Sophia Duran strived to stand out early, completing 8 advanced placement (AP) courses and three courses at a community college during high school. Upon admission to Syracuse University, she was surprised by the equivalent transfer credits, which saved her a year of study.
Advised by counselors to either graduate early or pursue additional majors, Duran chose the latter. "I wanted the traditional four years of university, so I decided to make the most of that time," she said.
Initially, Duran pursued dual majors in Finance and Business Analytics. Later, noticing available schedule slots, she added a major in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises, and by her third year, she included Economics.
Duran is among a rare group of US students pursuing more than three majors. Amid concerns about the value of a university degree and job prospects, some students view this as a strategy to enhance their resumes.
"Attracting recruiters was the biggest reason I decided to pursue four majors. I wanted to present myself as well-rounded," Duran stated.
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Arizona State University campus, US. Photo: Arizona State University Fanpage |
Some students pursue even more majors than Duran. Rahul Palle, a student at Arizona State University (ASU), is studying 5 majors, placing him in the less than 1% of students at the university who pursue at least 4 majors. While the typical maximum credit load at ASU is 18 credits per semester, Palle takes 27 credits. Daily, he wakes at 6:30 AM, working and studying continuously until 6 PM.
Meanwhile, Hojae Kirkpatrick, a University of Oklahoma student, is pursuing 7 majors. Excluding summer courses, Kirkpatrick's credit load has reached 50 credits per semester in the past few years. He hopes this "record" will be recognized by Guinness.
Data from the US Census Bureau indicates that about 10% of students between 2009-2019 held dual degrees. Studies suggest that dual majors can help students better navigate financial downturns and job loss risks. However, limited data exists on the number of students pursuing three, four, or more majors, and their specific benefits.
According to Shawn VanDerziel, President and CEO of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), pursuing up to four majors solely for employment is unnecessary.
"Most employers seek individuals with specific knowledge and skills. While multiple majors might signal an applicant's ability to meet requirements, it doesn't necessarily mean they are superior to others," he stated.
Palle agrees. From his internship application experiences, he realized recruiters were not impressed by his number of majors. They sought specific skill sets and work experience. For example, a recruiter for a finance position would not be concerned that Palle also studied supply chain management, accounting, economics, and business administration.
Palle has now shifted his goal, viewing knowledge as the core benefit of pursuing multiple degrees, rather than securing a good job.
"I connected with many people, met professors from prestigious universities, and learned a great deal in a short period," Palle shared.
Nick Huntington-Klein, an associate professor of economics at Seattle University, notes that only well-organized students can manage the demands of enrolling in numerous credits.
In reality, not all universities allow students to pursue more than two majors. Amherst College recently banned students from pursuing three majors, partly due to concerns that they were doing so merely to enhance their resumes.
In the US, the number of job openings is at its lowest since 2014 (excluding the early Covid-19 pandemic), according to CNBC. Many companies are conducting mass layoffs or hiring minimally due to the economic situation and the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace.
Khanh Linh (According to Inside Higher Ed)
