is an odd double major OK? -- Virtually Advising Q+A

The Q: I'm a freshman majoring in social work. I don't know if that major is right for me. I also want to major in business management, but when I tell people that I want to double major in those two subjects, they look at me funny. Should I major in both, or which one you think I should leave alone?

The A: Choosing a major is a personal decision. You should definitely consider your options carefully and get advice and opinions from as many different perspectives as possible, but you shouldn't let others' opinions deter you from pursuing what you know you want to do.

I can't advise you on which major to choose without knowing your interests and your motives for wanting to major in either one. If you have decided that you definitely want to pick social work or business management rather than major in both, drop me a line and tell me about why you are interested in each major and your doubts and concerns with each, and I will try my best to guide you in the right direction.

The first thing you need to do is ask yourself why you want to major in social work and business management. Do both fields intrigue your interest enough to want to commit a significant amount of time to studying in each of them? Before you decide to double major you should definitely consult your school's course book and see how many classes are required for both majors. You don't want to over-commit yourself. But if business management, for example, is a "light" major (requiring a minimual amount of classses), and you are interested in all or most of the courses both majors offer, then a double major may be the best decision for you. However, keep in mind that by double majoring you're limiting your opportunity to take electives outside of your two majors.

As different as these majors may be, though, if you are interested enough in both and can handle the time commitment, then you should go for it! What matters most in picking a major is choosing something that you will be happy studying for four years. You don't want to pick something you just have to "get through"; you want to pick something that will give you a fufilling experience at school, and leave you more knowledgeable in the end.

What's most important is that you decide on a major that you will happy with, learn a lot from and also do well in. It's important you make the decision for the right reasons and do what's best for you -- that will help you in the long run of life, regardless of what field you end up going into.

—Mary Anne Feeney, General Advisor