<p>For those who double majored, can you talk about your experience with completing the requirements for your majors? How long did it take you to finish? (4,5 years?) How related were your majors? Thanks!</p>
<p>I haven’t graduated yet. I’m going to be a second semester Junior this fall semester and I’m double majoring in Japanese and Economics. Japanese is my primary major and Economics is my secondary major. I’m only taking Japanese for fun, so I guess it’s not really related to my other major, but I guess it could be very useful for certain kinds of jobs. I don’t know yet. </p>
<p>Even though I’ve changed my second major 4 or so times, I will still be graduating on time. If I didn’t change my second major so many times, I’m positive that I would be graduating a semester or two early. I did take a few summer classes at a community college in my first and second year to get some CORE classes out of the way, but I could still have graduated early if I didn’t take them.</p>
<p>I guess the amount of work you do depends our your two majors. I take an average of 15-16 credits per semester, which for me is about 4 classes (my Japanese language classes are 6 credits). It is very manageable, and honestly, pretty easy. It also helps that I have an interest in what I’m learning.</p>
<p>Now, it may be different for someone who would be, say, double majoring in biology and computer science, or some other combination of majors that is equally difficult. I mean, biology and computer science are super difficult majors by themselves let alone together. </p>
<p>What are your majors? If you haven’t decided yet then what are you considering? </p>
<p>The key to keeping your major requirements straight and graduating on time is to make a four-year plan and to keep checking it / updating it every semester. You need to plan all your classes so that you meet all the benchmarks for your majors, and make sure you take all the pre-requisites for classes you need to take in the future. Nothing sucks more than not being able to sign up for a class you need just because you don’t meet the pre-reqs for it. You need to also keep in mind which classes are only offered in the fall and which ones are only offered in the spring and note that in your four-year plan. </p>
<p>Thanks for the reply! Are you planning on doing something international? My plan was to do finance and international business. I heard finance is really hard and international business is the same as Management but international :D. I hope it’ll be manageable. How do I find out which classes are offered in fall and offered in spring? Is there a link that i could go to? This four year plan that you made, is it just a word document or is it something that you work out with your counselor? Best wishes!</p>
<p>The advising schools for each major have recommended 4 year plans to help guide you…here are sample plans for each of the majors you listed</p>
<p>Finance:
<a href=“http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/files/Documents/Programs/Undergraduate/Finance/Fin4YrPlan2014.pdf”>http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/files/Documents/Programs/Undergraduate/Finance/Fin4YrPlan2014.pdf</a>
International Business:
<a href=“http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/files/Documents/Programs/Undergraduate/InternationalBusiness/IB4YrPlan2014.pdf”>http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/files/Documents/Programs/Undergraduate/InternationalBusiness/IB4YrPlan2014.pdf</a></p>
<p>To find out what classes are offered in the fall v spring, you go on to <a href=“http://www.testudo.umd.edu/”>http://www.testudo.umd.edu/</a> and click on the schedule of classes link you can only see what has been offered the previous semester and the current semester. Many of the basic classes will be offered every semester, but others are “seasonal” and a few here and there are kinda shot in the dark deals if they are unique/special.</p>
<p>Are you starting this fall or are you just applying and inquiring as to how to figure out the double major thing? </p>
<p>Thanks for the links. I’m just applying and hopefully I’ll get in haha and I am trying to figure out the whole double majoring process goes. I’m also trying to figure out how you pick classes for the schedule, how many credits, all that stuff.</p>
<p>No need to spend a lot of energy on that - that’s what advisers are for…and they show you how to navigate the scheduling process at orientation after you are admitted. So, just focus on your application right now. Both majors you listed fall under Smith School of Business, which is a LEP (limited enrollment program) which is more competitive to get into than the university itself. FYI, it is a two-stage process - your application is reviewed by the university itself and if they admit you, then your application goes on to Smith for a separate admissions review which is more competitive. So, it is possible to be admitted to the university, but not Smith, if that makes sense. Hopefully, you have strong enough stats to be admitted to Smith. Make sure you apply by Nov 1 to give yourself the best opportunity for admission. Best of luck! :)</p>
<p>Ok cool! Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Oh and I forgot to ask, how do you apply for a double major in college park? On the application, it only gives options for one major and an alternate.</p>