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Current college fad: racking up double, triple, and even quadruple majors in order to impress future employers. This strategy is wrought with irony because, in effect, someone who has a triple major screams, “Don’t hire me. I’ll be a management disaster!"
My advice to all you triple majors is to dump the excessive course load and get a life. If you want to impress employers, use college as a time to demonstrate creativity, curiosity, quick learning and good social skills. Here’s why:
A triple major exhibits no creativity. The most creative act is to choose a path for your life. College is an early opportunity to decide what you want to do with yourself, one course at a time. Cramming your schedule full of required courses for two or three majors is a rejection of creativity; in effect, you allow someone else to dictate your path for four years. Business visionaries set paths to goals that other people could never have thought of. Practice being a visionary in college by choosing a path no one else could choose.
A triple major is not for the intellectually curious. If you love learning then you will take whatever classes you want and you don’t worry if they add up to another major. People who need their courses to add up to another major are people who are conditioned to learn only for an external reward. Employers need people who will be curious even after the grading system is over. In college learn for learning’s sake, not for the department head’s approval.
A triple major is for the timid. A broad education teaches you to learn diverse topics quickly. Practice learning something totally new by taking courses in each of the departments in your college rather than cowering in the safety of topics you’re majoring in. Business requires a wide breadth of knowledge — writing, finance, technology, psychology, sociology. You can’t learn every idea in school, but you can learn to pick up new ideas quickly.
Once you’re committed to choosing just one major, stay away from business. In college you need to learn how to think broadly and critically. How you think is much more important than if you know how to map a brand strategy. You have your whole life to study business; college is your time for Shakespeare, Schopenhauer, and science experiments. In this new era of downtrodden, low-key CEOs, one CEO stands out for her star power: Carly Fiorina. And guess what her major was? English.
Finally, take some blow-off courses. You need time to develop social skills, because when it comes to business they cannot be stressed enough. Go to parties and make conversation with someone you didn’t think you liked. Figure out how to like something about that person, because that’s an important part of management– figuring out how to like even the most unlikable people. And stop by your professor’s office hours. Don’t have something to say? Make something up. Because that’s what life will be like with your boss. Face time will be everything and you’ll have to be savvy and strategic about how to get yourself in front of him and make him enjoy talking to you.
Learn how to make people like you. The smartest are not promoted. The most likeable are promoted. Dump the extra majors and use college as a time to learn about yourself. The more you understand yourself the better you will be able to relate to other people. That’s what will really help you to succeed in business.
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Can't say I agree. For example, if you're someone like myself who is interested in international human rights & bioethics, it makes quite a bit of sense to triple major in International Relations, Political Science and Philosophy. "A triple major is not for the intellectually curious." ? What kind of generalization is that ? I hope no one pays you for your services.
Posted by Jake on 10/19/2006 at 01:42am | permalink | Reply to this comment
I agree with this comment wholeheartedly. I'm currently pursuing two majors with a minor, and I feel like, more than anything, it's allowed me to be more creative and hands-on with my education. On top of that, the whole situation boils down to me being entirely too intellectually curious in the first place.
Posted by Cecelia on 02/08/2009 at 03:56am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Carly Fiorina herself double majored in medieval history and philosophy.
Posted by Trevor on 11/22/2006 at 05:11am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Some people triple major because one subject is related to the other. I attend 2 online schools (some courses have nothing to do with each other) and go to an on-ground school. I don't double, (or triple) major because I don't know what I want to do with my life. I do it because I know EXACTLY what i want to do. I'm not trying to get HIRED by some company. I'm starting my own. That's why I triple major.
Posted by Evita on 01/19/2007 at 03:39am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Although it is true that some employers are relunctant from hiring students with triple or quadruple majors, there is still a handfull of companies that would kill to have someone master three different disciplines related to their project. Furthermore, a lot of your claims sound like a blatant attack to people with triple majors. Do you have something against them? Your rational behind the claim that triple majors are for the timid is weakly supported by your own generalizations and fallacious reasoning.
I am going to have to agree with Jake here and hope you don't get paid for your services.
Posted by Rei Vilo on 02/16/2007 at 03:14pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
All your arguements are severely weak and generally nonsensical. I am a tripple major: English, Philosophy, Psychology. I, as well, am going to major in History and Art History–this is generally easy to do when all one's interests are within the college of Letters, Arts, and S.Sc. Majoring this way is something I have never regretted. Sure, there are social losses, but if you smoke a lot fo pot and are naturally more introverted–well, you can muster on through it. Not only have I been exposed to many very interesting fields–in a structured way that ensures I am getting a fully overview of the disciple–but I feel that I have sufficiently justified the huge waste of time and money that is college. So, what I'm saying then is that: You Are Wrong!
Posted by Cody on 02/17/2007 at 02:06am | permalink | Reply to this comment
I'm not a triple major but I also think your arguments are weak at best. Your article appears to be more of a bashing of triple majors than a clear reasoning for future students shouldn't do it. You label yourself a "careerist"- perhaps you are jealous of the potential advantage triple majors have in securing competitive careers? I don't reall know.
Learn to write with an objective viewpoint or nobody will give your opinions much merit.
* * * * * *
Hi. This is not obejective writing. All the posts are my opinions.
-Penelope
Posted by jackAttack on 02/21/2007 at 01:03pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I am triple majoring in sociology/anthropology/philosophy. I have decided to do this because I want to write books about metaphysics and there is not a degree offered in that area of research and it is hard to be considered credible. I hope that these areas of study will not only add to my credibility, but will challenge my ideas and raise my own standards so that I may truly be an inspired writer. Before I made this decision I wrote and produced my own original musicals, something that takes a lot of creativity. How dose your rant apply to me?
* * * * * *
Hi, Helene. I applaud your interest in writing a book. I wish you a lot of success.
However the way my rant applies to you is that a book agent doesn't care what your undergraduate major was when you are trying to get a book deal. It's totally irrelevant. An undergraduate major gives you scant credentials in that field in the real world. I'm sure you do not need to be a triple major in order to have high standards and be inspired. This comes from inside. People have this with one major. This is a great example of misguided reasons to triple major.
–Penelope
Posted by Girly24 on 02/22/2007 at 05:09pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I don't just want to write a book, I want to communicate my ideas with as many people as possible and though I am sure I will have to answer to agents and publishers, I am more interested in what the people who read me think and what I think. I am planning on attending graduate school. I think it's funny that you assumed I was not.
I think that anyone who wants to study hard and acquire degrees in more than one area should get advice from someone they trust who knows them and not from a columnist who thinks they have all the answers.
Posted by Girly24 on 02/24/2007 at 03:18pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I think that in some cases you might be correct. Too often people are just looking for that extra line on their resume by getting multiple degrees in a related field. However, I am in my third year of college and have decided to go forward with a triple major. It will only require one extra year of study and I feel that it will better prepare me for the field of international business. My degrees of choice are Economics, French and Spanish. While I think that in some cases you do point to some real issues that come to mind with people who triple major, you neglect the possible benefits for a number of people by making such a broad statement. Nonetheless, this is an interesting post.
