Hi! In college, I want to triple major in English, Chemistry and History. Should I try to do this would I be able to graduate in 4 years and how much extra would it cost for me to do this?
Take a look at Wesleyan. The Nescac school in CT. The tours we took highlighted this as an option and the guides and limited strident interactions seemed to indicate that it’s not uncommon. Three students seemed to be on pace for a four year graduation. This is not based on personal experience. However it may be worth looking into for you.
Why would you want to triple major? What are your career goals and how will those three majors help you get there?
FWIW, I have never heard of anyone triple majoring. Doing so would be very difficult logistically. Whether you would be able to graduate in 4 years depends on the requirements for the majors at the school you attend, the amount of gen eds you must take, and whether or not you come in with any credits. I think it would be very hard to finish in 4 years.
As to how much it costs for an extra tear, that depends on the school. If you go to an expensive private it’s about $70k per year. Your own instate public would be less than half that but it varies quite a bit by state. If you attend school close to home and can commute it’s even less. Most financial aid is only good for 4 years so if you take 5 to finish that last year is full price.
It depends., When looking at colleges you will need to consider things like: 1) if a triple major is even allowed; 2) if the college has a large core curriculum or distribution requirements which would make any double/triple major more difficult to complete; 3) if AP/IB credits etc. are accepted by the college and, if so, what do they count toward; 4) the number of courses needed for a major; 5) the maximum number of credits you can take in a semester.
However, with “a 2.7 GPA and got a 930 on my SAT” I am not sure taking on a triple major would be wise.
Some colleges allow students to create their own majors so you might be able to combine your interests into one major or two majors in some creative way.
You might also consider doing a minor if there is a subject you are interested in but don’t see fitting with your long-term career goals.
Why in the world would you want to do this?
What would it do for you that majoring in one or two of the three and taking lots of classes in the other one or two areas wouldn’t?
Absolutely no advantage to lock yourself in to three sets of major requirements. Leave yourself some room to explore during your college years.
Too bad that there isn’t a “great understatement” button to go with the ones for Agree, Like and Helpful.
If it takes the normal student 4 years to major in one area, how do you expect to graduate in 4 years with 3 majors? University coursework is difficult and rapid. It’s not an easy thing to conquer with a B-/C average.
Do you understand what a major is?
It is a concentration of, sometimes, dozens of courses (prerequisites included), that are required to receive a degree in a specific area of study. It’s hard enough to do one major with strong grades and test scores, let alone 3 areas of study, with weak GPAs and test scores.
Chemistry will require lots of math prerequisites and labs. You’ll be working in teams to accomplish projects. You will need time to access coursework and supplemental readings.
English and History majors perform multiple written assignments and multiple research requirements within specific time periods, with different formats and modes of presentation. Plus, your 60+ pages of reading per week will add up. I had a prerequisite English course that required a minimum of 50 pages of classical texts per week when we did compare and contrast essays.
Is it that you want to teach these subjects?
If so, investigate the Colleges of Education at your safety universities. The education department will give you information about how to receive a degree in education with concentration in those areas.
I suggest you go to a community college because you need to learn HOW to study for university level success.
This isn’t a College Life forum question.
You want it all? You need to get a better understanding of options. You dont need to major in something to take electives. Plenty of required courses in one major will conflict with requirements in another major.
Try to take a realistic approach, your feet on the ground. Focus. You’re putting the cart before the horse and should be improving study habits now, grades, and scores. Don’t get your head in the clouds.
It is doable, depending on the school. I am aware of many D overachievers at my D’s school that triple major, or like my D, complete 1-2 majors and a masters - in 4 years. But based on other responses about your college-readiness, this does not sound like a good option for you. Pick one, maybe minor in another, and use your electives to take courses in the third. This still requires very careful planning. And you should balance your coursework each semester so as not to get overwhelmed as each of those areas can be a lot of work.
Is it possible? Yes, at some colleges. Some explicitly disallow it (a few even disallow double majoring), and some require special petitions.
Is it a good idea? No, even for the most capable students. Colleges aren’t like high schools. You need to specialize, and more importantly, depth in areas you specialize. Don’t spread yourself too thin or you’ll come to regret it.
In another post the OP stated that they had a 2.7 GPA. Doing a triple major is very difficult for a good student. For this OP, it would be a disaster.
Figure out what you want as a career path and use your college experience to prepare for it.