Is there a point to a(n arts) double major?

[mrs-mojo-risin]

I am a psychology major but after taking several Film Studies classes this year and befriending many Film majors, I was convinced to go for a double major (Psych & Film). At first I thought this was a great idea, I mean why not? I would probably end up taking mostly Film courses as my electives anyways and this way I have an extra qualification on my diploma. The only real difference is that I have to actually be concerned about the grades I obtain in those Film classes in order to maintain a certain GPA (and remain a Film major). While I don't think this would be very hard for me, I am now questioning whether or not any extra pressure (even just to keep a B- in Film courses) is worth it when the pay-off is just getting to say .. what, that I'm a double major? Are there any real benefits to obtaining a double degree? I could see if it was something like a Biology & Engineering degree, or something more useful than FILM & PSYCH! Does anyone actually care if you have a double degree? Should I stick with Psychology and just take Film for fun or should I perservere and go for the double major? I'm really just having trouble seeing the point.

 

[Cyc]

Well it depends what you want to be when you grow up. It's always tight to balance what you like vs. what you think will be marketable.

It's my experience that the arts doesn't lend itself well to mediocrity. If you want to get paid in an arts career, you have to be gifted and love what you do. That said, I imagine if you saw a future in film, you wouldn't be asking whether it's worth the hassle of pulling off B's.

 

[mrs-mojo-risin]

No, I'm about 90% sure I will still want to go for a Masters & PhD in psychology (in order to being a practising psychologist here in Ontario) after getting my undergrad degree. No interest in pursuing film as a career, I just find it interesting to study! That's why I'm not sure whether it's worth it to have to focus my time on another major (which potentially COULD have a negative consequence on my psych grades) if it's not going to give me anything extra (other than the option to pursue film if I change my mind).

 

[Cyc]

Oh hey a fellow Ontarian.

I'm a Science student at Western.

 

[Lysis]

FYI, not sure about psychs, but for instance with med school, lots of times they only care about your GPA in your science classes. It's possibly the same for psych grad school. You could ask your advisor.

 

[XperiencedMe2]

The untied states is in a recession, that should be enough reason to stay in school study hard and get good grades.... and double ,triple, octo-Degree your self.... because it isn't easy finding/getting a job now.... even with double majors... not unless canda is in better situation than the usa

 

[Cyc]

The untied states is in a recession, that should be enough reason to stay in school study hard and get good grades.... and double ,triple, octo-Degree your self.... because it isn't easy finding/getting a job now.... even with double majors... not unless canda is in better situation than the usa

Our Prime Minister constantly tells us how awesome we are because our banks have remained solvent, and our GDP is stable. Of course we are losing a lot of manufacturing jobs, and as a result we have a bunch of crybaby blue collar workers filling our private schools and Colleges wanting to compete with the people who actually paid to go to school.

So even in Canada your advice holds up. KEEP GOING TO SCHOOL TO AVOID COMPETING WITH FORMER ASSEMBLY LINE WORKERS FOR JOBS. Gotta stay one step ahead.

 

[up all night]

Of course we are losing a lot of manufacturing jobs, and as a result we have a bunch of crybaby blue collar workers filling our private schools and Colleges wanting to compete with the people who actually paid to go to school.

!!

You say that like all blue collar workers are only blue collar workers because they were too lazy to go to college/ university! Unless I'm missing something...

Anyway, I say do it! The best thing about having access to higher education is that we're able to learn about so many interesting things which aren't necessarily going to help us in our vocation. If you think you'll be able to shoulder both course loads, I would do both. College/ uni should be about expanding the mind and fostering different ways of thinking just as much as it is about getting a well paid job at the end of it.

 

[Cyc]

!!

You say that like all blue collar workers are only blue collar workers because they were too lazy to go to college/ university! Unless I'm missing something...

Anyway, I say do it! The best thing about having access to higher education is that we're able to learn about so many interesting things which aren't necessarily going to help us in our vocation. If you think you'll be able to shoulder both course loads, I would do both. College/ uni should be about expanding the mind and fostering different ways of thinking just as much as it is about getting a well paid job at the end of it.

Oh I know, part of it is jealousy on my part. I chose to keep going to school, while my friends slugged out 1/3rd of their life at a factory to have a car and a house. I'm 28 too, so that feeling that I'll catch up eventually is slowly drifting away.

The reason I'm bitter is because the government is paying for all these blue collar workers (who already have houses and cars) to go to school for free. So while I'm straddled with tens of thousands of dollars of debt and no assets, these guys are going to be taking the one advantage I have over them away.

The only thing I can think of is continue going to school and upgrading my education to stay one step ahead.

 

[mrs_mia_wallace]

Why not?

Get as much out of college as you can. If you want to do a double major do it, you're never going to have another opportunity in your life to focus on a subject the way you are in college-- even if nothing comes from it. I believe that your college education should focus on what you're going to need later on in life (so if you want to do film major in film, want to do psych major in psych) but college should also be an opportunity to learn about many different subjects. Also, you really never know what you might learn in one class on one subject that has an impact on your perceptions and knowledge of another....

 

[up all night]

Oh I know, part of it is jealousy on my part. I chose to keep going to school, while my friends slugged out 1/3rd of their life at a factory to have a car and a house. I'm 28 too, so that feeling that I'll catch up eventually is slowly drifting away.

The reason I'm bitter is because the government is paying for all these blue collar workers (who already have houses and cars) to go to school for free. So while I'm straddled with tens of thousands of dollars of debt and no assets, these guys are going to be taking the one advantage I have over them away.

The only thing I can think of is continue going to school and upgrading my education to stay one step ahead.

One 'advantage' of your tertiary history could be further education to get you ahead of the pack, but the other advantage is the fact that you have the personality, intelligence and desire to better yourself on an intellectual level. It doesn't really matter how much education someone has, you can't learn those traits. And besides, fuck the car and picket fence, they're generally overrated.

 

[mrs-mojo-risin]

Thanks guys, I feel better about my decision to stick with a double major now!