How can I combine two unrelated degrees?

A low-income student writes:

"It seems most who are interested in dual-majoring, dual-degrees, and the such usually have the duo linked. My interests, however, are in no way linked. 

If I'm interested in the BA/MA program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, but also would like to attend a college (like the Fashion Institute of Technology) for Interior Designing -- how is that doable, and how would financial aid assess this situation, as they are clearly not linked interests? 

I'm not a first-generation student, but a non-traditional unemployed and low-income student who's unable to "settle" on one interest/direction. I'm too old to be having any more regrets of not having done things when I should've, and have issues with willingness when it comes to time commitments to do with my disability. 

I'd rather do more in less time, such as overlap the degrees. I'm currently attending a community college and will be obtaining dual A.S. degrees this Spring for Commercial Art and Mental Health (haha, no, I'm not interested in "Creative Arts Therapy"). I'm very anxious to figure out transfer plans, as I will also have to arrange disability accommodation plans! I'm pretty much an unique student in every way possible, haha."

In general, it is difficult to attend two different schools while pursuing two very different degrees. But, this may ultimately depend on the schedule of classes and the policies on dual enrollment and financial aid at each school. So, you may want to start with looking into the rules at the schools that you're interested in attending. Also check out this advice on going to two schools at once.

Having wide interests, especially as a non-traditional student, is not uncommon! The key to nailing down your transfer plans is to get more clarity on what jobs you want to end up after you're done with school.

Honestly, it seems unrealistic to be both an interior decorator and work in criminal justice once you're done with school, unless you plan to maintain two jobs. So, between the two options which appeals more to you based on the day-to-day activities of the job?

Do you lean more toward one than the other and can you think of ways to do both without going to school for both full-time? For example, would you be happy with going to school for criminal justice then getting a related full-time job while you took occasional interior design classes and decorated on the side only?

It is also important to consider if school is even necessary for the careers you're interested in. Some criminal justice positions absolutely require a degree, while others do not always. In interior design, a design degree may not be necessary either if you are able to build a portfolio through volunteering or interning and without additional schooling. These are both areas where a degree is not always going to help you get a job, so look into the requirements for jobs you're interested in around your local area to help figure that out.

Practically speaking, it may also help to speak with a transfer counselor at your current community college to see if which of your associate degrees set you up the best once you transfer. Do you end up with more transferable credits in one area over the other? That alone may make one option more attractive option.

Looking at costs, is one school cheaper or more expensive? Is it financially feasible for you to afford two schools? Will you be able to pay off the debt with the jobs you're hoping to land after graduation? Does one career path pay more than the other? Financial implications are often deciding factors when you're currently unemployed and a low-income student.

You don't mention what type of disability you have, but you might also consider if one career path could potentially accommodate your needs better than the other. For example, if you have a learning disability which might make the record keeping common in criminal justice jobs difficult, it might make more sense to lean toward interior design.

So, you have a lot to think about and there is no easy answer. I hope these considerations help you think about it, but no one can really answer the root of your question. Good luck!

If you know of other resources for first-generation and low income college students, please share them with Ask An Advisor!

Should I choose a marketable major over an interesting one?

A reader writes:

"Currently I am pursuing a BS in Business Studies with a focus in Computer Information Technology. I chose this focus (IT) because I feel like it is necessary knowledge. However, I am only moderately (at best) interested in the IT world. I am trying to decide if I want to change my focus to Small Business Management or International Management (both of which I am very interested in) or keep the IT focus being that it seems this is more necessary (or seems this way to me). Am I wrong in thinking that the IT focus is necessary and would make me more competitive? Would a small business or international business focus be a good choice of a major?

Additional info: If there is such a thing as a dream job mine  would be owning a microbusiness (makes me want the Small Bus. Management) that interfaces with customers via the internet (Makes me want the IT focus). Also I speak Spanish and would be very interested in expanding business into Latin America, potentially (makes me interested in the International Business)"

Choosing a major is not always easy, especially when it comes picking a specialization area within your major. I usually encourage students to consider both their interests, professional goals, and what they dislike to help clarify what direction to go in. In your case, both your interests and professional goals are pushing you away from the IT focus. Pay attention to that.

Also, choosing a major or specialization based on what you think will be more marketable rather than what matches your interests, professional goals, and ultimately make you happiest can be a dangerous thing. Think of it this way: If you are unhappy in your classes and start to do poorly, would it have been worth it because you thought it was more marketable?

