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Re: College--Auditions, double majors, etc.

Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-01-15 04:30

I did a double major in computer science and music composition. Virtually no overlap in coursework, save for a music synthesis class that I got counted for a somewhat vague comp sci elective category.

It was completely worth it. However, I was only able to do it because of a few factors:

1) I started as a music minor, and eventually upgraded it to a second major. I highly doubt I'd have made it if I started with both, because the music major brings with it lots of units you have to take every semester. Four years of that, I could manage. 7 years? No.

2) It took me 7 years, of 14-20 units per semester, usually around 17. I topped the charts at well over 200 semester units (134 is required for a Bachelors' degree)

3) I went to a local state university (which happened to have quite good programs in both areas) and lived at home. My parents paid the $1500-3000/yr (costs doubled during my tenure) and all my expenses. Seven years without scholarship at a pricier institution would have put me in crippling debt and/or forced me to take on a lot of part-time jobs.

4) Again, I started as a music minor. So it was a different mindset. Many of the classes that music majors were taking because they had to and didn't care for and found a drag, I was taking for the fun of it. I was literally 3 classes away from a BA (the generic easier non-specialized degree at my school) with all the electives I'd taken by the time I finished my 4th year. At that point, it almost didn't make sense NOT to declare the second major. I almost certainly would have burned out if I started with both majors.

Music is by far one of the most demanding majors on campus, up there with the hard sciences. Not counting the handful who doubled in performance/composition or performance/ed, I knew a couple others who double-majored in unrelated topics. One in Bio, one in English. They took more than 20 units many semesters (for over 18, you need a letter from the undergrad advisor to certify that you are within the general realm of sane). The English major even graduated in 4 years with both.

The first few years, my social life was generally in the vicinity of computer science, with some student organizations, a year in student government, a three-year programming internship (that has become my day job, until I go to grad school for music), and general hanging out. Once I started getting further into music, it consumed my free time and social life. Instead of calling people up to go to the movies, I hung out in the practice rooms. And I would have it no other way... graduation was very much a shock that I'm still recovering from, and I have applications out to grad schools for music next fall.

When I started as an undergrad, I was determined to get a high-paying job in computer science, probably making some awesome games and such. At graduation, I wanted to do a computer-music mix of some sort. Now I want to teach music at the college level and open a concert hall. Occasionally, I lament never giving biology or linguistics an honest look. Plans change. Having multiple specializations gives you more flexibility to change your mind later. But yeah, it takes a lot more time and work.

So, in short, I might recommend maybe starting with a minor in one of them, with the intention of perhaps upgrading. More importantly, though, I'd recommend going somewhere that doesn't break the bank. At $3,000 a year, you can afford to explore. At $30,000, not so much. Unless you get a spectacular scholarship, hedge your bets at a really good "value" school. I lucked out that the inexpensive school 10 minutes from home had a really good music program; music program quality wasn't even a thought in my head when I applied.

As a bonus, if you go somewhere inexpensive, if you find yet another major that you like even better than the ones you started with and want to change, the financial hit of adding a year or two for the switch doesn't hurt nearly as much.

You can go pricy at the grad school level. And they might even pay your way as a TA when you get there.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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