Should I Double Major

The idea of having a double major is very appealing; you graduate with two degrees and a larger breadth and depth of knowledge than if you had focused on only one area. And yet not many students are able to complete a double major during their time in college. What are the pros? What are the cons? And which is right for you? Before you decide on double majoring or not, consider the following and how it applies to your own, personal situation. Things to Consider Think of the reasons why. Why do you want a second major? Is it for your career? A passion you have for another subject? To please your parents? To make yourself more marketable after graduation? Make a list of all the reasons why you think you should go for it.Think of the reasons why not. What will you have to do, change, or pay for if you double major? What will you have to sacrifice? What are the reasons why you wouldnt get a double major? What hardships would you encounter? What are you worried about?Talk to your adviser. Once youve made your  why or why not list talk to your faculty adviser. If you plan on double majoring, he or she has to sign off on your plan anyway, so getting the conversation going early is a smart idea. Your adviser may also have advice about the pros and cons of double majoring at your school that you hadnt considered yet.Talk to other students who are double majors. In particular, try to talk to students who are majoring in the fields youre interested in. What has their experience been like? What are the course requirements in their senior year? How heavy is the workload? Is double majoring worth it? Manageable? A great decision? A big mistake?Consider the financial implications. Getting two degrees in the time it takes to get one may sound like a great idea. But will you have to take an extra-heavy course load? Will you need to take additional courses online? Over the summer? At a community college? And if so, how much will those courses (and their books) cost?Consider the personal implications. Is your first major in a program that is notoriously difficult? Will you have time to relax and enjoy the other aspects of college if you decide to double up? What things will you have to sacrifice (if anything) as you get nearer to graduation? What will your experience be like? And which will you regret more: looking back in 10 years and not having gone for both, or looking back and seeing all you may have missed out on by double majori ng?

We Live In A Gilded Age Of Produce. Within The Past Couple

We live in a Gilded age of produce. Within the past couple of years, GMOS replaced our original, natural diet with these â€Å"genetically altered† foods. GMO, or genetically modified organism, is defined as â€Å"a plant, animal, microorganism, or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified using recombinant DNA methods (also called gene splicing), gene modification, or transgenic technology† (Non-GMO Project). What may be perceived as healthy salad at first glance, may just be a bowl of genetically modified â€Å"food†. These are underlying problems not recognized by most of the public. The use of GMOs creates endless risks and pose a threat to the environment, genetic diversity, and future. Using genetically modified seeds cuts the usage of†¦show more content†¦The companies are tricking farmers into thinking that their seeds are better for the environment, when really they are not. â€Å"Toxins from Bt seeds are released through the roots and can last in the soil for at least 234 days†. The main reason why DDT in soil lasts so long is because it â€Å"binds strongly to soil particles† (Deepak). These toxins can be leached down into the groundwater, contaminating water sources. Bt toxin can also be absorbed through other plants roots and then be eaten by animals, poisoning them. Farmers claim that they save money by using Bt seeds because they do not use pesticides, but the difference in cost is made up by the cost of the seeds: â€Å"Thompson’s soybean and corn yields are well above county average and even as the US government continues to bail out indebted farmers, Thompson is making money. He profits from both his healthy soil and crops , and from the fact that his â€Å"input† costs for chemical fertilizer, pesticides, and so forth-are almost nil† (Halweil). Thompson is an organic farmer who does not use many pesticides and makes a profit very close to what a typical farmer makes. Although Bt seeds supposedly use less pesticides, they still release toxic chemicals into the ground which is extremely harmful to the soil. Genetically transferring genes from one organism to another may sound like something in a sci-fi movie, but now it is happening more than ever. Snipping desired traits from variousShow MoreRelatedMonuments of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Around the World5518 Words   |  23 Pagessquad and on the other side is one of his poems. The central bronze figure is of Dr Rizal. The bronze