In college you have to declare a major, and it is going to be what your classes are focused around after finishing general education requirements. However, some people have interests outside of their major and they want to take classes to learn more about that subject. Other times, a profession/career you want to pursue might require you to have an expanded background knowledge on something other than your major. This is where a minor comes into play: it can be a personal interest, or ir can make you stand out to employers in your chosen field.
When choosing a minor, it is important to keep in mind four things: finances, balancing classwork, balancing social life, and graduation time. Before taking classes for a minor, check with financial aid to make sure they are affordable. Next to double check is that your minor classes will not take away or distract from your major classes. Next you may need to cut back on some social activities in order to make extra time for your classes and the work they require. Finally, check to see if the minor will extend your graduation date. This will be important to meet with your academic advisor about because they will be able to help map out the classes you need.
One last thing to do when wanting to add a minor is to reach out to the department it falls under to see if that specific department has requirements to declare the minor. After checking these things off your list, youre ready to start a minor!
