There are lots of benefits to having a minor in college. Not only do minors foster greater levels of confidence, creativity, and critical thinking, but they
lots of benefits to having a minor in college. Not only do minors foster greater levels of confidence, creativity, and critical thinking, but they also provide you with opportunities to explore interests outside your major and meet new people. Some of the best minors to have include foreign languages, graphic design, marketing, computer science, and education. That said, every student is different, and there are plenty of minors to choose from.
If you have questions about how to choose a minor, schedule a meeting with your academic advisor. In the meantime, let’s review 10 surprising benefits of having a minor in college.
Increased Skill Set
Taking plenty of electives is a great way to broaden your horizons, but completing a minor will help you increase your overall skill set. Depending on your career goals, you may choose to minor in Spanish, graphic design, computer science, education, or business. The possibilities are endless!
Competitive Edge in the Job Market
Having a minor listed on your resume may give you a competitive edge in the job market, especially if you minor in a foreign language or another marketable skill, such as computer science or graphic design. It’s no secret that the job market is competitive, so anything you can do to bolster your resume may well be worth the extra time and effort.
If you need help deciding on a potential career path, check out our article, How to Find a Career You Love: Practical Guide and Tips.
Opportunities to Explore Interests Outside Your Major
Declaring a minor can be a valuable strategy if you are torn between two potential majors or are considering a double major. It’s also a great opportunity to explore interests outside your major. After all, college is the time to explore and experiment! If you’re interested in pursuing a minor but aren’t sure which minor to choose, you may want to consider taking a personality test. A minor can also help you develop interdisciplinary strengths, thus increasing your sense of innovation, resourcefulness, and creativity.
Expanded Network
One of the benefits of a minor is that you get to form close relationships with students and professors from different departments. After all, college is all about meeting new people! Expanding your personal and professional networks may lead to lifelong friendships, mentorships, and unique opportunities for collaboration.
Increased Creativity
Choosing a minor in college can help you make the most of your liberal arts education. Minors encourage you to think outside the box and evaluate issues from multiple perspectives. This leads to greater levels of creativity. Creativity is a valuable and marketable skill, one that may open doors to you in the future.
Opportunities for Specialization
Students often choose minors that complement their majors. This allows them to pinpoint their interests and further specialize their education. For instance, a business student may choose to complement their major with an economics or accounting minor. Similarly, a communication major may choose to minor in marketing or photography. Remember, specialization can go a long way in the job market!
Personal Growth
Taking a variety of classes by completing a college minor can contribute to personal growth. Interdisciplinary studies often lead to greater levels of confidence, creativity, and critical thinking. You might even discover a new passion!
Greater Cultural Competence
There are lots of college minors that can widen your worldview while imparting greater cultural competence. If you’re interested in gaining a multicultural perspective, you may choose to minor in a foreign language, gender studies, African studies, Hispanic studies, social work, or world religions.
Opportunities to Fulfill Grad School Requirements
Pursuing a college minor can be a wise decision for students interested in pre-med. Students interested in pre-med can major and/or minor in anything as long as they fulfill their graduate school requirements. That said, many pre-med students select majors and minors that reflect these requirements — such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Declaring a college minor in one of these areas can be a great way to highlight your commitment to the sciences.
Applying to a BS/MD Program or medical school is incredibly competitive. This is why students who choose challenging, science-based majors and minors, as well as engage in the Best Extracurricular STEM Activities for Biology Students, may receive a competitive advantage in the admissions process.
Opportunities for Specialization
Completing a college minor alongside your major takes commitment, forethought, and excellent time management skills. Not only is it challenging to plan out your class schedule accordingly, but the classes themselves are likely challenging. Overall, pursuing a college minor is sure to improve your organizational and time management skills.
Key Takeaways and Moving Forward
If you are considering declaring a minor, schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss how to declare a minor, in addition to the pros and cons of a college minor. While there are plenty of advantages to having a minor, there are disadvantages as well: You may not have time to study abroad, pursue an internship, or take as many electives as you’d like. There’s also a possibility that you could graduate early if you don’t pursue a minor. Everyone is different, and there is no one right answer. This is why you should take plenty of time to assess your options.