figures around the sculpture were cast in Switzerland. Dr Rizals remains are buried within the monument. Inscription: I want to show to those who deprive people the right to love of country, that when we know how to sacrifice ourselves for our duties and convictions, death does not matter if one dies for those one loves – for his country and for others dear to him. To the memory of Jose RizalRead MoreThe Artistic Ambition Of Henry James7075 Words   |  29 Pagesexamine it. At an early age, James wanted to be an artist, but like his protagonist Rowland Mallet, he is too amateurish. All the same, Henry James develops a deep understanding of the arts, further cultivated in the salons and art galleries of the old world. In Europe, James would write his greatest novels — juxtaposing it with the new world of America. Drinking from the cornucopia of European experience, James develops a high appreciation of the arts as a way with which â€Å"the past is made a part of theRead MoreGeorge Orwell23689 Words   |  95 Pagesteeth and gentle manners, are different from a European crowd. Then the vastness of England swallows you up, and you lose for a while your feeling that the whole nation has a single identifiable character. Are there really such things as nations? Are we not forty-six million individuals, all different? And the diversity of it, the chaos! The clatter of clogs in the Lancashire mill towns, the to-and-fro of the lorries on the Great North Road, the queues outside the Labour Exchanges, the rattle of pin-tablesRead MoreCeramics: Pottery and Clay17443 Words   |  70 Pagese. OTHER RELATED TOPICS †¢BINDAPUR POTTERS AS DOCUMENTED IN 1980 †¢ABUNDANT BEAUTY †¢ANDALUCIA’S NEW GOLDEN POTTERY †¢HE ONGGI POTTERS OF KOREA SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION BIBLIOGRAPHY INTRODUCTION As our generation change into a modern period, until now we still recognize the nature of CERAMICS as the one of the greatest art work in every nations. Today, the term is commonly used to describe a material used in pottery. The earliest recorded ceramics were the result of various mixtures and base - combinations

Industry Analysis Paper Free Essays

Athletic Footwear Industry Analysis When you think of athletic footwear what are your first thoughts? Nike? Under armor? Skechers? K-Swiss? All these companies have a common type of product/category called athletic footwear that they all sell and make a huge profit from. Throughout our analysis we will focus primarily on the United States Market industry compared to the International industry in athletic footwear/ running shoes. Within the United States there is a wide variety of different types of shoes but one of the most trend setting shoes that provide the most income are athletic footwear/ running shoes. We will write a custom essay sample on Industry Analysis Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now The United States has over 10 billion dollars of revenue of profit that the athletic footwear industry provides and is one of the largest markets for athletic apparel and footwear in the world, which will provide a sufficient analysis for us to determine (Athletic Shoe Stores in the US: Market Research Report, IBISWorld 1999). This will allow us to focus on a market that we are familiar with and will penetrate the industry down to make a more accurate analysis on the industry athletic footwear/ running shoes. We will be analyzing women and men’s retail running shoes through their industry activities. This will declare an accurate competition level between different competitors throughout the industry’s products. Athletic running footwear has had an extreme demand of athletic apparel due to increasing number of athletes and the growing health awareness among the people of the US (Ken Research in Footwear, Market Research 2013). There is more of a demand for women’s running shoes compared to men with the increase of interest to jogging/running for the women population (Ken Research in Footwear, Market Research 2013). We will be analyzing all aspects of the United States industry within the men and women’s attire of running footwear. Some of the trends in the general environment of the athletic footwear industry are the economic climate, healthy and active lifestyle, and fashion trends. In every retail industry the current state of the economy can greatly affect the environment. If the economy is in a depression that effects the shopping patterns of their consumers and as a result becomes a threat to the industry. The athletic footwear industry took a hit when the recession decelerated the US economy in 2008 (Smith). Many American’s were struggling financial which led to the athletic footwear industry to take a hit in their profit margins as well. Companies had to discount their products to keep a high volume of sales (Smith). The economic climate also plays a role in the rising population and disposable income levels of consumers. In 2010, consumers felt more confident