When I transferred from single honours English to combined honours Classical Studies and English, I thought I was getting the best of both worlds, so to speak - I was dipping into the parts of both disciplines I found most interesting. However, while combined honours can be a blessing, it can also be a curse.
The Pro
You get to miss horrible compulsory modules
I avoided a first year on the English module "The Poem", which was great for me as I personally hate poetry.
The Con
You might get assignments based on the modules you missed
I now have an assignment due that requires me to write up to 50 lines of poetry. Oops.
The Pro
I can juggle
I can tell employers I juggled two subjects, which required different approaches to research and analytical methods
The Con
...But this means I have to work harder
This means I have to work harder to fill in the gaps that single honours students have - I'm juggling a Classical and an English module, but I also have to learn the context behind both that single honours students already have from their other modules
The Pro
You can participate in more than one subject you enjoy
I've wanted to do Classics since I learned the historical context behind my Latin GCSE - sadly, my school didn't offer the subject at A Level. However, now I can indulge in the subject to my heart's content.
The Con
Sometimes modules don't add up
I can be studying three different eras at once, and if they're all a little similar, it's very easy to get mixed up!
The Pro
You can take a break from a subject
Sometimes I find the intensity of studying for one module a bit much, and it's nice to know you can take a break and work on not just a different module but a completely different discipline. It keeps my mind fresh and I can focus my interests in smaller chunks, making it easier to study.
The Con
Timetable and administration issues
Last year, I had a weekly lecture missed off my timetable and missed three weeks of lectures before my friend asked me why I wasn't turning up to them. This year, I missed a Welcome talk from the English department because it wasn't on my timetable. Similarly, there's more of a chance of clashes - I had to sacrifice some of my first choice Classics modules for ones I wasn't as interested in last year, because they clashed with the American Literature module I really wanted to do.
Evidently, there are always two sides to a story, as you can see - I'm a bit biased, obviously, studying combined honours myself, but I know that the struggles I encounter as I go through my degree are worth it in the end - after all, everyone has their struggles in life, and a few timetable issues and extra research won't matter in the long run because I'll have studied two subjects I love, making my three years of academic study truly enjoyable.
The Pro
You get to miss horrible compulsory modules
I avoided a first year on the English module "The Poem", which was great for me as I personally hate poetry.
The Con
You might get assignments based on the modules you missed
I now have an assignment due that requires me to write up to 50 lines of poetry. Oops.
The Pro
I can juggle
I can tell employers I juggled two subjects, which required different approaches to research and analytical methods
The Con
...But this means I have to work harder
This means I have to work harder to fill in the gaps that single honours students have - I'm juggling a Classical and an English module, but I also have to learn the context behind both that single honours students already have from their other modules
The Pro
You can participate in more than one subject you enjoy
I've wanted to do Classics since I learned the historical context behind my Latin GCSE - sadly, my school didn't offer the subject at A Level. However, now I can indulge in the subject to my heart's content.
The Con
Sometimes modules don't add up
I can be studying three different eras at once, and if they're all a little similar, it's very easy to get mixed up!
The Pro
You can take a break from a subject
Sometimes I find the intensity of studying for one module a bit much, and it's nice to know you can take a break and work on not just a different module but a completely different discipline. It keeps my mind fresh and I can focus my interests in smaller chunks, making it easier to study.
The Con
Timetable and administration issues
Last year, I had a weekly lecture missed off my timetable and missed three weeks of lectures before my friend asked me why I wasn't turning up to them. This year, I missed a Welcome talk from the English department because it wasn't on my timetable. Similarly, there's more of a chance of clashes - I had to sacrifice some of my first choice Classics modules for ones I wasn't as interested in last year, because they clashed with the American Literature module I really wanted to do.
Evidently, there are always two sides to a story, as you can see - I'm a bit biased, obviously, studying combined honours myself, but I know that the struggles I encounter as I go through my degree are worth it in the end - after all, everyone has their struggles in life, and a few timetable issues and extra research won't matter in the long run because I'll have studied two subjects I love, making my three years of academic study truly enjoyable.