I REMEMBER visiting Johns Hopkins University on my grand college tour of the East Coast. I remember thinking the dorms felt like army bunkers. And I remember Alex.
Apparently, Alex had become a sort of urban legend of the Hopkins admissions tour, and I "met" him during the admissions talk. The person charged with grabbing the attention of both lethargic high school adolescents and parents frantically scribbling on yellow legal pads was unbelievably keen on selling Hopkins as an ideal haven for the over-achiever, and Alex perfectly represented that potential. Presented with Alex's entire educational history, the climax of his story came as the speaker revealed that Alex was a quadruple major.
Alex is not alone, my friends. The trend of multiple majors is a growing one on college campuses across the nation. An increasing number of students continues to jump on the bandwagon of double majors, and it's unfortunate that more and more college kids feel the pressure to do so in an ever competitive post-graduation world.
A little over a week ago, The New York Times published an article with some startling statistics -- and perhaps to the cynic in all of us, an homage to the indefatigable over-achiever. The numbers show a decided rise in the popularity of students graduating with more than one major. In 2002, 23 percent of Georgetown University's graduating class had two majors, up from 14 percent six years before (The New York Times, "For students seeking edge, one major just isn't enough," Nov. 17). Even more of an incredible statistic came from Washington University in St. Louis, where 42 percent of 2002 arts and sciences graduates had two majors or degrees, as opposed to 28 percent in 1997, according to the Times.
The University too has seen an increase in the number of double majors over recent years, though the number is relatively much smaller than either Georgetown or Washington University. May of 2002 saw 9.2 percent of College students graduate with two majors, a slight growth from 7 percent in 1997 ("Departments reconsider logistics of double major," Oct. 24).
The growing appeal of double majors can in part be attributed to the corresponding rise in popularity of Advanced Placement courses for high school students. Motivated students often arrive at college with a slew of AP credits, either placing out of lower level classes or fulfilling general school requirements, and that frees up more time to pursue additional majors. Regrettably, encouraging students to major in more than one area with the idea that it will make them more successful puts students from less affluent high schools at a double disadvantage, upon both entering and exiting college. Students who never had the opportunity to get ahead with AP classes will bear an unfair burden if employers start entertaining the notion that multiple major graduates are more attractive employees.
The common assumption among students that more than one major will guarantee greater success than only one can push them to spread themselves too thin. In their drive to specialize in multiple disciplines, students may just fulfill the minimal requirements for each major -- at the University, around 30 credits -- instead of thoroughly exploring the possibilities of a single field. It's important for students to consider that in-depth study, such as taking graduate courses during fourth year, in one field can be more advantageous in the long run, especially when it comes to applying to graduate schools.
A concept that students with multiple majors are more well-rounded students tends to gloss over the fact that most colleges and universities already design plans to give students as broad of a liberal arts education as possible. Striving to fill the requisites for more than one major can in fact limit rather than expand the possibilities for a diversified education. The struggle to take all the classes required for two majors can prevent students from taking courses outside of their normal field of study.
Unhappily, the quest for multiple majors has the potential to evolve into an insanely competitive practice similar to the current college application process. Like the high school kid who takes seven or eight courses a year, a college student venturing to graduate with multiple majors -- in particular triple and quadruple majors -- will miss out on other chances to improve themselves and their resumes in more important ways. Extracurricular activities such as the college newspaper, the volunteer organization or the part-time job can be more attractive to potential employers than just another major that a graduate won't use. And they are more beneficial to the students themselves.
A single major should not become a stigma for students, nor should it turn into a post-graduation disadvantage. Quantity just isn't everything.
(Becky Krystal is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. She can be reached at bkrystal@
cavalierdaily.com.)
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