<p>My son is thinking about "going to graduate school for statistics." I'm not sure what he has mind (he's a sophomore) but now he's thinking he should add a math minor. </p>
<p>He already has an economics major and poly sci major and a music minor (almost done)! This would entail taking a couple of math courses this summer (probably at Ohio State because he's staying at Denison this summer for some kind of research thing). </p>
<p>I guess what I'm wondering, is this common?! I'm a little worried that he won't have time to take any fun stuff - like French, environmental science, comparative world religions - you know, the stuff you go to liberal arts school for! Not only that but even the double major seems to preclude a semester abroad (another regrettable thing - in my opinion).</p>
<p>Of course, it's not like I really have (or WANT to have!) a say in this. He called basically to find out if we'd foot the bill for the summer courses (we will). I guess I'm just wondering - is this NORMAL?</p>
<p>From what I can see, it is somewhat normal. D will have a B.S., a B.A. and four minors. But she went to school both summer sessions past two years, so, let's see, that will mean that she will have been enrolled in school full time for 36 months straight by the end of this semester. BUT she has loved most of the classes. There has been no study abroad, very unfortunate, but, that's because of athletics more than class schedule. </p>
<p>I think what your son is considering is terrific, as long as he wants it, is very interested in the classes - and it sounds like he is, and that he's very interested in his grad school options. I think the mixes are good too because they appear to be diverse - music and mathmatics, and the econ and polysci compliment each other nicely. </p>
<p>We do know lots of other students who have mixes of majors and minors, and somehow the "fun" classes always find a way to get added to the schedule. </p>
<p>Edit to add: 100% of the mixes of multiple majors/minors we know of came about because the student was a year or two invested in one major that they still liked, but, discovered some other subject matter that they got all excited about, and so added that to the mix too. It sounds like your son has done the same.</p>
<p>It wouldn't be allowed here (max of three majors/minors/certificates), but people with two majors and a minor aren't too uncommon. There seems to be a combined economics/math major at Denison- does that not meet his needs?</p>
<p>Is there not ANY way he could study abroad? It seems a place like LSE or Warwick could fit his needs.</p>
<p>I think it's fair to say that your son's route is unusual, but certainly not abnormal. There are students at liberal arts schools at both extremes: those who go for the maximum breadth (with max. # of courses outside the major/minor), and those who want maximum depth in a field (or two or even three like you S), and are willing to give up some of the exposure to a wider range of disciplines. I suspect that he's talked with advisors and profs. in the depts. If so, it sounds like it's probably the correct choice for him.</p>
<p>Agree with warblersrule86 - is there not ANY way he could study abroad? Warwick (UK) has a degree programme called MORSE, which I believe stands for Mathematics, Operational research, Statistics and Economics. Sounds almost exactly like what he's looking for!</p>
<p>"I'm a little worried that he won't have time to take any fun stuff - like French, environmental science, comparative world religions "</p>
<p>Could it be that these courses are your idea of fun and not what your son enjoys?</p>
<p>"I guess I'm just wondering - is this NORMAL?"</p>
<p>I think yes. Kids are supposed to go to college and develop a wider perspective of life's possibilities. Freshman year, they adjust to college life. By sophomore and junior year, they are full of doubts about careers and what they want to do in life. We hear the same things from our sophomore. Our D started as a double degree in music and science. By the end of this year, we anticipate some decisions. She will either continue with the DD or decide to concentrate on one major or the other. We knew the statistics up front. Only about 1/3 or the kids complete the DD and the others split between a music or academic degree. A few kids decide early in freshman year that a double degree doesn't make sense, but most make this decision by the start of junior year. Kids without a double degree follow the same pattern. They often change interests and majors. By junior year, hopefully, they commit to a single discipline.....Then when they finish college, they start the process over again and change jobs and directions again.</p>
<p>weenie, it is a bit unusual for a student to have a double major/double minor but a big booyah to him. For some students the college cataloge becomes like a huge candy store. And by having so many majors/minors he will be trading off
breadth of learning for depth of learning. A fair trade in my estimation.</p>
<p>Our son, a compsci/cogpsych dual major just decided to tack on a philosophy minor. Yes it does limit the scope of his humanities/social science electives, it is something new he has become excited about. This semester ethics, existentialism and comparative religion is on his plate in addition to 2 courses in his compsci major.</p>
