Q&As - We asked current student, Sophie Winston!

Sophie Winston is a Class of 2027 double major in Marketing and Film & Media Arts.

What inspired you to pursue a double major, and how did you decide on the specific combination of fields you’re studying?

When I first applied for university, I had never thought of pursuing a double major, but once I toured SMU’s campus and was introduced to how many students not only double major, but triple major, my mind was opened to the opportunity of pursuing multiple pathways of education during college. I'm a very creative person and have always enjoyed video editing, which is why I first wanted to major in Film and Media Arts, but I decided to add on a Marketing major to also learn more about business. I've had multiple small businesses over the years and have developed entrepreneurship skills, but I went down the Marketing path because it’s a field that allows for lots of creativity in the world of business. I remember I took a film class my sophomore year, and my professor at the time commented on the fact that double majoring in Film and Marketing is a great way to dip your toes into both the arts and business and have a wide range of career opportunities post-grad because of this dual-focused education.

What has been the most rewarding part of managing two academic disciplines, and what challenges have you had to navigate along the way?

Ever since my sophomore year in high school, I have had people asking me what I want to do for my career once I graduate, and the answer has always been “I don't know.” As a junior in university now, I do have a clearer picture of what I'm looking for in a long-term job, but I want to keep my options open and leave room for flexibility. By double-majoring and focusing on two different academic disciplines, I feel like the doors are wide open for multiple pathways that I could go down after I graduate. I could focus more on the Film and Media Arts major, and work in the movie industry, or I could work for a marketing agency with my business major, or anything in between! This versatility is the most rewarding part of double-majoring for me. There have definitely been some challenges as well, though, the first being the number of classes I have to manage to graduate. While the SMU advising teams are fantastic with helping you select classes to fulfill multiple graduation requirements and balancing both majors in one schedule, I came into university with enough AP credits to be considered a sophomore. So if I didn't double major, I could've graduated in three years and not four. However, I think this “extra” year of education is absolutely going to pay off because of the freedom I will have in choosing a career when I do graduate!

Have any classes, professors, or projects helped you see unexpected connections between your majors?

Yes, my film professor from sophomore year, whom I mentioned previously, was very encouraging about my choice to double major in Marketing and Film; she said that there is always a need for a business-focused mind in the world of movies and television. But on the other hand, during my digital marketing class last semester, we discussed different ways that advertising has evolved over the past few years, and the importance of experience with video editing and digital media. In marketing, simple copy is not always sufficient; we need people in the industry who know how to be creative and attract customers in new and engaging ways. This is where my Film major would apply greatly. I think this dual-focused education, where I am thinking with my artsy, right side of my brain in my film classes, and my logical and strategic, left side of my brain in marketing classes, is only going to benefit me when I am working a full-time job in the future.

How do you see your majors giving you an advantage as you prepare for internships, career opportunities, or graduate studies?

The job industry is only getting more and more cutthroat, and it's intimidating to go and essentially compete against many incredibly intelligent and creative students who are graduating at the same time as me, and looking for jobs in the same fields as I am. My peers are so impressive, and everyone has been given amazing opportunities here at SMU, so finding the element that will make you stand out is key when applying for internships and jobs. The fact that I will have two bachelor's degrees on my resume when I graduate is already a step ahead, but the fact that they are in two completely different schools at SMU demonstrates that I can balance two different types of thinking and have experience in two very separate fields. As a small addition, I'm also minoring in French, and this is one other way that I believe I will stand out with my resume. These three areas of study at first seem quite unrelated, but if I'm applying for a job that finds the sweet spot between creativity and strategic marketing, being able to demonstrate that I have education in both industries will help me stand out as a great addition to a company. This was, in fact, one of the main reasons I decided to double major in the first place!

What advice would you share with other students considering pairing a Cox degree with another field?

Choosing to double major is not an easy decision because it adds many more hours to your class schedule, and it takes work to be able to switch your brain from different focuses of study on a day-to-day basis. For example, I have to be able to balance the rigorousness of the Cox School of Business graduation requirements while also leaving room for freedom of expression and creativity in my film classes. My assignments can look so different depending on what class I'm taking - from Excel spreadsheets and SWOT analyses to shooting short films at local businesses - and so being flexible is very important. All that being said, however, if you get the opportunity to double-major at SMU, definitely take it! The advising teams on campus are so wonderful in helping students craft a perfectly balanced schedule and still graduate on time, and there are so many areas of study that you can combine to make you stand out to future employers. If you feel intimidated by the decision to choose one singular field of study to dedicate the rest of your career in, (although many people do get job jobs outside of their majors post-grad, but that's an entirely different conversation), I highly recommend double majoring, and giving yourself that freedom to employ multiple interests and expand your knowledge as broadly as possible while here at SMU!

Thank you, Sophie, for sharing your SMU Cox story! Your creativity and ambition make your dual path especially inspiring, and it’s clear that exciting opportunities are ahead!