Why Triple Major?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Someone on the Northwestern thread said it was easy to triple major there.

My question is why? Do employers now want/w pect this? Or are students driving this for done reason.

To me, triple majoring seems so limiting to me. Doesn’t all that focused effort remove the opportunity to try/explore new areas or to learn just for the sake of learning?

FWIW, loved my major in college. And it served me well after I graduated. But I can say the same about most of the electives I took - across many different areas. They helped expose me to the wide world of ideas, and engaged my mind and curiosity, too. I still refer to many of those classes now, 25 years later, though I ne er officially used them “professionally.”

I can only speak to my banking employer...but we don't care much about the number of majors (as long as you have one). Internships and other non-academic aspects are far more important.

If your majors consume so much of your time that you aren't networking with your peers or alums, then don't pursue multiple majors.

This is an extremely narrow view. This isn’t just about heading into banking.

I don't know any career where they are looking for students with triple majors, seeing as it's a pretty unpopular thing to do, even if you have the coursework for one.

No one is looking for it. That’s why the candidate who has obtained a triple major shines extra brightly. If they have a winning personality and outstanding grades and internship, then, of course, they look better than the average Joe with only 1 major.

Do you think people with Double majors look better than people with single majors on a job application, because I can give you a resounding No to that question. They don't. This has so little to do with a job.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Many employers value two related majors plus a foreign language.

Accounting & finance plus Spanish for one Big Four which acquired & expanded into Spanish speaking markets.

CS/econ/stats/data analysis are 4 majors which--if any combination--are favored by employers.

Creative writing/English/theater triple major for screenwriters.

Astonished by the posters who fail to understand the value of a triple majors as it creates more options for the student in the real world.

+1

Very few are just triple majoring without a plan. It's typically two majors that are related, and often have cross over requirements (CS and Data analytics or Accounting and finance or IR and history/political science) and then they add in a separate major that is helpful (think Spanish for any business major or health sciences major or IR). Very few are majoring in art history, accounting and Russian.

I think it's more accurate to say it’s a cool idea, but not necessarily helpful. Would an Accounting/Finance/Spanish major fare better than an Accounting/Spanish major with a few finance credits? Not really, but it's cool that they did all 3.

That’s not true. If 2 applicants have the same stats on Accounting and Spanish, then the applicant with such deep course work to obtain a Finance major within the same 4 years as the other applicant will stand out as more accomplished.

I don't care how accomplished you are. I care if you can do the job I'm hiring you for.

Exactly. And can I stand to spend 8-10 hours a day with you. Personality and ability to get along with coworkers matters. A lot. As does common sense. You could quadruple major but if you are a jerk or you can’t function in an office environment, it won’t matter.

Of course, Captain Obvious. The same holds true for someone who only single majors.

Captain Obvious, the point is 3 majors don’t give you an advantage if you don’t have the soft skills. Some kids should be spending time networking and developing those skills instead of pursuing a third major.

But, these kids are exceptional. They also have marvelous people skills and internships. They are rare individuals and very impressive.

I feel like I'm on some type of medication. These kids are not exceptional. There are many people who do the coursework for a third major but are limited from being able to declare 3 by their institution or just can explore other coursework without needing to declare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a recent triple major graduate, who is headed to a top ten law school next year, two thoughts. First, being a triple major does get attention. It's not an instant passport to anything, but it always seems to spark a conversation about academic interests, which is usually a big plus. But second, your child should check on whether each major has a thesis or capstone requirement. My child worked his butt off with three theses, while most classmates coasted through senior year.

But that does not make your child better…or even normal TBH.

I am sure that most kids in your kid’s “top ten” law school did not triple, or even double major. It is not necessary is the point. And it is suspect in the eyes of some (ie “what are they trying to prove? Did they have any life outside of school”, etc).

Many of you are desperately trying to dissuade us from our perspective…but we disagree with you. Sorry for all of those (potentially) wasted hours and/or tuition dollars.

Parents whose kids had just one or 2 majors are getting all defensive & panicky here. Nobody is saying you or your kid is a loser. But FFS stop acting like it’s not impressive that a kid can be versatile & industrious enough to knock out 3 majors in 4 yrs. Just being able to configure their schedule to fit in 3 different sets of classes required for majors is quite an achievement, much less completing the classes themselves.

Was going to double major but the intro courses were frankly beneath me so I did not. Took upper level courses in that field and another instead. If I saw a triple major I would think, wow, this kid really must like intro courses….

You should think along those lines for minors. That is where you will see more intro courses. With a major, you must go much deeper than intro level. Your thinking is off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone on the Northwestern thread said it was easy to triple major there.

My question is why? Do employers now want/w pect this? Or are students driving this for done reason.

To me, triple majoring seems so limiting to me. Doesn’t all that focused effort remove the opportunity to try/explore new areas or to learn just for the sake of learning?

