<p>Twelve is always a good estimate.</p>
<p>The thing is, none of you will be able to decide before coming to MIT whether you will be able to complete a double major. Many, many more people come into MIT thinking they’re interested in doubling than actually complete the double. You may find that you’re just not that interested in another field, or you may find that you’re not capable of successfully completing more than four classes per term, or you may find that your schedule doesn’t work out.</p>
<p>The only thing you can do is come to MIT, get through your first semester or two, then draw up a plan for yourself for completing a double. Then you take the classes on your plan, probably revising it every semester, and re-evaluate often to see if you can do it and if it’s worth it.</p>
<p>As I said above, there is not that much inherent value to a double-major, and I say that as a double myself. Grad school admissions committees and employers will not care. If you come to MIT and find that you don’t want to or can’t finish a double, you can major in one department and take classes in the other and derive just as much value from the process. What’s important at the end of college is what’s in your brain, not what’s on your degree.</p>