I just finished my 1st semester as junior with a major in Psychology within the track of Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry. So far, excluding the final exam score which I haven’t gotten back yet, I have an A in Organic Chemistry II, and it’s made me realize how much I enjoy Chemistry. However, I also enjoy Psychology and I don’t want to give that up either. If I decide to double major, it will set me back a year or two. Thoughts?
Few questions for you, to ask yourself. Have you had a chance to contemplate on your future plans yet? If so, are you planning on taking up further studies or stop with bachelor’s at least for the near future? If you have to spend extra year(s) in studies is the financial aspect taken care of? Have you spoken to the career counselor at your college, if any?
I can see a few career paths ahead of you from my understanding and what I feel is the relevance of a double major in each case.
- If you are planning to pursue a career later in business (MBA) or law, the psychology major will definitely be a benefit, but no matter how much you love chemistry you may not be able to put to use. So a major in psychology with minor in chemistry will be prudent
- Since you mentioned neuroscience as your current field of study, are you planning on pursuing medicine? If so, both psychology and chemistry are relevant. But you don't get to study psychology as much as chemistry in medicine (unless you go for a fellowship in psychiatry later on). Whereas, if you like chemistry that much, you can even get an MD with Biochemistry specialization. So, I think for a medicine track a psychology major and chemistry minor should suffice, though a double major would be more appealing to the med school admissions committee. Since you need to spend probably a year in preparation for MCAT and interviews, it may not be advisable spending too much time on getting a double major.
- Graduate studies in either followed by field specific occupation such as psychologist or a pharmaceutical/industrial chemist. You are going to use only background from one of these majors and not the other.
- K-12 educator, specifically high school. Your exposure to both the areas will probably be an asset for your educating career. The administrators will most likely value some one who can teach in two diverse fields and departments.
Good luck.
If you declare a major in chemistry, you’ll have to take physical chemistry. This course requires very high skilled math. How are your math skills? What’s the highest math course you’ve taken so Far? By the time I’m going to take PCHEM I will have ordinary differential equations done. I’m not sure if I will take PDE together with PCHEM since I heard is a hard course. Will see
Well… I am double majoring in psychology and chemistry, and chemistry was my minor at first too, before changing it to a major! I originally wanted to become a psychiatrist, but I also am considering becoming a surgeon… Two polar opposites, I know. But either way, the chemistry will be beneficial for my medical school. And I’m going to med school either way. So… it doesn’t matter too much for my personal situation, imo. Idk if this helps at all.
What do you want to do career wise?
I am a high school senior, looking to get into the field of criminal justice. I would like to be an investigator of some sort or a criminal psychologist, so I was thinking of getting a double major in chemistry (to become a forensic investigator) and in psychology, so if I wanted to pursue a doctorate in psychology, I would already have that degree to continue my education. It is sort of a backup situation so I wouldn’t have to start my education all over again for a doctorate if I do end up wanting that. I read that you are going to med school, so I am sure you are good with dealing with a lot of work and challenging subjects, but I wanted to know if doing both of those majors at the same time would be too overwhelming. These double majors would both be bachelors degrees.