<p>It's such a balancing act - we don't want to give him too much "advice" because he's really using his adviser at school - which I think is a great thing. And I worry a lot about undermining his decisions. But the lack of a semester abroad and a foreign language opportunity (which I think is so important these days - and he loves French but hasn't had time for it) sort of concerns us. Anyway we've told him that and now he can work it out.</p>
<p>Turns out he's thinking of filling two general education requirements at Ohio State instead of courses for the math minor. They don't have the summer course schedule out yet, so there's no way to know if that's going to work out. I can't figure out how he'll do that and do his internship job on campus. I wonder if there's flexibility in the internship thing.</p>
<p>At least he has advising at school. From what I can tell, my D has not had any advising input. We have suggested that she look for advising help, but she is still a teenager and characteristically stubborn.</p>
<p>One more suggestion- if he's not overloading, it may be possible to tack on a "fun" class each semester without it being too much. Auditing or pass/fail, for instance.</p>
<p>While there are great study abroad programs, there are many overrated programs. </p>
<p>Also, depending on your financial aid situation, they may be far from representing a bargain. In many cases, it would be cheaper to spend an entire year abroad and earn a 1 year master in a SPECIFIC program. The tuition abroad is only a fraction of what most of the US schools do charge. </p>
<p>In this particular case, it would not be difficult to find a good program in Statistics or Operational Research at a number of schools abroad. It should also offer a different experience, and probably a stronger educational experience than a small school without a known faculty in the field could offer.</p>
<p>FWIW, double and dual majors come in many flavors.</p>
<p>weenie
hopefully,S is getting the proper mentoring/advice from someone who has knowledge of the grad school process and what he needs to present himself as the best possible candidate for what he wants to persue.D found the profs in her dept were of much more assistance than her general counselor when structuring herself to be a great Grad School candidate.
As far as study abroad,once S graduates, is done with the grad school process, he can spend a lovely couple of summer months abroad,no studying...just doing/seeing whatever he wants to.</p>
<p>edad: Funny you should mention the advising part. My son NEVER saw his adviser (a math prof. assigned to him as a freshmen, last year) until now. Whenever I'd ask him about it he'd say, "Oh he isn't going to know anything..." You know, the usual teenager attitude. Well, something compelled him to go meet with the guy and now he's telling me (albeit rather sheepishly) how great he was! He spent a lot of time with him, looked some things up, got back to my son...So now I can be smug with that "I told you so" feeling.</p>
<p>Really, seeking advisement is such an important thing for kids to learn, isn't it? But, you can lead a horse to water...</p>
<p>warblersrule (do you like warblers? I DO!): He told me he was going to try to join a French club. I guess they get together and speak French. He is tight on time because he has an on-campus job and the music stuff and he plays a club sport!</p>
<p>xiggi and cathymee: Those are great ideas about abroad opportunities. Especially because one bad thing at Denison is that his scholarship doesn't go overseas. Hopefully he'll eventually make it a priority to send time someplace interesting. (I'm just a tad disappointed - I pictured visiting him in Paris for Christmas some year...it's really all about me, ah... ;) )</p>
<p>Weenie, do not shelve your dreams of visiting your son abroad. In addition, spending time abroad in a graduate program might help your son when it comes to US graduate schools. It is probably much harder to gain admission at competive graduate schools when trying to go directly from the undergraduate. Many programs expect the candidates to have experience. In my eyes, studying abroad after graduation provides a good alternative. </p>
<p>By the way, statistics is a pretty demanding field.</p>
<p>Demanding ... as in not being for the faint of heart. Studying and understanding statistics requires a lot of work and a well developed mastery of math, or at least an affinity for it. It seems that a few people will "get" it very quickly and find the subject interesting. However, for most, this is a challenging subject that is not easy to love. </p>
<p>Further, according to a leading professor of statistics at a major finance school who participated on CC, the field has changed a lot, and not necessarily in a positive direction.</p>
<p>
[quote]
warblersrule (do you like warblers? I DO!)
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I sure do. :) My name came from the research project on niche partitioning in wood warblers I did the summer before my senior year. I didn't know it would last me this long!</p>
<p>I have 35 warblers on my life list. Conspicuously absent - Kentucky Warbler (heard but never seen), Prothonotary (lame, I know), Kirtland's, Golden-Cheeked, Swainson's. I am right on the shore of Lake Ontario, so we often have a lot of warblers bunched up along the shore during spring migration. I also did the breeding bird survey in the Adirondacks for several years. (Had to learn all their songs for that process!) :) :)</p>
<p>Hey, I'm jealous. I only have the Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian (my favorite), Bay-breasted, Cape May, and Chestnut-sided on my list. We don't get too many down here.</p>