I like school.

There I said it. It may not be a popular opinion, but the routine and satisfaction of learning new things keep me motivated.

So, if you're like me and love your classes so much you just couldn't possibly choose one department to study in, then you might be considering a double major. Or if you're really crazy maybe even a triple major!

But as good as a double major seems on paper, and as great as it may sound to your parents, having two majors is hard work. Here are some things I have learned (sometimes the hard way) about not just surviving, but thriving in both of your majors:

Know what you want out of both majors.

Before making the plunge into declaring, it's important to really think about what major is right for you. Even if it seems as though one major is a better fit for your future career goals, another one might truly be something you love studying. Although thinking about your future is important in this decision, do you honestly think at 18 you are 100% sure you know what you want to do with your life? Probably not. And that's ok. That's why a good strategy is to think about the classes that you love. The ones you truly enjoy are most likely in the field that you will want work in. College isn't supposed to be miserable, and double majoring doesn't inherently mean it will be. But it's a great way to study what you love, with a backup plan.

I major in psychology because I know that's the career field I want to go into. I also love studying it, but sometimes it's a lot of hard, monotonous work. That's where my other major in philosophy comes in. Philosophy is very open-ended, so it's less stressful. I love learning about philosophy, even if it may not be the field that I get a job in.

Plan out your schedule early, and always have backups.

Try to get your prerequisites done early! This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's easy freshman year to have the mentality that you have all the time in the world to take the classes you need. But what that can come down to is not always getting to take the classes you want to take. So plan out your schedule early! If both your bio requirement and language requirement are at conflicting times this semester, look ahead to next semester to see which one is more practical to take now. Sometimes classes are only offered in the spring or the fall, while others are offered almost every semester.

Especially as underclassmen, having backup classes is essential. It's a nightmare if at 7am registration, you don't get into 2 or even 3 out of your 5 classes and you now have to frantically fill your schedule with classes not relating to either of your majors.

Know your professors, especially your advisors.

No one can help you more than yourself... oh and your professors. Your advisor for each major is even more important. They're essentially a knowledgeable professional who can help you help yourself. They're often published and or funded to do the work that they do in that given major, but they're also there to help you.

Choosing a good advisor involves first having options. So get to know your professors. Even after you have chosen your advisor, there's still a lot to learn from your other professors even out of the classroom. Most importantly, they want to see you succeed; so if you're struggling, speak up!

Independent studies will save you.

In most cases of double majors, the two departments are close in that classes can sometimes overlap for requirements. Although that doesn't happen often, so an even better way to take advantage of having interrelated majors is through an independent study. Not only do you get to decide very specifically what you're studying, but you can also mold it to fit both your majors and therefore have the credit count towards both of them.

For example, I am currently doing an independent study on Freud, with my philosophy advisor. With his help, and through communicating with the psychology department, I was able to choose texts that fit for both my majors and thus can use the class as a credit for both my majors.

To thesis or not t(w)o thesis?

If you're ambitious enough to attempt a double major, you most likely plan on completing a thesis as well... but should you do two?

This is very dependent on your majors, career goals, and credits. But it's something to think about early, whether you're committed to doing two, or just having trouble deciding which major to do it in, talking to your advisor early is a sure way to make sure you are on track even before your senior year.

Finally, and most importantly, don't spread yourself too thin!

Maybe you've now decided a double major isn't right for you, or maybe you have! Remember: everyone is different, but your sanity and happiness should never have to be sacrificed at the cost of your major(s). Don't make yourself miserable under the claim that you are doing what you love. It's better to do one thing fantastically than two things subpar. If you love it, it should come naturally.