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Blog Entry: #103

Should I Take A Minor In College?
by Joe DePalma

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If you think you can handle a minor, you can.
If you think you can't handle a minor you can't.
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Having a minor is a great way to kill free elective credits while also boosting your academic resume. Depending on which major you choose, it will have between 10 and 25 credits reserved for free electives. Instead of wasting those free elective credits by taking “throwaway” classes like Introduction to Eskimo Poetry, you can improve your overall status and knowledge base by taking a minor.

The major dilemma about minors is that once a student begins their required classes, they lose out on the “softer” side of their weekly schedule. Hence, once you begin taking classes toward completing a minor, just about every class you have will now require total attention and a full workload. However, if you can stick it out, a minor is a great way to quickly boost your transcripts, especially since most minors only require a few classes to complete. Finishing a minor will be hard work, but anything worth something usually is.

If you are having trouble deciding on a minor or wondering if you should even have one, try visiting the academic adviser office at your school. There you will find an adviser who is actually pre-assigned to you; someone who will answer any questions you have and will also help to plan out your academic career so it runs smoothly and efficiently.

In addition to providing information, your academic adviser can also council you on topics such as tutoring, schedules, semester abroad programs, on-campus jobs, internships, waiting lists for majors or minors, and anything else you need to make your academic journey a successful one. Your personal academic adviser is one of many services that your tuition is paying for. If you don't use it, it's like renting a movie but not watching it. Always demand full value for the tuition you pay by forcing your school to help you in any way you need.

Trying out a minor is a no-lose situation. If you do not like the opening class to the minor, just make sure you drop it before the add/drop deadline passes. However, even if you miss the add/drop deadline and you are forced to complete the class, all you have to do is finish it up and use it as a free elective. Then you can drop the minor from your transcript. It is not a difficult process.

Just think of how impressive a minor would look on your resume next to an internship, a social or academic Greek organization or a student government position, along with any sports or clubs you are involved in. Whether you take a minor or not, at least do some research on the minors your school offers so you know what you are getting into or what you are staying away from. This way you will have all the information you need to make an intelligent decision. Every student needs to do some quick research so they know what they want and what they don't as it applies to taking a minor. It is okay not to want a minor, but it is not okay to be completely in the dark as to which minors you are turning down.

* Should I Take A Minor In College? - ACTION STEP *

When you chose your major, what were some of the other ones that you were thinking of taking? Those other subjects could be good choices for a possible minor.

What are the three leading fields of study you are interested in besides your major?

1)_______________________________________________________

2)_______________________________________________________

3)_______________________________________________________

Any of these above topics would be a great minor for you if you think you can handle one. However, you should at least try one out to make sure. Contact your academic adviser about it today!

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