* * * * * * *
This is another good example of someone who should not be doing a triple major.
An undergraduate degree in economics prepares you for very little in business. For examle, if you want to go into investment banking, all you need to do is pass the tests to get an internship, you don't even need the economics major, per se. And we could all go on and on forever about the people who are successful in business with no background whatsoever in economics.
So, for the sake of argument, I will assume this person is staying in school for French or Spanish. Hot tip: If you need a language for business, go to Berlitz for three months. This is what executives do. It's a much more effective way to learn to speak a language than going to college. College teaches you about the literature around the language, about the history of the language, etc. All intresting stuff, but not necessary for doing well in the workforce.
That this person is staying another full year in college in order to triple major is amazing to me. This does not strike me as the best use of time or money.
For those of you who are thinking, "But what about the love of learning? What if this person just wants to stay in school to learn?"
Here's my answer: Let's put aside, for a minute, the problem that staying in school like this is a way to avoid the transition to adult life. Instead, think about the love of learning part. Undergraduate life teaches you ways of thinking. It does not teach you to be an expert in anything. So to do extra years learning to think when you have already had four is redundant. If you want to learn something new, become an expert in something by going to grad school.
Not that I think a Ph.d is a financially sound idea, but if you don't need to earn money, and you don't want to stop going to school, it's better than doing extra years as an undergrad.
Penelope
Posted by B on 03/03/2007 at 04:10pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
A lot of triple majors are relevant, and useful. I'm going to triple in political science, history, and religious studies. I'll still be able to graduate in 4 years because i'm staying under the max courseload. With that, it'd be foolish of me not to if I can.
Posted by Zach on 04/11/2007 at 10:35pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I have BA and a MA bussiness, Accounting and Finance, as well as take many post graduate classes, It had very helpful to me
Posted by Stacy on 04/17/2007 at 11:20pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
while growing up and in college is also learned to play harp and violin, and Irish dancing. I hope no one foolish enough to pay for your advice.
Posted by stacy on 04/18/2007 at 12:34pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I'm double majoring in art and computer science. I know exactly where I want to work (a specific computer animation company in Hollywood) and to do a good job there, both of which will be very helpful. I was also advised to take all the math classes I could and so, I'm taking all the math classes I can. This has led me to consider a math major as well, and since I'm going to be taking the classes anyway, why not get that extra degree (it won't have any other core req. since it's the same college). As for the love of learning you cite, I know that with some universities, you aren't allowed to take the really fun classes unless you are that major. So with art, I decided that the only way I was going to get to take the art classes that I needed and wanted, I would have to deal with a few semesters of spanish. As for a social life, I took 19 credits last semester, my second semester in college, and I did fine. I had more of a social life than I did my first semester, with 12 credits. I realize that your arguments apply mostly to people who want to go into the managerial/business aspect instead of the creative side of things, but you still should not discount triple and double majors like that.
Posted by Sarah on 05/13/2007 at 03:44am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Your obviously very materalistic if you view it that way. I would just like to learn to learn, because I'm a curious person. So stop discuraging people to learn. And who in the world is someone who triple majors not creative. The more you know the more you can make is the way i see it. Your subconsious will give your creative ideas based on the things that you know. It combines them, rearanges them and gives a diffrent way to do something.
(Yes, and I know it is packed full of spelling and gramatical errors.)
Posted by ........... on 07/17/2007 at 11:19pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I agree that 2+ majors are usually a terribly inefficient use of of time, money and effort, at least in terms of career. No job description ever written has a double major as a requirement. Don't they still have things called "minors"? I graduated in three years with a major in math/computer science and a minor in music. The former was work, the latter was the time of my life. Stay another year, or even a semester, to get a music major instead? Utterly pointless. Need to be a major to get into a couple classes? Declare the major, take the classes, then drop the major. Five minutes total of paperwork.
Posted by Jim on 07/26/2007 at 09:21pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I am proud graduate of Rice University having quadruple majored in Biology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Business, and Chemistry. After that I went to the MD/Ph.D program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Don't crush the dreams of many aspiring students who just want to learn more. Anybody can do it.
I graduated on time and hold a BS in Biology, BSBch in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, a BBA in Business, and BS in Chemistry as well as a Medical Doctor and a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Posted by Marcus on 08/02/2007 at 12:37pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Hi Marcus! This message is for you. I really want to triple major in psychology, engineering and computer science or architecture. However, everyone seems to discourage me. Also, With how things sounded, it seemed like you enjoyed what you did and I plan to do the same thing. Do you have any advice for someone like me who is aspiring to do what I have in mind?
Posted by May on 08/13/2007 at 02:59am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Sorry, Trunk. People who triple major aren't "conditioned to want something for learning." They're conditioned to want something for shelling out $100,000. I love to learn, but I'm not paying $100,000 for one degree when I could get three.
Posted by Alex K on 08/22/2007 at 03:04am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Hello Penelope, you have a beautiful smile. I am a quadruple major in quantitative fields: Com Science, Physics, Math and Econ.
In addition to that, I am the President of Toastmasters Club(Public-Speaking Club) and Vice President of Student Association. I run 2 business ventures as well.
I dont think I would be a management disaster. I think that your post is offensive to many people. Instead of making them agree with you,you actually offend them.
Posted by ahm on 08/25/2007 at 03:48pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I have to say that your arguements a very unconvincing. I graduated with a triple major so my opinion may be slightly bias, but I think its very clear that yours are very bias. I applaud you for starting controversy because your article would undoubtedly recieve no attention without it, but before you give advice urging students to lower their goals and take "blow-off courses"; try to keep in mind that you can't "blow-off" the college loan you took out for those wasted classes.
Obviously I do agree that college is an important time to strengthen the interpersonal skills you'll need when you graduate, but throughout your career you will have to balance your social life while still managing to accomplish your own goals. In attempting a triple major someone is not choosing to pass on their social developement, but rather choosing to put extra effort into balancing it. Persuing a triple major is not easy. Having said that I think its fair to assume that their has to be sincere interest in all three subjects for you to successfully complete it.
I recieved a triple major in Communication, Media Study and Psychology. I started as a Double major in Communication and Media study. In my second to last semester my advisor informed me that I was only a couple classes from completing a Psychology major, so I simply added them to my last semester. And yes, my last semester was tough, but I made plenty of time for my friends and in the end; I think my senior year was my most successful and enjoyable.