However, one important thing to keep in mind when it comes to business is that your experience is typically more important than your focus area in college. So you may be better served by seeking out leadership positions, volunteer opportunities, or internships in international, small, and IT business. Not only will this experience help you clarify which focus is the best fit for you, it will help you be more qualified for positions after graduation 

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Will I get into a competitive major?

A reader writes:

"I go to a large state university and admissions into the business department is really competitive. The average cumulative GPA of admitted students is a 3.60 and the pre-req GPA of admitted students is a 3.71.

I tried pre-engineering my first quarter in college and I could not do it -- ended with a 2.60. Now, I took pre-business classes and ended up with a 3.79 winter quarter GPA bumping my GPA from 2.60 to a 3.23. My pre-req GPA is a 3.70. Will the business department take into account that I am a first generation college student that was still adjusting during his first quarter? Should I be worried about getting admitted given my GPA got destroyed by the chem and calc classes I took first quarter?"

First off, congratulations on raising you GPA from a 2.60 to a 3.23. I know that can take some hard work and perseverance, so you deserve some recognition on your academic achievement.

Now, back to your question. Generally speaking, when you are trying to change majors, a department will put more emphasis on your grades from the required prerequisites than your overall GPA. Departments also like to see improvement, which you have covered. But every department is different, so there is no guarantee either way.

Because you described the major as really competitive, your best source of information is going to be from the business department at your college. As a first generation college student, this is your opportunity to advocate for yourself. If you haven't already, go talk to a major advisor in the business department and get his or her perspective on your situation. Ask who the faculty advisor is and go talk to that person as well. Find out who ultimately makes the decision and go talk to that person.

Think of these meetings as your chance to tell your story, including that you are a first generation college student. Don't make excuses for your performance in chemistry and calculus, but do talk about how your adjustment to college was rocky and influenced your GPA.

Do explain that now that you've found business that your GPA has increased dramatically. Make sure you convey your interest in business and how your GPA for the business prerequisites is a much better indicator of your potential success as a business major than your overall GPA.

Another option is to consider waiting another quarter before changing your major, if you are not on a required time line to change your major. Assuming your grades in business classes will still be strong, waiting just another quarter can raise both your business prerequisite GPA and overall GPA. Simply waiting might improve your chances.

No matter what, in examining your application to transfer into the major, the business department will not take into account that you are a first generation college student unless you let them know about it. Good luck!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The difference between a B.A. and a B.S.

When it comes to choosing your major, or even a specialty area within a major, one question that comes up often is "What is the difference between a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree?"

This is a top question for first generation college students because there's no one in your family to answer the question for you. In general, a lot of college students wonder about this, too. So, what is the difference?

Generally speaking, a B.A. is a liberal arts degree, which is supposed to be more of a broad degree to make you a well-rounded student with some expertise in one area. A lot of the time, this usually requires significant general coursework outside of your major, study of a foreign language, and a lot of classes in the "arts." Here, the "arts"  an mean academic areas such as social science, humanities, music, or fine arts. Think lots of discussion, reading, and paper-writing.

In contrast, a B.S. tends to be geared toward a strong science foundation with specific knowledge in a scientific discipline. This usually means most of your coursework will be science classes in academic areas such as life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, or math. Think lots of analysis, lab work, and hands-on activities.

These are the two most basic Bachelor's degrees out there, However, in addition to the B.A. and B.S. degrees, you might also see these:

• B.F.A. - Bachelor of Fine Arts
• B.S.N. - Bachelor of Science Nursing
• B.S.B.A. - Bachelor of Science Business Administration
• B.Ed. - Bachelor of Education
• B.Eng. or B.E. - Bachelor of Engineering
• B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music

And there are other types of Bachelor's degrees out there. Basically, beyond the B.A. and B.S., another type of Bachelor's degree is going to be based on the specific area of study.

Also, some schools will offer the same major under more than one type of degree. For example, students at my alma mater can be a math major and earn either a B.A. or B.S. Typically a student who wanted to teach K-12 math would work toward a B.A. and a student who wanted to be a mathematician or college math professor would be earning a B.S.

Any way you cut it, the Bachelor's degree is what you will be spending four years working toward.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Torn between ART and SCIENCE. Can I do both?

