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this is probably a question for a current student...
how hard is it to do? i know it's not easy anywhere but how hard is it compared to other colleges? b/c from what i've read only about 1% does it which is lower than at many schools.
I applied to the college of engineering but I was thinking maybe I want to double major in philosophy. I know these are very random interests and that it sounds really odd for someone to want to major in two completely different things but those are just two things I really really like. Not that i'm thinking of actually going through with it. I'll prolly just take some philosophy classes and that'll be it, but I just wanted to how hard would be to do it(maybe it's impossible or it'll take 8 years, i really don't know...) if I did decided to go through with it.

By Justinmeche (Justinmeche) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 11:20 pm: Edit

It can be done, but it will require a lot of effort. Some majors work well together and others don't. Besides all of the work, you have to make sure that all of the classes fit together in a good schedule that won't be too hectic.

I had a professor who disapproved of double majoring. He felt that you should concentrate on one thing and take classes or minor in another subject if that interests you. But that is just how he felt. He has a doctorate in Civil Engineering but is a Computer Science professor. He says never took any CS courses in college.

Another thing to think about: will having two degrees make you more valuable when you graduate? I doubt many engineering companies would care about a philosophy degree so if you do go ahead with it do it out of personal interest.

By Gabushida (Gabushida) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 11:24 pm: Edit

I think what you are talking about is a Dual Degree. Im not really up on the area, but I think for a Double Major, both have to be within the same college at Cornell. They do allow dual degrees between Engineering and A&S though, but I think the book (its the big course book I read this in a bit ago, under the Engineering section) said an extra semester or 2 might be necessary to finish the classes, depending on how the majors mesh.

By Anita6 (Anita6) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 11:34 pm: Edit

Thanks a lot. it's actually good to know that i can do the dual degree thing. As Justinmeche said, engineering companies probably wouldn't care and he's right. It's just that if I'm going to choose Cornell I want to feel that it is the one that best fits my interests, whichever they are.
Are you guys class of 2008? If you are, up until now I think i'll probably be joining you.

By Gabushida (Gabushida) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 11:36 pm: Edit

Im class of 2008, Computer Engineering.

By Justinmeche (Justinmeche) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 11:41 pm: Edit

I was Class of 2005, then 2006, and now I am in no class. I transfered out after two years. Too stressful and I was not learning anything. I am at a different school now and everything that I didn't understand at Cornell is very clear to me now. I am in Mechanical Engineering. I used to be in be in Computer Science. After switching majors after 1.5 years it added a year onto my graduation date. I have brother in Cornell ChemE, Class of 2005.