)? Keep in mind that you may switch majors, find you like or dislike certain subjects, etc. I'm not the biggest fan of electives in general but do keep in mind that you may want to take some as they appear interesting or intersect well with your major(s)/minor(s) (i.e., Spanish). Finally, keep in mind that some classes may not be offered some terms, be cancelled, or conflict with the times of other required classes.</p>

<p>My story: I'm doubling majoring in psychology and social work, minoring in biology. I like how social work education at the undergraduate level tends to provide more practice vs. undergrad psych, which tends to provide more theory/research. The bio minor intersects with psych (and to a lesser degree, social work) somewhat but is also a subject of personal interest--I came in a bio/pre-pharm major, but that didn't work out for various reasons; however, I still wanted some of that science education and so I kept it as minor, making sure I could have a good shot at completing it in four years (also on merit money, though not quite a full ride).</p>

<p>Generally double majors are looked upon higher than multiple minors. It shows follow-through. But does your school offer a graduate program? Maybe you could take the money there? That would, I think, be more beneficial career-wise. In the end, though, you need to make the choice that makes you happy.</p>

<p>Thanks for the answers. I never thought about trying to apply my scholarship to grad school, and the only problem I see with that if I were able to is that I might want to attend another school for grad school. Anyway, I'll definitely look into it more.</p>

<p>The double-major meaning more than multiple minors seems to make sense to me as well. That's what I figured.</p>

<p>Thanks again, I really wasn't expecting such helpful responses.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that aid is typically capped at a certain number of credits, NOT semesters. If you're trying to cram in another major just to fill up another year, they may very well not pay for it because it will put you over the number of credits you need to graduate. At my college, for example, you cannot go over 128 credits, even if you're double majoring. If I were you, I would rethink your strategy.</p>

<p>What you COULD consider is asking to not transfer in so much AP credit. That might give you another year, but I guess it depends on whether your college will let you take away that credit once it has already been applied. I was able to do this as a transfer student, giving me an extra semester, but the college didn't care in this case because my aid came from outside, meaning they still didn't have to pay anything for me even with that extra semester. If your scholarship is from the college, they might insist that you keep all that AP credit and graduate as soon as you hit your credits.</p>

<p>(Sorry if that made no sense; in a bit of rush.)</p>

<p>Thanks MHC for the insight. I understood it. I checked in with the scholarship office and the scholarship is good for 8 semesters of undergraduate study with no credit hours limit. </p>

<p>Unfortunately I am not allowed to transfer the scholarship to graduate study, but thank you for the suggestion lumine.</p>

<p>I'm leaning towards staying all 4 years because the research program I'm in is for 4 years, the honors program I'm in has a 4 year suggested path and the savings on the cost of living are definitely worth it.</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

<p>You could look into doing a combined BS/MS program. Since you still won't have your BS when you start taking grad classes, they shouldn't be holding it against you (I know at my undergrad school they expected us to start taking grad classes our junior year). It's certainly possible to get a BS/MS in four years with some AP credit coming in.</p>

<p>Even if you're planning on getting a PhD after undergrad, your MS degree might be enough to skip a few classes or help you get into programs you might not otherwise be considered for.</p>

<p>I would carefully choose the double major then supplement the classes in each with extas. For example, with advertising take communications courses and pschology courses which support the advertising. Do that sort of thing.</p>

<p>How about Study Abroad for one year? Some universities do charge for tuition for study abroad.</p>

<p>Hi I’m new to this site and idk how to post a thread or anything, but i saw this on Google and I am curious. I am a senior in hs right now and I’m looking to attend PSU, but idk what i should do. I want to at least major in pr and have a minor in marketing and multimedia. those are the three classes i’m set on. but idk if i should do a double major in marketing and pr and just have the minor in multimedia, or if i could do other minors as well like photography or something.
Please help me if you can!!</p>

<p>In answer to the OP, I would double major or do a study abroad. Multiple minors, in my opinion, make people look like a ‘jack of all trades’. Double major shows more focus.</p>

<p>Does that mean someone with no minors or extra majors has the most focus?</p>