Posted by Rob S on 09/17/2007 at 09:45am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Not only are your arguements weak, but it is clear from your use of intolerant and insulting language that you feel insecure about your own intelligence and feel intimidated by people who ARE creative and intelligent enough to have three majors. I myself am working towards a triple major in English, Psychology, and Anthropology. I am working on specific concentrations in all three majors (creative writing, clinical psychology and cultural anthropology) and intend to one day earn at least one MA and go to graduate school. I am extremely curious creative and intelligent and in addition I am also independent and ambitious. I desperately love all three subject matters and I feel that through this program of study I will be enriched as a person. My focus is self fulfilment, not impressing employers, and I feel sorry for anyone who wastes their precious education on something as meaningless as impressing others.
I hope that whatever students who happen upon this page and read your idiotic attack on people more original and intelligent than yourself have the good sense to scroll down and see what real people without convoluted agendas have to say about this so called "advice".
Posted by Michaela Spangenburg on 09/19/2007 at 11:29pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Everyone hates this nag, especially college students, but seriously: Learn how to spell. Yes, in the real world it really does matter. Each error lowers your credibility in the eye of the reader. Fair or not, it's true.
To the point, Penelope's rant is needlessly provocative, and her specific assertions are questionable at best. But her fundamental point is valid. Triple majors do not help you in the job market. The dissenters make the oblique argument that college isn't about getting a job. But unless your family is independently wealthy, it had better be.
Posted by Craig on 09/22/2007 at 07:18am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Ive never seen a school that would let a person triple major…but if you do have excess hours to burn, why not?
we live in a information-knowledge based culture/society…
Posted by jojo on 11/05/2007 at 01:21am | permalink | Reply to this comment
wow i have to agree with like 99% of your comments. not every one has to focus on one major, im working on law, fashion design, AND music thses are things that i love and cannot live without. and guess what? im NOT timid or uncreative. these are not the only things that i exccel in. i can sculpt, paint, cook, decorate cakes, design webpages, i both write music and play the cello, piano, bass guitar, and drums, and racked up alot of sience credits.
im not trying to say that you opinion is completely wrong there are people who just talk alot of classes so they can look good yet enjoy none of thier college life. a majority of your readers seem to agree that you points are weak and cannt be backed up. however that is just your opinnion and they cant judge you by what you bealive to be true.
Posted by loly-rox on 11/12/2007 at 07:34pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Brilliant post, Penelope.
I'm in my final year of a joint degree in Anthropology / International Relations. But, because I'm in the UK, this is only going to take me three years, and – although the structure of my degree means that I get the opportunity to study two subjects in my final year – it does mean that I'll have sacrificed the opportunity to take free modules in the last two years.
If I was in the US, I'd definitely have pursued a single major, supplemented with a bunch of courses that interested me on the basis of their own merit.
At the end of the day, I think the other commenters (is that even a word?) are missing the point that, at the end of the day, disciplinary boundaries aren't 'real'. As long as you can find a way of justifying it, you can find a way to study Shakespeare through the lens of History, Creative Writing, or Film. Mafia activities? Political Economy, Russian, or Criminology. The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis? Economics, Journalism, or Anthropology. And so on.
It's hard to snap yourself out of the success/faliure worldview of High School, but – when it comes to college – it's about choices, and opportunity cost. And the only person you have to answer to is yourself (and your parents, if you want to follow Ryan's advice and move home after graduation!).
Posted by Justin on 12/26/2007 at 01:00pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Craig said it the best. And yea, triple majors are crazy, and no, i'm not considering a triple major anymore. Maybe a minor. And besides all this, not every school is expensive. I'm lucky enough that I go to a cheap (not very prestigious) school and my parents have saved up for my education. Two extra classes for another major aren't exactly going to set me back. Consider them my 'blow-off courses'.
And by the way, I'm not sure Carly is a very good example of a wonderful CEO.
Posted by Sarah on 12/27/2007 at 07:00pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I just want more degrees than my classmates at graduation just for the sake of doing more. Plus, school isn't really hard at the undergrad level, so I'd pretty much be a lazy asshole if I didn't grab as many degrees as I could while I'm here.
Posted by mr. t on 01/01/2008 at 05:09am | permalink | Reply to this comment
depends if you want a job in the civil service a ppe is one well troden route
Posted by Neuromancer on 01/03/2008 at 05:49pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I am an undergrad in Florida State who will soon be transferring to the University of Florida. I am only in my second semester of my first year but am qualified as a junior according to my hours. I also participate in a panel that leads local and statewide events for Invisible Children. I help sponsor and mentor a NASA based high school international space settlement design competition stationed in Houston, TX with participating teams from Romania, India, Australia, Uruguay and Canada. I play trumpet and guitar. Soon I'll be joining the marching band at UF and plan on starting my own space settlement design club. I've had a girlfriend for 2 and a half years, and am a level 45 Brigadier in Halo3 (meaning I play lots of video games). On top of this I graduated 10th in my high school class as VP of an engineering society, Treasurer of National Honor Society and member of Latin and Spanish Honors society. I know 2 languages and can pick up languages quickly. What I'm getting at is that I am on a course for quadruple majors in Physics, Astronomy, Mechanical and Aerospace engineering (with minors in Math and Chem)…I do this because I want to learn more, and specialize myself in many fields. You think that's dumb? 4 personally known NASA rocket scientists/researchers confirmed with me that the more I know of those fields, the better. If my future employer tells me they love to see those things, I think it's a good idea. Also, and lastly, your claims are horrible. Your argument is weak, and you overgeneralize. I intend on taking those 4 majors and cutting them down into 2 Masters in Aerospace/Mechanical engineering and astrophysics. I'll write back to you once I'm directing the research facilities at AMES Research Center. It's good to have high ambitions…the harder you work the better the payoff.
Posted by Alan on 01/14/2008 at 06:21pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
sociology, economics and psychology at the university of delaware. i'm doing that because i have an incredible interest in all three of them. plus, there is certainly a few overlaps here and there. socioeconomics is one of my career options, among many other fields. people attempt more than one major to have as many options as possible. life is about options. think about that next time before you write another article that makes little sense.
Posted by Matt on 01/29/2008 at 02:42am | permalink | Reply to this comment
I can see Penelope's arguments being valid in some cases – such as business degrees – but many of the science fields require that you have quite a bit of knowledge of other science disciplines. Someone who just says, "I'm going to be a biology major, take a bunch of blow off courses, and mainly focus on one major so i can impress employers" is often going to have a harder in that field than someone who majors in business and wants to get out into the field.
Take biology for example – this field often requires that the individual has some knowledge of physics, chemistry, etc. Most science students aspire to going into research and medicine, which requires a vast knowledge of science related topics. I feel for the most part, your whole post mainly pertains to those going into the business field – I mean, references to management problems, etc – while there is significant oversight for scientific ventures, most people going in those fields NEED a lot of education. Last thing anyone wants is someone working on a cure for aids or cancer who just got 1 degree and took a bunch of blow off courses.