FWIW, loved my major in college. And it served me well after I graduated. But I can say the same about most of the electives I took - across many different areas. They helped expose me to the wide world of ideas, and engaged my mind and curiosity, too. I still refer to many of those classes now, 25 years later, though I ne er officially used them “professionally.”

I can only speak to my banking employer...but we don't care much about the number of majors (as long as you have one). Internships and other non-academic aspects are far more important.

If your majors consume so much of your time that you aren't networking with your peers or alums, then don't pursue multiple majors.

This is an extremely narrow view. This isn’t just about heading into banking.

I don't know any career where they are looking for students with triple majors, seeing as it's a pretty unpopular thing to do, even if you have the coursework for one.

No one is looking for it. That’s why the candidate who has obtained a triple major shines extra brightly. If they have a winning personality and outstanding grades and internship, then, of course, they look better than the average Joe with only 1 major.

Do you think people with Double majors look better than people with single majors on a job application, because I can give you a resounding No to that question. They don't. This has so little to do with a job.

There are too many people on DCUM with little to no clue how the private sector works. That’s the fundamental problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the natural follow up to the AP arms race. If people want to do it, they should. I don’t see it having any distinct advantage in the workplace, though, in most cases.

It can have an advantage with landing that first job. It’s special. It’s rare. And, it definitely has an advantage for that Ph.D. application!

Spoken like someone who doesn’t actually work in the commercial sector.

It doesn’t matter one bit in terms of landing that first job.

Quite to the contrary. I’ve seen a triple major undergrad land a job that only Master’s levels were getting. If you have the charisma, ethics, and hard working attitude, with a triple major on your resume, you are a standout candidate. Period. It’s not happening much at all. Most students don’t have the fortitude for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the natural follow up to the AP arms race. If people want to do it, they should. I don’t see it having any distinct advantage in the workplace, though, in most cases.

It can have an advantage with landing that first job. It’s special. It’s rare. And, it definitely has an advantage for that Ph.D. application!

Spoken like someone who doesn’t actually work in the commercial sector.

It doesn’t matter one bit in terms of landing that first job.

Quite to the contrary. I’ve seen a triple major undergrad land a job that only Master’s levels were getting. If you have the charisma, ethics, and hard working attitude, with a triple major on your resume, you are a standout candidate. Period. It’s not happening much at all. Most students don’t have the fortitude for this.

That's just true of people with connections and charisma. You're just describing someone likable, nothing to do with their triple major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the natural follow up to the AP arms race. If people want to do it, they should. I don’t see it having any distinct advantage in the workplace, though, in most cases.

It can have an advantage with landing that first job. It’s special. It’s rare. And, it definitely has an advantage for that Ph.D. application!

Spoken like someone who doesn’t actually work in the commercial sector.

It doesn’t matter one bit in terms of landing that first job.

Quite to the contrary. I’ve seen a triple major undergrad land a job that only Master’s levels were getting. If you have the charisma, ethics, and hard working attitude, with a triple major on your resume, you are a standout candidate. Period. It’s not happening much at all. Most students don’t have the fortitude for this.

That's just true of people with connections and charisma. You're just describing someone likable, nothing to do with their triple major.

So a very likable, personable adult who is intelligent. The triple major shows perseverance, intelligence and drive. Add to it EQ and that person will go far

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the natural follow up to the AP arms race. If people want to do it, they should. I don’t see it having any distinct advantage in the workplace, though, in most cases.

It can have an advantage with landing that first job. It’s special. It’s rare. And, it definitely has an advantage for that Ph.D. application!

Professors on the ADCOM do not care about your major as long as it is in the bounds of what you need to start your PhD. No one cares that you have three majors in graduate school admissions, they're looking at your research experience more than anything.

No, if the extra major is in something relevant to the subject domain, then it will absolutely make you a stronger candidate. Consider a student getting an additional major in mathematics. That would only strengthen a candidate’s application in a science or engineering field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the natural follow up to the AP arms race. If people want to do it, they should. I don’t see it having any distinct advantage in the workplace, though, in most cases.

It can have an advantage with landing that first job. It’s special. It’s rare. And, it definitely has an advantage for that Ph.D. application!

Professors on the ADCOM do not care about your major as long as it is in the bounds of what you need to start your PhD. No one cares that you have three majors in graduate school admissions, they're looking at your research experience more than anything.

No, if the extra major is in something relevant to the subject domain, then it will absolutely make you a stronger candidate. Consider a student getting an additional major in mathematics. That would only strengthen a candidate’s application in a science or engineering field.

But it won't make your decision any better. You're going to get trampled by the student who did scientific research with a strong math foundation. This is just not how PhD admissions work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the natural follow up to the AP arms race. If people want to do it, they should. I don’t see it having any distinct advantage in the workplace, though, in most cases.

