I don’t have to change wigs when I’m running from a history class to an ensemble rehearsal, but being a Double Degree student can really make you feel like Hannah Montana sometimes.
For those of you wondering what “Double Degree” means, and how it differs from a double major, not to worry, I get this question from relatives at Christmas and Thanksgiving too. Basically, as my teen pop star of 2007 metaphor implies, being a Double Degree student is like living 2 lives. In 5 years, I will seek 2 completely separate degrees, one being a Bachelor of Music from Lawrence’s Conservatory, and the other a Bachelor of Arts from Lawrence’s regular college. For me, the majors for my two degrees are Vocal Performance and History. While these two degrees are completely separate, and I am required to complete all the requirements for both, any overlap (ie. language class requirements, quantitative class requirements) can be used for both. At the end I’ll graduate from college with two separate degrees, and even get to walk the stage (and shake Marky B.’s hand) twice.
Now you might ask, like said relatives and family friends who ask about my college ventures, what are the perks? Why do I put myself through an extra year of college, and quite a bit of extra work? Well when writing a 30 page paper I ask myself that too sometimes, but at the end of the (hard working) day, there is a a lot of benefit.
First is the fact that I am learning so much more. Coming into undergrad, I knew I loved singing; it was my passion. But I couldn’t just give up my new found love of studying the events of the past.
For many this is the case, which is why the Double Degree is so popular for incoming students (8 whopping percent!). Lawrence students tend to be so multi-interested that it can be so difficult to make a choice! Luckily, by choosing the Double Degree program, I didn’t have to. In the liberal arts, it is very important to be a well rounded student, and what better way than to be two students at once.
Second, my post-college choices are wide open. The future is pretty darn scary for a college student, and in 3 years I’m going to have to make some big decisions on what to do. By gaining two degrees, I put this off a little longer. Credential to seek a career as an opera singer? Check. A liberal arts degree that can take me to a masters program, some entry level jobs (or in other’s cases medical school, law school etc)? Check. As my best friends Olivia once said in 6th grade “My future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”
Some other smaller perks include being able to overload on credits without extra charge on tuition, the jealousy of everyone who wishes they were as smart as you, and an extra year on Lawrence’s beautiful campus.
For some people, the Double Degree life can take a toll. Luckily, it’s no problem to drop one degree, and many students do so once they find which calls to them. For obvious reasons, some degrees are harder to complete together. But for all it’s worth, I do know some geniuses (or crazy people) doing majors like Piano Performance and International Studies, or Music Composition and Neuroscience. I’m hoping this doesn’t happen to me, as I really do love my work in both areas, but my arms do get tired from carrying both musical scores and historical text books.
Overall, the Double Degree program is a wonderful option for someone who can’t choose between their two loves. With so many people taking gap years or extended programs, the five years is not a problem, and most LU kids love getting to learn all they can in that time. So catch me running from class to practice room to lecture, because when you “Mix it all together and you know that it’s the best of both Worlds.”
(Photo Credit: Maverick Cook)