Double Majoring Essay

For students enrolled in college, those who consider completing a double majoring program will have more job options upon graduation. In college, double major students forfeit social and extracurricular opportunities because of the work load, but they have more job opportunities available to them. The positives of double majoring far outweigh the negatives. When choosing a major, double majoring offers more benefits than single majoring.
Most students entering college do not know what they will pursue in the future after graduation. Double majoring provides more specified job options for students after college. For example, “biologists with law [can] work in biotechnology companies, historians with management [can] work in public agencies, [and] IT specialists with creative arts [can] work in web design” (Russell, Dolnicar, and Ayoub 567). Majoring in two subjects, leads to cone-shaped knowledge. Cone-shaped knowledge means students have a broad knowledge in a general field that converges into deep
understanding of a specific aspect of said field. Both Elisa Kronish and Basit Zafar facilitated this term by Zafar studying that more than one major may result in too little depth in ones main field (Zafar 288), but Kronish writes that overlapping majors show a breadth of knowledge in a specific field (Double Majors Do Double Duty). Cone-shaped knowledge will help to receive higher paying jobs and more jobs if one changes their mind about his/her career.
Although beneficial, double majoring requires a certain skill set that it will sharpen. Students considering double majors need time management skills and enough money for all the extra classes they may need to take. Double majors find it more difficult to study abroad, join clubs, and engage in social activities because of their rigorous schedule. Cornell University mentions how double major students have less flexibility, and according to Lynn O’Shaughnessy, “double majoring keeps many students from graduating on time.” Yet Basit Zafar and Jeff Selingo agreed that because students who choose to double major have higher GPAs and more AP classes, they have less college requirements and therefore can pursue two majors and still complete college easily and on time (Zafar 288). Because they have to pay for extra classes, financially stable students usually double major. Though the usual types of students attempting two majors do not have to pay for extravagant amounts of extra classes.
Students with double majors tend to earn more because of their qualifications; therefore double majoring benefits students’ futures. According to Jeff Selingo “two unrelated majors probably yield bigger gains in the job market than two related majors do.” A student looking for jobs would look better to employers if they have two different skillsets. Employers appreciate a hardworking and willing employee. Double majors have those qualities as well as flexibility and adaptability (Kronish). Despite sacrificing social and extracurricular activities, double major students obtain more lucrative jobs.
Double majoring extends knowledge because having two majors teaches important life skills for the future.
Double majoring leads to transdisciplinary education, which is characterized by “knowledge production that is problem-focused, draws knowledge and methods flexibility from diverse sources, involves collaboration between academic disciplines and other parts of society, and produces knowledge that is ‘socially robust’” (Russell, Dolnicar, and Ayoub 567). Transdisciplinary education leads to better life management skills because of its everyday life applicability. According to “Should my college student double major in college?” double majoring will require and facilitate time management skills. Because of the cone shaped knowledge, double major students have more opportunity to learn more about general topics. Electives in high school facilitate a thirst for more knowledge and double majoring has the same benefits for students who only want to broaden their
knowledge.
Knowledge broadens the foundation from which one can pull resources to gain experience. This extensive knowledge benefits students’ futures. The combination of academic and social disciplines will assist when getting interviewed for a job (Russell, Dolnicar, and Ayoub 567). Confidence and knowledge will trickle out of every word of the soon-to-be employee. It may seem odd, but employers prefer hiring people who posses expertise in a specific field.
The best way to choose if double majoring would benefit ones future dwells in the experience and education of professors, current double major students, and people in their chosen fields (“Should my college student double major in college?”). Students need to consider their own ability and wishes rather than making a decision based on what someone else would do. Take many precautions before choosing to double major. Double majoring gives students a full college experience while easing the path of life.