Is Double Majoring worth it?

90sKids98

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Im about to enter my senior year September 1st and of course my brain is on overdrive trying to decide what I want to do in College. My question is should I double major? These are the plans Im trying to choose

Option 1: Major in Physics, minor in Criminal Justice
Option 2: Major in Physics, minor in Biology
Option 3: Double Major in Physics and Criminal Justice, minor in Biology

Or should I just major in Physics and then double minor in Criminal Justice and Biology? My intended career is a Forensic Scientist but I don't want to be limited with just the Forensic Science Degree :|
 

kimb

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No, it's a waste of time. If you want a second degree, just go back for it.
 

The Great Second Hokage

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Not really worth it in my opinion. My girlfriend double majored in psychology and spanish and minored in business.....shes now using only her business degree for her career.
 

Drakengard

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I would estimate how much a double major would set you back. Will it take more semesters to graduate? Do you think that you could spend that time more wisely outside of the classroom (and it's important to be honest about this)?
 

sacmador

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If you think that the programme wont be a big burden in your life and if you really want to learn both, then go for it. However, if you want it just because it could be nice for you or for your cv later on, don't do it.

I finished Computer Science and Maths. The programme was kind of easier in our university. One more course in each semester starting from 4th, you could complete it. I was having fun in almost all Math courses.
 
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LordRaikage

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lmfao double major...
Option 2: seems good
 

Оdin

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Only if you have free time and just love soaking up new knowledge.
 

Sasuke The Solo God

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tbh the Bachelors in Physics and Biology won't get you very far, salary-wise, and your career options will be very limited to things like teaching or lab assistant. You'd want a PHD in those fields or at least a masters with a thesis in order to branch out into more specific, research type fields.

Therefore, its not worth it imo, especially if you want to become a forensic scientist. They're pretty much worthless in that field and wouldn't help getting a forensics job.

What about minoring in crimnal justice, it'll open up your opportunists if you choose to major in FS.
 

~Ethereal~

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I used to do it, but my second part of the degree was useless because it didn't have ANY link for what I set for originally, so I transferred to single honours. I knew sooooooo many people doing it, must be a trend.
 

V h o

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Only if you can afford it, otherwise no imo
 

90sKids98

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tbh the Bachelors in Physics and Biology won't get you very far, salary-wise, and your career options will be very limited to things like teaching or lab assistant. You'd want a PHD in those fields or at least a masters with a thesis in order to branch out into more specific, research type fields.

Therefore, its not worth it imo, especially if you want to become a forensic scientist. They're pretty much worthless in that field and wouldn't help getting a forensics job.

What about minoring in crimnal justice, it'll open up your opportunists if you choose to major in FS.
Idk man, I always hear mixed opinions about doing Forensic Science as a major because apparently your limited to that area only, but I would do it.

But Im also interested in learning Physics and doing biology + criminal justice as a double minor, I wish I could just do it all tbh but nah I don't want my brain to explode
 

JENchuuriki

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I think Option 1 would be great for you, one step at a time
 

Narushima

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I did a double major as you Americans call it in mathematics and physics, and if I had to do it again I would definitely replace the physics with computer science. Double majoring is only worth it if you pick up a useful and practical second major.

And I will give you another piece of advice - physics will not help you in the slightest in that career aspiration.

Most people have this impression that undergrad physics is similar to engineering. In reality physics is much, much closer to mathematics. Certainly you will learn (mathematical) theories that say meaningful things about the world - but this is different from learning how the real world works. The difference between engineering and physics is even greater than between something like biology and medical school.

Additionally no matter what your uninformed teachers and salesmen at physics departments tell you, physics is not an employable degree. I have Physics PhD friends (and this is a common thread over at physics forums) who have been unable to find any job in the tech sector despite all earnest effort because they are not qualified whatsoever for engineering jobs (anymore than a biology graduate is qualified to be a doctor) and they are way too overqualified for technician jobs.

Physics graduates have high employment rates but virtually none of those rates involve the tech sector, except perhaps in software development but you will have to compete with CS graduates there, and you will find that most physics graduates actually work in the financial sector. An engineering or CS graduate can literally do everything a physics grad can do but a physics grad can do little to nothing in the tech sector.

There is nothing hard about undergraduate physics per se - a good engineer or mathematician can easily hobby self teach themselves undergrad physics, which is why I feel the physics major was useless to me. Hence why I now tell anyone interested in physics that it is better to accept the trade-off between passion and job prospects and go into engineering.

Finally, one other warning I give to all prospective physics majors and it is this: forget about the Brian Greene variety of theoretical physics that is glamorized in the media.

Things like string theory and quantum gravity are, aside from being useless mathematical theorizing that isn't going anywhere experimentally, so arcane that you will probably have to study until you are a 30-40 year old before you can delve into them in any detail. People like Lubos Motl are able to learn those things at a young age because they are cognitive freaks - Motl was a competitor at the International Mathematical Olympiads and that is the level of talent required if you want to approach the deep ends of high-energy physics in your 20s - but most normal theoretical physics PhDs will struggle with elementary string theory, and that sh1t is becoming more and more arcanely mathematical and therefore inaccessible to normal human beings by the day.
 
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Conspirator.

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Lol, my brother is planning to do a double degree/major in Engineering and Commerce and he chatted briefly to me about whether it was a good idea recently. I guess it depends on whether the 2nd major is relevant to your career aspirations, how long you are prepared to spend at university, the current job market in your country and whatnot.
 
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