D is just a freshman in college and right now plans a Biochem/Math double major. Barring any catastrophes, she should graduate near the top of her class. She is looking at what careers might suit her. She is open to a PhD but will obv consider careers that do not require that. When she did a career counseling test recently, the results were clearly “anesthesiologist”? She is looking into actuarial science, research opps, maybe pharmaceuticals of some sort? What else is out there for a bright, hard-working math/science major with good employment opportunities?
For entering the job market after such a program, it is indicated that the rewards from the second major are not worth the time and effort (and perhaps other expenses) of doing it. A look at jobs websites shows there is (some) demand for bachelor’s level biochemists (to run assays) and (some) demand for bachelor’s level mathematicians (for instance, for marketing data analysis, actuary work with a ASA or FSA credential, and education with or without a teaching credential), but no demand for bachelor’s level biochemist-mathematicians.
There are expected to be more job opportunities in the mathematical area than in biochemistry (http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_102.htm). Also, many more jobs are expected in certain areas of computer science (for instance, software development and computer systems analysis) than in the more strictly mathematical occupations; job-wise computer science makes more sense.
@jjwinkle, thank you. She will be taking Intro to CS next semester so she can see if its something she’s interested in. She does not have to declare until this time next year so there’s time yet to “discover” her best fit. I really hope she sticks with the Math, it comes easy to her and she enjoys it. Maybe a Math/CS double would be a better fit, time will tell. I guess she assumed that the math and science double would really open up doors for her that only one major would not; in a sense, giving her the edge over other single major graduates.
At best, it makes no difference to employers. If I were hiring someone to run assays or to do marketing data analysis, it would actually be a negative that they also had a foot in some other profession, because I would be afraid they’d drift off to do that other thing.
Double majoring is often brought up in these forums, as you can see if you do a search (for example, http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-majors/1845850-double-major-questions.html). Tellingly, it’s almost exclusively brought up by or for people just starting or about to start college - the idea fades for many as the difficulty of college sinks in.