Double majoring in dance and another subject is a great way to get a lot out of college. And in today’s iffy job market, a breadth of expertise can be useful. But when making this decision, think hard about what you really want to do in college and after. Are you truly interested enough in dance and another degree area to devote the time it will take to do both well?

If you do think you want to double major, make sure the dance departments at your top choice schools allow it. Some don’t. Others do, but warn students that it will take an extra year of study to earn the credits required for both degrees. Still others encourage dual degrees and are able to make accommodations for students who want to pursue them. But if your desire is mostly to dance, make sure double majoring won’t require giving up dance department opportunities that you’ll regret missing—like chances to appear in student works and to choreograph your own.

Many college dancers double major and love it. They find that studying subjects like psychology, science or English deepens their dancing and enhances their creativity. Others find it more fulfilling to zero in on dance. Whether or not you decide to double major, rest assured that a dance degree develops plenty of skills that the workplace values: problem-solving and organizational ability, diplomacy, leadership, critical thinking, creativity, an ability to work independently, and more.