Is it worth it to stay an extra year in college to double-major?

[Darien]

Hello,

Currently I'm a Physics major, and I'm thinking maybe I should add a Japanese major -- I'd like to learn the language.

I can go through all my nominal Physics stuff in 4 years...

...and, if I decide to add a Japanese major, I can go to Japan for a year.

What do you guys think? Do the benefits of learning a language and being able to stay in another country outweigh the cost of another year at USC? (good god it's expensive here).

Anyone with real world experience on the benefits of learning a language?

(Only problem is applying to grad schools and taking the GRE...how the heck am I supposed to those when I'm in another country )

Thanks,

Darien

 

[Darien]

oh yeah, if someone can explain to me what a MUD is, please do so

some sort of online game or something???

 

[ErmanC]

You say you're a Physics major... I assume you're going to go into some research oriented field? If so then a foreign language (not sure which one) might come in useful there. I guess it all depends on what you want to do with it. If you're headed for grad school, then definitely don't let one rule out the other. You might be able to work it where you tie the language stuff into your graduate program or something. I know a guy that is doing an engineering internship in Denmark, just so he can have that multi-cultural / multi-lingual background in the engineering field. He also spent a summer doing a cultural immersion in somewhere down in central america. All of this was in coordination with his school's programs. So the long and short of it is if its something you really want to make happen, plan it out and go for it.

 

[Darien]

Yeah I'm planning on doing research.

My lab TA told me that college is REALLY hard in Asia, so I don't know if I want to apply for a MS or doctoral degree in Japan. (TA is from China...can't remember which university, but someone told me it was one of the best, and that pretty much all asian schools are like that. blah)

 

[vi edit]

Well, it certainly won't hurt, that's for sure. But, it wouldn't be as beneficial as mixing a Japanese major with say, a Business/International Business/Law/International Law/Marketing degree IMHO.

As for a mud, it's Multi-User Dimension. It's basically an online "world" where people log in and interact with one another via command lines.

more info

 

[Darien]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
As for a mud, it's Multi-User Dimension. It's basically an online "world" where people log in and interact with one another via command lines.

more info

so...everquest without graphics?

 

[MichaelD]

Direct reply to your question:

If you have a good paying job lined up --> NO
If you don't ^^^ YES.

Rationale: If the money is good, go! YOu already have a degree.
If no job lined up or money not good, get another degree in something else--->broadens your options down the road and makes you worth more.

 

[vi edit]

so...everquest without graphics?

Pretty much. They were the predecesors to mmorpg's. Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game.

 

[axelfox]

go for it.

 

[Jzero]

Of course, you don't need to pick up a major to learn Japanese and/or visit Japan. I certainly wouldn't have even considered spending another year in school for it. If you want the degree for whatever reason, then by all means go for it, but if you're just looking for an excuse to learn the language and go on a trip, just learn the language and go on the trip...you don't need an excuse.

 

[pamchenko]

why in god's name would u want to pay an extra year of tuition (even worse if u go to a private school) to learn japanese. I'm glad ur into learning and stuff, but school's expensive, and from what I gather, undergrad knowledge isn't worth much...you learn from work experiences and u build on that...

 

[xuanman]

Originally posted by: pamchenko
why in god's name would u want to pay an extra year of tuition (even worse if u go to a private school) to learn japanese. I'm glad ur into learning and stuff, but school's expensive, and from what I gather, undergrad knowledge isn't worth much...you learn from work experiences and u build on that...

I agree. You could always just graduate in 4 years, go to Japan yourself and enter into a Japanese-language program for international students. There are plenty of Japanese universities willing to take your money, but they'll probably be cheaper than USC.

 

[gotsmack]

where's the poll?

I vote no, Japanese is really hard. Even the kids in Japan don't begin to fully understand the language until they've hit double digits in age.

take a class in japanese or two before you make any big decisions. you can always minor in japanese.

 

[gopunk]

i wouldn't unless i had time and money to burn.

 

[ElFenix]

if you can afford it, do it. don't listen to all these people here who are quick to join the daily grind that they will be involved in for the next 40+ years of their lives.

 

[LanEvoVI]

I'm trying to stay in college for as long as i can.

 

[darren]

unless you are in a rush to make money - or are just pressed for money in general - studying more is good.

 

[Darien]

I'm not really in a rush. I'll be in school for a good chunk of my life anyways (grad school...), so one more year studying for another bachelors won't kill me.

Of course, you don't need to pick up a major to learn Japanese and/or visit Japan

Being there for a while is really the best way to reinforce that I have a certain mastery over the language.

where's the poll?

my bad...