It can have an advantage with landing that first job. It’s special. It’s rare. And, it definitely has an advantage for that Ph.D. application!

Spoken like someone who doesn’t actually work in the commercial sector.

It doesn’t matter one bit in terms of landing that first job.

Quite to the contrary. I’ve seen a triple major undergrad land a job that only Master’s levels were getting. If you have the charisma, ethics, and hard working attitude, with a triple major on your resume, you are a standout candidate. Period. It’s not happening much at all. Most students don’t have the fortitude for this.

That's just true of people with connections and charisma. You're just describing someone likable, nothing to do with their triple major.

So a very likable, personable adult who is intelligent. The triple major shows perseverance, intelligence and drive. Add to it EQ and that person will go far

I don't know why you have to go over the top and sell the triple major. No, it's just a persuasive person. The majority of Rhodes scholars had single majors, but they also have great charm that lands them favorably. Charm rules the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the natural follow up to the AP arms race. If people want to do it, they should. I don’t see it having any distinct advantage in the workplace, though, in most cases.

It can have an advantage with landing that first job. It’s special. It’s rare. And, it definitely has an advantage for that Ph.D. application!

Professors on the ADCOM do not care about your major as long as it is in the bounds of what you need to start your PhD. No one cares that you have three majors in graduate school admissions, they're looking at your research experience more than anything.

No, if the extra major is in something relevant to the subject domain, then it will absolutely make you a stronger candidate. Consider a student getting an additional major in mathematics. That would only strengthen a candidate’s application in a science or engineering field.

Why would you speak on graduate admissions if you know nothing about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the natural follow up to the AP arms race. If people want to do it, they should. I don’t see it having any distinct advantage in the workplace, though, in most cases.

It can have an advantage with landing that first job. It’s special. It’s rare. And, it definitely has an advantage for that Ph.D. application!

Spoken like someone who doesn’t actually work in the commercial sector.

It doesn’t matter one bit in terms of landing that first job.

Quite to the contrary. I’ve seen a triple major undergrad land a job that only Master’s levels were getting. If you have the charisma, ethics, and hard working attitude, with a triple major on your resume, you are a standout candidate. Period. It’s not happening much at all. Most students don’t have the fortitude for this.

I think you are admitting you don’t work in the commercial sector or you wouldn’t phrase your answer as “I’ve seen” which sounds about as made up an answer as there is.

Why isn’t your response more factual indicating your background and all the triple major kids you have actually hired? Oh yeah…because you don’t have that background.

[Anonymous]

In today’s world, jobs are increasingly becoming multidisciplinary. Employers value well-rounded employees with a variety of skills and strengths. On paper, a college graduate with three majors is a much more competitive applicant than someone with just one major.

You’ll likely gain an even greater edge if you pair a STEM degree with a major in the arts, humanities, or business. Not to mention, you can set yourself up for jobs in different industries. Say that you’re not sure about the type of career you’d like to pursue after graduation. Majoring in multiple fields of study allows you to keep your options open.
Source: https://scholarships360.org/college-admissions/triple-major/#:~:text=Employers%20value%20well%2Drounded%20employees,arts%2C%20humanities%2C%20or%20business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a recent triple major graduate, who is headed to a top ten law school next year, two thoughts. First, being a triple major does get attention. It's not an instant passport to anything, but it always seems to spark a conversation about academic interests, which is usually a big plus. But second, your child should check on whether each major has a thesis or capstone requirement. My child worked his butt off with three theses, while most classmates coasted through senior year.

But that does not make your child better…or even normal TBH.

I am sure that most kids in your kid’s “top ten” law school did not triple, or even double major. It is not necessary is the point. And it is suspect in the eyes of some (ie “what are they trying to prove? Did they have any life outside of school”, etc).

Many of you are desperately trying to dissuade us from our perspective…but we disagree with you. Sorry for all of those (potentially) wasted hours and/or tuition dollars.

Parents whose kids had just one or 2 majors are getting all defensive & panicky here. Nobody is saying you or your kid is a loser. But FFS stop acting like it’s not impressive that a kid can be versatile & industrious enough to knock out 3 majors in 4 yrs. Just being able to configure their schedule to fit in 3 different sets of classes required for majors is quite an achievement, much less completing the classes themselves.

Was going to double major but the intro courses were frankly beneath me so I did not. Took upper level courses in that field and another instead. If I saw a triple major I would think, wow, this kid really must like intro courses….

You should think along those lines for minors. That is where you will see more intro courses. With a major, you must go much deeper than intro level. Your thinking is off.

1 or 2 intro courses was enough for me to not do it at all; my “thinking” was right on because I, you know, lived it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It does not come across as a “cool flex” or scholarly to me. It strikes of the need to overachieve.

(Sort of like a person with multiple Masters degrees. They seem unfocused.)

You’re envious. Multiple master’s degrees shows versatility.

No it doesn't.