Brandeis has always had a reputation for being a very competitive University, whether it be with admissions, grades or even housing selection. In addition, many students find it necessary to develop a very competitive, demanding and multi-faceted course load, which includes pursuing two or more possible majors. The growing popularity of this choice in Brandeis is mirrored in a trend in universities across the United States. While students, professors, and deans said they see the advantages of seeking multiple majors, they also recognize the drawbacks. Class of '04 dean and premedical advisor Andrew Simmons plays a major role in helping students plan their course of study at Brandeis and has had to consult many students majoring in more then one subject. Upon his arrival at Brandeis, Simmons said seeing the number of students who chose to double-major was striking for him. But, he said he recognized that this phenomenon is not unique to Brandeis and is occurring nationwide.

Simmons said that the source of the students' decision to double-major comes mainly from competition for good jobs and seats in the best graduate and professional schools. "I think there is a feeling that you can't get ahead unless you have multiple majors," he said.

As far as advising students who are unsure of what they want to study, Simmons talks with students about what interests and excites them and how it can be related to their academic career at Brandeis. "I tend to feel that is the most honest starting point because they may think only about the job market or down the road as opposed to pursuing (their) interest. If they say 'I need to be a cosi major or an econ major' and it isn't something they are interested in, they may (eventually) regret it," he said.

Simmons also said that multiple majors are not always helpful. When advising students, he asks them why they really need a double-major and stresses the importance of planning in order to assure the majors can be completed. "Not all double-majors are created equally," he said, and it is much easier to do a biology/neuroscience major than to do a biology and theatre arts major

As pre-med advisor, Simmons reported that out of last year's 89 applicants to medical school, which is a relatively competitive group, only 16 were double-majors, with seven social science/science double majors, six biology/neuroscience double-majors and three in humanities. Additionally, a lot of biology majors that are on the premed track are minoring in other subjects.

Department chair Professor Steven Burg (POL), said for students there is a lot of mutual reinforcement with students that take courses in different disciplines, especially when politics students take courses or do a second major in economics or history. "It is difficult to understand any major political conflict without having historical or economic background under your belt," he said.

In terms of advising students that want to double-major, Burg said he feels double majoring with politics, especially beyond history and economics, would be spreading themselves too thin. He said too many majors, especially with subjects that are not closely related, would mean the student was headed for more breadth, while fewer majors would allow for more detailed understanding. He said he feel the attempt to fulfill the numerous requirements for a double-major prevents a students from achieving intellectual depth. "You want to avoid an education that is a mile wide and an inch deep," he said. As far as benefits, he said students who do choose to multiple majors become more intellectually well-rounded.

Undergraduate Advising Head Professor Michael Coiner (ECON) said there is too much emphasis on double and triple-majoring, although in certain cases it does make sense. "Sometimes students seem to pursue a double-major not out of great interest but as a second credential and sometimes it is a mistake," he said. "I think students ought to take courses they are most interested in."

When Coiner sees students try to twist their schedule so they can fit in a second major, he said he asks them whether it is really worth it. Coiner wanted to emphasize that depending on where they are in their Brandeis careers, he would work with them differently in terms of planning double majors. "If it is early in their careers I will definitely work with them to plan it out, but if it is second semester of junior year and someone has just discovered and interest in economics in addition to their first major, I would question it."

But he added that although he would question it, he realizes that the students are in charge and would work with them to create the program even if it meant all they were taking were courses for their major.

Among students that are double majoring, both future benefits and negative consequences are recognized. Lonn Drucker '03 is an economics and history major. He started out solely an economics major, but took an interest in history and realized the major was not to difficult to complete, so decided to add it to his program. Drucker said he didn't even consider the possibility of multiple-majoring until he got to Brandeis. "I probably didn't even know something like that existed," he said.

As far as post-undergraduate benefits, he said he believes that in addition to pursuing an interest, double-majoring will open up doors for him, especially in the job market. Also, he said it allows a student to pursue both interests if he couldn't otherwise decide. However, Drucker said he recognizes that a drawback of double-majoring is the restriction of classes one might want to take.

In terms of trying to tie together his studies from different majors, it allows Drucker to do research in one subject on themes from other subjects he studies. "It helps you out with different perspectives," he said.

Claudia Le '03, an economics and computer science major, started out with a major in computer science, then realized that she had a lot of room in her schedule and took Introduction to economics, sparking a general interest in economics. From that she saw an opportunity for a major. Claudia came to Brandeis thinking about a double major but did not have definite plans for pursuing one. She said she thinks double-majoring was beneficial because it gives her the opportunity to pursue a topic that interests her. "It is something that I thought was fun and I enjoyed it," she said. Le said she also recognized that double-majoring doesn't allow for the opportunity to take too many elective classes.

In terms of post-graduate opportunities, she says that for graduate school and the job market, double-majoring will demonstrate that you are more accomplished and are more willing to achieve. Additionally, she said she is happy to have the opportunity to tie in her majors with classes such as business and the internet as well as apply her two majors to her job as student manager of UNET.