<p>I'm currently a senior at NCSU. I'm majoring in communication-media. I want to work in the field of marketing and news media. I've already worked at some well known companies as an intern, and am working on improving my resume, since the job market is extremely competitive for college grads right now. I just learned that if I take an additional 4 classes I can graduate with a B.A in communication as well as a BA in English- (LWR) linguistics and rhetoric. I currently have a minor- but just the general English minor. The questions I have are: will it be beneficial or look better when applying to grad school or for jobs to have a double major? I just wanted some opinions. Thanks so much!</p>
<p>In the abstract, sure. But not worth the cost or the time out of the job market.</p>
<p>For jobs, your internships and references and contacts are what matter.</p>
<p>For grad school, they’ll be looking at individual classes and references. If you want to get an M.A. in English Lit, then, sure, it would help to have more English prep.</p>
<p>Remember that Econ class that you took when they spoke of “opportunity cost”? That extra term comes at a cost (money, foregone internship, foregone work experience, delayed entrance into M.A. program, etc)</p>
<p>Since you’re currently a senior, won’t it take you at least another year to complete the req’t for the second major?</p>
<p>If so, stay with the minor.</p>
<p>I am always skeptical of the double major. They come across as incapable of choosing. You have to ride one pony out of the barn – what is the name of that pony? </p>
<p>If you want to teach English, then you need education courses. If you want to pursue an English graduate degree, then you should, perhaps, switch your major to English. </p>
<p>If you want to work in communications/media, then you should start acquiring work experience (even if its volunteering at the local county news station). </p>
<p>If you want to go to graduate school in communications/media,then you STILL should be accumulating as much work experience as possible (makes you a better candidate). </p>
<p>So, pick a pony and go!</p>
<p>You’ve no doubt invested a great deal of effort in your English minor. I would think that you would want, and deserve to get recognition for that. Being only 4 courses away, unless there is a very pressing financial need for you to get the degree right away, you are right in considering the double major. It may mean spending a long and hard summer to complete the extra coursework. But I think when you look back years from now you’ll be glad you did the work.</p>
<p>So what’s the long term benefit? I would think that the formal recognition for your achievement is important – especially looking forward 4+ years. Also English complements your other major. It adds depth, and I would think that when you interview for jobs later in life it would make you stand out from other candidates, and it would indicate that you worked especially hard in college.</p>
<p>Also it leaves open the door for you in case you decide to teach – whether English or journalism.</p>
<p>fogcity basically captured my thoughts exactly but I’ll post to reinforce those thoughts.</p>
<p>These are in a nutshell the reasons I think the double major route might be worth considering:
-the double major can set you apart from other grad school candidates or job applicants; any carrot you can throw out there to generate interest in your background to get the interview is worth looking at particularly with the economy in it’s current state
-in the big picture, unless your financial situation doesn’t support it, four more classes and one additional term aren’t going to hold you back
-the inner satisfaction that you’ll get by completing the second major is worth something as well
-the double major gives you a Plan B in case you decide to do something slightly different than your current plan; I’m all about encouraging students to build in as many options for yourself as possible.</p>
<p>DD went a similar route. She began in one major with a minor that complimented that major. Then she decided that the minor was more her area of passion so she added the double major even though it required her to take a much heavier course load for a year. Last semester she met with a counselor for senior checkout and found out that she had enough credits to earn dual degrees in each major. She’s currently applying to grad school and the second complimentary degree has made her a unique and successful candidate.</p>
<p>Congrats to you for all the hard work you’ve put in thus far and good luck to you as you move forward.</p>