Picking a major is difficult enough for most people, but after that important decision is made, another one remains: picking a minor. In fact, before that question gets answered, an even more important question comes first. Are minors even worth it?

There are several reasons people have for declaring a minor. One of the most popular reasons is that a minor creates a good fall back should your major not work out for you right away, if at all. This is a very good reason for having a minor because it provides more security in the adult world outside of school. However, just like with how many credits one is taking, there’s something important to remember about declaring a minor – it requires more work.

My father has encouraged me to declare a minor mainly for the above reason. While I certainly agree and am considering it, I’m a music education major, which means I’m already looking at a five-year program. I don’t know exactly what minors there are that would benefit me most (though I have a few in mind), or how many classes each one would require. I’m sure you can see where my concerns lie in the situation. I may or may not ever go for a minor, but that’s my dilemma.

Just like when choosing which classes you’re going to take the next upcoming year and how many credits you’re willing to pursue each semester, choosing a minor requires critical thinking. First of all, is this a minor you would benefit from in the long run? Does it seem likely that the information you’ll learn will come into play frequently enough to be considered useful? As good as it is to have a fallback for your career, it needs to be something that you can see yourself using as you would for your intended major.

If you have a minor that you are satisfied with, take note of how many additional classes and credits are required to complete this minor. While I’m not discouraging people who are committed to doing so, I would imagine most people would prefer not to end up spending six or more years here. After all, this is an undergraduate school. Given that I’m already looking at five years with my major, a minor would most likely add at least one additional year onto that.

When it comes down to looking for a potential minor, just keep in mind what it will require of you. If you really want to commit to a minor regardless of the extra classes and the additional workload you’ll have to face, then don’t hold back. If you have questions, you could always talk to your advisor. It’s their job to help in these situations. Be smart and stay confident.