I vote no, Japanese is really hard. Even the kids in Japan don't begin to fully understand the language until they've hit double digits in age.

Hehehe. Physics is really hard too -- difficulty is one of the reasons why I consider majoring in a language like Japanese. I've gotten some exposure how the grammar, syntax, etc is all worked out...and it interests me. Maybe that's more of a linguistics interest, but the evolution of the culture, from then to now, interests me as well.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: Darien

I can go through all my nominal Physics stuff in 4 years...

...and, if I decide to add a Japanese major, I can go to Japan for a year.

What do you guys think? Do the benefits of learning a language and being able to stay in another country outweigh the cost of another year at USC? (good god it's expensive here).

In general, unless you've got a very specific target market in mind when you select your majors, I wouldn't expect additional (bachelor's) degrees to confer a significant amount of earnings potential when you finally enter the job market. So if you're planning to do an extra major, do it because you have a love for the subject, not because you think it will make you more money.

Where a non-primary (and by that, I mean, you're not studying the language with the intent of it being your career field, as in linguistics, translation, or teaching) language major will help you is in your saleability when you start applying for jobs at companies that do business with companies overseas. You may see non-tangible benefits as a result (i.e. company-related travel overseas), although I do know of a family that took a year transfer to Japan, lived frugally, and banked the high per-diem allowance they were given (due to the high cost of living there) which translated into a several thousand dollar bonus.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
if you can afford it, do it. don't listen to all these people here who are quick to join the daily grind that they will be involved in for the next 40+ years of their lives.

I gotta be honest with you: The daily grind I'm going to be in for the next 30 years of my life is a hell of a lot better than the daily grind I was in for the last 15 years. Maybe I'm an outlier because I love my job and I get paid well enough to do it, but I wouldn't even think of trading this daily grind for staying in school longer. I'm lucky I got out when I did...another year and I'd probably have gone postal. Good thing I skipped 2nd grade....to think I would JUST have graduated a few months ago.....*shudder*

 

[Scarpozzi]

No need in majoring to learn the language. Save your time and money...no need to waste a year. Take the courses on the side and graduate earlier so you can start on Grad School. The sooner you get out, the sooner you can start paying off your loans. Trust me, a double major doesn't mean much. It's the level of the major that counts... PHD beats Masters beats Bachelors beats Associates beats High School Diploma beats G.E.D. beats 1st grade completion certificate.

 

[Darien]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
No need in majoring to learn the language. Save your time and money...no need to waste a year. Take the courses on the side and graduate earlier so you can start on Grad School. The sooner you get out, the sooner you can start paying off your loans. Trust me, a double major doesn't mean much. It's the level of the major that counts... PHD beats Masters beats Bachelors beats Associates beats High School Diploma beats G.E.D. beats 1st grade completion certificate.

I don't *need* to major to learn a language. As someone said, it'd be better to just stay there for a while. But, if I can wind up majoring in the subject while at the country, then why not?

In other words...asking "should I add another major that deals with a foreign language," for me, is equivalent to "should I go to another country after I finish my undergrad education so I can learn a language"

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Darien
Hello,


I can go through all my nominal Physics stuff in 4 years...


Darien

LOL freshmen, there's nothing "nominal" about finishing a physics degree in four years. Good luck takes most 5 or even 6. What happens if you fail calc 2 or quantum which is common?

 

[Darien]

LOL freshmen, there's nothing "nominal" about finishing a physics degree in four years. Good luck takes most 5 or even 6. What happens if you fail calc 2 or quantum which is common?

I'm a sophomore...this is my 2nd year in college.

when I started this year, I was shy of ~5 units of being considered a junior.

I bombed my calc 2 final like all the other engineers in the class...but I didn't do all that bad on the other exams like a majority of people.

Taking calc 3...wow, this is easier than calc 2 :Q

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Darien

LOL freshmen, there's nothing "nominal" about finishing a physics degree in four years. Good luck takes most 5 or even 6. What happens if you fail calc 2 or quantum which is common?

I'm a sophomore...this is my 2nd year in college.

when I started this year, I was shy of ~5 units of being considered a junior.

I bombed my calc 2 final like all the other engineers in the class...but I didn't do all that bad on the other exams like a majority of people.

Taking calc 3...wow, this is easier than calc 2 :Q

Again good luck. I would definetly hold off on such a foriegn a difficult language at least until your done with diviQ. It's not like taking a germanic or latin type language right? You must relearn the alphabet etc. Seems way too demanding.