taking classes vs. a minor?

<p><em>If you don't want to read the whole thing, the whole question is in one paragraph below.</em></p>

<p>Hi all, I'm a regular poster here on CC and I have a dire question on my schedule... To this point, I have been planning my classes according to a two-year plan I devised because I intended to obtain double minors in French and Korean in addition to my major in Sociology. However, I've been finding out that this is too inflexible and I can't take classes I actually want to try out, like Italian. </p>

<p>First I was thinking about dropping one of my language minors to take on a Public Policy minor, but then I thought about scrapping the whole "minor" idea in general and simply taking a couple classes in each of those subjects.</p>

<p>SO, MY QUESTION IS THE FOLLOWING: Does it matter much if I'm merely taking classes in what I'm interested in, vs. obtaining formal minors in the subjects (and as I think of it, getting formally recognized for my knowledge in the subjects)? </p>

<p>Many people have told me it doesn't matter what I minor in... Even what I major in. </p>

<p>My career prospects are at this point very broad as well and I just want to steer myself in the right direction.</p>

<p>THANKS!!</p>

<p>What matters for foreign languages is your level of proficiency, not what formal hoops you jump through while you are in college.</p>

<p>Minors are flatout useless, unless you are doing something that is like computer science or something and your major isn’t directly related to it (like a degree in Engineering w/ comp sci minor or acct major)</p>

<p>But, all in all, minors are useless.</p>

<p>those are the types of responses I’ve been getting… so essentiallly, what you major AND minor in don’t really matter–it’s more what you show in the workplace, rather than what you have on your transcript. </p>

<p>more responses welcome! thanks a bunch!</p>

<p>^^^ Exactly. To be honest, the major doesn’t really even matter (although it does generally set you in some direction - assuming you aren’t some random liberal arts major). It’s all about work experience, networking, and to some extent, prestige of school.</p>

<p>The only time your major really matters is if you’re getting a professional degree (ie engineering). If you’re proficient in a language, no one will care that you minored in it - similarly, you’ll look like a fool if you minor in a language but aren’t fluent.</p>

<p>(Engineering is important solely because you need an ABET accredited degree to take the PE exam.)</p>