financially by having more disposable income and began purchasing items like athletic footwear more frequently (Smith). The industry was able to gain leverage to increase prices and focus the consumer on quality and not price (Smith). The increased level of income allows consumers to afford a premium-priced shoe which is driving the industry’s profit margins today (Smith). Both income levels and general population are continuously growing which becomes an opportunity for the industry to capture as much of the market as possible. Another trend that is affecting the industry is the healthy and active lifestyle. Obesity is at an all-time high and the lifestyle of healthy living is becoming a major part of our culture (Smith). This trend has encouraged consumers to exercise more and therefore need athletic shoes (Smith). This is a major opportunity for the industry because their product is directly related to the culture change we are headed in. Finally fashion trends have become a big role in the footwear industry. The market is in demand for innovative designs, styles, and celebrity endorsements. Some consumers in the industry are looking for footwear that is specifically made to help them perform better while others look for shoes as a fashion trend. The current trend of light weight footwear is attractive to runners because it helps them perform better. The industry is currently thriving on profit from running shoes (Townsend). And in 2010 sales surged when the trend of light weight shoes with styles of neon hues hit the market (Townsend). Consumers are now wearing those bright colored shoes as a fashion trend whether it be on the track or on the city sidewalks (Adams). They are not afraid to pay up for shoes that are comfortable and trendy (Townsend). The industry also uses celebrities in marketing their products to reach consumers. Athletes like Michael Jordan and Lace Armstrong contributed to the success of athletic shoe companies. Many consumers look up to these athletes for motivation and in return will buy shoes because they are wearing the same style or brand of shoe. These trends are an opportunity for the industry because it allows companies to fill the need of consumers and in return they become profitable. The first threat identified by the five forces framework is the threat of new entrants. New entrants are firms that have either recently started operating in an industry or that threaten to begin operations in an industry soon. The athletic footwear industry is a very difficult industry to come into. This is because of the market in which the footwear industry operates, is highly saturated. This saturated market combined with the economies of scale in production, research and development, and marketing make a company have to operate in large scale to be cost effective in the industry (Athletic Footwear: Industry Analysis). Also, the main companies in this industry have major cost advantages independent of scale. Their management know-how that they have developed over the years united with their learning curve allows them to dominate this industry (Athletic Footwear: Industry Analysis). The second threat is the threat of rivalry, which is the intensity of competition among a firm’s direct competitors, is high for this industry. The main factor of the competitiveness of the industry is due to the fact that industry rivals compete aggressively against one another for vital market share. The athletic shoe industry is very old and companies must focus on market share rather than concentrating on market growth. The athletic footwear market is expected to grow at a continual annual growth rate of 1. 8% from 2011 to 2018 to reach 84. 4 billion by 2018 (PRWeb). Non-athletic footwear is the largest market segment and is expected to grow faster than the athletic footwear sector. Various fashion trends in the market, such as demand for innovative designs and styles and celebrity endorsement, is driving the non-athletic footwear market (PRWeb). This new trend in the footwear industry makes the way companies compete vary vastly from company to company. Innovative companies such as Nike strive for product differentiation as well as massive marketing strategies, but other brands such as Sketchers attempt to capture the low budget appeal. 