Creativity is important, but I feel for certain fields, you need a base that your creativity can spring from. I mean, how many people have heard of the person who only had a high school education and started some successful business? I'm sure there are plenty of stories out there – but on the other side of the coin, how many people have heard of the person who just took blow off courses and focused on getting out of school and trying to impress employers, within the science field – going into research and becoming doctors? Would you want this kind of doctor operating on you?
Posted by Johnson on 02/03/2008 at 05:33pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
All I can say is wow. New Zealand's Universities sure operate a lot differently to colleges, it seems. Im currently in my third year of a Linguistics and Philosophy double major, and I was looking to get advice on taking a triple major. They are seriously almost unheard of here in New Zealand. I have only a few ideas as to why.
Firstly, I hear you can take multiple majors in a field and have them crosscredit eachother. This is not possible, at least at my University (Otago). As it stands, my double major requires a heck of a lot of extra work to gain, and adding a third major is just going to be an insane amount of work.
Secondly, although related, some people have suggested reducing majors to minors and have them crosscredit eachother. Again, this isnt possible here. It's actually quite stupid, really. It is not actually possible in a single undergrad degree to take Linguistics as a major, and TESOL as a minor, due to this "no crosscreditting of papers across majors and/or minors" rule. Its a real shame, and quite possibly a flawed system in some people's eyes, but my main reason for ranting about this is to say that at least here, a triple major is considered prestigious. Theres simply no question about it. Taking three majors is a hell of a lot of work, and graduates of triple majors (of which I know of -very- few) are absolutely praised for their hard work.
I see some people talk of taking Quadruple majors. Wow, kudos to you all :) Thats an insane amount of effort you are putting into that degree, and I hope it takes you where you deserve to go – far. :)
Anyway, just giving you an idea of my views on people who triple major. Im very very tempted to take up Japanese as a major, shift my linguistics major to a language and linguistics major, and keep my philosophy major. Its going to be tough; but itll be worth it :)
/rant :)
Posted by Jaysen on 02/13/2008 at 06:02am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Jaysen, I'm doing some research with a professor who taught at Otago for a couple of years and has a research project that's half there, half here. I'm very interested in possibly going over there for a summer (your winter) to work on it. Here's my email, I'd love to get in touch with someone who lives and goes to school there. If you ever see this comment, that is.
Thanks!
Sarah
cranberrytuna (at) hotmail (dot) com
Posted by Sarah on 02/19/2008 at 04:27pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
triple majors perhaps obsessive, however from a good school (as in top 100 universities), double majors with minors or even triple majors get the big jobs in business. Even more double / triple major with good extra circulars blow any single major out of the water.
your argument like stated above is weak at best, and you were probably one of the kids who was undecided until their junior year, spending all your parents money because you could not decide what you wanted in live. so leave these ambitious kids alone and stick to your day job
Posted by John on 05/01/2008 at 05:31pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I am not quite sure how you can say that a triple major is not a good idea if it what you want to do. I am triple majoring (in 4 years) in Math/Econ/Statistics, and I feel as though my degrees complement each other very well and provide more tha adequate preparation to go into the business world. Certainly moreso than a humanities degree, which is an area I find more enjoyable to learn about. Is there really a high demand in the business for someone who knows about the Roman Empire? I highly doubt it. Furthermore, my majors will allow me to take some grad classes in Econ, which would be undoable without a fair amount of quantitative skills. It also seems as though you are missing the point that someone who triple majors is quite motivated and able to see difficult challenges through. Instead you are saying those that do extraordinary things are really no different in the eyes of a possible employer than those who do ordinary things. I also have participated in research in all three areas so that kind of ruins the intellectually curious argument. Undergrad work is not really "deep," the truly curious would explore graduate work not a handful of undergrad classes.
Posted by Joseph on 05/10/2008 at 12:00pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I don't agree at all. My majors overlapped and I was interested in all the courses I took. In fact, I only realized I was a triple major after looking at an application at school which told me I qualified for three majors if I took two specific classes. Sure, I could have taken something cooler than those two classes, but I'm still doing that. What if we're not just interested in one major. Get a life?! Anti-intellectualism at its worst.
Posted by Harumph on 05/21/2008 at 08:58am | permalink | Reply to this comment
In college, you learn for learning's sake, sure–but you're also PAYING for the degree, essentially. In many disciplines, there are a multitude of other, less expensive ways to get the education and training necessary than enrolling in an undergraduate program. Going to a less prestigious college, for instance, doesn't necessarily mean you'll have less fewer resources and a lower quality of education, but the difference in tuition prices can be phenomenal. Is it for learning's sake when you put down tens of thousands of extra dollars to go to a good-name school with a strong alumni association? Some students may find it sensible to make the most of their time there–they're on a time line and a budget. A lot of students struggle enormously to pay tuition fees–why major in one discipline if they're torn between two or three? Or, in some cases, a student's career goals may benefit from certification in different majors.
More importantly, being an undergraduate college student, for many people, is about discovering your interests and shaping your view of the world. Not all college students know exactly what they want to do at 18, 19, 20, 21, but they want to get the most out of the time they spend there by making an educated prediction of what would be most beneficial to them. If someone wants to explore many entirely dissimilar fields and are ambitious enough to be invested in them all, who the hell are you to say they lack CURIOSITY, of all things you could accuse them of? If someone is going to invest the extra work, who are you to say they're timid? Why do you give a damn, anyway–did you not have the capacity to complete a triple major? I don't see what the motivation or benefit of this article would be, for anyone.
You are one overpaid sucker.
Posted by Anna on 06/19/2008 at 11:04pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
And get your damn facts straight about Carly Fiorna. Like Trevor said, she was a double major herself. So much for supporting your point.
Posted by Anna on 06/19/2008 at 11:07pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I am a triple-major in philosophy, history and political science, and find your reasoning to be completely fallacious, unwarranted, and void of reason all together. You make broad generalizations about the motivations of individuals who triple-major, and your intolerance towards majoring in extra fields of study shows, if anything your "timidity and lack of intellectual curiosity", the supposed message against the triple-majors.
An extra major is an extra opportunity. When I'm done with undergraduate school, I will have the option of studying law or going to grad. school as a means to get a PhD (in any of the fields I enjoy, for that matter)and become a professor. But I suppose I'm timid and lack intellectual curiosity, eh?
I have studied Schopenhauer, (the world as will and representation, Wisdom of Life, etc) and to compare the message of Schopenhauer to what you are saying is hilarious. Perhaps YOU should read Schopenhauer instead of skim to the letter S in the dictionary and pick out three things that you felt would be intellectually poignant? (science, Shakespeare, Schopenhauer)
Posted by Jeremy on 06/21/2008 at 12:28pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Your arguments are weak.
Firstly, it is not a fad where I come from. I never heard of a triple major before deciding to do one, and conjured the notion up as a result of profound interest in all three disciplines.
Therefore I'm a living and breathing example of how you state that triple majors are not creative–I'm creative enough to pursue something that I never heard of!
