Help! Can't decide between a minor/major in Econ with an English major

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<p>I'm a junior double majoring in Econ + English at a public university (and I'm out-of-state). I've always had qualms about doing these two degrees together. Personally, I've always loved English and I believe that's what I'm truly passionate about; for Econ, it's always been more of a back-up plan I can fall back unto if I can't land a job with my English degree when I graduate. I'm thinking about pursuing graduate coursework in English (or maybe an MFA). </p>

<p>Recently, I just got into the English honors program (tough to get in, but even tougher to complete) at my college and I was really stoked for a few days. Then my elation turned into pure anguish once I realized how much workload I will get in my next one and a half years. For the English honors program, we have to write a 60-70 pages (excluding citations) research paper on a proposed thesis. </p>

<p>With my original plan of double majoring in Econ + English (without honors coursework), I will graduate on time with less workload. But now if I have to double major in Econ + English (honors), then I will probably have to study for all four semesters at my school to be able complete the coursework, which is a lot of work + tuition. At my school, only Fall and Winter semesters are compulsory. Spring & Summer are optional, and they are there for people who don't think they can complete their degrees on time and need extra classes. </p>

<p>I'm mediocre in Economics, since it's just something practical I have to do to convince my parents that their hard-earned money isn't wasted. But I'm really interested in English. Though my parents never object to it, they seem to think of it as a useless degree (and surely for them isn't worth that much tuition). </p>

<p>So now basically I have three paths I can choose from: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Do a double major in Econ + English Without Honors (I can withdraw from it, though it tears me apart to think that I spent so much time writing application essays and asking professors for letters of recommendation). This way, I will definitely graduate on time by the end of my Senior year, without having to do Spring & Summer semesters. </p></li>
<li><p>Do a double major in Econ + English (Honors). </p></li>
<li><p>Do a minor in Econ + English (Honors). I'll probably complement my English degree with some Foreign Language or Linguistics classes. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I'm not extremely good at juggling the quantitatives with the qualitatives, thus the lack of confidence in doing an Econ major with an English major (Honors). </p>

<p>Please lend me some of your wisdom/advice on what might be the best for me. I'm kinda too overwrought to make up my mind right now. If I decide to do Econ minor + English(honors), I'll have to drop an Econ class and focus on my English classes next semester. </p>

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<p>I know this post is kinda long, but this is what’s going through my mind right now. I have so much to say I start to sound like a babbling fool. </p>

<p>Oh btw, Merry Xmas everybody!</p>

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<p>I want to say drop the honors part of your English degree, but I can tell that you are excited about it. Plus sometimes getting to meet new people, know your professors better is how you network to a good job upon graduating. If you think the honors course well benefit you than keep the honors English. As for econ, drop it down to a minor. You can always return to school if you decide you want a BA/BS in Econ. </p>

<p>This is coming from an Accounting Major, but I hate it when people say English is a useless major, it simply isn’t true. Hell, I wish I could write. Anyway, I suggest English Honors degree and econ minor, or drop econ altogether and add something you actually love. You will probably end up with some sort of job, you won’t starve, you only live once, enjoy it, I say.</p>

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<p>I would say go all in with the English honors. If you find English really engaging, you will do well which is presumedly more important. There are places where you should hedge your bets but my intuition says you’ll be fine. Reading your post, I wondered why you just don’t get a minor in, say, Spanish. Two reasons: you hint that you’d rather be doing that and foreign language departments are often quite small* which I would guess is great for minors as they probably have a dearth of students in upper-level courses.</p>

<p>*at Princeton, the german, french/italian, slavic, and spanish/french departments, graduate something like 20-30 majors combined each year with econ consistently 4-5X that number. Even math and physics have more degrees on average.</p>

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<p>Thank you guys! That helps a lot!</p>

<p>I guess I’ll just go with a minor in Econ and take some classes in foreign languages. @fragbot Unfortunately at my school, they require Spanish minors to take at least 11 courses (including prereqs, cores & electives etc). I don’t think I’ll have that much time on my hand to manage that many classes in the next one and a half years. So, I’m happy with just a few foreign language classes. </p>