Dual Major?

It’s funny that I have so many examples about how great my adviser has been to me, given all of the horror stories my friends have about their advisers (and some even with the same one as me).

In this particular instance, I received a phone call from my adviser today. She double checked that I had, in fact, just graduated with my degree in human biology. After affirming this, she said, “Well there’s a bit of a problem…” At first I thought to myself, “Oh god, I missed a required class or something,” but she continued by double checking that I’m taking some human medicine classes over the summer. I said that I was and found that those classes were the problem.

My masters program doesn’t officially begin for me until the fall, but I pulled some strings and got enrolled in the 801 and 802 classes for the summer–I’m trying to complete the masters in public health in one year–but these classes were linked to my enrollment status. That is to say, if my adviser officially graduated me with a degree in human biology I would no longer be enrolled at MSU (until fall, that is) and my enrollment in HM 801 and 802 would be discontinued.

Thankfully my adviser noticed this and decided to personally call me about my options! I could cancel graduation (no diploma) and reapply for graduation at the end of summer (too much paperwork if you ask me) or I could take a second major that will never officially be completed; therefore, I’m now a faux-physiology major for the rest of the summer! Now I can get my diploma for human biology and still continue taking my masters classes.

Bullet? Dodged. Thanks, Heidi Purdy!