Triple major is not for the intellectually curious? Give me a break. The very idea of a triple major is inherintly creative. This creativity extends to the fact that triple major students demonstrate how to get the best out of their money and time while learning broadly: that is to say, recieving extra credentials (a godsend for graduate school) while studying broadly–not just taking tiny bits and forgetting. In this way…triple majors ARE entrepreneurs!
Triple major is for the timid? You make no argument in this paragraph, so I see that you needed to express something derogatory to compensate for your intellectual insecurities.
Penelope, you're encouraging a new generation blockheaded, low-budget lawyer-like car salesmen, instead of intelligent individuals who know how to manage their time well and pursue their dreams (thank goodness your blog isn't that popular, hence I use the term 'encouraging a new generation' extremely lightly).
Posted by Rapid on 07/08/2008 at 09:24am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Dear Penelope,
I will be pursuing a quadruple major but my desire certainly does not stem from any sort of deficit in curiosity. Rather, if I do a single major, I would only be alowed to take seven extra classes. Whereas if I follow the path that I am on I can take….well, forty extra classes. After that I am off to law school. I don't care about business, and am not particular interested in making large amounts of money in an ever more competitive job market. I am a writer and I plan to work with human rights. Likely at the Hague. So keep your intellectually shallow rants to yourselves. Some people are motivated by an intense desire simply to know. I never once thought of how it would look to future employers until I found your blog.
Posted by John on 08/15/2008 at 03:11pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Anyone who did a triple major or triple degree as well as quadruple or quintuple degree or quadruple or quintuple degree please write again and mention in detail the university and the dept and website and contact name who allowed this since many students may be interested and only some advisors and some majors and some depts and some universities allow it and some college tuition structures allow it. If this is what someone really wants then they need to go to the schools that not only allow it but will have the necessary tuition, curriculum and other program structures to encourage and allow multiple majors and degrees beyond double degrees.
To the author your advice is 100% garbage and people should do the opposite of what you said in the article and book. How many college advisors signed a legal document confirming they agree with you?
Email – opaqueinternet@aol.com
Posted by inquiring student on 08/21/2008 at 11:01pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I completely agree with this article. It's ironic that the comments posted trying to contradict the article actually help make it's point.
Good luck in the real world guys..
Posted by Tania on 08/24/2008 at 10:33am | permalink | Reply to this comment
I agree with this article as well. Maybe I was spoiled by a liberal arts school but I knew from the outset that I was going to school to refine my analytical and thinking skills. I am a recent college grad who has worked in advertising and PR and now I manage a chocolate company.
I think the point Penelope makes is that yes, you ultimately have to major in something but people learn as much in the classroom as outside of it socializing and engaging in extracurricular activities.
People are too eager to rack up degrees like they are notches on your belt. What's more important to a potential employer is your maturity of judgment and ability to do your job and do it well.
Take this situation for example. An employer is choosing between two job applicants, Bob and Jan for an entry-level position in an advertising firm straight out of college. Bob majored in business, communication and Spanish hoping to give him an edge. Jan, on the other hand, only majored in English but had an advertising internship and great recommendations. The advertising internship is more impressive hands down. In a job market flooded with people with all sorts of degrees, the people who stand above are those with practical experience and people skills.
If you are generally interested in a subject and want to major in it then go for it. But just remember there's more to college than just getting good grades. Time is a scarce resource and you can only do so much. Learning to work with different kinds of people is just as important as the coursework.
For the record, I totally agree that language degrees don't seem to be very useful unless supplemented with immersion (like studying abroad). I have 3 friends with Spanish degrees and none of them are fluent. Unless you get your kicks from writing papers about Chicana literature in Spanish… then more power to you.
Posted by Ali on 10/06/2008 at 06:11pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Your example is horribly biased. Who's to say that Bob wouldn't have good recommendations also? In addition to that, I'm sure many people who do more than one major also do internships and the like. Majoring in more than one thing does not imply, on any level, some sort of allergic-to-the-sun person that sits in some gloomy, cave-like basement pouring over books.
Some people do have the intellectual capability to learn more than one thing at a time and to "have a life."
Posted by Aaron Long on 03/15/2009 at 03:22pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I am quadruple majoring in ecology, biology, chemistry, and physics.
Posted by Jacobb on 10/21/2008 at 04:13pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
College is an investment, and a business. Why would someone not get the full rewards out of an investment if you are going to be there for 4 years anyway. And in terms of expanding one's social life drinking, partying and hanging out with friends can be done while not in college. All you need to do is meet new people, college should not be someone's only shot at making contacts. To discourage people from triple majoring when they enjoy it and willing to do it is ludicrous. You can't tell people it is bad when they are ultimately investing 4 years of there life, it would be stupid to not utilize it to its fullest potential.
Also if the knowledge they gain remotely helps people in their jobs their employers will be able to utilize them more. Being an employer myself I know because companies spend millions on employee development and someone who doesn't need it is more valuable to me.
Posted by craigf on 11/20/2008 at 07:48pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I am a quadruple major from Hawaii (pending a petition to my college) in American Studies, Womens Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Religion.
Posted by nopanicgoorganic on 12/27/2008 at 10:42pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
what a fallacy! Well I hope you yourself are satisfied and convinced with your type of critical thinking and academical analysis! not me :)
A junior student in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Math as well as Computer Science… not for impressing the employers but for what I have so much passion for and what I am going to do in graduate school
Posted by Babak on 01/17/2009 at 03:36am | permalink | Reply to this comment
I think triple majors are fine depending, of course, on the majors. I know a woman who majored in English, Music, and Education and secured a teaching job over other, and by the standards of some people on here, more qualified, candidates. While the other teachers had years of experience, they were looking for both an English and Music teacher at the time, so my friend got the job.
Posted by Maria on 01/17/2009 at 10:05pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Just thought I'd comment again, since the situation educationally has changed a bit. Now in CA it is nearly impossible to go back to school for a second BA or BS at a public school. Literally, most schools are just not even looking at or accepting applications for such with the way the economy is going. I know a fair amount of people who majored in one subject, started a career in it and then realized that they either wanted to do something else or that in this economy they can't make money in the area they had studied in, and are now stuck because they can't go back and get the education for another career. Really unfortunate, but a good reason to double or triple major if you already have the inclination to do so.
Posted by Michaela Spangenburg on 02/02/2009 at 11:00am | permalink | Reply to this comment
I have to say I think this is silly advice. I am planning on triple majoring at my university and, although it isn't for everyone, I want to get the most "bang for my buck." I knew what I wanted to do in college and went for it right off the bat; I've already completed one major and found I have enough time for two more. Why in the world would I decide not to? Why would I opt to squander my parents' money by failing to challenge myself as much as possible? It is a priviledge to go to college. I want to maximize my time, energy, and work so that I get the MOST out of my experience.
I'm a triple major in Classics, Political Science, and Philosophy. Each one teaches something different yet so related it's hard to imagine my undergraduate work without these majors.