I would really love to be answering questions from readers, but those have been few and far between... so I decided to address a question from a forum that I participate on. A forum poster writes:

I won't go into a lengthy explanation. I have a passion for the arts as well as a passion for knowledge and science. I am an undeclared major and am trying to decide which to devote my life to

I have contemplated double majoring, but it seems like I'd be spreading myself too thin in completely opposite fields. I'd rather be able to focus all of my energy on one and be the best at it. Its really hard, because it seems like the more logical choice would be to go with science and do art as a hobby...but I can't really live with that. Every time I meet an art major I get super jealous of what they get to do. But at the same time I would feel inadequate academically as an art major. Its really confusing.

So is there any one else struggling with this kind of decision? How do you know which path you're supposed to take? Is there a realistic way I could do BOTH?

For science I'm considering majoring in biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, psychology (not a B.S. but still science-y enough) or even physics. I don't know if any of those can go well with art. Help?

Trying to figure out your major can be a difficult choice, especially if you are torn between very different areas of study. In this particular case, there are a couple of issues going on.

First, don't think that choosing a major means you have to decide what to devote your life to. Yes, your major should be something that you are deeply interested in, but it does not have to define the rest of your life. Give yourself a break and don't feel pressured to figure out everything right now. Take your time, it's okay.

Also, don't assume that you would be spreading yourself too thin by double majoring (especially if your science major is not a BS). You might want to try starting off on the double majoring path, taking classes in both areas, to see how they balance and which ones you like more. You will make a much better decision this way than before you have even taken the classes. This plan might also be helpful if you are considering minoring in one area instead of double majoring.

Last, try making an appointment with the career center at your school. Career counseling tools such as an interest inventory (like the Strong Interest Inventory), personality assessment (like the Myers Briggs), values assessment, or skills assessment can help you find the direction that you are looking for. These tools can help you figure out your major and plans for after college and career planning.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

3 steps to find a specialty area within your major

In the comments of yesterday's post about choosing a major, a reader writes:

I already have a major, life science, but I have to pick a emphasis like ecology or physiology. I don't know how to pick my emphasis tho. What do you think? 

As first generation and low income college students, s=choosing an emphasis, specialty, track, plan, or whatever it is called at your school can be more difficult than picking a major itself. So how do you go about it?

1. Introduce yourself. Take a few of your required intro classes and pay attention to the specific areas being covered. For example, if you take an "Introduction to Life Sciences" class, you will probably be introduced to various areas such as biology, genetics, or zoology. If one of those areas sparks your interest, take a class focusing on that area to get a better idea about it.

2. Leave your happy place behind. Think about what you don't want to do and what you're not good at specific to your major.If you're a big picture thinker,

3. Talk to the experts. Visit the office hours of a couple of professors in your major to ask them about their specialty area. Professors love to talk about their favorite aspects of their field and they can help point you in the right direction to choose your emphasis.

Taking these 3 steps can help you find your specialty area within your major. Happy hunting!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

5 tips for choosing a major

Whenever you meet someone new in college, "What's your major?" is one of the first questions you will be asked. This happens because your major will be your academic focus area and part of your identity as a first generation and low income college student... and people are just plain curious about it.

Photo credit: www.studentscholarships.org

If you aren't sure what your major should be or are thinking about changing it, you're not alone. The average college student changes majors around 5 times, whether officially or just in their mind. Here are 5 tips if you are considering exploring majors:

1. Think ahead. Think about what kind of career(s) you are interested in and find out what kinds of majors help prepare you for that career(s). Some jobs don’t require a specific major and others do, so this might be a factor in what major you choose. If you're not sure what career(s) peak your interest, visit your campus' career center.

2. Read all about it. Check out the general catalog for your school to find out what different majors require and read the course descriptions for the required classes. If the majority of required classes sound interesting, it may be the major for you.

3. Shop around. Take classes that sound interesting to you, but make sure that you talk to an on-campus advisor first so that you are in an appropriate class.

4. Put a smile on your face. Think about what makes you happy and what you're good at. These might be good cues as to what a good match for you is.

5. Do some research. Double check with an advisor at your campus about the rules, procedures, and restrictions of declaring or changing your major.

After you've taken these steps, you may have found the right major when you can answer the question “Why is that your major?” without the answer involving making boatloads of money, other people’s expectations, or plain ol’ “I don’t know."

Got more specific needs? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.