70% of the market share is made up of the top five players which include Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma and New Balance (PRWeb). Other key companies are Asics, Converse, Sketchers and K-Swiss. The popularity of local manufacturers and growing piracy in developing countries remains the major challenge for global footwear manufacturers (PRWeb). With the new trend of switching from athletic footwear to non-athletic footwear, it makes the threat of substitution very high. The consumers’ ability to buy a non-athletic shoe is effortless, especially due to the increased focus on value for money and looking for simple, hard-wearing shoes that last (Report Linker). When it comes to the suppliers in the athletic shoe industry it has a low threat to the companies. There are a large number of firms that are able to supply the materials and basic needs of the companies. To add onto the limited threat caused by the suppliers, their industry is not dominated by a small number of firms. The athletic footwear companies are able to exert their extensive power over their suppliers on the three homogeneous raw materials of cotton, rubber, and foam needed to make a shoe (Athletic Footwear: Industry Analysis). Even though the threat of suppliers is not an issue for this industry, the buyers can play a key factor when it comes to the decision making process. Buyers have a low threat risk because of the vast number of individual buyers, but there are few switching costs for them to switch to a new shoe brand. This causes companies in this industry to focus on the buyer’s needs and wants when it comes to designing a shoe. The five forces model shows that overall profitability can be high for this industry. The cost it takes to produce the actual shoe itself is very low, but the limited amount of major companies that are continually rivaling one another allow them to dominate this industry and make it extremely difficult for new comers to last. The knowledge and skills that companies such as Nike have acquired over the years allow them to stay on top as well. The companies low production costs and high markup costs allow those firms in this industry to thrive to the point of their limits. But because these companies have grown so large, they must compete viciously against one another for the same customers. The main competitors of Nike in the shoe industry are K-Swiss, Skechers, and Under Armour. These are the publicly traded companies and are in direct competition in shoes. Nike dominates the market and has 42% of domestic market share in the United States (Articlebase). Recent net sales reports Nike at $24. 12 billion (Market Watch), K-Swiss at $268. 36 million, Skechers at $1. 56 billion, and Under Armour at $1. 83 billion. Nike has been the leader the shoe industry since 1980 when it gained 50% of United States market share (MyBizIQ. com). They have maintained the position as leaders in the shoe industry. Nike has become experts in segmentation and targeting their market (NikeRepository. com). Works Cited â€Å"A Marketing Case Study on Nike. † Articlebase. (2012): n. page. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. http://www. articlesbase. om/international-marketing-articles/a-marketing-case-study-on-nike-5907782. html. Adams, Brittany. â€Å"Running Shoes Get The High Fashion Treatment. †Ã‚  Style File RSS. Style. com, 19 July 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. http://www. style. com/stylefile/2012/07/running-shoes-get-the-high-fashion-treatment/. â€Å"Annual Financials for Nike Inc. Cl B. † Market Watch (2011): n. pag. Web. 13 Feb 2013. http://www. marke twatch. com/investing/stock/nke/financials. â€Å"Athletic Shoe Stores in the US: Market Research Report. †Ã‚  Athletic Shoe Stores in theUS Market Research. N. p. , n. d. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. http://www. ibisworld. com/industry/athletic-shoestores. html. Athletic Footwear: Industry Analysis. 1 May 2006. 16 February 2013 http://www. docstoc. com/docs/7937512/Athletic-Footwear-Industry-Analysis. â€Å"Nike, Inc. History and Information. † NikeRepository. com. N. p. , 2010. Web. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www. nikerepository. com/nike-company-history. PRWeb. Global Athletic Footwear Industry Analyzed by Transparency Market Research. 26 October 2012. 13 February 2013 http://www. prweb. com/releases/2012/10/prweb10056776. htm. Report Linker. Footwear Industry: Market Research Reports, Statistics and Analysis. 12 February 2013 http://www. reportlinker. com/ci02119/Footwear. html. Smith, Gavin. â€Å"Athletic Shoe Stores in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld. † Athletic Shoe Stores in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld. PRWeb, 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. http://www. prweb. com/releases/2012/11/prweb10188965. htm. â€Å"Swooshing to Success. † MyBizIQ. com. (2013): n. page. Print. http://www. mybiziq. com/articles/studies/Nike. cfm. The US Athletic Apparel and Footwear Industry Outlook to 2015 – Evolving Niche Segments in Sportswear. †Ã‚  By Ken Research in Footwear, Sports Apparel, Apparel. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Feb. http://www. bharatbook. com/market-research-reports/retail-market-research report/the-us-athletic-apparel-and-footwear-industry-outlook-to-2015-evolving niche-segments-in-sportswear. html. Townsend , Matt. â€Å"Fashion Spurs Sales of Athletic Shoes. †Ã‚  Bangor Daily News RSS. Bloomberg News, 26 May 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. http://bangordailynews. com/2012/05/26/health/fashion-spurs-sales-of-athletic-shoes/. How to cite Industry Analysis Paper, Papers