Tripe majoring isn't for everyone, but to say it's not "creative" or for the timid seems frightfully unfair. If you are strong enough, organized enough, or just want it badly enough, I say go for it.
Posted by Johanna on 03/02/2009 at 08:34pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I have to say that I really only want to comment because so many people want to defend their triple majors, and I want to point out that I am fowarding this article to a few friends of mine. I am a recent gradauate and only had one major. I spent the time I could have used on a double or triple major actually gaining real work experience in my field. I also was able to graduate in three years and save a ton of money because of this. I have had no trouble finding a job because employers are looking for experience. My friends who spent all their extra time on academics are not finding jobs in thier industry. Rather they are looking for internships and the entry level positions that I held my freshman year of college. Oh and not one employer has even ever cared what major was in college or what my GPA was, they were more interested in my activities outside of school because a major does not qualify a person for anything.
Posted by Elizabeth on 03/24/2009 at 03:19pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Wow. What a statement, Elizabeth.
"A major does not qualify a person for anything"
I guess if you are only getting you BA and not actually going on to graduate school, but even then… your major IS your degree. I'd love to know what kind of business you went into that did not require a specific college degree. Sign me up! Well, on second thought….
The idea you have in your head that a person with more than one major does not actually do internships is HILARIOUS. And one of the reasons a person might want to get more than one BA degree is so that they can get into more than one grad program. That's how you get a multiple doctorate. And if you do your BAs all at once, its actually CHEAPER. Not to mention, most public universities and colleges (i.e. affordable colleges) are not accepting people for 2nd BA's. So, basically, if you have only one major you can't change your mind later on unless you want to get a second BA at a more pricy school.
It sounds to me that you, like Ms. Trunk, have some kind of envy of people who actually aim high. Have fun working whatever job in which they have such low standards they will take ANY undergraduate degree, but some of us wish to aim just a bit higher.
Posted by Michaela Spangenburg on 03/25/2009 at 01:27am | permalink | Reply to this comment
I understand you points of doing it for graduate school, and I understand multiple majors in the sciences. But if you are going into the career field after you graduate and are going into liberal arts then a major does not prepare you for much. I went into public relations with an English degree.(Its with a top New York agency before you go attacking my employer.) I am also just a few months away from going public with my own business as a fashion stylist and consultant.
And I never stated that a person with three majors would not do internships, I was suggesting that I had much more time for these things than my friends who narrowed in on academics. Also just wanted to thank you for filling me in on which universities were cheaper, i.e., I had no idea what a public university was.
Oh and bytheway I have a lucrative career, I am starting my own business, graduated from a public college in three years without taking out a single loan (because I saved up all through high school not because my parents are stashed with wealth), and in my spare time I run marathons. I have absolutely no problem with people who aim high in life nor do I envy them because I am one of those people. Don't be so personally judgmental from a little comment on a blog.
While I am interested in reading the rest of Ms. Trunk's blog, I actually stumbled across it for the first time yesterday in a random internet search. As for my original comment: I found a blog entry that validated my position so I wanted to comment on it. In reality its no different than you finding a blog that invalidates your position and making a comment.
But I am done with justifying myself on my position. This comment is far to long enough as it is.
Posted by Elizabeth on 03/25/2009 at 07:38am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Liz: Thanks for the link this should make for a good discussion. It is cute the way you justified yourself….i'll make fun of you latter of course.
Michelle: Just know that she (liz)is the biggest over achiever ever. It gets really annoying actually. My personal opinion is that if you are going to grad school multiple majors are needed. Are you really looking at getting more than one doctorate? In what field? I just started a dual masters program in public policy and russian literature. I would say that my double major in university def helped out with getting into graduate school.
In general: I think that you can be social and likable even if you are a multiple major person. I was no social outcast throughout college and didn't spend all my weekends in the library studying away. I think the point of this blog was just to get on the nerves of all the pretentious multiple majors out there and get them to leave comments.
Posted by Melanie McIntosh on 03/25/2009 at 08:30am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Well, Elizabeth, frankly I am really glad that you are a person of multiple interests like myself (I dabble a little in fashion design and art along with stuff I do in my majors). Also nice to hear from someone from a working class background who worked hard to get where they are. I wish you had talked about your experiences in your initial comment, because from your initial comment I had no way to distinguish you from people who just like to attack those of us who work our asses off as double/triple majors. At my school, people with one major often just sort of coast through school and spend all their time at frat houses, then sit around and judge those of us who have a little more focus.
Actually, in my spare time I work as a political activist. I spend two or three days a week down in the bay area (which is about 2 hours drive from where I live/go to school) organizing, attending rallies, etc. around issues that concern the community, like equal rights, police brutality, etc. I've started writing articles for a monthly national newspaper and still make time for enjoying myself, socializing, doing art, writing poetry and fiction, etc. I'm doing an internship right now with a literary mag and am about to put out my first chapbook through them, which I'm really excited about. I take classes that allow me to get experience in the field, both for the experience and also for the networking. I also do some independent field work on my own. And I too am not loaded, I actually am very far from it and from a very solidly working class background.
I'm probably going to do my graduate work in cultural resource management, and I am trying to make up my mind whether to go for my doctorate in clinical psych or get my MFT. I might do both.
I just find this blog entry to just be very full of venom. Saying that being a triple major means you are timid, not creative or intellectually curious is just a personal attack, one that I've seen before and usually seems to stem from envy. People seem to rather attack other people's choices than take responsibility for their own, unfortunately.
Posted by Michaela Spangenburg on 03/25/2009 at 02:31pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I have to say that I quite disagree with this article. I see that Triple majoring is not for everyone, but to make a sweeping generalization that people loose creativity?? I completed a triple major (Psychology, Sociology,and Anthropology) and I am proud with what I accomplished. It's not that I did it because I was looking for fame or to impress my boss, I just kinda got lost in the mix of trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to do so, because it has taught me to look at different situations with a different focus. I work for the State of Florida and I don't think just one degree is enough to teach me what I have seen and analyze the situations I have experience with this job. I have always say, "life is a continuous learning process, either driven by institutions or personal experience; when you apply limits to your education, I doubt any creativity can come from it."
Posted by John on 04/02/2009 at 11:40am | permalink | Reply to this comment
In my opinion, this is a very poor article, and I'd like to quickly address some of the main points the author made.
"A triple major exhibits no creativity"
This is incorrect. The amount of creativity needed to piece together two-plus majors or degree programs, while finishing school on time is much greater than following the catalog word-for-word. The author's reasoning is so backwards, it's unreal.
"A triple major is not for the intellectually curious."
Also incorrect. If I want to take on a larger area of study, I'd rather get an extra degree for my work than just a bunch of extra classes listed on a transcript. If you're going to do it, take home the hardware, too. I'm not doing it for the degree, but if the option is there when I'm said and done, yes, I'm going to take it.
