Double-majoring...?

Question

I have to start writing college applications this coming year, and I have a dilemma. I've dreamt of being a violinist since age two; I've been playing for eleven years, and though I can hardly call myself a prodigy, I'm quite good for my age and have improved drastically over the last year. I can't bear to think of a life without it; sometimes I think it's all that's kept me sane. I realize, however, that it is extremely difficult to make a living as a musician. Over the last few years, I have developed a keen interest in history; as of this year, I'm in a double-AP history program, receiving commendable grades, and thoroughly enjoying the subject: something else I don't want to live without. I would like to double-major in college, ideally, but a lot of the high-quality music schools don't allow this. Should I give up on majoring in both subjects (and should I give up music or history as a major?), or search until I find an institution that will allow me to pursue both passions?

Answer 1

Pursue both. Unquestionably.

One of the most gifted people I've ever met I met in grad school. She was at a top 5 engineering school, finishing her PhD in Mechanical Engineering. She was also applying to medical school, all top schools, to get her MD after she finished her PhD.

But she was also a world class flutist. She'd played in multiple orchestras and solo recitals. She applied to Julliard, and won an audition. If you don't know, Julliard grants about 20 auditions for every 5000 applicants. She used to practice over 8 hours a day, on top of all her studies. She was amazing.

She would up having some personal problems which caused her to miss about a week of practice, which effectively destroyed her chances. She claimed she couldn't recover from a week without practice, even 2 months out, and canceled the audition. Maybe she was making the final call on her career path, because she literally agonized over PhD/MD vs music for 6 months.

Point is if you double major you will continue to learn and improve in both subjects. It will take hard work and dedication but it's clear you have the intelligence and motivation so you should do it. Only if and when you reach the pinnacle of both fields, and you're forced to make a choice, should you chose between your two passions.

Answer 2

it is no longer extremely that you're going to have a larger workload, it is that you're going to have so a lot more desirable instructions crammed into the same time body. Your significant(s) and minor(s) would have fairly some instructions that you're required to take, or you received't graduate with that significant/minor. Doing a double significant and a double minor will in all probability make it no longer attainable so that you'll graduate in 4 years, it is form of a difficulty once you're planning to bypass to vet college later on. until eventually money is fairly no merchandise, i ought to guage slicing some thing out if I were you. you do not go with to minor/significant in song to be in bands in college. it is not often required through the college, or maybe even if it is, there are a form of small ensembles you could take area your free time. that is coming from a musician who's in college, no longer a song significant/minor, and nonetheless has various of possibilities to play. in case you extremely go with to operate more desirable artwork, i ought to cut back it right down to a significant in Biology with minors in math and Spanish. you've worry graduating on time even then, so taking summer season instructions may be needed.

Answer 3

Really only you can answer this questions.

In either case if you do what you love - the money will come.

I would keep searching but also try talking to the admissions people at the colleges you are interested - maybe they have options that are not known about.