<p>Forget job prospects for the moment. I'm just wondering if it's doable as these are purportedly the hardest humanities majors, and if possible, I like to pursue music on the side, and a little bit of astronomy. They don't have to be minors, but I want to have time for them.</p>
<p>I’ve known plenty of classics/philosophy double majors. Some courses are cross-listed and typically count simultaneously toward both majors. Just make sure you get a good faculty advisor, and actually consult him or her.</p>
<p>It will be easier if you have some knowledge of ancient Greek and Latin when you start college.</p>
<p>It’s a GREAT dual major - as jingle says, there’s a ton of 'em out there.
+1 on the advisor advice too.</p>
<p>Depending on your language preparation going in, you should have room in your general electives (or whatever they call 'em at your school) to take some Music and Astronomy (in many schools, lower level Astro courses can fill a Science Requirement slot). One thing to watch out for - Classical language courses can be HUGE time sinks so you’ll want to be concious of the “out of class” requirements of non-major courses. Observational Astronomy courses can suck up vast amounts of late night time for example, as can attendance at required concerts in some Music courses.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Duly noted 
I plan to work very hard for these courses (although my high school teacher says, if you can survive this high school, you can survive anything), and I suspect I’d either have to cut out astronomy or music. The thing about music is I’m only focusing on instrumental skills as I play 3 instruments (Piano, flute, violin). If I had to choose, I’d cut out flute, because I have a naturally small lung capacity and not cut out for wind instruments. I’m not very competitive with this limitation at higher levels, and I plan to eventually audition for a symphony orchestra.</p>
<p>What you are probably looking for is a liberal arts college or university with excellent classics/philosophy, plus a department of music, rather than a separate school or conservatory of music. Departments of music conceive of the music major as part of a curriculum, like any other liberal-arts major, rather than the whole thing, and the performance instructors understand that their students are not able to practice 8-10 hours per day. Do look for schools that give academic credit for performance, though. Generally the ensembles are taught just like any other class, as courses for credit in the music department, but you will have to pay extra for private lessons. Some departments have funds to cover private-lesson scholarships for especially talented and/or needy students, but generally music majors get first dibs on them.</p>
<p>If you are imagining auditioning for a symphony orchestra professionally after you get out of school, realize that you need to be VERY good and probably want a conservatory-or-similar undergraduate program. If you just want to play in a community or college orchestra as a talented amateur, then music can remain a sideline pursuit.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t discount your state flagship school either; they usually have a fairly strong Classics department, without the cost of a better LAC.</p>
<p>^ you must be a lonely fellow. 1,000+ posts since May 2010.</p>
<p>I did phil/classics as an undergrad and I loved it. I have been gainfully employed since graduating (not including Peace Corps), I paid off all my loans in a few years (there weren’t many because I worked).</p>
<p>I also agree that a lot of state schools have excellent philosophy and classics departments.</p>
<p>"From time to time look up at the sky and shake your head as if to say, “No, no…this can’t be true, Descartes Discourse on the Method argues otherwise.” "</p>
<p>Tee-hee. Oh, the irony! If only you’d read it, Mr. Beast.</p>
<p>^ I’ve read it, along with most of the classic philosophy texts studied in college. I was a Philosophy major prior to switching to Poli Sci.</p>
<p>The majority of these books (Classics & Philosophy) can now be found for free on your Kindle. Pretty much every piece of work from Plato, Socrates and Aristotle is free on the Kindle, or for .99.</p>
<p>Same is true for many classic novels.</p>
<p>"The majority of these books (Classics & Philosophy) can now be found for free on your Kindle. Pretty much every piece of work from Plato, Socrates and Aristotle is free on the Kindle, or for .99.</p>
<p>Same is true for many classic novels."</p>
<p>I didn’t study philosophy for the reading list and to buy the books at the college bookstore. Back in the day we got them for free or for .99 or even .50 at the used bookstore.</p>
<p>I think you missed the entire point of the Discourse, but that’s beside the point–you sound like you left philosophy because your girl or boyfriend broke up with you or something, from your personal description of the Buddy Holly glasses (only two people in my major wore glasses) to the silly Birkenstocks thing (what?!?) and the tree issue.</p>
<p>Argumentum ad hominem, anyone?</p>
<p>Oh, was that what he was describing? Thinking, wearing German shoes and glasses is snobbery? That is awesome. He should see where philosophers go on vacation!!! :D</p>
<p>Whatever you do, don’t study political science. You won’t be pushed intellectually and there’s no jobs.</p>
<p>^ Love the non sequitur.</p>