"A triple major is for the timid."
Has this author ever been to college? She obviously has no idea how double and triple degree plans work.
This article is based entirely on the author's point of view, which is highly ignorant to the subject matter she's writing about.
To top things off, I wouldn't exactly call this a "fad." I'm the first one at my school who's ever attempted this. I realize this article is 6 years old, but it shows up very high on google when the search term is "triple major," so if someone would like some real, sound advice on this topic, I'd be happy to lend some experience and info.
Austin
w0344990@selu.edu
Southeastern Louisiana University
Triple Degree Program:
BA Psychology
BA Liberal Arts
BGS Natural Science
Posted by Austin on 04/24/2009 at 04:37pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
http://calnewport.com/blog/
Look at Cal Newport's blog for advice on standing out without becoming a grind at college. He gives some similar advice to Penelope, which might make some of yout double-triple majors out there think!
Posted by Wilhelm Scream on 05/10/2009 at 07:52am | permalink | Reply to this comment
This is just as stupid as your, "Grad school limits your ability to get a job," crap. Double or triple majors thrive on diversity and don't just take classes to blow them off. They see that if they take many hours toward English, why not take a few more and get an English degree?
A management disaster? How about a solid work ethic, excellent time management skills, and more bang for the employers buck?!
Obviously you are just anti-education. Seeing higher education as "just a piece of paper" is dangerous and a comment mostly found in the mouths of eighteen year old boys who want to work at McDonald's so they can save up to buy, like, a super bad ass motorcycle!
Posted by Christa on 06/26/2009 at 11:36am | permalink | Reply to this comment
The best plan is to choose something easy and transfer to the Ivy league once your GPA is high enough. Everyone wants to hire a Stanford grad no mater how many damn majors they have
Posted by Kevin on 07/09/2009 at 11:27pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Referring to this as "stupid" or "for the timid" seriously needs to be put in context. Yes, people who (triple) major in Marketing, Finance and/or Business are being silly, but how impressive is it for someone to triple major in Math/Physics/Comp. Sci./Eng. (like me; not being arrogant, just relative), three fields which all lean on each other but in which one major is *not* enough to master all three fields? I'd like to see J.Average Student "rack up" those three degrees.
I also have a slight problem with
allsome of your claims and advice:"This strategy is wrought with irony because, in effect, someone who has a triple major screams, “Don’t hire me. I’ll be a management disaster!""
And whiny, uninformed blog posts about people triple majoring screams "I majored in something flaky, but now manage a startup (or seven) and got a book deal so I'm going to use that leverage to put down anyone who lives differently than I do." Am I being too judgmental? Amazing how generalized, fact-less ranting comes around like a revolving door, isn't it?
"My advice to all you triple majors is to dump the excessive course load and get a life."
My advice is you is to get a Kleenex and wipe that unfounded crap you're spewing to still-developing college students off of your keyboard. Done? Okay.
"A triple major exhibits no creativity"
What is your basis for this? Who is more creative: someone who writes a computer program using what they learning in their single degree, or one who uses what they learned in their computer degree, combined with what they learned as a math major and a graphic design major to create advanced 3D graphics? Sounds to me like making a connection between three linked but still distinct areas of study requires a certain kind of ingenuity and skill. 'round these parts, we like to call that 'creativity.'
"Finally, take some blow-off courses"
Why are you in college? If you reach the point in your education where you just 'need' to relax, reevaluate your education in the first place. Why are you in school? To get a degree? Okay, fair enough, BUT WAIT A MINUTE! (look below)
"People who need their courses to add up to another major are people who are conditioned to learn only for an external reward."
So *why* are you taking "blowoff" courses to finish your major instead of just dropping out? You're obviously bored, frustrated or distracted, so if the 'reward' of a degree doesn't mean anything, then quit. Or does this only apply if you're pursing additional majors? If that's the case, your advice sounds arbitrary and self serving to me.
"Figure out how to like something about that person, because that’s an important part of management– figuring out how to like even the most unlikable people. And stop by your professor’s office hours. Don’t have something to say? Make something up. Because that’s what life will be like with your boss. Face time will be everything and you’ll have to be savvy and strategic about how to get yourself in front of him and make him enjoy talking to you."
Blah blah blah, REAL WORLD SCARY, blah blah blah, OMG, LIEK U HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT PPL 2!!!1111 Thanks for insulting our intelligence. But you had a six-figure book deal. You're the most knowledgeable person alive, and everyone else is a cretin.
"The smartest are not promoted. The most likable are promoted."
I'm sure that's why Google has a life-lovin', free spirited, I-can't-study-because-I'm-eating-ice-cream-and-flirting-with-girls business major, not an engineer, as its CEO. Oh, wait. Any company that wants to be worth anything will put its brightest and most flexible at the top. When it comes to deciding if you should, say, buy out a company or not, cutting a cold, hard deal is not going to be aided by anyone 'learning to relate to other people.' Now, if you're talking about a 'blech' business that's mostly mediocre and bureaucratic, then I agree with you 100%. How many people would even work at a place like that is another question.
In short, your advice is terrible: not just because I disagree with you, but because it is based on unfounded conclusion and rampant, self-righteous ('I'm smarting than all those drones triple majoring' is an opinion prevalent in this piece, whether you intended it to be or not) opinionated speculation. You could be scaring away brilliant, motivated people because you haven't bothered to consider all possible scenarios instead of the one where Bobby Joe enters school studying three Mickey Mouse areas of study. Don't feel bad though, it's not entirely your fault. You have a 'blog', which means only the vigilant will realized the symptoms of 'itchy-mouse-finger-syndrome' and actually *think* before posting an opinion. Although, maybe your Twitter is worse:
I'm wearing a Calvin Klein skirt I got in high school. I love that it fits, and I love my memories of teenage boys searching for the zipper.
Thanks. We care.
Posted by jgg on 07/13/2009 at 09:27pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I have a question: What logic and reasoning is going on in your head exactly? I would genuinely like to know so I can fully understand why everything you have typed in this little article is seemingly the opposite of what I would have assumed. Not that you would read all of this, but let me give you my opposing thoughts on the matter with a counter mini-article. :-)
I am going to skip your premise of many majors screaming "Don't hire me. I'll be a business disaster!" and save it for the end of this. So I'll start with the next big part:
In response to the topic "A triple major exhibits no creativity", I would have to say that your arguements about this are flawed in almost every sentence except maybe the one about choosing a life path is being creative. The whole idea of college is to take your required class loads and maybe some extras if you want it so you can prepare for your major(or more, again, if you feel like it). I don't know how it was back in your day, but now students usually have a schedule full of required classes because there ARE required classes and because getting those required classes out of the way first is better so you can concentrate on the more "creative" and interesting classes when you are able to get to them. Also, choosing which required classes you will take that semester takes quite a bit of creativity. One would have to decide on which class for one major they are to take as well as if they are going to take classes from the other majors with it and which classes would work well to learn together if any. It takes proper planning, dedication, and creative strategies to work the schedule and homework out and finding the method to learn each way the best one can. And the more majors you have would technically mean you are being MORE unique because, contrary to what you mentioned, few-to-none will have that major you are choosing if it is a strange olio of several majors. Also, that bit about allowing someone to take over one's path for a few years is what happens when attending a college. The classes the college offers as well as which classes have prerequisites, etc. controls what path you take each semester. It is all part of being in higher education. It has nothing to do with creativity issues.
