<p>Searching using keywords “college double majors trend” yielded the following articles (the first link if you used google search):[Multiple</a> College Majors | Students’ options changing by degrees - Los Angeles Times](<a href=“http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/03/local/me-major3]Multiple”>Students' options changing by degrees) .</p>
<p>I did not bother to read this article because I was told by quite a few of our regular employers already.</p>
<p>The article itself does not promote double majors, but says that an increase in double majors seems to result partly from “resume obsessed” students who want an edge, and college marketing of double majors. In fact, the article is not that positive on the subject. Here are some quotes from the article:</p>
<p>“Educators debate the wisdom of double majors.”</p>
<p>“Clifford Adelman, a senior associate at the Institute for Higher Education Policy, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., said he sees more double majors but is not sure they help students in life other than allowing them to demonstrate ambition.”</p>
<p>“They are doing double majors to make sure they have all the skills they need to make themselves employable,” Beil said. However, she said she questions whether it impresses employers as much as overall grades and abilities do."</p>
<p>I would think that doing two majors can actually limit exposure to a broad education, since courses from the majors leave little room for electives or for exploring random areas of interest. But if a student has two “passions” and cannot decide between them, then a double major might be a good way to go. Otherwise, I think students are needlessly stressing themselves.</p>
<p>One of my kids actually knows Charlie Albright. He is a special case, for sure. Double degree programs can be very difficult. The fourth year in the Harvard/NEC program is not focused on finishing a concentration at Harvard, but marks a transition to doing more at NEC. </p>
<p>It is much more affordable to simply go to Harvard and study privately with NEC professors while there, according to NEC itself. And less stressful. But there are individuals, like Charlie, who can manage the double degree and thrive.</p>
<p>I hope some of this is relevant to the original poster and apologize for irrelevant posts!</p>
<p>Is there anyone with info how (musicial) kids are doing double majoring at Yale?</p>
<p>Maybe you could post this question as a new thread. This thread has gone far afield, and here I am continuing it!</p>
<p>“In general, the Ivy League seems to be largely immune to the hype and hysteria surrounding additional majors. Princeton University does not even permit students to double major, though it does allow students to receive a certificate indicating concentration in a second subject. And Harvard’s approach to a second major differs from most universities in that it emphasizes an academic harmony between two subjects of interest.”</p>
<p>[A</a> tale of two majors | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2003/jan/23/a-tale-of-two-majors/]A”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2003/jan/23/a-tale-of-two-majors/)</p>
<p>The rate of double majors is low at Yale (abut 1 in 10 according to this article). Yale has heavy distribution requirements, for one, so a double major might mean extra classes (in the summer perhaps.) For music it might be even more difficult, since there is also time needed for practice or composing. But people do do it.</p>
<p>Charlie Albright is a special case among all music+X students, but probably not a special case among Harvard-NEC (and maybe a few other ones). Harvard-NEC takes something like 5-10 students each year. One can expect 1-4 of them are pianists.</p>
<p>I have a hard copy of this year’s MATHCOUNTS national competition list. There are something like 224 kids, 4 from each state or territory. It is safe to assume that they are math high-achievers among U.S. middle school students. In this list, each mathathlete was asked to list their hobby. It is an open end question with no particular order from each student. On average, each students list around 4-5 hobbies. The following hobbies seem to be very popular: math, tennis, reading, science, violin, piano, video game, etc. There are 12 students list piano as their first item in their hobby list. It is safe to assume that many of these 12 students are likely to be music (piano) high achievers as well. </p>
<p>The statistics I mentioned above simply reflects a styled fact: there is a high correlation of academic performance and musicianship among very gifted kids. These kids tend to be extremely efficient learners. They have multiple interests and do very well on many of them without stressing out too much.</p>
<p>You will be surprised by the relatively large number of them. They can fill out Harvard-NEC program each year easily. That is the reason why the joint program starts with like 5-6 students a year at the beginning. Now the program seems to grow to close to 10 students a year. </p>
<p>Although I do not know the graduation rate of this program, I think it is very high. Otherwise, Harvard-NEC will not increase it size. Harvard-NEC has its reputation at stake.</p>
<p>BTW, the article that I provided the link but did not read states that joint program is partially driven by the desire on the part of colleges to increase revenue. I do not think this is remotedly close to reality. Most of my students who took double majors still only take 120 credit hours or slghtly above it. It is just that when you do double majors, you lose many degrees of freedom taking cool courses that teach you how you make beer at home, etc.</p>
<p>It is true that double majors is not for everyone. If one does not have passion about the second major/degree or believes that it is not going to help their professional career, he/she should not do it. In addition, for those students who are not efficient or willing in do a good job for a single major, of course, they should not think about it.</p>
<p>Sorry – I did not mean to suggest there was a joint program between Curtis and UPenn (Can you even imagine haha!) Just trying to emphasize the nature of a dual degree from Rice.</p>