In response to the topic "A triple major is not for the intellectually curious.", many people do love learning and do take whatever classes they want which in-fact LEADS to a triple major. Not everyone getting a triple major is a turd trying to slither high up into the anus of the business world in order to threaten your job security (which is why I am assuming you were writing this article in the first place; to keep a few trip-majors out of the jobs graciously given by any business person who would read this hum-drum). Most of them are people who LIKE to learn and enjoy intellectual challenges and fufilling their curiosities (otherwise they wouldn't have bothered with more classes at all, let alone going to a college or university or any higher education past high school). People don't just take on classes because it is rewarding to get an "A" or because it might get you so-and-so percent more of income per year. People weigh the costs and benefits of these things, and wasting several hours of the day in a classroom or reading a huge textbook is not something that a person would do if they were not in some miniscule way intellectually curious. At some point, someone with a triple major had to say to themself "Hey! I would enjoy learning this topic!" And be it through a class or some other method, they would learn about it. I will give you points for pointing out that there are some smarmy jerks who try and look as great as they can without caring about what they are majoring in, but those are easily spotable people and do not constitute the whole of the triple+ majorers (in a way, that makes you article very biased and less credible because it is basing the information on some stereotype many people probably never even considered and has no real statistical or experimental evidence to back it. Which is similar to my counter-article but with the opposite bias).
In response to the topic "A triple major is for the timid", I would agree in that a timid person might have trouble straying away from their subject of interest. That would probably be because most people dont want to learn what is not interesting to them. Some people abquiesce to things like that, but many would prefer to stick with what they like. As for sticking with majors, many people do learn subjects other than their majors, but with respect to people who have triple+ majors, I doubt it is a matter of being timid or closed-minded about subjects; it is likely a matter of not having time for extra classes because they have a TRIPLE MAJOR to complete. They dont want to be in their 50's and still stuck in college because they spent most of their time taking classes separate from their major when they can complete their major and go back for any other learning that their heart desires. Also, if Business requires a wide breadth of knowledge, then why NOT triple major? That is loads more knowledge than a double or uni-major.
And once you're committed to choosing MORE THAN one major, why stay away from business when you just stated how knowledge is important to business and had so much information leading up to that last sentence? Are you really trying to keep people away from income? You are just so silly-nilly. :-) One can easily learn all of the fun stuff you think they need to learn while enjoying a leisurely business career and CEO positions. All they need is excellent time-management skills which can be learned in college especially after having survived years managing study-time to get a triple+ major! Isn't that great? I sure think it is! It is seeming more and more like the perfect way to accent one's life!
As for social skills, I think that is what highschool was built for. College is for learning, please don't soil the sanctity of that. :-) Thank you. But if social skills is a 100%-must during college years, I would suggest study groups for those with triple+ majors; not only does it help you study but it also gets you in contact with the social world and helps you deal with all sorts of people in businesses: time-wasters, leaders, followers, idea-men, the talkers, the silent ones, etc. That is much more management-like than going to a party and is much more helpful during these important educational years.
As for making people "like you", just remember what was learned in public school: "be yourself!" and maybe share your toys occasionally and it should work out if you are still a good person and even better if you are useful.
Now, back to your premise that having many majors screams "Don't hire me. I'll be a business disaster!" I don't know how business people think, but if that is what they are thinking, then I have to say they are not very excellent thinkers and that people with many majors could just make their own business anyways (not that they really need to, but it is an option if what you say is true). If anything, people with many majors screams to me "This person really took the time and effort to finish that degree and learn what they wanted to learn! I am seeing will power, mental dexterity, and motivation! This person could go far!". And at the worst, maybe it would scream "This person probably has trouble choosing one thing out of many". But in no way am I seeing disaster unless that person who has a choosing-problem is working in some choosey job.
As for you, "Brazen Careerist", I do not know why you hate people with more than one major (or seem to after reading your article). My guess is it stems from some sort of resentment or inferiority complex, but definately not out of any hard facts mentioned in the article. I would agree that single majors are very nice and dandy, but some people just can't settle for that. So let it be what it will be. Also, please don't generalize people in to nasty little groups like you did in this article. It isn't nice, and from other comments, I can see that it wasn't well taken or appreciated.
Thank you and have a lovely day! It has been fun commenting~ (also, please excuse any spelling or grammatical errors. I wrote this out of spontaneous compulsion)
Posted by Dues Exonymous on 07/14/2009 at 09:58pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I'm rather flustered by the opinions presented in this article. I'm currently a high school student and am desperately trying to determine what career path to take. I feel as though I would like to learn everything and can do anything. I just googled the term "triple major" to see whether it's possible to work slightly harder and perhaps fulfill my ambitions while keeping many options open and learning a bit more about myself. While suppose there may be a degree of legitmacy in your claims, for they do appear plausible, I am nontheless alarmed by this characterization of myself.
Posted by High School Student on 09/01/2009 at 05:50pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Penelope, I think that it is more than evident that your short-sighted and biased opinion is just revealing your ignorance. Maybe you are just loving this debate, but you lady, you are simply a mediocre materialistic girl, who doesn't actually know what curiosity and what a real restless mind is.
I am a multitalented student just like many of the kids who commented above me: I excel in Spanish (which is my first language), I am completely fluent in Korean, and I am also studying Russian. I will be majoring Psychology, Economics and Sociology which are in fact very related and I don't want to jeopardize the big picture by overspecializing in one field. Oh, yeah, you can't even glimpse how creative I am, do you McGyver? Well that have been my nickname for how I can think quickly on my feet: I excel in magic, lockpicking, reading body language, I am also a truth wizard (I am able to tell if someone is lying by reading facial expressions and body language), computer security (hacking), and many other skills I don't feel comfortable sharing here.
Do you really think I am "not creative"? Hah, I really feel pity for you.
You are trying to teach US what is to be creative when even your basic logic is flawed?
You are trying to teach us what CRITICAL THINKING IS?
WE ARE DESIGNING THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY WHILE YOU ARE JUST PREOCCUPIED ABOUT PROFITING. WE ARE THE FUTURE WHO REALLY NEVER GAVE UP OUR DREAMS, AND THAT IS BOLD, THAT REALLY TAKES SOME BALLS TO DO, AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND.
Posted by dan on 09/07/2009 at 03:15am | permalink | Reply to this comment